• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

Clover has a bald tummy :(

😟 Poor big pig Clover, I'm sorry to hear she's in a lot of pain. If you do get a referral, I hope they can work out what's up.
I've no experience of vetergesic etc, but I can't imagine that dripping it under her tongue is going to be easy. I hope it tastes nice (but it probably doesn't) :vom:
Sending healing wheeks! x
 
It’s been a while since we’ve had it here. I’m trying to remember which of my many piggies had it. I’m pretty sure it was Mabel after her spay op for pyometra or her stone removal (or it could have been one of the others after surgery who was in a load of pain) and we were also given a number of pre-loaded syringes with caps on. I remember it was definitely 0.1ml as it was such a tiny amount in those syringes. And I also remember the instruction to give it slowly into the mouth. All you can do is your best with these things.
Poor Clover - I wonder where her pain is coming from. I hope that the vetergesic really helps with her pain. I seem to recall it zonked Mabel out somewhat.
 
We're having a big early dinner then some haytime before starting the vetergesic in case it does zonk Clover out and she doesnt eat for a while. Got recovery foods in too in case she's too zonked to eat later.
Its such a tough call because here are allegedly terminally ill Jezzy with liver failure and Clover with excrutiating chronic pain tucking into big bowls of dinner like they are fine!
Clover is definitely in pain but... nobody but Clover knows how much and where. Jezzy is completely unfazed except for periodically swelking up like a water ballon then weeing it all out in her bed and sleeping a lot.
Love my old ladies...
20210829_162656.webp
 
PigglePuggle said:
We're having a big early dinner then some haytime before starting the vetergesic in case it does zonk Clover out and she doesnt eat for a while. Got recovery foods in too in case she's too zonked to eat later.
Its such a tough call because here are allegedly terminally ill Jezzy with liver failure and Clover with excrutiating chronic pain tucking into big bowls of dinner like they are fine!
Clover is definitely in pain but... nobody but Clover knows how much and where. Jezzy is completely unfazed except for periodically swelking up like a water ballon then weeing it all out in her bed and sleeping a lot.
Love my old ladies...
View attachment 184344
Click to expand...
Beautiful girls 💖 princess had an inoperable abdominal tumour (and arthritis) and right up until her last week (4 months after diagnosis) she tucked into food like there was nothing wrong but was showing signs of pain whenever we needed to change pain relief 💖 it's great that they're eating so well and are well in themselves, got everything crossed the meds work for clover and you get a diagnosis and hopefully a solution soon! We were so lucky with p as she didn't zonk out or show any real side effects at all, I hope clover is the same 💖🍀
 
PigglePuggle said:
Well I'm going to need some advice on this @VickiA @Wiebke @furryfriends (TEAS) if you've ever been asked to give vetergesic/buprenorphine, the preparation usually for injection, by dripping it under the tongue and onto the inside of the cheeks for absorption via the mucous membranes in the mouth?
Not heard of this route of administration myself but we have 10 pre-loaded syringes without needles to slowly drip 0.1mls vetergesic into Clover's mouth twice a day... I'd really appreciate hearing if anyone else has done this?
The vet agreed Clover is in severe pain, possibly more pain than we even guessed I suppose given the buprenorphine.
The vet didnt want to try an ultrasound or positioning her for xray because she's in too much pain... we go back Thursday and will be getting a referral to Rutland House probably. The vet has no clue what hurts, seems like everything hurts :(
Then she came home and nom nom nom ate a big bunch of coriander and scampered off to see her friends!
Poor old girl. So brave. The vet was genuinely baffled, I'm wary of the vetergesic especially this odd route of administration- going to do some reading before trying it out, she got a hefty dose of loxicom for now and we'll try for opioids at bedtime maybe...
Click to expand...
Sorry, I have never come across that. Poor girl!

@furryfriends (TEAS) is the one with the most experience re. vetergesic.
 
Well after a hopeful dinner and a quick waterbottle rattle, Clover fell over on her way to the hay tray then sat upside down looking sad and trying to chew her own feet off... so I stepped in with the vetergesic.
She was expecting loxicom so looked a bit frightened but its definitely squirted round the inside of her mouth and not swallowed.20210829_175547.webp
How are you feeling old girl?
Clover says, my nose is oscillating on its own and I can't quite bring it into focus but... I'm happier now!
 
PigglePuggle said:
Well after a hopeful dinner and a quick waterbottle rattle, Clover fell over on her way to the hay tray then sat upside down looking sad and trying to chew her own feet off... so I stepped in with the vetergesic.
She was expecting loxicom so looked a bit frightened but its definitely squirted round the inside of her mouth and not swallowed.View attachment 184345
How are you feeling old girl?
Clover says, my nose is oscillating on its own and I can't quite bring it into focus but... I'm happier now!
Click to expand...
Aww I hope it helps beautiful girl 💖 she looks so sweet bless her 💖
 
I think I’d be inclined to just hope for the best. Buccal administration is a pita. We give something to newborns and you are supposed to try and dry the inside of the cheek and then massage it in. That’s the theory, the practice is you just do your best and hope that you get more in the baby than up your hands. If you can aim it into the cheek cavity rather than onto the tongue then you’ve probably done about as much as is possible. And then a little massage of the outside of the cheek to rub what is sitting there in…
 
PigglePuggle said:
Thanks that's helpful, what dosage range do piggies usually get? I think 0.1mls of 0.3mg/ml vetergesic twice a day sounds quite a lot as a starting dose, compared to the literature on cat dosage- but we all know piggies metabolise things faster... really helpful though, I rather wish the vet had given us intramuscular injections too... even more scary of course but probably more precise especially with the small volumes...
Click to expand...
It's not that difficult to do, once your vet shows you! So much more precise too! Less of a faff too! x
 
PigglePuggle said:
Well I'm going to need some advice on this @VickiA @Wiebke @furryfriends (TEAS) if you've ever been asked to give vetergesic/buprenorphine, the preparation usually for injection, by dripping it under the tongue and onto the inside of the cheeks for absorption via the mucous membranes in the mouth?
Not heard of this route of administration myself but we have 10 pre-loaded syringes without needles to slowly drip 0.1mls vetergesic into Clover's mouth twice a day... I'd really appreciate hearing if anyone else has done this?
The vet agreed Clover is in severe pain, possibly more pain than we even guessed I suppose given the buprenorphine.
The vet didnt want to try an ultrasound or positioning her for xray because she's in too much pain... we go back Thursday and will be getting a referral to Rutland House probably. The vet has no clue what hurts, seems like everything hurts :(
Then she came home and nom nom nom ate a big bunch of coriander and scampered off to see her friends!
Poor old girl. So brave. The vet was genuinely baffled, I'm wary of the vetergesic especially this odd route of administration- going to do some reading before trying it out, she got a hefty dose of loxicom for now and we'll try for opioids at bedtime maybe...
Click to expand...
I had to give Jemimah Vetergesic after her double surgery ( abscess removal & emergency spay).
She needed a bit extra pain relief for a few days
I was given some pre-loaded syringes and gave them the same way I gave her the Metacam. It worked well and made all the difference but none of the fussing you’ve been told.

Hope you can find a good solution for Clover.
 
Poor little Clover bless her, really hope it helps.
I used vetergesic with Rosie the cat (had to rub it into her gums which she hated!) in her final week with me but never with piggies. It definitely helped her but she was a bit spaced out too!
Big hugs to you and Clover x
 
Clover says, Mummy you spent 6 months training me to take my loxy medicine like a good girl, why are you squirting this new medicine in the wrong place so I cant swallow it? It tastes funny and makes me go a bit funny afterwards but I am a good girl so ok then...
20210830_180115.webp
 
Clover is better prepared this evening for her buprenorphine experience, last night she was mostly in a castle house at the furthest end of the cage a bit too woozy to go very far, but tonight quite sensibly she had a big drink of water then settled down in the hayroom so its easier to reach the night time snacks :)
20210830_183152.webp
 
What a clever girl you are Clover. I hope the meds make you feel better without knocking you out too much 😘
 
I hope that Clover starts at o feel better. It's sad to see them in pain and not know why. Hope you get an answer soon. ❤️❤️
 
We're back at the vets tomorrow, but I'm very pleased with how Clover is doing, she's spending much more time with the other piggies now- she had been avoiding them a bit but she's back to snuggling up with Blod and spending more time in the hayroom being guarded by her big furry family! Hope the vets let us continue the buprenorphine, I dont think she needs it twice a day and possibly not every day on her better days when loxicom does the trick, but it would be good to have some on hand for her worse days at least.
I dont know how vets are about longer term buprenorphine, I imagine opinions differ, but given her age and that she isnt going to magically recover I think it is fairly justified if it gives her a few more months with a good quality of life...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top