After Antibiotics - Appetite/weight Loss?

[Janey]

Is it normal for piggies to take a while to return to normal eating/weight after finishing a course or not? Phoebe has gone off her normal hay and has dropped from 1075g to 992g over a week. I've been out and bought different hay today, and she's been eating it, but not in large quantities. Any advice appreciated, thanks.

 

[klee]

What was she on the antibiotics for, and has her symptoms improved now she has finished the course? Antibiotics can kill off some of a piggies gut flora , if you have a probiotic I would give her some of that as it helps to replenish the gut bacteria.
I would be tempted to put some warm mashed pellets onto a plate/bowl for her and see if she eats them, wetting them increases the smell and can be really tempting for a piggy.
Take about 2 tablespoons of her usual pellets and add some boiled water and allow to soak in until the pellets form a thick mash and allow to cool and just pop in the cage.

 

[Janey]

It was a suspected URI that caused gut stasis and turned into pneumonia klee. She seems bright enough in herself, saw the vet Friday and she advised stopping the antibiotics, so we obviously did. She gets stressed with syringe feeding (perhaps my lack of experience not helping), so don't want to do that unless I absolutely have to. I'm getting very concerned about the weight loss though.

Thanks for your suggestion, I'll try that - she is eating a small amount of her Burgess Excel nuggets, but not very much.

Edit: Sorry I forgot to mention she is on probiotics and Vit C supplement, and is eating veggies and also her symptoms have improved - only slight movement of her sides now, not the exaggerated in and out laboured breathing as before.

 

[klee]

Is her current weight much different to her weight before she was ill? Just wondered as sometimes gassy pigs appear to put on weight due to gas build up, so my thinking is that maybe now you have the digestive issues under control that her weight might have decreased slightly. I am no expert though.
If you make a pellet mash, and have probiotics in the house, add a scoop of probiotics to the pellets that way she also gets the probiotics as well as food. She may even eat the mash off a spoon (I use a 5ml medicine spoon) if you want to have an idea of how much she is eating- it is less stressful than syringe feeding.

Hopefully someone with a little more experience will be along to give some advice

 

[Janey]

She was about 1070 before she was ill, so it's quite a big drop in weight. She still looks a bit gassy to me - have cut out the obvious veggie offenders and the vet said to reduce the Emeprid (for gut motility) down to one dose a day from tomorrow. Poos look dark but a decent size.

 

[sport_billy]

Hi Janey, if you are still concerned over the gassyness speak to the vet and keep her on the emeprid longer.

Was it baytril she was on? Weigh her daily from now on forthe next week, she should now be stable. Is she eating okay? Teeth been checked?

 

[Janey]

Hi Janey, if you are still concerned over the gassyness speak to the vet and keep her on the emeprid longer.

Was it baytril she was on? Weigh her daily from now on forthe next week, she should now be stable. Is she eating okay? Teeth been checked?

Hi Sport_Billy - yes it was Baytril and Ronaxan, plus Metacam, Emeprid, probiotic and Vit C. Have been weighing her daily (twice today, 1005 this morning and 992 this evening). She is eating, and pooing, but still losing weight. Vet looked at teeth on Friday and didn't think there was a problem.

 

[klee]

Hi Sport_Billy - yes it was Baytril and Ronaxan, plus Metacam, Emeprid, probiotic and Vit C. Have been weighing her daily (twice today, 1005 this morning and 992 this evening). She is eating, and pooing, but still losing weight. Vet looked at teeth on Friday and didn't think there was a problem.

I wouldn't worry too much about the weight loss over the day. Piggy weights vary an awful lot based upon when they were fed and whether or not they have a full bladder. 30-40g weight difference is typical of a full tummy/ full bladder. Just as an example I weighed Edward before he he had his veg and he was around 90g less than 4 days previously, after some veg he put on 55g and after his evening veg another 30g.

I would try to only weigh her once a day at the same time, if she continues to lose weight definitely speak to the vet.

 

[Stewybus]

I've had a lot of this with Minky this year during her various illnesses. Is Phoebe eating normal food, veggies, pellets & hay? If she isn't ask your vet to check for ulcers in her mouth. These can be caused by antibiotics & Minky has just had the same cured in days with a course of Itrafungol, for Phoebe's weight it should be 0.5ml per day. This started to work after less than 3 days & I also gave her a 1ml syringe of Manuka honey for the first 2 nights. Try to aim it at the sides of her mouth & give it after her last feed of the day. After4 days Minky is now eating almost normally & putting weight on daily. If her mouth is OK then a course of Fibreplex is good. You don't need a prescription for this but will probably to get it from the vets if you want it before Christmas. You get 15ml in a special syringe where you just turn a wheel at the end 1ml at a time then when you press you get the measured amount in Phoebe's mouth. Normally 3 x 1ml doses 1 or 2 days is enough to get them eating again. These are the things I know from experience but others may have more advice. Good Luck & I hope she better by Christmas.

 

[Janey]

She is eating normal food Stewybus - in smaller quantities. Think the vets must be sick of seeing me! Is the Fibreplex the same as Critical Care or Fibreplus?

 

[Stewybus]

She is eating normal food Stewybus - in smaller quantities. Think the vets must be sick of seeing me! Is the Fibreplex the same as Critical Care or Fibreplus?

I'm not familiar with Fibreplus, did a quick Google & it appears to be a cubed food for ponies! It definitely different to Critical Care. I think of it as a wonder treatment when I have a piggy who's not eating, usually just one dose gets them eating again if it's just a minor stomach problem.

 

[Janey]

I've just googles the Fibreplex too! It seems to have a prebiotic added as well as being high fibre. So I guess I'd still give the probiotic as well, if I did go down that route?

 

[Stewybus]

I've just googles the Fibreplex too! It seems to have a prebiotic added as well as being high fibre. So I guess I'd still give the probiotic as well, if I did go down that route?

At present Minky is on Bio-Lapis probiotic & Fibreplex which has probiotic & prebiotic as well as Zantac, Emeprid & Cisapride & they're to help protect her stomach from the antibiotic Zithromax.

What sort of Piggy is Phoebe, Minky is an abi & because of the extra fur I didn't notice that because of her dribbling some of her meds she's got some bald spots & matted fur under her mouth. Another thing I'll be careful to keep a lookout for in future.

 

[Rodentopia]

Mine took a while to gain weight after a uri went back on slowly but was back to old weight in a month. Appetite usually comes back. If she's eating I would just keep an eye on her and monitor her weight for now. Like klee said weight varies throughout the day, 60g can be the difference between a full and empty bladder.

 

[Janey]

Thanks both. Not sure what sort of piggy she is? Tri coloured short hair is the best I can do. She's getting very picky about food though - must have at least 5 different sorts of hay here atm?! Will keeping weighing her as suggested and see how we go. Appreciate the advice folks.