I have e-mailed my vet, bt has not heard anything back yet.
Today I noticed something odd - Poppy's skin seems to be to large for her body! I suspect that is an indication of her beeing dehydrated. Has anybody seen this in a pig before?
As a precaution I have increased the water to about 50 - 60 ml today, and will get Poppy to the vet for a check-up on this tomorrow.
Should I worry? Lazy "rag doll" pig
I have been weighing her frequently, but not daily until now, as her weight has been 1250 - 1290 g for the last 9 months or more, and still was yesterday. I really can't figure how she is maintaining the weight, as she feels thinner, and I am quite sure the weight is reasonably accurate.
Back from the vet - no dehydration! Puh! I was really worried! But the vet can't explain why Poppy's skin is so "loose" - "That's how they are!", she said. I have to scrutinize the other pigs tonight to find out if I am just so conserned about Poppy's health that I am seeing sympthoms that are not there!
The vet checked Poppy's gums to see if they were unnaturally pale, but they are nice and pink, so she is not likely to have anemia, and tried to draw a blood sample from her jugular (?) vein, but since Poppy screamed at the first little poke of the needle vet interrupted the prosedure without any blood. (I had agreed on her making one try.)
Poppy was weighted as well - same weight as last night, so my scale can't be wrong, at least.
The vet is not sure what to make of this, but says the two things she can think of is either kidney biopsy or a Cushings-test that has to be taken 3 times, each 24 hours apart. We have to wait two weeks for that, as I will be away next week.
I wish I knew what was the best thing to do here!
The vet checked Poppy's gums to see if they were unnaturally pale, but they are nice and pink, so she is not likely to have anemia, and tried to draw a blood sample from her jugular (?) vein, but since Poppy screamed at the first little poke of the needle vet interrupted the prosedure without any blood. (I had agreed on her making one try.)
Poppy was weighted as well - same weight as last night, so my scale can't be wrong, at least.
The vet is not sure what to make of this, but says the two things she can think of is either kidney biopsy or a Cushings-test that has to be taken 3 times, each 24 hours apart. We have to wait two weeks for that, as I will be away next week.
I wish I knew what was the best thing to do here!
I need help to check doses - just back from an emergency call to the vet (it's just after 11 at night here right now) - when I was cleaning the cage I discovered Poppy's eye had a rupture, so I got her in immediately in.
We are now back with Fucithalmic (1%) ointment to be applied twice daily, Prednisolon 2,5 mg tablets to be given once daily and Baytril 15 mg tablets to be given once per day, I think.
I am a bit upset at the moment and would be very thankful if somebody could check if the the Prednisolon dose sounds right.
Is one tablet too much for her? Her kidneys are perhaps not very good, so I guess we have to take that into account, but I also don't want her to be in any pain. Does anybody know what the right dose is? She is 1300 g, by the way.
We are now back with Fucithalmic (1%) ointment to be applied twice daily, Prednisolon 2,5 mg tablets to be given once daily and Baytril 15 mg tablets to be given once per day, I think.
I am a bit upset at the moment and would be very thankful if somebody could check if the the Prednisolon dose sounds right.
Is one tablet too much for her? Her kidneys are perhaps not very good, so I guess we have to take that into account, but I also don't want her to be in any pain. Does anybody know what the right dose is? She is 1300 g, by the way.
I guess I panicked, because when I read over the printout from the vet I found that she should have half a Prednisolon tablet (1,25 mg), not a whole one, so I gave her that now. I have separated her from her cage mates for now, and she eats her hay and seems fine except for the eye. Doesn’t look to be in any particular pain at the moment, but she must be – the eye looks bad. She is a though little girl, for sure!
But I can’t understand how she has got this infected eye – the vet said she must have had it for some time, but I am absolutely sure both her eyes were fine the day before yesterday because I weighted her and brushed her then. Yesterday I just petted her in her cage, so it is possible that the eye had ruptured then, but I don’t think so. I feel really guilty if she was in pain from yesterday and I didn’t discover it. Poor little thing!
She will go back to the vet first thing Monday morning to be operated, but I am not sure if her eye will be removed or if it can be saved. I hope she can keep the eye – she used to have the wisest look in her dark, beautiful eyes. She has always been my little thinker. Wish us luck on Monday!
But I can’t understand how she has got this infected eye – the vet said she must have had it for some time, but I am absolutely sure both her eyes were fine the day before yesterday because I weighted her and brushed her then. Yesterday I just petted her in her cage, so it is possible that the eye had ruptured then, but I don’t think so. I feel really guilty if she was in pain from yesterday and I didn’t discover it. Poor little thing!
She will go back to the vet first thing Monday morning to be operated, but I am not sure if her eye will be removed or if it can be saved. I hope she can keep the eye – she used to have the wisest look in her dark, beautiful eyes. She has always been my little thinker. Wish us luck on Monday!
Thanks you for thinking of us! Poppy has been relatively fine today. Her apetite has been resonabely good, and when we found some fresh gras for her she ate everything. I hope that is a good sign.
I still wonder how this could happen, but suspect there has been fighting, as Molley (her daughter) seems to be aspiring as alpha pig now, and she can be a bit agressive sometimes. She has mostly been after Pippi, but I have noticed that she has taken food out of Poppy's mouth lately, so she might try too bully her aswell.
Has anybody seen anything like this, or bitemarks in the face, around the eyes, etc.?
I still wonder how this could happen, but suspect there has been fighting, as Molley (her daughter) seems to be aspiring as alpha pig now, and she can be a bit agressive sometimes. She has mostly been after Pippi, but I have noticed that she has taken food out of Poppy's mouth lately, so she might try too bully her aswell.
Has anybody seen anything like this, or bitemarks in the face, around the eyes, etc.?
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Bethie
- Still supporting in 2014
Poor Poppy! I hope she's able to heal up fine. I wouldn't worry too much about her losing the eye. Several member have one-eyed or blind pigs and they do just fine. Abcess though, you can worry about.
Sid and Truff had a fight one morning. I think it was over a pepper. Truff was trying to assert her dominance and Sid wasn't having it. She bit his lip. Luckily, it healed up fine.
It was really swollen the first day, but went right down overnight.
Sid and Truff had a fight one morning. I think it was over a pepper. Truff was trying to assert her dominance and Sid wasn't having it. She bit his lip. Luckily, it healed up fine.
It was really swollen the first day, but went right down overnight.
Ouch! I am sure that did hurt poor Sid! (I am often reminded of him at work because we have a computerprogram called Mr.Sid!)
I'm almost conviced Molly was the one to hurt Poppy, as she has been a riot all afternoon, chasing and biting Pippi and being a nuicance to Mango. I had to separate them, so at the moment I have four pigs in three diffetent cages. I hope Molly will calm down, but I am not sure I will dare to put her back with the others. Sometimes I wonder if she is a bit psycotic or something!
Thank you for your reassurance, Bethie - I think Poppy will be fine, one way or the other, but I must admit I am a little bit worried, so some good thoughts form other piggiemums help for sure!
I'm almost conviced Molly was the one to hurt Poppy, as she has been a riot all afternoon, chasing and biting Pippi and being a nuicance to Mango. I had to separate them, so at the moment I have four pigs in three diffetent cages. I hope Molly will calm down, but I am not sure I will dare to put her back with the others. Sometimes I wonder if she is a bit psycotic or something!
Thank you for your reassurance, Bethie - I think Poppy will be fine, one way or the other, but I must admit I am a little bit worried, so some good thoughts form other piggiemums help for sure!
Back from the vet, and all well I think. I am pretty sure the vet did a good and thorough job, but he could not guarantee the eye can be saved as the infection was severe and parts of the cornea had to be removed. He cleaned everything out and hopefully the ABs and Poppy's immune system will do the rest to heal her up. Otherwise the eye will have to be removed. I hope for the best.
I am still a nervous wreck, as she is still sleeping, over four hours after the operation was finsihed. She was anaesthetized with something called Ketalar and Ceptor, and vet looked dose, so I think it was right. But it is normal that a pig will sleep for more than 5 hours?
Her heartbeats seem fine to me, but I am still so nervous something is not right. Can somebody assure me it is normal?
I am still a nervous wreck, as she is still sleeping, over four hours after the operation was finsihed. She was anaesthetized with something called Ketalar and Ceptor, and vet looked dose, so I think it was right. But it is normal that a pig will sleep for more than 5 hours?
Her heartbeats seem fine to me, but I am still so nervous something is not right. Can somebody assure me it is normal?
No, she has not been awake at all after the suregry. I have seen som little movement around her mouth, but that is all.
When I called the vet some hours ago and asked when she would wake up he said late tonight or tomorrow. I am so worried!
When I called the vet some hours ago and asked when she would wake up he said late tonight or tomorrow. I am so worried!
I don't know if the system is getting depressed or not - the vet said this was the only option since he was working on her eye. He would otherwise have used isoflurane or similar.
ETA: How will I kow her system is depressed?
ETA: How will I kow her system is depressed?
I called the vet - he said it sounded normal, but suggested I tried to put a drop of water on her tongue to see if she would swallow. When I did that she tried to rise her head, and now she is sitting up. Very, very sleepy, but she has swallowed a little amount of water. I will forcourse be up with her all nigt and feed her critical care when she is more awake. I am still conserned, but hope for a good outcome.
Thank you so much for your encoragement, Mum and Lynx! It mean a lot!
Thank you so much for your encoragement, Mum and Lynx! It mean a lot!