I hope this helps someone in the future

[Jesse's pigs]

I wanted to share this tip because I’m not sure if it might help someone else in the future.

As you know, my beloved Steve has reoccurring episodes of bloat. It’s been happening now since the start of 2020 and has been a battle ever since with me trying to catch the episodes before Steve goes downhill. My vets are aware and I always have a bottle of emeprid at home so that I can start dosing him as soon as I notice.

Now, the little trick I use is (and bare with me here) I sort of wobble him slightly. Now I know you’re probably rereading that like what the hell but please give me a second to explain. So when these minor episodes of bloat start up he isn’t necessarily poorly and I have to look for such subtle changes. In Steve’s case his poos will sorta shrink or start to change shape and he might just sit around a bit longer than normal. Not lethargic but just a few moments longer than perhaps my boy would. It is from these that I then do my wobble technique. I just hold him gently as u would normally and sway him slightly side to side (not saying shake the life out him!) and I will always hear a water balloon sloshing noise as tho someone has inflated Steve with water.

and that is when I know to give him a dose of emeprid and to start massaging his belly.

I’m not making this thread to stop anyone going to a vet as again each bloat episode is different. I certainly still seek my vet and have asked for xrays to confirm etc but so far (and may it continue to do so) it has kept Steve and I battling on as it’s allowed me to know something is up before gets too bad for my little man.

The same happened today and now I’ve given him a dose of emeprid and already he is perkier.

 

[Wiebke]

I have wobbled piggies with bloat but never heard a sloshy sound; they have always been simply gassy or had a short period of very loud gastric rumbling but usually that was either during the bloating or in a couple of cases heralded the onset of GI stasis.

I go by feel of the belly to decide who much or how little gut stimulants and painkiller to give and when to see a vet as an emergency.

 

[Jesse's pigs]

I have wobbled piggies with bloat but never heard a sloshy sound; they have always been simply gassy.
I go by feel of the belly to decide who much or how little gut stimulants and painkiller to give and when to see a vet as an emergency.

I’ve done it with Steve and several piggies who have passed through my practice whom have theturned out to have bloat after I’ve wobbled them, they’ve sloshed and then the owners have had an X-ray to confirm.

yes I have to say with Steve (par when he had the really bad episode where I thought he might pass) his belly doesn’t really go harder or seem really any different. He isn’t really even that tender at first when I massage.

I’m glad I’m not the only one wobbling their piggie I did think you guys were gonna think me weird

 

[Bradshaw Piggies]

When Odin had his bloating episodes, he was on meds, but I also used the washing machine trick. It seemed to help every time!