piggl
Forum Donator 2024/25
Does all bloat need to be seen by a vet?
I have had a couple cases of bloat, and generally I take them off veg for a few days and give them a good massage multiple times a day and it goes away. (This is mostly when I know what has caused it, like a new food for example.)
I understand the potential pain that can come with bloat, but I have never seen it myself.
So what I am wondering is if there is a line.
One of my boys was bloated this evening, I only realised after my mother had fed him his veg as I have been really busy these past couples days and not able to “cuddle” at all.
He got a good massage and will now be off veg for a couple days. He showed no signs of tenderness or pain and no signs of being off food.
I have also had some bad bloat, but this was at the same time as gut stasis and a bunch of other things, where they were on medication anyway.
He has had some dried forage for the first time in ages, so I think this is the reason for his bloat. I should have caught it earlier but as I said I have been really busy.
Out of the blue bloat is something that definitely needs to be seen by a vet, and bloat that is clearly causing piggie pain/discomfort, but as I know the cause and he shows no sign of pain I wonder if he doesn’t need to see a vet.
This also makes me wonder, people who don’t pick up their piggies aside from health checks, how do you keep on top of things like this?
If you are worried about bloat generally I would urge you to see a vet. I am always fearful someone will see this and think their pig doesn’t need treatment because of what I have written.
Which kind of contradicts my question, but this is why I am asking.
Although I am not a vet (an early stages training one), and if I was worried/out of my depth on something he would be straight to the vet, I do have a lot of experience with pigs and with bloat. Which is why I feel somewhat able to make a decision like this, but I am clearly not so sure about that, which is why I am looking for other opinions.
P.S - I ramble a lot, apologies!
I have had a couple cases of bloat, and generally I take them off veg for a few days and give them a good massage multiple times a day and it goes away. (This is mostly when I know what has caused it, like a new food for example.)
I understand the potential pain that can come with bloat, but I have never seen it myself.
So what I am wondering is if there is a line.
One of my boys was bloated this evening, I only realised after my mother had fed him his veg as I have been really busy these past couples days and not able to “cuddle” at all.
He got a good massage and will now be off veg for a couple days. He showed no signs of tenderness or pain and no signs of being off food.
I have also had some bad bloat, but this was at the same time as gut stasis and a bunch of other things, where they were on medication anyway.
He has had some dried forage for the first time in ages, so I think this is the reason for his bloat. I should have caught it earlier but as I said I have been really busy.
Out of the blue bloat is something that definitely needs to be seen by a vet, and bloat that is clearly causing piggie pain/discomfort, but as I know the cause and he shows no sign of pain I wonder if he doesn’t need to see a vet.
This also makes me wonder, people who don’t pick up their piggies aside from health checks, how do you keep on top of things like this?
If you are worried about bloat generally I would urge you to see a vet. I am always fearful someone will see this and think their pig doesn’t need treatment because of what I have written.
Which kind of contradicts my question, but this is why I am asking.
Although I am not a vet (an early stages training one), and if I was worried/out of my depth on something he would be straight to the vet, I do have a lot of experience with pigs and with bloat. Which is why I feel somewhat able to make a decision like this, but I am clearly not so sure about that, which is why I am looking for other opinions.
P.S - I ramble a lot, apologies!
