Very puzzled

klynne

Post   » Thu Mar 22, 2007 1:13 pm


"It's also the regularity that disturbs me."

I'll tell you what works for me, is to start a chart. Sounds like something is nagging at you, sorta subconsciously, that you are noticing.

Human memory is a tricky thing, though, and so writing stuff down on each date it happens, and making note of diet that day, any unusual happenings, etc, helps me to *identify a pattern.* I've often figured out what something is, when veterinary diagnostics have failed, by doing careful charting.

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Bugs Mom

Post   » Thu Mar 22, 2007 1:24 pm


That's a good idea Klynne instead of trying to rely on my memory. It might not be something that she ate or did on that day. It could be something two days prior that was just a little out of the ordinary and I'm not remembering. Thank you.

See, I knew I came to the right place (smiles).

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Tracy

Post   » Thu Mar 22, 2007 5:02 pm


My Inca has uncomfortable "episodes" periodically, and they seem to be GI-related (much gas and/or slow motility). With meds and TLC she's pulled through a number of times, but my vet and I haven't been able to determine the cause (there's a thread somewhere). We suspect adhesions from her spay 2 years ago.

But if your piggy's Xrays don't show gas, I guess that's probably not the problem in your little one. Some piggies fluff up when cold, though your descriptions of "hunched" and not eating sounds more uncomfortable than that. Geez, hope you figure it out! Careful notes sounds like a good idea.

Talishan
You can quote me

Post   » Thu Mar 22, 2007 7:04 pm


" ... lettuce from a truck farm whose quality is great. Their stuff is pretty much local and tend to be the same suppliers that sell at our local Farmers' Market which is completely organic."

Okay, this is gonna be waaayyy out there but by any chance did this coincide with the recent freeze in Northern California that destroyed so many crops? Could she have gotten a bit of frozen lettuce leaf? As I understand it (and I am no botanist), freezing actually breaks down and destroys the leaves of plants like lettuce, essentially decaying them.

Barring something like that, one of ours was diagnosed with "acquired megacolon" and experienced cyclical spells with some similarities to what you describe.

1. If she's drinking nothing at all, where is she getting her fluids? Are you syringing her, subcue-ing her, giving her additional fruits and wet vegetables ... ?

2. Is she defecating okay?

I strongly second the notes/chart/find a pattern suggestion.

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Bugs Mom

Post   » Thu Mar 22, 2007 8:36 pm


Sorry, had to do some work today and just got back.

Tracy the Bug is peeing and pooping like a real champ even on her "bad" days. Nothing has slowed down nor is there any obnxious gas coming from her. The ultra sound showed everything as being normal. Good idea though.

Talishan, the problem actually started in late Feb after the freezes. Since I grow as much of her lettuce as I can I know what frozen lettuce looks like. Actually, once the leaf has been frozen, it's impossible to bring it back to it's original appearance. The cell wall just break down too much.

Her not drinking water. That's a story. Just a few days after her 4th b'day she just up and decided she didn't want to drink anymore. She never was a big drinker. I used to give her 1 1/2 cups of greens a day. I gave her two days without drinking water and then zipped her into her vet. He told me it was ok as once in awhile an animal just doesn't like to drink. She now gets at least 3 cups of greens a day which is actually more than she eats. I still give her a bottle of water every night which is never touched by morning. She does have a mind of her own I'll give her that!

This is actually why I wanted particular attention paid to her bladder and kidneys when she got her physical.

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Mum
I GAVE, dammit!

Post   » Thu Mar 22, 2007 8:47 pm


You don't put anything in her water, right? Did you change the water bottle? (Some pigs will refuse to drink out of a particular water bottle).

Talishan
You can quote me

Post   » Thu Mar 22, 2007 8:50 pm


Man, I wish we could grow our own lettuce. How cool is that. I'm envious.

1. Ditto Mum; and

2. If it were me I'd offer her some unflavored Pedialyte via syringe and see if she wants it. A 3cc, 6cc, up to 10 or 12cc works just fine since you're not forcing it, just offering it.

We have one who for the first three years or so we had him didn't drink very much, hardly any at all. He did not appear nor act dehydrated, and he got plenty of wet vegetables, but still. It bothered me.

I offered him some unflavored Pedialyte and he took syringe after syringe after syringe of it. His water bottle now has about 50-50 water and Pedialyte in it, and he drinks, maybe, 6+ oz. per day.

His demeanor, behavior, appearance and energy have all intangibly improved. Nothing I can put my finger on, or could put my finger on as wrong, before. But he's better. I don't know if there's such a thing as subclinical dehydration, but if there is, he had it and he's better now. Bug may benefit from more direct fluid (short of subcue if not yet necessary).

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Bugs Mom

Post   » Thu Mar 22, 2007 9:13 pm


Hi Mum. Her bottle is and always has been the standard Oasis, 16 oz. I think it was the water not the bottle she boycotted. All she ever got was plain, Britta filtered water. Our town has terrible water that I won't drink so there was no way the Bugster was getting any.

Hi Talishan. I've never tried a syringe and I think perhaps I should try. As for what she's had, you name it. I've tried both in her bottle and a small bowl, Pedialyte unflavored, organic carrot juice (which I thought was terrible too), both sweet and unsweetened apple juice and unsweetened as well as sweetened cranberry juice. She loves apples and cranberries from the freezer. She just sniffs all this stuff, tosses her head and ignores the whole thing. I know the sugar isn't good for her but all I was trying to was get her started drinking again. I figured I could switch back to straight water after that.

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Bugs Mom

Post   » Thu Mar 22, 2007 11:57 pm


Well all, just as the last two times, when the 24 hours is over she's fine again. I will keep an eye on her, of course. If I ever manage to find out what is going on I will let you all know just in case it ever comes up again.

Thank you all for your responses and good ideas.

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Bugs Mom

Post   » Mon May 21, 2007 1:52 pm


Hi all. I'm back with another question. Has anyone dealt with Colitis in their GP?

My little one has been squeeking when she poos and I took her to the vet this morning. A physical exam and e-rays don't show anything so her poos are going in for an exam.

He doctor thought it might be Colitis and usually prescribes Metronidazde. Has anyone ever used this before? If so, at what dose? The Bug is 2 lbs 4 oz.

Just trying to be a bit pro active here. Thanks

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somechick

Post   » Mon May 21, 2007 2:09 pm


One of my pigs had coccidia. Her poops were gross, and at one point there was blood in her stool. I don't know if she actually ever squeaked while pooping though. I have used Metronidazole, and didn't experience any ill effects. I don't remember the dose as it was awhile ago.

How do her poops look?
My newly adapted rule is that if there are weird poops, there's probably something going on (if I haven't been overdosing on veggies). So my first step is getting a fecal on the poop. Then if that shows nothing I get a culture and/or gram stain.

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Bugs Mom

Post   » Mon May 21, 2007 2:51 pm


Hi somechick. Her poops are very strange looking (for her). Some are small, some are in a string and they are all soft. One had some mucus around it.

Bless her heart she pooped at the vets office so he could both see and collect fresh ones. Exactly what tests do I want him to do? What will a stain show?

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