GA needed for x-ray on non wriggly pig?

[Black piggies]

Shadow has made funny noises at night and vets have said she has slightly strained breathing for the past year, she had URI meds. I asked vet to do chest and abdomen x-ray, which is happening tomorrow.
I've always been told Shadow just sits and doesn't move at the vets. She's not scared, she's just rolling her eyes at the underlings around her, daring to challenge her rule She virtually never runs away from anything.
I'm just wondering, does a pig who never wriggles, really need the general anaesthetic that's been planned? Or is it just standard practice?

 

[Wiebke]

Shadow has made funny noises at night and vets have said she has slightly strained breathing for the past year, she had URI meds. I asked vet to do chest and abdomen x-ray, which is happening tomorrow.
I've always been told Shadow just sits and doesn't move at the vets. She's not scared, she's just rolling her eyes at the underlings around her, daring to challenge her rule She virtually never runs away from anything.
I'm just wondering, does a pig who never wriggles, really need the general anaesthetic that's been planned? Or is it just standard practice?

Hi!

Vets generally prefer to anaesthetise as they may have to position the piggy in an awkward pose or from different angles in order for a clear, not disrupted view of the specific area or to locate a problem inside the three-dimensional body - the latter especially when trying to locate stones outside the bladder for instance.

It has become increasingly standard practice for these reasons unless a piggy is considered too frail for risking GA where a vet can still do a judgment call over the last decade - including at the Cat&Rabbit. This goes hand in hand with more experience with GA in small furries and a much decreased risk of fatalities.

 

[Black piggies]

OK thanks.

 

[Qualcast&Flymo]

When Zebedee was ill and losing weight the last time, my vet didn't bother with GA before xray. Zeb was happy to lie where he was placed with the lead weight supports, so it didn't make sense to Subject him to a GA with its attendant risks.

 

[Black piggies]

When Zebedee was ill and losing weight the last time, my vet didn't bother with GA before xray. Zeb was happy to lie where he was placed with the lead weight supports, so it didn't make sense to Subject him to a GA with its attendant risks.

That's good Zebedee didn't have to have GA and the vet made a judgement call.

 

[Qualcast&Flymo]

Yes I was very glad to avoid the hassle etc. Zeb was a gentle old boy, somewhat lazy perhaps, and probably had got used to handling because of his recurrent URIs. I doubt I would be able to xray without sedation either Squeaks or my 2 sows..

 

[Black piggies]

Yes I was very glad to avoid the hassle etc. Zeb was a gentle old boy, somewhat lazy perhaps, and probably had got used to handling because of his recurrent URIs. I doubt I would be able to xray without sedation either Squeaks or my 2 sows..

Lol yes Shadow is my only pig I'd be wondering this about.

 

[Lady Kelly]

I had Boris at the vets quite recently and they wanted to do xrays. He had lost considerable weight and it was felt a GA would be quite risky. He was fine for sitting still so they could do top down but ideally they would have also liked to get a side view which he wasn't able to cooperate for as most piggies in my experience won't lie on their sides voluntarily.

 

[Black piggies]

I had Boris at the vets quite recently and they wanted to do xrays. He had lost considerable weight and it was felt a GA would be quite risky. He was fine for sitting still so they could do top down but ideally they would have also liked to get a side view which he wasn't able to cooperate for as most piggies in my experience won't lie on their sides voluntarily.

Aw poor Boris. That's good to know thanks, as Shadow probably wouldn't go on her side.

 

[PigglePuggle]

Yes as others have said it depends on the position. Blodwen sat still for top view and side view xrays with no anaesthesia or sedation when she had her persistent respiratory issues, she's very easy to position and keep still- though her front paw got slightly in the way of the side view. But a tummy view will need sedation in all but the poorliest piggies.
Good luck at the vets! X

 

[Black piggies]

Many thanks, good to know!

 

[alpacasqueak]

Good luck at the vets x

 

[Black piggies]

Well it was worth doing, Shadow has a bladder stone. New problem to me and her. The vet said it's small and will pass, recommended twice daily loxicom, review in a few days and lifelong monitoring. Shadow is an interstitial cystitis piggy. Hope it's OK to show this x-ray out of interest.

I don't think Shadow's weight loss diet went quite as well as I thought! But on a positive, apparently she has the bones and teeth of a younger piggy, hopefully she'll keep going strong.

 

[alpacasqueak]

Sorry Shadow has a stone poor girl, really hope she passes it no problems as it’s so small and then feels much better bless her! xx

 

[VickiA]

I hope that she is able to pass it easily and quickly and without too much discomfort

 

[Claire W]

I’m sorry Shadow has a stone. I hope she can pass it x

 

[Black piggies]

Thank you She seems fine, back to vet in couple days. I'm wondering whether the vet will be able to tell by feel, if it's passed.

 

[alpacasqueak]

So glad she’s doing ok, hope her check up goes well
With my Rupert’s second stone that was small and he passed (rather than the scary emergency surgery with the first!) Simon the vet could feel his bladder was a bit harder and he was sensitive with it in there (before his X-ray to confirm it) so they may be able to feel it! Or not hopefully!