Boar back from sedation

[Deleted member 151640]

My 5 year old boar is back from sedation, he was having gut stasis for almost a month.
(NOTE- I think sedation means put down, oops! He wasn’t put down he was just under anaesthetic)

They operated on him and found that all his back teeth were going the wrong way, his upper one’s going out and his inner ones going in.
They said he has a couple months at best because there is nothing they can do about that.
They grinded them down for now.

I’ve just placed him in his cage in his little blanket and wasn’t moving much, his friend ran away when he came back in, with a little encouragement went over to him and sniffed them ran away. I just came back in the room 3 minutes later and he made his way from his corner to where his friend was, wobbling the whole time.
He’s started teeth chattering because he can’t get close to him, and he is doing it now even after he (the patient) has walked away as his friend is in a small enclosed hide he doesn’t have the strength to go through.
After about two minutes he has now stopped, and he’s just laying behind a wood bridge, making light snuffle noises every now and again.

Is this normal? Should i take him out of the cage for a couple more hours while he wakes up?
Is sedation the best option? Our vet said the next 48 hours will let us know wether we are looking more at a couple months or a couple weeks.
What am i looking for in the next 48 hours, they said they don’t let them out until they’ve eaten but he hasn’t eaten anything, and won’t take anything even his favourites. I think he is to weak.

So how long do i wait until i try him with some support feed, only a couple mls at a time.

I’m so sad knowing he doesn’t have long left, i love him so much and so did his cage mate.
I understand guinea pigs know when pigs are going and that may be why his friend is standoffish but he isn’t supposed to be going yet he is just supposed to be waking up from anaesthetic, is he just giving him space?

I am fearful his friend moving about and squeaking causing the patient to start wobbling all over the place is not what he needs right now.

What can i do for him? How will i know what the best course of action is.

P.S - As i sent this his friend started making noise which caused him to wobble a couple steps then stop, he also did a half hearted rumble strut for a couple seconds. Do i take him away for a couple hours?

 

[Siikibam]

I wouldn’t remove him from the cage. He can offer comfort, even if he’s doing his usual piggy stuff. I would try him on syringe feed now. Do a little amount at a time. Were you given any meds for him?

Also have a look at the guide below. I hope your boy is better soon so you can have many more happy todays.

Tips For Post-operative Care

 

[Deleted member 151640]

I wouldn’t remove him from the cage. He can offer comfort, even if he’s doing his usual piggy stuff. I would try him on syringe feed now. Do a little amount at a time. Were you given any meds for him?

Also have a look at the guide below. I hope your boy is better soon so you can have many more happy todays.

Tips For Post-operative Care

Hi, i have had a read of this thread before and found it very helpful, thanks.

I will leave him in. I will also go and give him his first couple mls of critical care, he was very happy eating this for the past couple weeks so hopefully shouldn’t be too bad to get in.

He is on loxicom, 0.22ml of the dog kind. For the past month he has been on once a day and today I have asked if i can give twice since he will have healing ulcers in his mouth, which the vet said was okay.
We are continuing with his other gut stimulant medications he was on for a day or two.

 

[Deleted member 151640]

He has now had 3ml of critical care and I put him back in his cage and he is on a mission to eat some hay. A little bit wobbly but not as bad as before, and as i’m typing this he has just eaten his first bit of hay

 

[Deleted member 151640]

Sorry for the continued self reply, haha.

My boys friend keeps smelling him from afar and not wanting to get too near to him.. is this normal?

I tried to research separately as to find an answer without clogging this up but it’s too specific haha

 

[Siikibam]

He probably smells funny because he’s been at the vets.

Make sure you weigh him once daily, preferably in the morning, so you can monitor his weight. Could you leave a bowl of critical care in the cage, next to him?

 

[Deleted member 151640]

He probably smells funny because he’s been at the vets.

Make sure you weigh him once daily, preferably in the morning, so you can monitor his weight. Could you leave a bowl of critical care in the cage, next to him?

Luckily (or not) he has been ill for a while so i have a whole spreadsheet of weights from every morning so i can track, and i will definitely continue.

Unfortunately I can’t because his cage mate loves the stuff and he is never keen on having it from a bowl, but I am more than happy to give him a couple mls every two-ish hours. I don’t have work tomorrow so I can even get up a couple times in the night.
He is eating hay inbetween his naps, that’s what i love about him all through this process of being ill he is always up for some hay, so my support feeding won’t be his only intake of feed which means i can be more relaxed.

 

[Merab]

I have found that some grated carrot or sweet potato goes down well with a post op piggy.
It takes time for the anaesthesia to wear off.
When Phoebe had surgery she acted as if she’d had a wild night out for a couple of days until everything settled.

So sorry that you’ve had a terminal diagnosis. It feels as if the bottom has fallen out of the world when that happens.
Make lots of good memories, have lots of happy todays and be gentle with yourself because you will have started grieving now.

Hugs

 

[Deleted member 151640]

I have found that some grated carrot or sweet potato goes down well with a post op piggy.
It takes time for the anaesthesia to wear off.
When Phoebe had surgery she acted as if she’d had a wild night out for a couple of days until everything settled.

So sorry that you’ve had a terminal diagnosis. It feels as if the bottom has fallen out of the world when that happens.
Make lots of good memories, have lots of happy todays and be gentle with yourself because you will have started grieving now.

Hugs

He is doing better now, ill try him with some grated carrot as he hasn't eaten any veg yet.

I do not know if knowing is better or worse but I am lucky to be at peace with him, and his eventual passing, as I know he was/is loved and I would do anything for him. I almost feel sort of lucky (in a non sinister way) I get a chance to allow him to pass to stop him from being in pain when his time comes, but I am definetly grateful to have a couple more weeks with him.

Thanks for your kind words x

 

[piggieminder]

I am sorry the news wasn't good for your boy @pigmotherof6 . As heartbreaking as saying goodbye is I know that feeling of being at peace knowing you have done all you could to give them a happy life full of love, no matter how long or short that life was. Your piggies are very lucky to have your loving care. I hope you get lots more happy days with him yet.

 

[Wheekallweek]

Glad to hear he is perking up!

I have a house rabbit whose teeth (all but the front incisors) grow in completely odd directions, they really are completely wonky
She has been this way for her whole life (the vet believes genetics are at play here), she will be 7 in September and is still going strong!
She has had many many dentals, and some of her teeth have actually fallen out but apart from struggling to eat hay as she always has she is absolutely fine.
The frequency of her dentals have dropped from every 6 weeks at the start to more like every 6 months now as the growth of her teeth has started to slow with age.
Sorry for telling you Miley's life story I just hope it might give you some hope for your piggy continuing to live a long and happy life!
Best of luck

 

[Deleted member 151640]

Glad to hear he is perking up!

I have a house rabbit whose teeth (all but the front incisors) grow in completely odd directions, they really are completely wonky
She has been this way for her whole life (the vet believes genetics are at play here), she will be 7 in September and is still going strong!
She has had many many dentals, and some of her teeth have actually fallen out but apart from struggling to eat hay as she always has she is absolutely fine.
The frequency of her dentals have dropped from every 6 weeks at the start to more like every 6 months now as the growth of her teeth has started to slow with age.
Sorry for telling you Miley's life story I just hope it might give you some hope for your piggy continuing to live a long and happy life!
Best of luck

I am so glad that you found something that worked for you guys!

Unfortunately repeated anesthesia to wear down his teeth every few weeks and the constant growing into his cheeks becomes a welfare issue, so us and the vet have decided that when he starts to deteriorate it will likely be his time, instead of trying to prolong his life and put him through the stress and pain of that. Although clearly that works for some people, which is great! Perhaps it would have been a bit different if it had been an issue earlier in his life.

I love him so much and feel very lucky to have a last couple weeks with him, fitting in as many treats as possible (in a safe amount!).
Thanks for your kind words

 

[Bill & Ted]

I am so glad that you found something that worked for you guys!

Unfortunately repeated anesthesia to wear down his teeth every few weeks and the constant growing into his cheeks becomes a welfare issue, so us and the vet have decided that when he starts to deteriorate it will likely be his time, instead of trying to prolong his life and put him through the stress and pain of that. Although clearly that works for some people, which is great! Perhaps it would have been a bit different if it had been an issue earlier in his life.

I love him so much and feel very lucky to have a last couple weeks with him, fitting in as many treats as possible (in a safe amount!).
Thanks for your kind words

So sorry for you, dental problems are the most difficult things to deal with and heartbreaking

 

[Wheekallweek]

So sorry to hear it won't work out for you, of course you have to put his welfare and wellbeing first. He is an older boy now to be going through all that. I hope you have many many more happy days together