Well, I have had pigs for 4 years now and this is my first medical thread. I looked in on the pigs tonight to give them hay, pellets and to check the water. I filled the pellet bowl and Scooter was the first one there. He happily munched away. Then I gave them hay, and he ran downstairs and dove into the middle of the pile, like always. I filled the water and he ran to drink. About 20 minutes later Courtney had him out of the cage cuddling him. She handed him to me because he pooped and peed on her. He seemed small to me so I weighed him. He has dropped almost 150 grams in 5 days.
His eyes and nose are clear, he is eating and drinking, and is peeing and pooping. I asked Courtney if he seemed to be in pain, like did he squeel when he peed and pooped on her and she said no. I am not sure what to do. Any thoughts?
Scooter has lost weight
He is 3 1/2. Not sure about carrots and apples. I did start hand feeding him last night. It appears to be his teeth. When I started to feed him it was like he had not eaten in weeks. He was starving. When I gave veggies later, I watched him and at first glance, it appeared he was eating. Then I oticed he was just picking at it, and would then hop around and pick at another piece.
I have an appointment for him today.
I have an appointment for him today.
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Mum
- I GAVE, dammit!
Sorry this has hit him so quickly.
I've seen this sort of dramatic weightloss with stones, but not with teeth. Also with a mouth abscess. While he may also have a teeth issue, I'd still get an xray to rule out other things.
I would only have a particular vet deal with teeth issues, but anybody can do an xray/exam.
I've seen this sort of dramatic weightloss with stones, but not with teeth. Also with a mouth abscess. While he may also have a teeth issue, I'd still get an xray to rule out other things.
I would only have a particular vet deal with teeth issues, but anybody can do an xray/exam.
Dr. R is not in the office until late tomorrow and is not available until Sat morning. I have been hand feeding him every 2-3 hours and he is so happy. He is already showing signs of weigh gain. No much, but it is a start.
I will have to go back and check my book to make sure I am right about the last time we weighed him. We normally do it Friday evenings before veggies. I honestly can't remember if we did them or not now. I know we did the fosters. But now that I am thinking about it, I honestly can't remember if we did them. How can I not remember? I do dremember what his weight was though the last time. It was down at that time around 15 grams. But the week before that he was up 10 grams.
I will have to go back and check my book to make sure I am right about the last time we weighed him. We normally do it Friday evenings before veggies. I honestly can't remember if we did them or not now. I know we did the fosters. But now that I am thinking about it, I honestly can't remember if we did them. How can I not remember? I do dremember what his weight was though the last time. It was down at that time around 15 grams. But the week before that he was up 10 grams.
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Talishan
- You can quote me
" ... but not with teeth ... "
I have. And the pig was apparently, to casual observation eating just fine. No other standard dental signs were present, until they got into his mouth. Then they found a mess.
Ditto Mum, however. I strongly suspect some form of mouth problem, but if he were my pig I'd want an x-ray and thorough exam, too.
Caveat: my experience screams at me not to let *anyone* who doesn't know cavy teeth look in a cavy's mouth. My inclination would be to wait until Saturday for Dr. R. and handfeed him aggressively. Mum is right, though; anyone reasonably savvy can do an x-ray and exam. That would be two vet visits, though.
How well is he holding his weight and/or gaining with handfeeding?
I have. And the pig was apparently, to casual observation eating just fine. No other standard dental signs were present, until they got into his mouth. Then they found a mess.
Ditto Mum, however. I strongly suspect some form of mouth problem, but if he were my pig I'd want an x-ray and thorough exam, too.
Caveat: my experience screams at me not to let *anyone* who doesn't know cavy teeth look in a cavy's mouth. My inclination would be to wait until Saturday for Dr. R. and handfeed him aggressively. Mum is right, though; anyone reasonably savvy can do an x-ray and exam. That would be two vet visits, though.
How well is he holding his weight and/or gaining with handfeeding?
I actually just decided that too, since he is eating fine with hand feeding. I am going to get CC tonight. I scheduled time with Dr. R on Saturday morning.
He has actually gained a little already. I weighed him right before his last feeding. I need to get him some vit. C too. Going to get that in a little bit.
He has actually gained a little already. I weighed him right before his last feeding. I need to get him some vit. C too. Going to get that in a little bit.
Scooter is home from the vet. I made all the arrangements before I went so they had time already scheduled for him to have the teeth done. He of course showed no signs of anything being wrong with him, by popcorning all around the table and even in Dr. R's arms. Then when he was holding him, he licked his face and peed and pooped all over him. Dr. R was like...that answers my next question regarding pooping and peeing. He picked one up and said...perfect shap, color and consistancy. Courtney laughed at that.
His teeth were taken care of. They even gave him a nail trim while he was there. I had given him a butt cleaning, but they cleaned him out even better. By the time I got there to pick him up, he was already up and trying to eat.
We have metecam for 10 days, and continue hand feeding for 4-5 days, or longer if needed. We go back for a recheck in 3 weeks.
Thank you everyone for your input.
His teeth were taken care of. They even gave him a nail trim while he was there. I had given him a butt cleaning, but they cleaned him out even better. By the time I got there to pick him up, he was already up and trying to eat.
We have metecam for 10 days, and continue hand feeding for 4-5 days, or longer if needed. We go back for a recheck in 3 weeks.
Thank you everyone for your input.
Question...is it normal for them to drop weught right after their teeth done? Scooter had been putting on weight with the hand feeding. I weighed him last night before I went to bed and he had actually lost weight. I have continued to hand feed, and he has put a little back on. Just wondering if that is normal.
I have been following Leslie's thread as well, since her pig is going through the same thing. I mixed a little baby food in with the mash and that seemed to help a little. Watermellon has not been successful. However, strawberries have proven to be a bit easier. I have been trying to feed smaller amounts more often. I guess timing is everything, as I was recently laid off work, so I have the time to hand feed him frequently.
I have been following Leslie's thread as well, since her pig is going through the same thing. I mixed a little baby food in with the mash and that seemed to help a little. Watermellon has not been successful. However, strawberries have proven to be a bit easier. I have been trying to feed smaller amounts more often. I guess timing is everything, as I was recently laid off work, so I have the time to hand feed him frequently.
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Talishan
- You can quote me
Woohoo! Good news, and a good feeding tip. I'm gonna remember that one.
"Question...is it normal for them to drop weight right after their teeth done?"
Yes. Ideally they won't, and some don't, but in my experience (and reading here), many (if not most) do.
My empathy and understanding on the layoff. Best of luck and good wishes in finding something new.
"Question...is it normal for them to drop weight right after their teeth done?"
Yes. Ideally they won't, and some don't, but in my experience (and reading here), many (if not most) do.
My empathy and understanding on the layoff. Best of luck and good wishes in finding something new.
Aww Dana, I'm so glad to hear Scooter's teeth issues were resolved so much better than Krysmas' were, so I wish him a long and healthy, happy life. Tell him to eat a little extra of everything for Krysmas, okay? And thanks for your advice and support the other day.
Still having problems. He was holding his own for a while and putting on a little weight. I went out of town last weekend and left him with another volunteer from the rescue. She said he ate constantly even though she did hand feed. He came home and was fine. He continued to eat on his own and gained weight the first 2 days I was home. I had discontinued hand feeding.
Then 3 days ago he started dropping again. He is now below 900 grams. This is a pig that was usually around 1200 grams or more. I have resumed hand feeding, even though he does eat on his own. I have moved him to a cage by himself so I can monitor exactly how much he is eating. His breathing sounds fine and his eyes and nose are clear. I am at a loss right now. I have an appointment for him Tuesday afternoon. His is pooping and peeing without any evidence of discomfort. I am at a loss for what to do for him.
Then 3 days ago he started dropping again. He is now below 900 grams. This is a pig that was usually around 1200 grams or more. I have resumed hand feeding, even though he does eat on his own. I have moved him to a cage by himself so I can monitor exactly how much he is eating. His breathing sounds fine and his eyes and nose are clear. I am at a loss right now. I have an appointment for him Tuesday afternoon. His is pooping and peeing without any evidence of discomfort. I am at a loss for what to do for him.