Lucy is 6 or so. Maybe older. Not sure. Anyway, she seems to have hurt her back paw. She is limping and holding it close to her. But the rest of her seems not so good, either. She is slowing down a bit on her eating. The rest of her frame seems to be causing her trouble and pain, too.
I have that feeling that she is going. I'm not sure I want to put her through the stress of a vet visit with x-rays and whatnot. Not sure what anything would accomplish at this point. In holding her today, she was doing some of those preliminary twitchy spasms which I have never seen a pig recover from.
Lucy was our second pig and the one that was responsible for starting the rescue. I really think she is just at her time. Wondering what others have experienced as an older pig shuts down and if I should try giving her some Meloxicam or other pain meds.
I think I'm losing Lucy . . .
It sounds like arthritis is setting in. The back knees and hips is often where the pain is the worse. I would put her on Meloxicam ASAP, have her x-rayed and then seek therapy for her. Pinta has several arthritis pain. Their treatments include laser therapy, untrasound therapy, manipulation by an animal physiotherapist, pain management and also an experimental medication of which I can never remember the name. Carthrophen? Not sure.
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Paravati
- I GAVE, dammit!
I would give a subcue with B12, pain meds, and lots of love. Also handfeed or shred up veggies really fine and see if softened pellets and easier eating will spark some interest.
Rosie did that twitchy thing twice. Once it was his teeth and we were able to save him and give him some more happy healthy months with us, and once was when he went into heart failure and we put him to sleep.
I am sorry. I hope she will rest comfortably and that you will be okay.
Rosie did that twitchy thing twice. Once it was his teeth and we were able to save him and give him some more happy healthy months with us, and once was when he went into heart failure and we put him to sleep.
I am sorry. I hope she will rest comfortably and that you will be okay.
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Josephine
- Little Jo Wheek
Definitely start some meloxicam. NSAIDS really can't hurt if the pain is the reason for the twitching and joint stiffness. I have yet to see a cavy make it past 6 who hasn't had some sort of joint aging. It's really to be expected at that age. It the wild, their bodies would have betrayed them long ago.
I would also consider supplementing with extra favorite veggies and even Critical Care slurry with additives (ground flax/flax oil?) to encourage eating. The omega 3's and 6's in the flax are natural arachadonic acid inhibitors, which are the molecules that preclude pain prostaglandins. I have used flax with several of my oldies and it only seems to help. Plus it adds some calories.
I would also consider supplementing with extra favorite veggies and even Critical Care slurry with additives (ground flax/flax oil?) to encourage eating. The omega 3's and 6's in the flax are natural arachadonic acid inhibitors, which are the molecules that preclude pain prostaglandins. I have used flax with several of my oldies and it only seems to help. Plus it adds some calories.
I did start Meloxicam. She's eating, just sometimes takes her a while to get interested in it. She doesn't have anymore pep.
I have a call in to Dr. N. Will discuss it with him tomorrow. She stresses very easily and doesn't like attention. Never has. Her second litter was a horrible experience for her at the vet and I'm just reluctant to put her through more of that unless I can be sure of a good reason for it.
B12? Where do I get that and how and how much?
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edit, I'll get Flax stuff tomorrow
I have a call in to Dr. N. Will discuss it with him tomorrow. She stresses very easily and doesn't like attention. Never has. Her second litter was a horrible experience for her at the vet and I'm just reluctant to put her through more of that unless I can be sure of a good reason for it.
B12? Where do I get that and how and how much?
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edit, I'll get Flax stuff tomorrow
Making her able to use her four legs and not be in pain seem to me like a good enough reason to haul her over to the vet.
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Josephine
- Little Jo Wheek
Hmm... Don't know on the B-12 dosage. I'm sure it's small. It's easier to overdo it on that than the tinge of B-vits (combo) I use in fluids, although they are both H2O soluable vitamins.
I would expect any well-stocked feed store to carry injectable stuff. I believe both the B-12 and B vits are OTC.
Maybe $3-4 a bottle at the most (100 mls+). The vet can also order some. I like to add Vitamin C injectable to fluids as well. That is also relatively inexpensive (similar price), but I have yet to see it in most feed stores. It needs to be kept cool, has a short shelf life, and really has very little use in other animals.
I would expect any well-stocked feed store to carry injectable stuff. I believe both the B-12 and B vits are OTC.
Maybe $3-4 a bottle at the most (100 mls+). The vet can also order some. I like to add Vitamin C injectable to fluids as well. That is also relatively inexpensive (similar price), but I have yet to see it in most feed stores. It needs to be kept cool, has a short shelf life, and really has very little use in other animals.