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Emergency care - Vet unsure if bloat/URI or both

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PennyP

New Born Pup
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Hi.
I've read many posts on this forum but this is the first post I've made myself.
I'd appreciate some advice for my little teddy-rex (imaginatively named Teddy) whom I've been nursing her for the past couple of days. When we checked on her a couple of days ago she was lethargic and struggling to breathe so we took her to our local vet. The vet said she thought it was bloat or a twisted gut, performed x-rays, gave pain relief and relieved some of the gas with a needle! The vet then said she wasn't a specialist so we transferred her to one of the vets recommended on your forum.
The second vet was much better and said it could be URI or bloat. To be safe he gave us medicine for both.
I've been given Baytril, Emeprid, Loxicom and Infacol by the vet. I'm a bit concered about the comments I've read on here about infacol but presumably the vet knows what he's doing?
I've also been syringe feeding her with critical care although she's only taking about 1/3 of the amount suggested by the vet. I've managed to get 2 or 3ml down her plus a bit of water every 3 hours.
When she came home two days ago I noticed she had snot bubbles coming out of her nose and her eyes are a bit crusty. She's definitely perked up a bit in the last two days, though still a wheeze and visible stuggle (bit less now) when she breathes. She's also started fighting me when I try to force feed her. when I put her in the cage last night (she's much happier in the cage than being syringe fed me!) she started eating hay and this morning when I was feeding herbs to her cage mate she came out of her bed to eat a bit of basil. I can't see that she's done much pooping. It's difficult to tell with another piggy sharing the same space though there was a tiny poop on the blanket when I brought her in yesterday.

I'd appreciate any advice you can offer, particularly since I'm a novice at this. Should I continue with infacol? How long do I keep syringe feeding her? Should she be separated from her cage mate? She has another appointment at the vet this afternoon so if there are any questions I should be asking please let me know.
 
I’m sorry to hear she isn’t well.

We do say that infacol can gather gas into one big bubble which is harder for piggies to pass. Gripe water being recommended instead.

How long is she been prescribed the meds for?

In terms of syringe feeding, the amount you feed is dependent upon how much hay piggy is still eating for themselves. This can be anywhere from 40-90ml in a 24 hour period. The only way to know you are getting enough into her is by switching from the routine weekly weight checks and instead weighing her daily. If her weight drops, she isn’t eating enough. It may be you need to feed little and more often to get her intake up if she isn’t able to take more at a time.
You cannot stop syringe feeding until she eats enough hay on her own to maintain her weight each 24 hour weight check.
Poop output is 1-2 days behind food intake so the poops you see today reflect reduced food intake yesterday and the day before. Equally, if she eats enough today, you won’t start seeing more poops until tomorrow/the day after. Again, this is why the daily weight checks are important as they give you real time information on food intake

Please do not separate her from her cagemate. Poorly piggies feel better when they stay with their friends. Separation is stressful for them which in turn further lowers the immune system, plus it risks damaging their bond (medically separated piggies can refuse to go back together again)

Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
Weight - Monitoring and Management
 
Hi Piggies&buns - thanks for the quick reply.

The vet didn't say how long to take the meds for but judging by the Baytril she's about half way through. There's still lots of Emeprid left. I might also ask the vet this afternoon about switching to gripe water. With the stress of the situation I also forgot to weigh her, but the vet did so I can remember to do it from now on. I'm not managing to get anything like 40ml down her. I'm managing 2 x 1ml syringes max every 2 or 3 hours. It was easier to get the food down her when she was weaker as she really doesn't like me doing it now.

Any tips on how to keep air bubbles out of syringes?
 
Its really about ensuring the syringe is well into the liquid and that you draw it up slowly.

Definitely start with the daily weighing (you can reduce back down to routine weekly once she is better)
Piggies can’t breathe through their mouths and needing to breathe comes first so feeding can be hard work. Try little and often along with the weight checks and see how things are - as she eats more for herself when she feels better then she is more likely to start refusing the syringe. It’s a case of finding what works for you and her but getting a balance and ensuring she is getting enough food

Id recommend you get her probiotics (these aren’t medications so you don’t need a vet) as antibiotics can wipe out their appetite.
As she has a healthy companion then poop soup is also a very good and help repopulate the gut with beneficial bacteria

Ill add some further guides in addition to the ones in my last reply above which can help further

Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
Guinea Lynx :: URI
Digestive Disorders: Diarrhea - Bloat - GI Stasis (No Gut Movement) And Not Eating
Probiotics, Recovery Foods And Vitamin C: Overview With Product Links
 
Have you cut the tip off the syringe @PennyP? As that’s definitely much easier sucking up the slop!
As she’s perked up a little could you see if she’d maybe eat some recovery/syringe food off a spoon or in a bowl instead (without her cagemate pinching it!), I’ve found some pigs much better munching that way, my RB Jess blooming hated syringes but would eat great off a teaspoon!
Sorry to hear she’s been so unwell, hope she continues to feel a bit better. Sending lots of healing vibes from me and my gang :)
 
alpacasqueak said:
Have you cut the tip off the syringe @PennyP? As that’s definitely much easier sucking up the slop!
As she’s perked up a little could you see if she’d maybe eat some recovery/syringe food off a spoon or in a bowl instead (without her cagemate pinching it!), I’ve found some pigs much better munching that way, my RB Jess blooming hated syringes but would eat great off a teaspoon!
Sorry to hear she’s been so unwell, hope she continues to feel a bit better. Sending lots of healing vibes from me and my gang :)
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Oh no, I haven't cut the tip off the syringe. I read about it and then forgot to do it! I will also try the tea spoon. I don't want to put her through any more distress than is necessary and she's trying to hide under her blanket but hasn't quite got the strength to resist fully. I don't think it helps that I've lots of medicines to give her by syringe twice a day either. Thanks for the tip.
 
PennyP said:
Oh no, I haven't cut the tip off the syringe. I read about it and then forgot to do it! I will also try the tea spoon. I don't want to put her through any more distress than is necessary and she's trying to hide under her blanket but hasn't quite got the strength to resist fully. I don't think it helps that I've lots of medicines to give her by syringe twice a day either. Thanks for the tip.
Click to expand...
Definitely helpful to cut it off and @furryfriends (TEAS) video is brilliant!
You could try with the spoon when she’s in her cage, just offering it to her in her bed etc rather than handling her? Can imagine she’s a bit sore bless her ❤️ May not happen but worth a try!
Hope you can get her munching more today :)
 
I also find that a lot of piggies tend to prefer their own regular pellets soaked and made into a mush, and put in a shallow bowl in their cage. If i have a very reluctant eater I sometimes add a spoon full of sugar free fruit pure to encourage them to eat.
Good luck - you are doing everything right and sometimes it's just a matter of time and patience.
 
Good luck. It can be very stressful with a sick piggy. You are doing great. 😃. Mushed up pellets are a good idea and so is a small bowl.
 
So sorry for your situation.
Dealing with a sick piggy is stressful.
I add a bit of mashed banana to a dish of syringe feed which mine all seem to love.
As well as the syringe feeding I do as others do too and put a small dish into the cage.
Hope your girl recovers quickly
 
Thanks for the advice everyone.
Update from the is that she has improved from Tuesday but she's not out of the woods yet. In particular her weight was down so we need to up her food intake. We've also been given more medicine and she's due back at the vet next week. Thanks for feeding tips. With my husband's help we've just managed to get 6 or 7 syringes down her so fingers crossed it gets easier!
 
It does get easier with practice, the more you get down her each time gives you a bit more confidence, you are doing a great job even if she doesn’t think so. If you place her back and bottom against your tummy she will find it difficult to toddle off while you are trying to syringe feed her
Good luck, hope she makes a full recovery x
 
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