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What Would You Do In My Position?

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Pigs are being little superstars! Appetite is getting a lot better.. Not syringe fed for over 36 hours and weighed them this morning Milan had put on 9g since yesterday and Hugo only lost 2g so things are stabilising. However, poos are still smaller than they were although a good amount of them.. Is this normal?
 
Definetly normal they will have reduced as there food intake was reduced initially well they were recovering from the anaesthetic and operation.

Glad things are improving, I have the joys next week as my boys are booked in for Wednesday. Hope your boys continue to do well, you can relax now.:)
 
Thanks everyone! Their poos are definitely bigger than just after their op but not quite their normal size yet!

Can anyone tell me what types of thing I'm looking for now in terms of possible infection or other post op complications? I did ask the vet this yesterday but didn't get much of an answer out of him
 
Any of these signs can indicate an infected wound:

Reddened / pink skin around the wound.

Increased swelling

Skin feeling warm to the touch

Skin feeling tight / hard when you gently touch it

Pus forming around the wound

A foul smell

Trust me, you will know if there is an infection brewing but please don't go touching the wound unnecessarily and if you do, gently use the back of your hand rather than your fingers. Please try not to worry, it is unlikely that anything is going to go wrong :)
 
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Sian25 said:
Pigs are being little superstars! Appetite is getting a lot better.. Not syringe fed for over 36 hours and weighed them this morning Milan had put on 9g since yesterday and Hugo only lost 2g so things are stabilising. However, poos are still smaller than they were although a good amount of them.. Is this normal?
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Yes, that is normal. Poos after an illness/operation always reflect what has gone on the day before (or even two days, if the guts are really slow). It takes about 2-3 days for the body to settle down after an operation. Don't worry, they'll catch up as they heal and feel better in themselves. Your boys are perfectly fine for their stage of recovery! :)

The only thing at this stage that you need to be watch out for is if one of the boys is suddenly losing his appetite/weight again or if you notice any new swelling in the groin area. The first generally signals an infection or pain issue, the second can indicate a developing abscess, hernia or hematoma. Contact the vets promptly if that happens, as the sooner it can be treated, the easier it is to get on top of. Continue to weigh daily at the same time. The boys keeping their weight is a very good sign.
Please don't panic and don't obsess - this is just general advice that I give any member with freshly neutered boars about what to look out for in the coming weeks, so you can get on top of any potential problems quickly if they happen (and I very hope that they don't!). ;)
 
I'm unsure of whether to take Hugo back to the vet tomorrow as Molly is in. Although the other vet I saw yesterday did not seem concerned, I don't really understand what the swelling is and it's clearly not going down. The vet said it's to do with the muscle being stitched back together but Milan does not have swelling like this! It feels very hard although I don't want to keep touching it. I am worried about him but don't want to unnecessarily stress him out by taking him to the vets again and the hour drive each way
 
Great news about the gain. :)

Good idea about emailing Molly a picture, glad the boys are recovering well.
 
I emailed Molly the pic and have told the receptionist that said she will reply at lunch. She didn't so I rang back just before and they said she will reply after her last consult at 8.. So just waiting now but really i wanted a reply throughout the day so I could have taken him to the vet today if needed!
 
Hi all, Molly didn't get back to me so it looks like I'll have to wait until Monday (unless the swelling gets worse)

The other day Milan had a solid substance come out his willy (which smelt absolutely FOUL haha- like a fishy smell), then Hugo had the same this morning. I gather that as both pigs have done the same that it's normal?

Edit: it was white in colour
 
Sian25 said:
Hi all, Molly didn't get back to me so it looks like I'll have to wait until Monday (unless the swelling gets worse)

The other day Milan had a solid substance come out his willy (which smelt absolutely FOUL haha- like a fishy smell), then Hugo had the same this morning. I gather that as both pigs have done the same that it's normal?

Edit: it was white in colour
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I can assure you that white stuff coming out of boar willies is perfectly normal . Most people refer to it as boar glue. I suggest you look at old threads about boar glue - and boar hygiene for more info .
 
Boar glue is sticky though isn't it @PiggyOwner this wasn't sticky. I'll try and find Hugo's in the tissue in the bin now and enlighten you with a lovely photo haha..
 
Aww I'm afraid I can't get a picture as my partner has just said it was flushed down the toilet. I'll read the threads on boar glue though
 
OMG.. have just read all of this thread and BOY ... What a rollercoaster for you... Hope the boys are doing ok xx
 
Thanks @artcasper they lost about 50g of weight each in the first few days but have put bit by bit back on since and are pretty much back to the weight they were pre op. Just worried about Hugo's swelling now as i can't see it coming down at all and although the vet said it's because the muscles have been cut, Milan doesn't have the same swelling! I said to him 'should the swelling have not come down yet?' And he replied 'his amount of swelling is good for the op they have had as it's like a human caesarean'

Mondays vet appointment with the vet that did the surgery can't come quick enough :(
 
Sian25 said:
Hi all, Molly didn't get back to me so it looks like I'll have to wait until Monday (unless the swelling gets worse)

The other day Milan had a solid substance come out his willy (which smelt absolutely FOUL haha- like a fishy smell), then Hugo had the same this morning. I gather that as both pigs have done the same that it's normal?

Edit: it was white in colour
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That is semen fluid, which turns into the aptly named "boar glue" when it dries stuck to something.
 
Have in mind that even if it's the same operation, they won't heal in the same way because is not the same body, and each individual has its own way of healing. So try not to compare that much how both of them are healing because it can make you worry more than you should!
And yeah, that sounds like boar glue :)) Not always is sticky, at least in my experience.

Hope the weekend goes fast for you and that the vet apointment goes well! :hug:
 
Hi all, the guinea pigs have been neutered for a week now. I have been fully changing their fleece every day. Is this still necessary now?
 
The boys have been for a check up with Molly today.. She doesn't seem concerned at all about Hugo's swelling and the lump on his ear- she said the cream that was left on his skin could have been eye cream and the lump could be a blood blister. She said leave it alone for now and just keep an eye on it.

Milan was doing great until this morning.. I noticed he was arching his back and squeeking.. I guessed he was trying to poo and when I looked at his bum, I got out quite a big blob of quite hard poo. image.webp

He also seems a bit off his food today which is worrying me. Molly said it could be cystitis causing the pain but I'm confused about this? I did explain to her about the blob of poo that was in his bum. She just said start to give metacam again and see if this helps?
 
After researching guinea pigs arching their back in pain I'm absolutely terrified it could be a bladder stone.

This time last month Milan had blood in his wee and had xray that showed no stones so was given antibiotics. After the vet appointment I never saw any blood again or heard any crying in pain but continued the antibiotics anyway. I thought it may have been a bladder stone that he had passed himself but not sure.

So I'm wondering that if Milan had an xray a month ago that showed no stones, can one have formed so soon? I'm so so worried about him- just phoned the vet again and by the time I get there it will be closed so I asked about making an emergency appointment and the receptionist said molly the vet won't be there but he can see the nurse :blink: no offence to nurses but I need to see someone who can diagnose my boy. Any ideas on what to do? Hes currently snacking on some hay but his appetite does not seem as normal and he does seen in pain arching his back
 
Sian25 said:
After researching guinea pigs arching their back in pain I'm absolutely terrified it could be a bladder stone.

This time last month Milan had blood in his wee and had xray that showed no stones so was given antibiotics. After the vet appointment I never saw any blood again or heard any crying in pain but continued the antibiotics anyway. I thought it may have been a bladder stone that he had passed himself but not sure.

So I'm wondering that if Milan had an xray a month ago that showed no stones, can one have formed so soon? I'm so so worried about him- just phoned the vet again and by the time I get there it will be closed so I asked about making an emergency appointment and the receptionist said molly the vet won't be there but he can see the nurse :blink: no offence to nurses but I need to see someone who can diagnose my boy. Any ideas on what to do? Hes currently snacking on some hay but his appetite does not seem as normal and he does seen in pain arching his back
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It is much more likely that the neutering is impacting on the ability to push out poos/peeing (which can happen). I would definitely not worry about any stones at the moment!
Please try to have him seen by a vet tomorrow if he is also going off his food/losing. In that case, it is likely that he is developing a swelling or an abscess in the groin area.

Keep an eye on his weight and start offering him syringe feed if he starts losing more than 30-50g.
 
@Wiebke he saw Molly today though and I told her about him going off his food a bit and the squeaking in pain and she give him a quick check and said 'probably cystitis with the stress of neutering, just continue with metacam'

Also could he still get an absess in the groin area? As he does not have an incision in the groin

image.webp
 
Sian25 said:
@Wiebke he saw Molly today though and I told her about him going off his food a bit and the squeaking in pain and she give him a quick check and said 'probably cystitis with the stress of neutering, just continue with metacam'

Also could he still get an absess in the groin area? As he does not have an incision in the groin

View attachment 44034
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If he has been seen and Molly thinks that is it rather his cystitis, then that is fine. Post-op abscess can happen until about half a year after the op, although they are usually much rarer after after first few weeks. it is just something to be aware of and to have any changes in appetite/pain behaviour seen.

Metacam is what he needs for his discomfort anyway. ;)
 
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