Request for heart pig stories

Post Reply
User avatar
Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Sat Apr 15, 2006 8:56 pm


If you do not have a thread on this pig, you might want to start one. This isn't a discussion thread. Oh, and read over all these posts (you can sometimes search out the original posts using key words).

User avatar
Mum
I GAVE, dammit!

Post   » Tue Apr 18, 2006 7:22 pm


Lawomans asked me to add the information on Isaac.

1 - Neutered 3lb boar, adopted from rescue 2 years prior. Thought to be around 4 years old now.

2 - For quite some time had occasional hooting and morning cough.
Was checked by a different vet and prounced healthy. Very 'laid back' animal.

3 - Hooted for several hours one day, so we took him to my vet. Examination revealed no hooting or other symptoms. X-ray taken at our request showed small amount of fluid in lungs and enlarged heart pressing on trachea. Also showed gas in stomach.

4 - Initially prescribed 0.8 mg benazepril and 3mg lasix twice daily, which was taken for two weeks. Still coughing and hooting sometimes, so lasix was increased to 5mg twice daily.

HollyT
Get on your bike.

Post   » Fri May 19, 2006 8:51 pm


1 - breed, age and sex of pig

Frizzle: Teddy, close to four, Female

[/i]2 - brief description of symptoms that made you suspect heart problems[/i]

Persistant coughing with eating as if something was lodged in throat. Began coughing periodically without eating first. Was worried heart was pressing on trachea.

3 - diagnostics done and the results

Xray. Showed enlarged heart.

4 - treatment, med and dosage

Lotensin 5mg. Compounded. I give .6cc's twice daily.


5 - results of treatment

Too early to tell. Diagnosed today

6 - other med issues

Used to cry or grunt while pooping and/or peeing. Abnormal kidneys and liver, bladder/sludge issues diagnosed on xray and ultrasound but have resolved. Some calcium issues with ribs during this but was not mentioned on today's xray.

Episode with bouts of diarrhea which Flagyl resolved.

She has always been a snuffley pig with clicky breathing but not much trouble with URI's. An echo was done on her heart over a year ago and was normal. She was not coughing at the time. She began coughing around 4-6 months ago. Just recently started coughing without eating first. She is not spayed.

bookiepig

Post   » Fri May 26, 2006 5:31 pm


Update on Chasca:

Yesterday morning she was breathing very hard, actually making little “yip” sounds with each breath. I took her to the vet who said that her lungs were filling up and I should triple the amount of lasix I was giving her for a few days. He was also concerned about infection (she had a little discharge from her nose), so prescribed antibiotic just to be on the safe side.

I brought her home and within a couple of hours I could tell that she was fading fast, really struggling to breathe and moaning. Before I could get her in her carrier to go back to the vet, she began convulsing. I took her in my arms and she convulsed for a few minutes and was gone.

If anyone in the Denver metro-area can use her lasix and enalapril (which I just had refilled yesterday morning, so are full bottles of medicine), please email me at the address listed in my profile.

User avatar
mkkayla
Supporter in '14

Post   » Fri May 26, 2006 6:58 pm


I am so sorry you lost her. Godspeed Chasca to the parsley fields above.

User avatar
Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Fri May 26, 2006 7:42 pm


Oh, bookiepig, I am so sorry she's gone. Sometimes they seem so fragile.

User avatar
Mum
I GAVE, dammit!

Post   » Fri Jun 02, 2006 8:46 pm


1. Marilyn - abbyruvian sow, pulled from shelter end of 05, previous owner who had her since a baby said she ws 3 years old.

2. Very pear shaped with a squishy lower half. Belly pig. Very laid back (except if put in with other adult sows, when she becomes a holy terror). No other symptoms until I heard a very slight clicking.

3. Had thorough vet check when she came in - was pronounced healthy. I took her back after the clicking, vet listened to her chest and said it was clear. X-ray, though, showed a small amount of fluid in lungs and extremely enlarged heart.

4. Put on Lasix 2mg 2xday and Lotensin 0.70mg 2xday.

5. Several weeks later no clicking but no difference in behavior. Vet says if the enlargement was caused by leaky valves the lotensin won't do anything. I'm keeping her on that regimen for a while just in case.

6. From the xrays the vet thought that she was closer to 5 than 3.

HollyT
Get on your bike.

Post   » Fri Jun 02, 2006 9:03 pm


1 - breed, age and sex of pig
2 - brief description of symptoms that made you suspect heart problems
3 - diagnostics done and the results
4 - treatment, med and dosage
5 - results of treatment
6 - other med issues


1. Harry- Male Texel age unknown. Senior probably

2. Has lost two and a half ounces but eats well, sleeping more, came to me with pea eye in one eye a couple years ago. Now has pea eye in both eyes.

3. Spoke to vet over phone but am taking him in Monday. Not sure what vet will suggest in way of diagnostics. Probably xray at the least.

4. Will start lotensin today (will need to post dosage later)

No other medical issues. Has never been sick since with me. My only senior lap runner.

HollyT
Get on your bike.

Post   » Mon Jun 05, 2006 11:39 pm


Harry had an enlarged heart upon xray today. My vet counted 4 rib spaces. He considers the heart enlarged when it goes past 3 or 4 rib spaces. His dosage is the same as Frizzle's, .6 twice daily of lotensin.

User avatar
Mum
I GAVE, dammit!

Post   » Mon Jun 19, 2006 3:31 pm


1 - breed, age and sex of pig

Eloise, Teddy, female, less than a year. Was about 6 months old when pulled from shelter.

2 - brief description of symptoms that made you suspect heart problems

Came in with 'pneumonia' - never showed any signs of illness, except for rattling and fluid in the lungs, shown on xray. No signs of an enlarged heart. Treated with doxy and baytril. Rattling subsided after 3 days. Today foster parent realized she had been hooting for a while and coughing in the mornings. Is gaining weight well but has become more lethargic. Squishy belly.

3 - diagnostics done and the results

Previous xrays taken when she came in from the shelter only showed some fluid, no enlarged heart. Will get xrays repeated next week.

4 - treatment, med and dosage

Will start on a 10-day trial today:
Lasix 5mg once a day
Lotensin 1mg twice a day

5 - results of treatment

TBD

6 - other med issues

None[/quote]

User avatar
Mum
I GAVE, dammit!

Post   » Mon Jun 19, 2006 3:33 pm


1 - breed, age and sex of pig

Frosting, silkie, at least 3 years old (probably more), female. Found outside petstore last week.

2 - brief description of symptoms that made you suspect heart problems

Very lethargic, squishy belly

3 - diagnostics done and the results

None yet, will get xray next week

4 - treatment, med and dosage

Starting on a 10-day trial of lotensin: 1mg twice a day

5 - results of treatment

TBD

6 - other med issues

eye problem, probably common to old age (discussed in her thread)

User avatar
Mum
I GAVE, dammit!

Post   » Wed Jun 28, 2006 11:07 am


Update on Frosting and Eloise:

x-rays taken yesterday:

Eloise's showed a very enlarged heart. The previous xray taken back in January was of poor quality, and her heart was obscured.o

Frosting also showed a very enlarged heart. And she is at least 6 years old, maybe more.

Both are now on lotensin 1.0mg twice a day. Eloise is given lasix when she rattles.

Post Reply