UK Piggy - Anselmo's Medical Thread

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Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Sun Apr 19, 2015 5:32 pm


Poor guy. At least he is in the best of hands.

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Jaycey
Supporter in 2014

Post   » Sun Apr 19, 2015 6:43 pm


Thanks Lynx. We're at the energency vet now, he's off getting a scan.

I'm not feeling too positive as he looks dreadful and I'm quite certain it's fluid bloat.

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GP_mum
Supporter in '13

Post   » Mon Apr 20, 2015 12:28 am


Sorry to hear that he's not well and a trip to the emergency vet was needed. How is he? Hoping that things are better. Sending my best wishes and healing vibes.

C Cole-Chakotay

Post   » Mon Apr 20, 2015 1:26 am


I hate hearing your little one is doing poorly. I'll be thinking of him and you.

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Jaycey
Supporter in 2014

Post   » Mon Apr 20, 2015 5:25 am


Hello all, thanks for your well wishes.

He's still with us, thankfully but not out of the woods yet.

The emergency vet wasn't sure it was fluid bloat so he did a scan. He thought it showed gas, not fluid, so he was happy for me to bring him home again. He was given another Metoclopramide injection, and a Zantac injection. I was also given some Buscopan to take home and told to us Simethicone too.

I thought fluid bloat as he had a sloshing noise when I gently shook him.

When we got home he'd done a few poops in the box, and I managed to rub his tummy for a little while and he pooped a few more whilst I gave him his Simethicone (Infacol). He still looked very unhappy though, very squinty eyes and wanting to sit head first in a corner.

I stayed with him all night and got him out a few more times. Each time he looked a little bit better, but still didn't want to eat.

At around 4am he felt a bit more deflated, but there's still some gas in there. He was interested in his veg and hay, and his eyes looked much brighter. I gave him another Simethicone dose and let him have a wander around on the floor.

I wasn't sure what to do as I have an appointment tomorrow with the specialised vet about his bladder stone tablets. So, wisely or unwisely I've chosen to come to work today, and keep my day off tomorrow.

He seemed okay when I left him. He had done a few poops and had a bit of hay and veg to eat. Not a lot but some. He wants to sit in the "Bedroom" part of his cage. But he's not hunched or in the corner. His tummy seems a lot smaller now but seeing as he's not eaten a lot I think he still has a bit of gas in him.

I have left PigCam on and he's come out into the other side and I've seen him eat a bit of veg and hay. There's still veg there so he's not had much.

If he seems to relapse or doesn't look great I'll go home at lunch and give him another round or medicine and pain relief, vibrations and what not.

I have absolutely no idea how it happened this time, his cage mate is fine.

Fingers crossed he is okay, but if nothing bad happens in the meantime I'll ask the vet tomorrow to have a good check of him.

I'm due to go on holiday for the weekend soon and now my boyfriend is said that he doesn't want to look after them as he's scared he relapses and doesn't know what to do. It's understandable as he adores the pigs, but is very skittish when they're ill and he can't drive so taking to a vet would be difficult.

As for me, I only had 3 hours sleep at most, so I'm being powered by caffeine!

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Jaycey
Supporter in 2014

Post   » Mon Apr 20, 2015 5:27 am


Just checked PigCam and he's over at the veg again. Fingers crossed!!

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GP_mum
Supporter in '13

Post   » Mon Apr 20, 2015 10:21 am


Yah for caffeine and good that he is pooping and eating, although small amounts. I'm sure all the exercise, vibrating and meds helped. Continued best wishes that he continues to improve and that he has a positive vet visit.

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Jaycey
Supporter in 2014

Post   » Mon Apr 20, 2015 12:14 pm


Thanks GP_mum!!

Talishan
You can quote me

Post   » Mon Apr 20, 2015 3:39 pm


Ditto.

Your Pig Cam is a lifesaver. Literally.

He may benefit from simply being on a low dose of metoclopramide daily, as susceptible to bloating as he is, if you can get your vets to go along with it.

I wish I had some good suggestions for your holiday, but I don't. :-(

Please let us know how he's doing.

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clairey

Post   » Mon Apr 20, 2015 4:04 pm


Poor Anselmo.

Will you be able to access your pigcam while you're away? If so, I'm sure between you and BF you can work something out. Maybe leave BF enough money for a cab to the vet? (He can get the bus home, the return journey is less urgent! ;)

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Jaycey
Supporter in 2014

Post   » Wed Apr 22, 2015 3:49 am


He's doing okay, still not 100% but so much better. He's not too enthusiastic about his veg yet but getting there. He was up at the side of the cage for his breakfast this morning, but only ate 3/4 of it. He eats lots of hay still though.

Leaving money for BF is such an obvious idea clairey but I didn't even think of that. I'll definitely do that. I try to make things as less stressful for him when I'm away so I'll definitely leave money for the taxi and for the treatment if needed.

PigCam will be on when I'm away. I miss the little beasties when I'm away so it's good to see them even when they're not ill.

The wonderful BamBam has come to my rescue yet again! She doesn't live very far away from me, and has been kind enough to be on call if needed and she'll offer advice and if needed take Anselmo to the vet.

It has been suggested that Anselmo stays on a hay only diet when I'm away then hopefully he should be okay. BF can give him a few veg as a treat if he wants. I've mentioned this to BF and he thinks it's a good idea.

The vet went well yesterday. He's still a bit gassy so we've come away with Zantac and Metoclopramide for him to have for a few more days. The vet is more than happy for me to dose him as and when and if he does show signs of bloat again (which I'm certain he will) I'm sure she'll be happy for him to have it daily.

She tried to listen to his lungs regarding the crackling I noticed a few weeks ago, but he's a very vocal pig and she couldn't really hear anything. But, she was happy when she watched his breathing and said he didn't seem to be having any problems. But, if in doubt take him back.

She did give me some very obvious advice, but it's definitely helped hearing it from a vet. It was if it seems like he's starting to bloat and he looks uncomfortable by all means use the Metoclopraimide. But, if he goes from uncomfortable to in pain then it's worth going straight to the vet for injectible versions as they will work quicker and more effectively. Oral medicines will just sit in the gas/fluid and not get absorbed.

Obviously really, but it's good to remember as I always get in such a flap when he bloats. Next time I'm just going straight to the vet.

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GP_mum
Supporter in '13

Post   » Wed Apr 22, 2015 5:48 am


Glad things went well at the vet and you have a back-up plan for when you're away. So fortunate to have Bambam as well. At least you'll be able to leave for your trip knowing that you've got all bases covered. I've never had a pig with bloat but just reading about it on the medical forum makes me realize how scary it can be.

The all hay diet should be helpful. Maybe also see if bf can get him (aka gently nudging) to walk a bit more in the cage as well.

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