Specialist Advice/ Help Needed Urgently

[justinmartin79]

Hi all - I need some advice/ help. Sorry, I posted this on the facebook page as lost my forum password momentarily.

Anyway - took my piggie to the vet Saturday morning as he was struggling with constipation all day Friday. He sounded in a fair bit of pain, hunching over and whining whilst trying to go. The Saturday morning just before I went to the vet he started passing again, but got him checked at the vet. She checked everything thoroughly and said he was ok.

The only thing I;d done differently was give my piggies sweet broccoli for the first time. Who knew he might react with a bad belly, given they have regular brocoli from time to time. Anyway, we sort of assumed this may be the cause. All through this he was eating still, though was a little more stand-offish about food than usual (he usually snaffles it and takes my fingers with him!).

She gave him a nutrient paste to get his digestive system back on track. I've managed to give him a couple of gobfulls of this, but he now seems even more stand offish with food. Has barely touched his usual slice of evening cucumber :-(.

He is passing stools still, but still seems to struggle a little when doing so. He runs away from me when I go to stroke him, then when I do manage to get near him he just lets me pick him up - again this is unusual as he is usually a right little :-). He is sort of avoiding me, then buries his head in the hay and settles down and looks a bit miserable. Anyone have any ideas? Appreciate it won't be medical fact, but anyone dealt with similar? Am thinking a vet trip on Wednesday evening - see if he perks up tomorrow. Cheers

 

[helen105281]

I'm sorry he is poorly. Is he on any pain relief? Did the vet give him any kind of gut stimulant do you know? would be called Emeprid or Metaclopromide most likely. Does his tummy seem bloated at all? or does it sound hollow when you tap it? I would get him checked in the morning if you can, especially as he is not displaying his usual behaviour. It is possible he has some gas or his gut transit has been affected.

 

[justinmartin79]

Hi Helen - thanks for the reply. They offered pain relief, but I thought on Saturday as he was passing again and eating ok I left it. Didnt want to pump him full of drugs. Yes, the paste they gave me is supposed to give his gut more stability. Given him around 3 gob fulls, in 3 days, which probably isnt enough, but even with this he seems to have taken a turn for the worse. I just looked at him, and he was sort of hunched, holding his hips in, like he was breathing in and i could feel the hollows in between his ribs and back legs - which you usually couldnt if he was not doing this action (he is a rotund little piggie - not overweight as such :-)).

Thing is, he seemed to be getting better yesterday - when i went to administer the gut paste, he actually started eating the nozzle! Today he is avoiding it and me like the plague.

I'll leave work early and get him checked again by vet tomorrow evening. Poor little dude. Hate seeing him ill. I told his brother to run upstairs and keep him company but as usual he doesnt listen :-).

 

[Abi_nurse]

How old is your little one? Any other previous signs to now? What is his usually diet? And is your vet an exotics/piggie savvy vet?

Sorry for the questions. There are any number of things that can cause his signs including not constipation but bladder problems by your description. Did your vet send you home with any pain relief? I strongly advice him having some it not as he sounds painful by the hunched posture etc.

x

 

[helen105281]

I was starting to think of bladder issues too. Agree that it sounds like he needs pain relief as soon as possible if he is hunched.

 

[justinmartin79]

Hi both - I stupidly turned down pain relief when offered as I thought he was on the up and didnt want to pump him full of stuff straight away. He will be 5 in November. His usual diet is a couple of cucumber slices in morning along with a green leaf or two, then cucumber slice in evening. Nuggets, hay and a bit of museli. Sometimes carrot and a bit of broccoli. His only other health issues previously have been bits of hay in his eye :-).

 

[Abi_nurse]

Thanks for the answers, sounds like he's been a healthy chap up until now. I would really consider heading back to the vet.

I understand you don't want to give him too much in the way of drugs, but a lot of the time once piggies start to show signs of illness then to gain any good go at getting them better they often have to have a few drugs to get things going. I'm not suggesting he will need lots, but pain relief is a bit of a must with these little guys as they are great at hiding pain and your little lad seems to be showing it. So even if nothing else I would suggest analgesia.

If you want, get yourself a second opinion from another vet. But either way I think he needs a bit more looking into, he sounds unwell and it would be better to get to the bottom of it so it can be treated accordingly and promptly as piggies often get sick and become unwell quite quickly. I would probably be considering an X-ray if his abdominal pain continues as this could be anything from bladder pain, gut issues or growths. Piggies don't often get constipated, more like go into gut stasis. If this is the case, he needs fluids, gut stimulants and pain relief to start him on his way.

Let us know how you get on.

x

 

[justinmartin79]

Hi

Thanks for the concern and the reply :-).

Took him to same vet practice, but saw a different vet.

He looked at everything and considered what I told him, yesterday his beahviour and mood went downhill etc.

He suspects a bladder infection or possibly failing that a bladder stone.

Myles is on painkillers and drugs for the infection now and the vet said if he doesnt perk up within 3 days, bring him back and they'd probably xray to check for bladder stone.

He said, if it was a stone, then surgery is risky - which got me upset, held it together though. I know they are brittle beings and surgery probably wouldnt be best.

So. Onwards and upwards I hope. The infection will hopefully be swept away by Myles being a tough little dude :-). Will keep you updated.

Many thanks for all the advice.

Justin

 

[sport_billy]

Justin, glad to see you have got on the forum, just saw your FB post. Healing vibes sent to Myles, please keep us updated on him

 

[Abi_nurse]

Hope he starts feeling better soon. Yes, surgery carries some risk, but it's most definitely worth it if it relieves the problem and a good vet does it.

Thinking if you both.

x

 

[justinmartin79]

Good news all :-). He has finished his antibiotics (been on them since Tuesday) and is pretty much back to his normal self! He is out and about, his undercarriage isn't wet and he is more and more interested in his food. Love him so much. He fought through his infection :-). Thanks so much for all your advice and support.

 

[Alanaf]

Great to hear! X