I'm worried about Rosie.

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lisam

Post   » Mon Oct 27, 2003 6:31 pm


Good that he is getting his teeth done. It won't be over then, though, as I'm sure you've learned. Still lots of handfeeding is needed, and there is the chance his jaw muscles will be weakened, and need a chin sling.

kleenmama
I GAVE, dammit!

Post   » Mon Oct 27, 2003 6:37 pm


Oh, it's so nice having a diagnosis! We thought that might be it, due to his incisors getting so long. That is why the guy hasn't been gaining weight, poor little bugger.

Well, remember to get Rimadyl or Meloxicam. Very important for teeth pigs, sometimes their mouths really hurt and they stop eating.

Make sure she looks a bit BELOW the gums to make sure there are no spurs. Sounds like there might be, since he has irritation and infection. Poor little toot!

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Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Mon Oct 27, 2003 9:00 pm


Yes, pain meds. And let her know the gums actually grow along with the teeth. If she happened to take an xray, she might be able to get a good idea of what she's working with.

His bottom molars have grown almost completely together, forming a tent like thing in the back of his mouth. He has ulcers and severe infection back there. Maybe the infection is part of why he smelled bad?

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melcvt00

Post   » Mon Oct 27, 2003 9:11 pm


I would think that one round of dental work isn't going to be enough. He's going to have to learn to chew properly all over again.

You might want to get that Chinsling in order, to help him out after his molars are done.

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Paravati
I GAVE, dammit!

Post   » Mon Oct 27, 2003 9:58 pm


The smelling bad part was all over him, not just in the mouth or his breath. His entire body, skin to hair to head to butt, smelled like he'd been laying in people or dog feces for two weeks. The smell didn't even go away after I bathed him twice and sprayed smell-good skin therapy stuff on him. Right now instead of smelling like crap, he reeks of Critical Care. I've never had another pig (except for maybe a newborn pup) who smelled like this before. He seems to smell like whatever he eats.

My vet did not take an X-Ray, but looked through an otoscope at the teeth. She had to remove bits of veggies (where he'd tried to eat them but couldn't, and they got stuck) that were sitting in there rotting before she could even get to look at the molars. I am going to call them tomorrow and make sure that they know I want them to do an X-Ray before they do the surgery. If for nothing than my own peace of mind. I want to SEE his teeth, before and after.

I think she's hesitant to give pain meds to a pig who might have a liver or kidney problem. I will ask her for some Rimadyl or Meloxicam but I don't know if she will give it. I haven't ever had success asking her for pain meds. But then again, I've never had a pig sick enough or in pain enough to need them. Every time I've asked, freaking out about this or that possible ailment, she has asked me to wait and see, or to try something else first before giving me the pain meds, and she has always been right. But this time I am hoping it will be different. She even admitted in front of me that he wasn't eating "because it was so painful."

Rosie seems to be passing some sporadic gas. He hangs out in my bathrobe (the outer fold) while I'm kicking it around the house and I have to say, he can be a stinker. It just comes wafting right up my nostrils each time. But if he's passing it, it means that he's not bloated, right?

He's eating a lot of handfed food, as well as nibbling on his veggies, pellets, and hay. He is also drinking out of the water bottle - 30 ml's today that I know of. He eats an amazing 20-25 cc's of Critical Care/Pellet Mash at a time now. He will eat and eat and eat and then pass out chewing. I know he's done when his head hits my thighs with a solid --thunk--. He's eaten an entire large baby food jar (I think it said 90 grams on the bottle before the label was taken off) full of the mix just today. Hungry boy. We're already starting to notice a difference in his body. He feels more "meaty" around the hindquarters.

It's funny - For being such a sick pig a few days ago with an "I don't want to live, just let me sit here and die" attitude... I don't think I've ever seen him happier than he is right now. He loves all the attention he gets, he loves being carried around everywhere, and he doesn't even really mind the subcues. He jumps once when the needle goes in and then sits there making sort of happy noises while I'm doing the deed.

After he gets his subcue I lay flat on my back on the couch, tuck him in between my breasts, and pull the blanket up over us so the top of it lines up with the tip of his nose. He is one of those pigs who doesn't mind laying his face up against you, or you kissing on his nose or ears. He doesn't pull away. He lays his face up against me and falls asleep purring. I fall asleep counting purrs. When I wake up and go to put him back I swear he's offended.

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snowflakey
E's Moriarity

Post   » Mon Oct 27, 2003 10:28 pm


Good luck Para. Your last post is worrying and heartwarming at the same time. He's a lucky old geezer.

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Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Mon Oct 27, 2003 11:37 pm


Tell her that top veterinary dentists prescribe pain killers after working on teeth (Pinta's vet). She has to understand it is important. Is meloxicam hard on the liver? There should be something that would help.

I hope the work on the teeth is successful.

InkysMom

Post   » Tue Oct 28, 2003 12:42 am


Wow, that's amazing that Rosie eats that much of your CC mix at a time. You must make it extra-delicious, Para! I sure hope his tooth surgery goes okay tomorrow, and that he's able to eat more on his own soon after. Having been through a number of tooth planings with my pigs, I, too would recommend pain meds. My fellas really seemed out of it. Good luck, I'll be checking in tomorrow to see how he did!

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salana
GL is Just Peachy

Post   » Tue Oct 28, 2003 1:21 am


If I had mouth ulcers, nasty infections, and major dental work, I would certainly want painkillers.

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melcvt00

Post   » Tue Oct 28, 2003 6:51 am


The only things that wouldn't really affect the liver as much would be things like Torb, I believe. It's early in the morning, though, and I could be wrong.

His eating so well, though, says that even if he IS in much pain, he's so hungry, he doesn't care.

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truffie
I gave AGAIN, dammit!

Post   » Tue Oct 28, 2003 7:07 am


Rosie sounds like such a sweetheart! I hope his dental work goes well.

kleenmama
I GAVE, dammit!

Post   » Tue Oct 28, 2003 10:20 am


I was going to suggest Torb also, if the vet won't go for Meloxicam or Rimadyl.
You are doing great, Para. It is so much stress and so time consuming with a critically ill pig. And you got the subque down to a science! Good for you.

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