I'm worried about Rosie.

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Evangeline

Post   » Thu Oct 30, 2003 4:32 pm


Dr Legendre was saying that every time he goes somewhere to give a seminar on guinea pig teeth, half the vets present were shocked to learn their molars grew constantly. Many think only the front teeth do.
It's a loooooong road ahead.

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Paravati
I GAVE, dammit!

Post   » Thu Oct 30, 2003 9:33 pm


Thanks everybody who has nursed ME through Rosie's illness. He seems to be doing just great - He is eating pellets on his own, ripping into Veggie Time, and still demanding 20 cc's at a time of Critical Care mix.

We're going to measure him tonight for his Chin-Sling, and keep nursing him until I can gradually wean him off the Critical Care. I am hoping he will be eating entirely on his own in a few days.

His weight is now up to 820 grams, up from 745 when we first noticed he was very ill. I think that's a good sign that he's eating and USING the food, and not just staying alive with what he gets. I am so glad. You guys rule, couldn't have done it without you. Thanks again.

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Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Thu Oct 30, 2003 9:45 pm


Super pics, Para! I added a couple quick links on the teeth page to the entrapped tongue and another link to Pinta's comments. Working them into the article will/would take more time and thought.

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Paravati
I GAVE, dammit!

Post   » Sun Nov 02, 2003 12:59 am


Rosie is doing really well. We have discontinued the subcues but are still checking him daily for signs of dehydration just in case.

He drank 120 ml of Pedialyte on his own today out of his water bottle. He's eating almost an entire baby food jar full of Critical Care mix at every feeding, 3 times a day.

I am getting a little weary of hand-feeding him so today I mixed up a bowl of Critical Care very thick and put it in his cage. I rigged the bowl so it tips at an angle and won't spill, and stuck the CC on the lip of the bowl (it's very thick, like paste) and left it in there.

He found it and DEMOLISHED it. I have since refilled his bowl of CC paste three times. I think he's eaten about three baby food jars full of the paste since 2 pm this afternoon, all by himself.

I have NEVER seen a pig eat like this before.

He is eating hay too, although the rate at which it's sucked into his mouth is slower than other pigs eat, it's definitely getting in there and going down. He's also munching on pellets and eating his Veggie Time.

He's still getting simethicone and Lactulose twice daily but he doesn't really seem to have bloat issues any more. I will probably discontinue those meds tomorrow and watch to see if the problem comes back.

I think we're going to change Rosie's name to Miracle Eater.

His weight chart through the term of his illness:

10/22 - 765g
10/23 - 745g
10/24 - 796g
10/25 - 792g
10/26 - 784g
10/27 - 798g
10/28 - 795g
10/29 - 804g
10/30 - 811g
10/31 - 815g
11/1 - 858g

Wow.

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SandraVE

Post   » Sun Nov 02, 2003 2:07 am


You sure have one hungry fella there, Para. It's a good thing pigs don't wear clothing, cause he'd need the next size up.

kleenmama
I GAVE, dammit!

Post   » Sun Nov 02, 2003 12:11 pm


Ha! That's funny Sandra! That is great news, Para, I'm so happy to hear the guy can finally eat now that his teeth have been fixed!

Evangeline

Post   » Sun Nov 02, 2003 1:38 pm


Para-
When does the vet want to see him next to make sure the teeth are not re-growing?

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Paravati
I GAVE, dammit!

Post   » Sun Nov 02, 2003 2:41 pm


She said for me to call her a week after the teeth planing to let her know how he's doing. She also knows we're getting a chin-sling. No firm appointment was made, so I will probably plan on taking him back for a re-check in 2-3 weeks. Does that sound right?

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smiley
Just Do It

Post   » Sun Nov 02, 2003 5:51 pm


That is so exciting, can you imagine what he feels like? Now he can eat without his tongue being stuck under those teeth. He is a new pig!

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Paravati
I GAVE, dammit!

Post   » Sun Nov 02, 2003 7:56 pm


He is definitely feeling better. He leaves his Pigloo to go wag his butt at the sow next door, and he comes out to see you and purrs anytime you reach your hand in there to pet him. He is the only pig that will stop what he's doing, EVERY TIME, hunch down, and let you pet him without running away. I've always LIKED Rosie, but I never really KNEW him until he got sick.

Now I feel a little weird if I don't grab him at least once or twice a day and lay on the couch with him on my chest. He's started a new thing I call the "nose-butt contest". I will place him on my chest, and he will immediately run up as far as he can so that his pointy little head is right underneath my chin. If I move my chin a little bit (away from his nose and mouth) he will move HIS head so his nose is touching me. We start playing the Nose Butt Contest when I take my chin and sort of butt it into his nose. He will immediately butt his nose back into my chin. It's like Tug of War, but instead of tugging, we're nose and chin butting. I really think he's showing affection (He wasn't able to use his tongue, so he's never learned how to lick-kiss). It's not really the "You're being a hemmorhoid" head-butt thing they do when you stroke their head and they don't like it - This is a sideways motion. It reminds me most of what a horse does when (s)he likes you... They slowly lean on you. It's like that.

He will rub his nose and mouth and the side of his face all over my chin until he starts to fall asleep. The nose-butts get slower and slower and then I feel his little head drop down onto my collarbone, and I know he's sleeping. He doesn't mind being kissed or fussed over on the face at all. I can touch him, stick my fingers in his mouth, kiss his little ears, and all he does is push back into my face with his little nose.

He is such a loving little guy. I am so glad I got the chance to know him like this. If only EVERY pig was as sweet.

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Paravati
I GAVE, dammit!

Post   » Sun Nov 02, 2003 9:15 pm


I just put up some pics of Rosie at
http://imageevent.com/paravati/rosie

He is such a sweet little guy. Is it possible that he's a Satin? His butt hair is a shiny faded black color, and it looks "lighter" than his face hair, almost translucent.

Nurgle
...what, what, what?

Post   » Sun Nov 02, 2003 9:51 pm


I'm glad he is feeling better. He is a cutie!

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