Hunt76
New Born Pup
Around a month ago, I rescued a younger boar (around a year and a half old, if that) from a reputable rescue. He had a clean bill of health, and was doing super well. He’s been a smaller boy as long as I’ve had him, between 870g and 900g. He developed an abscess under his jaw and went to the vet, where he was prescribed antibiotics, pain meds, topical antimicrobials, and an anti-itch cream for the wound it created. All was going well until recently, when he began losing weight pretty rapidly. I suspected it was related to his rear teeth, so I began syringe feeding Critical Care (a friend gave me what was left of hers from a prior pig) and he returned to the vet where an abscess was noted to still be under his jaw and his rear teeth a bit long. They drained the abscess, filed his teeth and prescribed pain meds. His appetite clearly returned, so I thought we were in the clear.
Unfortunately, he continues to lose weight in rapid fashion. He’s been eating and drinking like a horse - he literally drank 3/4 of a fairly large water bottle overnight and, between the two of the boars, damn near cleaned out two hay feeders which is uncharacteristic for them. Besides his ravenous hunger and thirst, he’s acting pretty much completely normal - as lively and spunky as he’s ever been with me. He’s down to about 680g, despite my best efforts to the contrary, which can’t be healthy for him.
The excessive thirst screams diabetes to me, but he’s not acting lethargic in any way so I’d be surprised if he’s hypo- or hyperglycemic. There is a palpable mass in his throat, seemingly typical of hyperthyroidism, but it’s hard to tell if this is a ventral cervical mass from hyperthyroidism or the preexisting abscess. If it’s not the abscess, the abscess is pretty much gone.
I called the vet again - a small animal/exotic vet almost an hour away from me - and she said she suspects hyperthyroidism, and an appointment was made for next Thursday. I don’t know if we have that kind of time, though, without treatment. I’m going to call in the morning and try to move it up.
In the meantime, I ran out of Critical Care tonight and no pet store I’ve been to has had it in stock, and the local vet wouldn’t give it to me unless it were prescribed to my boar - but they couldn’t get him in for an appointment for two weeks or so. I’ve ordered it online, but it won’t arrive until Monday. I really don’t know how else to combat this weight loss until I can get him the help he so clearly needs. Maybe oats?
Is there anyone experienced in this area who can be of any assistance? I really want a positive outcome for this boy, especially because he’s so young and otherwise happy and healthy. He’s also recently bonded to my older boar who’s had a pretty traumatic history with other pigs before I rescued him so, as much as I want the new boar to live for my sake and his own, I really don’t want my old man to have finally found a friend only to lose him so suddenly.
Thank you all so much.
Unfortunately, he continues to lose weight in rapid fashion. He’s been eating and drinking like a horse - he literally drank 3/4 of a fairly large water bottle overnight and, between the two of the boars, damn near cleaned out two hay feeders which is uncharacteristic for them. Besides his ravenous hunger and thirst, he’s acting pretty much completely normal - as lively and spunky as he’s ever been with me. He’s down to about 680g, despite my best efforts to the contrary, which can’t be healthy for him.
The excessive thirst screams diabetes to me, but he’s not acting lethargic in any way so I’d be surprised if he’s hypo- or hyperglycemic. There is a palpable mass in his throat, seemingly typical of hyperthyroidism, but it’s hard to tell if this is a ventral cervical mass from hyperthyroidism or the preexisting abscess. If it’s not the abscess, the abscess is pretty much gone.
I called the vet again - a small animal/exotic vet almost an hour away from me - and she said she suspects hyperthyroidism, and an appointment was made for next Thursday. I don’t know if we have that kind of time, though, without treatment. I’m going to call in the morning and try to move it up.
In the meantime, I ran out of Critical Care tonight and no pet store I’ve been to has had it in stock, and the local vet wouldn’t give it to me unless it were prescribed to my boar - but they couldn’t get him in for an appointment for two weeks or so. I’ve ordered it online, but it won’t arrive until Monday. I really don’t know how else to combat this weight loss until I can get him the help he so clearly needs. Maybe oats?
Is there anyone experienced in this area who can be of any assistance? I really want a positive outcome for this boy, especially because he’s so young and otherwise happy and healthy. He’s also recently bonded to my older boar who’s had a pretty traumatic history with other pigs before I rescued him so, as much as I want the new boar to live for my sake and his own, I really don’t want my old man to have finally found a friend only to lose him so suddenly.
Thank you all so much.
