Young Erik Not Eating

[alexr]

Hi!

- 1.3 kg is still a very good weight! If you are worried whether a piggy is a good weight for their individual size, you feel around the ribs for their BMI (or, as it is usually called, their 'heft'). Our weight management guide tells you exactly what to look out for to work out whether Herbie is a good weight or overweight.

- you can give him fibreplex. If he doesn't like the taste, mix it into his syringe feed.

- Could you move Herbie's cage next to other boars of yours, including your boar pairs? A single boar should not upset the apple cart but it can give him new stimulation and interest.

I am not overly worried as 1.3kg was his previous standard weight. It’s just he feels a bit bony round the hips. I’m hoping a settled tummy and lifting of his mood will help.

I have just spent the last half hour drawing out potential configurations. Herbie used to like living between Rupert & Fernando & Barnaby when Hamish was here. I think I will try placing Erik next to Algy as Algy’s always up on his ledge so that will give him more interaction I hope.

 

[Wiebke]

I am not overly worried as 1.3kg was his previous standard weight. It’s just he feels a bit bony round the hips. I’m hoping a settled tummy and lifting of his mood will help.

I have just spent the last half hour drawing out potential configurations. Herbie used to like living between Rupert & Fernando & Barnaby when Hamish was here. I think I will try placing Erik next to Algy as Algy’s always up on his ledge so that will give him more interaction I hope.

The hips are not relevant; they become more noticeable over the course of a life as the figure is becoming gradually more saggy; it is always going to be more noticeable after a weight loss. Relevant is the ribcage!
Weight - Monitoring and Management

 

[Merab]

Can’t add anything except support for you.

 

[alexr]

The hips are not relevant; they become more noticeable over the course of a life as the figure is becoming gradually more saggy; it is always going to be more noticeable after a weight loss. Relevant is the ribcage!
Weight - Monitoring and Management

Well my first re-jig of the room didn’t go well as I realised it would mean Fernando & Barnaby’s cage couldn’t be opened and Rupert & Algy we’re kicking off at being moved. I’ve moved them roughly back to how they were but with Herbie between Rupert’s & Barnaby & Fernando’s cages. This is where he used to live with Hamish. I have moved Claudio & Maurizio next to Erik but Erik’s not been out yet. We’ll see how that goes when he realises. I don’t want C&M to fall out.

 

[Wiebke]

Well my first re-jig of the room didn’t go well as I realised it would mean Fernando & Barnaby’s cage couldn’t be opened and Rupert & Algy we’re kicking off at being moved. I’ve moved them roughly back to how they were but with Herbie between Rupert’s & Barnaby & Fernando’s cages. This is where he used to live with Hamish. I have moved Claudio & Maurizio next to Erik but Erik’s not been out yet. We’ll see how that goes when he realises. I don’t want C&M to fall out.

All the best! I hope that Herbie is feeling happier to be where he used to be!

 

[alexr]

All the best! I hope that Herbie is feeling happier to be where he used to be!

He seems to like being there but there’s a lot of rumbling between Claudio & Maurizio who are now next to Erik. I’m not sure why, he’s not even been to look at them yet.

Erik has eaten some grass which is good. Unfortunately, I think I’m going to have to take Herbie off greens again. His diarrhoea is worse and it looks like he’s done a dirty protest in his nice clean cage. I’ll persevere with Fibreplex for him in addition to Erik. I’ve had to order some more in!

 

[Bill & Ted]

He seems to like being there but there’s a lot of rumbling between Claudio & Maurizio who are now next to Erik. I’m not sure why, he’s not even been to look at them yet.

Erik has eaten some grass which is good. Unfortunately, I think I’m going to have to take Herbie off greens again. His diarrhoea is worse and it looks like he’s done a dirty protest in his nice clean cage. I’ll persevere with Fibreplex for him in addition to Erik. I’ve had to order some more in!

Sounds like Fibreplex will be best for him atm x

 

[alexr]

I’m finally seeing some progress. Erik ate a small amount of dinner last night. He has decided today is the day he must introduce himself to new neighbours Claudio & Maurizio so so he’s spent quite a lot of time up on his ledge wiggling about. C&M don’t seem bothered. They just go up to the bars to watch the show. Anyway, he’s been eating Readigrass, dried dandelion salad and half a rosehip Woodland Hoop up on the ledge. He doesn’t normally bother with treats but it’s nice to see him eating some dried stuff.

 

[piggieminder]

I am pleased to hear you are seeing some improvement. When Peanut had his abscess it was 6 weeks before he would eat properly for himself, it was as if his normal favourites tasted funny. He'd go up to food he normally liked then back away, it was a case of experimentation with different things until I could get him to eat something. His main food at this time was syringed mushed nuggets, recovery food and baby food (carrot & mango) with grass, dandelions, sow thistle and dried fodder nibbled at. I hope Erik carries on improving, sending him healing vibes.

 

[alexr]

Erik is making some improvements with his eating and has gained a small amount of weight. He’s mostly eating basic stuff such as grass, a small amount of leafy lettuce and hay and dried dandelion salad.

I’m more concerned about Herbie’s diarrhoea not clearing up tbh. He’s on Fibreplex and I’ve limited greens to grass for the last three days but it’s still very mushy. I have given him some supplementary syringe feed but he’s very keen to eat for himself. He’s lost another 100g. I know if I gave him greens, he’d wolf it down but would this just be prolonging the diarrhoea?

 

[pig in the city]

Erik is making some improvements with his eating and has gained a small amount of weight. He’s mostly eating basic stuff such as grass, a small amount of leafy lettuce and hay and dried dandelion salad.

I’m more concerned about Herbie’s diarrhoea not clearing up tbh. He’s on Fibreplex and I’ve limited greens to grass for the last three days but it’s still very mushy. I have given him some supplementary syringe feed but he’s very keen to eat for himself. He’s lost another 100g. I know if I gave him greens, he’d wolf it down but would this just be prolonging the diarrhoea?

I would definitely hold back on the greens. Dandelions are purging, even when dried, so maybe switch to dried raspberry leaves or blackberry leaves which will help to settle his stomach. Sometimes vets prescribe antibiotics such as Flagyl, if diarrhoea is very persistent.

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

I would definitely hold back on the greens. Dandelions are purging, even when dried, so maybe switch to dried raspberry leaves or blackberry leaves which will help to settle his stomach. Sometimes vets prescribe antibiotics such as Flagyl, if diarrhoea is very persistent.

Metronidazole (flagyl) saved the life of one of our piggies, who had severe diarrhoea. To be honest, I took him in for euthanasia, but Simon suggested trying the medication and it worked. He was later adopted and lived until he was nearly 9!

 

[alexr]

I would definitely hold back on the greens. Dandelions are purging, even when dried, so maybe switch to dried raspberry leaves or blackberry leaves which will help to settle his stomach. Sometimes vets prescribe antibiotics such as Flagyl, if diarrhoea is very persistent.

I’ll have to check what’s in the pack of “dried herbal salad” as opposed to the dandelion one. I got it to encourage Erik to eat really but Herbie and all the pigs seemed keen on it as a little treat. Poor Herbie, he is so keen to eat and really wants his greens. I did relent and give him a very small portion yesterday.

I’m just a bit concerned that further antibiotics will throw his gut balance out even further but I think if he’s still got diarrhoea tomorrow, I’d better chat with Simon. I wonder if there’s something else that would “firm things up.” I remember a pig being prescribed Kaolin years ago for diarrhoea but that’s because he’d eaten an ornamental cherry in the garden!

 

[Bill & Ted]

“Kaolin and morphine“ used to be a regular in people’s medical cabinets, I remember being given it as a child in the 60’s for diarrhoea, they’ve taken the morphine out now!
Hope you can get something to settle Herbie’s tummy soon x

 

[pig in the city]

I’ll have to check what’s in the pack of “dried herbal salad” as opposed to the dandelion one. I got it to encourage Erik to eat really but Herbie and all the pigs seemed keen on it as a little treat. Poor Herbie, he is so keen to eat and really wants his greens. I did relent and give him a very small portion yesterday.

I’m just a bit concerned that further antibiotics will throw his gut balance out even further but I think if he’s still got diarrhoea tomorrow, I’d better chat with Simon. I wonder if there’s something else that would “firm things up.” I remember a pig being prescribed Kaolin years ago for diarrhoea but that’s because he’d eaten an ornamental cherry in the garden!

I wouldn't use anything like that in piggies! It's an upset of the gut flora. Drugs like Flagyl kill 'bad' bacteria but dont tend to affect the 'good' bacteria. But it's always a risk of course

 

[alexr]

I think things may be improving a bit for Herbie. His poo is more like the mushy consistency of the syringe food as opposed to watery and everywhere. I guess this is a step in the right direction. I’m not having to change the paper on his ledge so many times a day which is where he likes to sit.

 

[Bill & Ted]

I think things may be improving a bit for Herbie. His poo is more like the mushy consistency of the syringe food as opposed to watery and everywhere. I guess this is a step in the right direction. I’m not having to change the paper on his ledge so many times a day which is where he likes to sit.

Oh, come on Herbie, hope you are feeling a bit better x

 

[alexr]

Herbie is doing a bit better now. He alternates more normal poo with mushy poo so I’m trying to get the balance right with greens.

Naughty scamp Erik continues to have an eating issue. He’s eating more for himself but not back to normal. I also suspect a UTI as his wee looks like it has some blood in it. No squeaking and active as normal but I think he may be hiding something.

Imagine my shock when I was trying to get a urine sample in the kitchen only to turn round and discover the imp had leapt in the washing machine! Thank goodness I spotted him.

 

[alexr]

Erik’s pee looks pretty clear to me today. I think it may just have been dark due to him not drinking enough. I’ve been really wetting his salad and syringing a bit of water. He is full of energy but not gaining weight.

Erik is due to be neutered on Weds and also Herbie along with the other boys over the course of two days. I would really have liked Erik back to 900g rather than the current 800g prior to the op. I think I’ll swap Erik and Herbie to the Thursday neutering session to give them an extra day but I may have to postpone Erik if there’s no weight increase at all.

 

[alexr]

So Erik & Herbie were neutered this week. It was a 50/50 decision for Erik due to his low weight but he was so spritely, we decided to go ahead. He was prescribed Emeprid as he was a bit gassy so we thought we’d try that for a week rather than continuing with Fibreplex. My concern is that, despite eating lots more since the op (lots more variety and enthusiasm), Erik’s weight has dropped to 740g. It was 800g on the day of the op and 900g before he got ill. This is not good for a growing pig. He is eating really well so I don’t know whether to just see how he does or whether to syringe as well. I’m worried that if I intervene too much, he won’t eat lots for himself. All the boys lost 80-100g post op but they are eating enthusiastically so I’m hoping all will gain weight as they recover.

 

[alexr]

@Wiebke I think I’ll try some poo soup for Erik again on Kim’s suggestion. Would Maurizio be the best donor as he is the only pig not to have been under anaesthetic this week? My only concern is that, until a week ago, he was on Zithromax which is the antibiotic Erik reacted badly to. Should it be clear of his system now?

Also, I’m not sure I’m making poo soup correctly. Do I need to mush them up and feed that or just syringe him the water in which they’ve been soaked?

 

[pig in the city]

So Erik & Herbie were neutered this week. It was a 50/50 decision for Erik due to his low weight but he was so spritely, we decided to go ahead. He was prescribed Emeprid as he was a bit gassy so we thought we’d try that for a week rather than continuing with Fibreplex. My concern is that, despite eating lots more since the op (lots more variety and enthusiasm), Erik’s weight has dropped to 740g. It was 800g on the day of the op and 900g before he got ill. This is not good for a growing pig. He is eating really well so I don’t know whether to just see how he does or whether to syringe as well. I’m worried that if I intervene too much, he won’t eat lots for himself. All the boys lost 80-100g post op but they are eating enthusiastically so I’m hoping all will gain weight as they recover.

In my experience some boars do lose weight after neutering, it's as if the procedure knocks them off track. As long as his weight is stable and he is well and eating and pooping normally l would just wait and see.
Just keep a close eye for any post op abscesses at the neutering site.

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

I fully agree with @pig in the city and would just watch and wait for now! It sounds like he's doing great!

 

[alexr]

In my experience some boars do lose weight after neutering, it's as if the procedure knocks them off track. As long as his weight is stable and he is well and eating and pooping normally l would just wait and see.
Just keep a close eye for any post op abscesses at the neutering site.

He weighed in at 800g again today so he must have eaten loads yesterday. Let’s hope his weight continues rising now!