Fluffbabies
Forum Donator 2023/24
Hi again all,
We're going through it right now! We had Nugget (5 yo) pass away on Sunday 12th, she was diagnosed with UTI by local exotic vet on 2nd and started course of Baytril (0.75ml once a day) and Cystpro capsules (0.5/day). Nugget had also been longterm on Johnsons 4Joints (0.5ml day) and metacam (0.4ml twice a day) for her arthritis which had just spread to her spine. On Friday 10th she was seen by Kim at Cat and Rabbit clinic as she had reduced her eating and stopped drinking, confirmed UTI and also suspected stones. Although we mentioned she was nodding/rocking slightly, the local vet did not check for or mention possibility of URI. Kim did not mention URI either although she checked Nugget over - I had not mentioned the rocking as I didn't know the link to URI myself then. When Nugget died she had just peed bright red blood, I phoned local vet who said it sounded like stones but Nugget could not have surgery due to frailness so she had a lot going on and we could not have done any more for her.
However, Monday morning I noticed Oreo (6 yo) nodding/rocking like Nugget. Googled it, saw URI and took her straight to the local vet who diagnosed URI and also UTI, possible stones. Started course of Baytril (0.4ml twice a day) and Cystease (0.5 capsule once a day). Oreo is also on longterm on Johnsons 4Joints (0.5ml day) and metacam (0.4ml twice a day) for her arthritis.
With Oreo we have four 1.5 year olds in our herd. This evening (Wednesday) I thought I noticed Cookie rocking ever so slightly and she seemed to be laying up like a dog more than on her side. I stared at the others for ages, didn't see anything with Goldie or Demi but Effie I thought was breathing a little fast and possibly rocking a little. I thought I had to be imagining this.. I must be hyper vigilant and grieving but I was right about Oreo. Phoned the local vet who said to take all five up to be checked.
Low and behold Cookie has a URI and conjunctivitis. Effie has a URI and conjunctivitis but not as bad. The vet said that their noses are a bit wet and their breathing was faster/bit more laboured but their lungs sounded clear. Oreo's lungs sound crackly/bit chesty still but she said there isn't fluid in them. I could see Cookie and Effie's inner eyelids were red which I am guessing is the conjunctivitis? She said Goldie and Demi are clear but we thought one of Demi's eye's was red too.
She took a swab from Oreo, Cookie and Effie, which we have to wait 1-2 weeks for result. Vet said to treat with Doxycycline or Sulfatrim equivalent (as it's been discontinued). Vet chose Sulfatrim equivalent as it's being delivered tomorrow afternoon and they won't have Doxycycline as quick. Meanwhile she said Oreo needs to finish week of Baytril, add two weeks of Sulfatrim equivalent. Then all four young ones to do 1 week of Sulfatrim equivalent. Vet advised to treat whole herd so it doesn't cycle round again and again but we have the risks of them all being on antibiotics.
-> The vet said the conjunctivitis is caused by the infection? Are we meant to have eye drops for their eyes?
-> She also said their infection could be viral or bacterial but I thought piggies couldn't get viruses and they infections were always bacterial?
-> Please does anyone have experience with a whole herd or multiple pigs coming down with an infection? How did you get through it?
I was very surprised the young ones have caught it and that worries me that it's a very bad one.
We are so emotionally drained from losing Nugget. We barely have had time to grieve, then Oreo getting these infections and now we've got to find the emotional energy to be treating five piggies and watching them all for going off food/deterioration. I'm so full of worry I can't eat or think of anything else. I know the daily steps I need to take to monitor them but it feels like trying to win a war.
It also makes me feel so sorry for Nugget because she must have had a URI. It makes sense that Oreo has it worst because of her age and they were always side by side. It makes sense Cookie has it the next worst then Effie because they were the ones who spent a lot of time laying either side of Nugget when she was ill.
I know I got Nugget to two specialist vets and I know she had a lot going on and she deteriorated so fast that she didn't even lose weight. I noticed she had slowed down on her eating but that same day trying she would not have the syringe. I think things shut down so quickly and I don't think I could have saved her because of the stone/s but I just feel awful about it. I have rushed them to the vet within hours/a day of noticing the smallest of signs. The vets even said there's not other signs so I caught it all very early, but it STILL was not enough. And now I have three with URIs and have to treat all five! It's lucky I have been off work ill myself for the past three days and had my three days off before that or I would not have caught all of it. I have a very busy demanding job. I need to ask if I can have some time off for this emergency.
We've never had an infection before. They're inside on fleece. I'm wondering if we went wrong by heating the room most nights for Oreo and Nugget's arthritis then not heating it when it wasn't as cold. Maybe there was a temperature difference which caused an infection? I feel like I have been giving everything and still all this is happening.
I am trying not to be scared for the young ones but we have never gone up against a URI before and I have read how bad and fast they can be. We are very scared and worried about getting Oreo through the URI and UTI due to her age and frailness but also because if she has stones and they become problematic the only option we have is euthanasia. The vet checked her today and she squeaked even louder when her bladder was pressed than on Monday. We couldn't put her through an operation with all her other health issues, and we really feel like we are on borrowed time now :'( Please send all your love and prayers for Oreo and the rest of the herd. I can't even imagine losing more or them getting sicker. I am beside myself!
We're going through it right now! We had Nugget (5 yo) pass away on Sunday 12th, she was diagnosed with UTI by local exotic vet on 2nd and started course of Baytril (0.75ml once a day) and Cystpro capsules (0.5/day). Nugget had also been longterm on Johnsons 4Joints (0.5ml day) and metacam (0.4ml twice a day) for her arthritis which had just spread to her spine. On Friday 10th she was seen by Kim at Cat and Rabbit clinic as she had reduced her eating and stopped drinking, confirmed UTI and also suspected stones. Although we mentioned she was nodding/rocking slightly, the local vet did not check for or mention possibility of URI. Kim did not mention URI either although she checked Nugget over - I had not mentioned the rocking as I didn't know the link to URI myself then. When Nugget died she had just peed bright red blood, I phoned local vet who said it sounded like stones but Nugget could not have surgery due to frailness so she had a lot going on and we could not have done any more for her.
However, Monday morning I noticed Oreo (6 yo) nodding/rocking like Nugget. Googled it, saw URI and took her straight to the local vet who diagnosed URI and also UTI, possible stones. Started course of Baytril (0.4ml twice a day) and Cystease (0.5 capsule once a day). Oreo is also on longterm on Johnsons 4Joints (0.5ml day) and metacam (0.4ml twice a day) for her arthritis.
With Oreo we have four 1.5 year olds in our herd. This evening (Wednesday) I thought I noticed Cookie rocking ever so slightly and she seemed to be laying up like a dog more than on her side. I stared at the others for ages, didn't see anything with Goldie or Demi but Effie I thought was breathing a little fast and possibly rocking a little. I thought I had to be imagining this.. I must be hyper vigilant and grieving but I was right about Oreo. Phoned the local vet who said to take all five up to be checked.
Low and behold Cookie has a URI and conjunctivitis. Effie has a URI and conjunctivitis but not as bad. The vet said that their noses are a bit wet and their breathing was faster/bit more laboured but their lungs sounded clear. Oreo's lungs sound crackly/bit chesty still but she said there isn't fluid in them. I could see Cookie and Effie's inner eyelids were red which I am guessing is the conjunctivitis? She said Goldie and Demi are clear but we thought one of Demi's eye's was red too.
She took a swab from Oreo, Cookie and Effie, which we have to wait 1-2 weeks for result. Vet said to treat with Doxycycline or Sulfatrim equivalent (as it's been discontinued). Vet chose Sulfatrim equivalent as it's being delivered tomorrow afternoon and they won't have Doxycycline as quick. Meanwhile she said Oreo needs to finish week of Baytril, add two weeks of Sulfatrim equivalent. Then all four young ones to do 1 week of Sulfatrim equivalent. Vet advised to treat whole herd so it doesn't cycle round again and again but we have the risks of them all being on antibiotics.
-> The vet said the conjunctivitis is caused by the infection? Are we meant to have eye drops for their eyes?
-> She also said their infection could be viral or bacterial but I thought piggies couldn't get viruses and they infections were always bacterial?
-> Please does anyone have experience with a whole herd or multiple pigs coming down with an infection? How did you get through it?
I was very surprised the young ones have caught it and that worries me that it's a very bad one.
We are so emotionally drained from losing Nugget. We barely have had time to grieve, then Oreo getting these infections and now we've got to find the emotional energy to be treating five piggies and watching them all for going off food/deterioration. I'm so full of worry I can't eat or think of anything else. I know the daily steps I need to take to monitor them but it feels like trying to win a war.
It also makes me feel so sorry for Nugget because she must have had a URI. It makes sense that Oreo has it worst because of her age and they were always side by side. It makes sense Cookie has it the next worst then Effie because they were the ones who spent a lot of time laying either side of Nugget when she was ill.
I know I got Nugget to two specialist vets and I know she had a lot going on and she deteriorated so fast that she didn't even lose weight. I noticed she had slowed down on her eating but that same day trying she would not have the syringe. I think things shut down so quickly and I don't think I could have saved her because of the stone/s but I just feel awful about it. I have rushed them to the vet within hours/a day of noticing the smallest of signs. The vets even said there's not other signs so I caught it all very early, but it STILL was not enough. And now I have three with URIs and have to treat all five! It's lucky I have been off work ill myself for the past three days and had my three days off before that or I would not have caught all of it. I have a very busy demanding job. I need to ask if I can have some time off for this emergency.
We've never had an infection before. They're inside on fleece. I'm wondering if we went wrong by heating the room most nights for Oreo and Nugget's arthritis then not heating it when it wasn't as cold. Maybe there was a temperature difference which caused an infection? I feel like I have been giving everything and still all this is happening.
I am trying not to be scared for the young ones but we have never gone up against a URI before and I have read how bad and fast they can be. We are very scared and worried about getting Oreo through the URI and UTI due to her age and frailness but also because if she has stones and they become problematic the only option we have is euthanasia. The vet checked her today and she squeaked even louder when her bladder was pressed than on Monday. We couldn't put her through an operation with all her other health issues, and we really feel like we are on borrowed time now :'( Please send all your love and prayers for Oreo and the rest of the herd. I can't even imagine losing more or them getting sicker. I am beside myself!
I’m sending loads of healing vibes to your little poorly piggies, hope it helps x
