Norbie's Health Issue
- camende
- Supporter 08-09 & 11-13
I have vitamin C here too. I can give her some.
My Critical Care that I have here is expired but only by a month or so. I can try to give her some but I will say that none of my piggies seem to like it. I do have a couple jars of baby food (carrots and bananas) that I can add to improve the flavor.
Off to give Norbie her antibiotic. She seems ok so far. She is still eating and drinking.
Her weight today is: 925gm (she is my smallest piggie)
She has lost about 30gm in the past 2 months.
She sucked down the antibiotic and the vitamin C. I gave her a baby carrot. (Plus, she has had 2+ cups of veggies today)
I might give her another treat before bed.
I want her to weigh as much as possible on monday. I know the doctor said to not do anything different but I figure she is going to eat less for a couple days after the surgery.
(I need to go and re-read SaKura's thread to see if she lost weight. I woudl think any piggie who has surgery would lose weight)
My Critical Care that I have here is expired but only by a month or so. I can try to give her some but I will say that none of my piggies seem to like it. I do have a couple jars of baby food (carrots and bananas) that I can add to improve the flavor.
Off to give Norbie her antibiotic. She seems ok so far. She is still eating and drinking.
Her weight today is: 925gm (she is my smallest piggie)
She has lost about 30gm in the past 2 months.
She sucked down the antibiotic and the vitamin C. I gave her a baby carrot. (Plus, she has had 2+ cups of veggies today)
I might give her another treat before bed.
I want her to weigh as much as possible on monday. I know the doctor said to not do anything different but I figure she is going to eat less for a couple days after the surgery.
(I need to go and re-read SaKura's thread to see if she lost weight. I woudl think any piggie who has surgery would lose weight)
My pigs lose maybe 30-40g depending on the surgery (more for spays of course). But it's normal for the vet to restore fluids lost and will give subq fluids which is most of the weight lost anyway. Just make sure she's eating by herself by the end of the day :) Mine normally want hay within a half hour though lol
- camende
- Supporter 08-09 & 11-13
I got Norbie home about a 1/2 hour ago. She is wrapped in a towel and I figured to keep her wrapped so she doesn't get cold. Her one side is shaved. She looks like she would be cold.
She seems really quiet. Awake but quiet. THe only noise she made was when I was bringing the carrier into the house. I had a couple of plastic bags from the grocery store in one hand and the carrier in the other. I think the noise of the plastic bags means "wheek wheek!". But, she's been quiet since then.
She is back in the quarentine cage. She has eaten a couple of pieces of endive, some radicchio, and some 3rd cut timothy. (she seems more interested in the hay)
I also gave her the evening dose of antibiotic (Smz-Tmp). I have her a couple of syringes of water since she is not walking around and I want her to have water. (I wet the veggies as well)
The Vet said the cyst was "solid". She expected it to be more cyst like so she is sending it off to be analysed.
Should she be walking around yet? Because she is just laying there. She is letting me give her water and she is eating hay. So, I guess that is a good thing.
She seems really quiet. Awake but quiet. THe only noise she made was when I was bringing the carrier into the house. I had a couple of plastic bags from the grocery store in one hand and the carrier in the other. I think the noise of the plastic bags means "wheek wheek!". But, she's been quiet since then.
She is back in the quarentine cage. She has eaten a couple of pieces of endive, some radicchio, and some 3rd cut timothy. (she seems more interested in the hay)
I also gave her the evening dose of antibiotic (Smz-Tmp). I have her a couple of syringes of water since she is not walking around and I want her to have water. (I wet the veggies as well)
The Vet said the cyst was "solid". She expected it to be more cyst like so she is sending it off to be analysed.
Should she be walking around yet? Because she is just laying there. She is letting me give her water and she is eating hay. So, I guess that is a good thing.
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- Let Sleeping Pigs Lie
Sending good thoughts for Norbie! So glad that she is home again.
For the first 24 hours after her surgery, Sakura wasn't very active. She would kind of wander a bit to the center of her cage, and then just sit there, as if to say, "What was I doing again?"
I kept putting food directly in front of her, and then she would eat a bit, especially for the first few days. I did use the Critical Care twice. (She did not enjoy it, but hated it less than the antibiotic.)
I think it take a while for the anesthesia to get out of their systems.
For the first 24 hours after her surgery, Sakura wasn't very active. She would kind of wander a bit to the center of her cage, and then just sit there, as if to say, "What was I doing again?"
I kept putting food directly in front of her, and then she would eat a bit, especially for the first few days. I did use the Critical Care twice. (She did not enjoy it, but hated it less than the antibiotic.)
I think it take a while for the anesthesia to get out of their systems.
- camende
- Supporter 08-09 & 11-13
Yeah, I will put something in front of Norbie and she will eat it. I then put another piece in front of her and looks at it blankly. I come back 15 minutes later and re-hand her something and she starts eating again. She just had a huge piece of parsley. I still have cucumbers, strawberries, and raspberries to try. LOL
She's getting spoiled! I am just so happy that she made it through surgery.
I am worried because she is my smallest pig at 934g. (this was her weight when they weighed her at the vet today). I know she doesn't really have any extra weight that she can spare. But, she has always been in the 900-1000g range. She looks a lot smaller now that her entire side is shaved.
I am hoping that she is more herself tomorrow. She IS eating and she is drinking when I give it to her in a syringe.
How much water should I be giving her until she starts drinking from the water bottle?
She's getting spoiled! I am just so happy that she made it through surgery.
I am worried because she is my smallest pig at 934g. (this was her weight when they weighed her at the vet today). I know she doesn't really have any extra weight that she can spare. But, she has always been in the 900-1000g range. She looks a lot smaller now that her entire side is shaved.
I am hoping that she is more herself tomorrow. She IS eating and she is drinking when I give it to her in a syringe.
How much water should I be giving her until she starts drinking from the water bottle?
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- Let Sleeping Pigs Lie
I'd say give her as much water as she wants. She will feel better if she is hydrated.
In Sakura's case, it was easier to get medications and syringes of water into her when she was still "zoned out". She wouldn't fight me as much.
I posted Sakura's weight changes on her thread.
In Sakura's case, it was easier to get medications and syringes of water into her when she was still "zoned out". She wouldn't fight me as much.
I posted Sakura's weight changes on her thread.
- camende
- Supporter 08-09 & 11-13
Norbie is looking better today but she is not moving around much. She is not pooping much either. There were only 4-5 poops overnight. I am assuming that the pain meds is part of the reason.
She IS eating (especially when I hand her food). I probably should have measure how much I gave her. She probably ate about 1/2 the bowl of greens this morning plus a baby carrot and hay. She is eating more hay then anything.
I just weighed her and she was 874g. She weighed 934 yesterday before the surgery. I am assuming that the cyst weighed some. THey gave her IV fluids so maybe that is why she is not drinking much yet. She will take a syringe of water from me at a time. When I try for 2 syringes, she fights me. But, I can get her to take a syringe of water every 30 minutes or so.
Here is a picture of the incision
(My poor baby)

She IS eating (especially when I hand her food). I probably should have measure how much I gave her. She probably ate about 1/2 the bowl of greens this morning plus a baby carrot and hay. She is eating more hay then anything.
I just weighed her and she was 874g. She weighed 934 yesterday before the surgery. I am assuming that the cyst weighed some. THey gave her IV fluids so maybe that is why she is not drinking much yet. She will take a syringe of water from me at a time. When I try for 2 syringes, she fights me. But, I can get her to take a syringe of water every 30 minutes or so.
Here is a picture of the incision
(My poor baby)

- camende
- Supporter 08-09 & 11-13
Tracis, should I worry that she is not moving around? She is just staying in one place. She has yet to use the water bottle (that I know of)..She will eat if I put the food in front of her but she is not going out of her way to eat, even if the food is 2 inches from her face. I have to put the food right under her chin before she will eat. But, she will eat.
I have a bowl and it holds about a cup of food and its now about 3/4 gone.
I am going to work in a couple hours. I am worried that she won't drink. My husband gets home about 2 hours after I leave but he is not going to syringe her water. He will give her some veggies tho. I can make her up a bag and make sure they are wet so when if she eats while I am gone she will get some water.
I have a bowl and it holds about a cup of food and its now about 3/4 gone.
I am going to work in a couple hours. I am worried that she won't drink. My husband gets home about 2 hours after I leave but he is not going to syringe her water. He will give her some veggies tho. I can make her up a bag and make sure they are wet so when if she eats while I am gone she will get some water.
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- Let Sleeping Pigs Lie
"She will eat if I put the food in front of her but she is not going out of her way to eat, even if the food is 2 inches from her face."
"I can make her up a bag and make sure they are wet so when if she eats while I am gone she will get some water."
This sounds exactly like what we just went through with Sakura. She really did not want to move around the cage.
I literally piled hay around her, so no matter which direction she turned, there would be food.
A bag of wet veggies that your husband can give to her sounds like a great idea. Was she a big drinker before the surgery?
Sakura still isn't using the water bottle as much as she used to, so wet veggies really do help.
"I can make her up a bag and make sure they are wet so when if she eats while I am gone she will get some water."
This sounds exactly like what we just went through with Sakura. She really did not want to move around the cage.
I literally piled hay around her, so no matter which direction she turned, there would be food.
A bag of wet veggies that your husband can give to her sounds like a great idea. Was she a big drinker before the surgery?
Sakura still isn't using the water bottle as much as she used to, so wet veggies really do help.
- camende
- Supporter 08-09 & 11-13
I would say she is normally a decent water drinker. Certainly, she was always in line when I changed the water bottle. She loves the cold filter water from the fridge.
I need to pile hay around her. I gave her some corn silk and she devoured it.
I am off to work...I'll spoil her tonight when I get home.
I gave her two cucumber slices. She ate one.
She is pooping more....they are sort of shaped funny but they are a good color. (imagine being happy about poops!).
I need to pile hay around her. I gave her some corn silk and she devoured it.
I am off to work...I'll spoil her tonight when I get home.
I gave her two cucumber slices. She ate one.
She is pooping more....they are sort of shaped funny but they are a good color. (imagine being happy about poops!).
- camende
- Supporter 08-09 & 11-13
My husband fed Norbie while I was a work. THe first thing I did was go in and check on her. She looked up at me and got really excited and started wheeking. I know she wanted something. I got a syringe and tried to give her water but she didn't seem to want any. My husband gave her about 1/2 of the veggies I left so that was a decent amount. Plus, they were really wet. I'm not sure what she wanted but it was so great to hear her little wheek!
I saw her walk up to the water bottle, put her mouth to it and walk away. But, clearly she knows where the water bottle is and she can hop up on the paver stone to drink.
I gave her some more veggies (really wet) and I add more hay to the cage. She ate a good bit of hay. But, of course, what piggie doesnt like KM 3rd cut Timothy?
She is walking around more but she still would rather mommy just feed her.
I gave her the PM dose of her antibiotic.
THe vet called to check on her. I clearly knew more about GP's then the girl in the office. But, it was nice that they called. Also, my vet is there wednesday and thursday if I need to bring her in or if I have more questions.
I wanted to weigh her but she was munching on the hay and I didn't want to interupt her.
I saw her walk up to the water bottle, put her mouth to it and walk away. But, clearly she knows where the water bottle is and she can hop up on the paver stone to drink.
I gave her some more veggies (really wet) and I add more hay to the cage. She ate a good bit of hay. But, of course, what piggie doesnt like KM 3rd cut Timothy?
She is walking around more but she still would rather mommy just feed her.
I gave her the PM dose of her antibiotic.
THe vet called to check on her. I clearly knew more about GP's then the girl in the office. But, it was nice that they called. Also, my vet is there wednesday and thursday if I need to bring her in or if I have more questions.
I wanted to weigh her but she was munching on the hay and I didn't want to interupt her.
- camende
- Supporter 08-09 & 11-13
She is on Metacam 1/5mg/ml and I am giving her 0.12ml per day. (0.18mg).
Norbie was 0.934kg at the time of surgery...and the usual dose is 0.2mg/kg so that means she should be getting 0.1868mg of Metacam per day. Its good to know my Vet can calculate the correct dose.
Norbie is doing well. She is moving around the cage more. I have not seen her drinking from the water bottle but it is down from when I left this morning and my husband said he saw her drinking.
Documentatio of Weight:
934 the morning OF Surgery..10-24-2011
874g 9:00Am, 10-25-2011
862g 6:30am , 10-26-2011
856g 6:00pm, 10-26-2011
I am a little concerned with her weight loss but she is just 48 hours post surgery so I know that the weight loss is to be expected. ALso, I do not know how much the cyst was. The Vet said it was large and dense. I am figuring that maybe 30g was the cyst.
She IS eating and drinking which is a huge relief. She is eating more Hay then anything. But, I did get her to eat Pellets (not out of the bowl but I just put them on the fleece and she seemed happy to discover them)
I know its weird but I wonder if she was in the cage with the other girls, if there would be more "competition" for the food so she would eat more. She is certainly always one to come to the cage and chomp on the bars to get my attention.
Norbie was 0.934kg at the time of surgery...and the usual dose is 0.2mg/kg so that means she should be getting 0.1868mg of Metacam per day. Its good to know my Vet can calculate the correct dose.
Norbie is doing well. She is moving around the cage more. I have not seen her drinking from the water bottle but it is down from when I left this morning and my husband said he saw her drinking.
Documentatio of Weight:
934 the morning OF Surgery..10-24-2011
874g 9:00Am, 10-25-2011
862g 6:30am , 10-26-2011
856g 6:00pm, 10-26-2011
I am a little concerned with her weight loss but she is just 48 hours post surgery so I know that the weight loss is to be expected. ALso, I do not know how much the cyst was. The Vet said it was large and dense. I am figuring that maybe 30g was the cyst.
She IS eating and drinking which is a huge relief. She is eating more Hay then anything. But, I did get her to eat Pellets (not out of the bowl but I just put them on the fleece and she seemed happy to discover them)
I know its weird but I wonder if she was in the cage with the other girls, if there would be more "competition" for the food so she would eat more. She is certainly always one to come to the cage and chomp on the bars to get my attention.
- camende
- Supporter 08-09 & 11-13
Here's a picture of Norbie enjoying some Radicchio this evening.
I brought Willow over to the quarentine cage and Norbie tried to climb through the bars to get to her. She really misses the other piggies! Maybe I can consider putting her in the cage for a visit or doing some floortime with them. What do you think?

I brought Willow over to the quarentine cage and Norbie tried to climb through the bars to get to her. She really misses the other piggies! Maybe I can consider putting her in the cage for a visit or doing some floortime with them. What do you think?
