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Worried about my pig

kitabird

kitabird

New Born Pup
Joined
Apr 12, 2018
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Location
Newcastle, England
One of my boys doesn't seem to be eating as much the last few days. He's eating his veggies, but I haven't seen him eating hay or pellets as much and he's spent more time in his hidies than normal. He looks healthy, nothing obvious wrong with him. What should I do, should I be worried?
 
Have just weighed him and he has lost weight :( Will be taking him to the vet ASAP but what can I do now? I don't have any critical care, is there somewhere I could get it in the morning, or is it only available online?
 
If your piggy has lost weight there is something wrong. I took Betsy to the vets twice cos she had lost weight, first vet thought she had a UTI and gave her a course of Baytril. When she continued to lose weight I took her back and after a scan and an x-ray another vet thought she may have either a blockage or pyrometra. I kept her under observation at home and it turned out to be a mild case of bloat in the end and the mass that the vet could see on the x-ray was a load of food moving slowing through the stomach and the intestines. After a few days of hand massaging her tummy (which she objected strongly too first few times) and a lot of tlc and a bit Emeraid she is now better. She just has to put the weight back on now.
 
Fingers crossed it’s something easy to fix.

Your vet should be able to sell you some critical care, I find it’s no more expensive to buy from them than to get it delivered quickly. Hope you manage to get him an appointment today, let us know what they say.
 
Dill&Pepper said:
Fingers crossed it’s something easy to fix.

Your vet should be able to sell you some critical care, I find it’s no more expensive to buy from them than to get it delivered quickly. Hope you manage to get him an appointment today, let us know what they say.
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If you do decide to syringe feed pellets. By burgess any flavour. And put a handfull in a bowl then soak with water. Wait 10 mins and it turns nice and soft
Then pack it into a syringe. Burgess seem to soak perfectly
 
kitabird said:
One of my boys doesn't seem to be eating as much the last few days. He's eating his veggies, but I haven't seen him eating hay or pellets as much and he's spent more time in his hidies than normal. He looks healthy, nothing obvious wrong with him. What should I do, should I be worried?
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I know this is obvious but have you checked for broken front teeth?
 
I've given him some soaked pellets (Burgess are the ones I have @Skypipdot ) but only managed to get a tiny bit into him, like maybe a teaspoon total, probably less. Syringed a little water too. Tempted him with some grass and he had a little of that.
The vet has squeezed me in this morning, so fingers crossed she will have an idea what's wrong.
 
Vet thinks his back teeth may be the issue, but couldn't see clearly enough to be certain. They're going to sedate him today and check it out.
 
kitabird said:
Vet thinks his back teeth may be the issue, but couldn't see clearly enough to be certain. They're going to sedate him today and check it out.
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Have you been feeding plenty of fresh hay everyday?not trying to say you dont, its just that some pets shops if you got your pig from one, never tell owners anything about what to feed
 
Skypipdot said:
Have you been feeding plenty of fresh hay everyday?not trying to say you dont, its just that some pets shops if you got your pig from one, never tell owners anything about what to feed
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Yes, always give unlimited timothy hay. He was a massive hay fan, constantly munching it until about a week ago, so if it is his teeth I don't really understand how they got overgrown. Maybe some pigs are just more prone to it?
 
kitabird said:
Yes, always give unlimited timothy hay. He was a massive hay fan, constantly munching it until about a week ago, so if it is his teeth I don't really understand how they got overgrown. Maybe some pigs are just more prone to it?
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Yea i think some are geneticly. I may be wrong
 
So the vet found something stuck right at the back of his mouth behind his teeth that had caused an ulcer. He's on pain meds now, hopefully he will start eating more and it will heal in a few days. I'll keep syringe feeding for now as well.
 
kitabird said:
So the vet found something stuck right at the back of his mouth behind his teeth that had caused an ulcer. He's on pain meds now, hopefully he will start eating more and it will heal in a few days. I'll keep syringe feeding for now as well.
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Ouch that sounds painful! No wonder the poor boy was reluctant to eat. Hopefully he'll start to feel better soon.
 
kitabird said:
So the vet found something stuck right at the back of his mouth behind his teeth that had caused an ulcer. He's on pain meds now, hopefully he will start eating more and it will heal in a few days. I'll keep syringe feeding for now as well.
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This sounds weird, but this is great news. It could have been so much worse. Well done to you and the vet for nailing the problem.:tu:
I'm guessing you cant give a guinea pig salt water? Dont try it, just an idea for healing
 
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