Safest Veggies For A Gassy Pig?

[CraigGlasgow]

So Weasley saw the exotics specialist on Wednesday and she wants to start reducing his meds. He's come off his antibiotics and since then his poop has become on large a much nicer shape and no longer wet and is happening more regularly. It is however now very dry and slightly greenish, which the vet said may happen.

She has told me to put him back on pro-C and try and introduce more veg back in to his diet but maintain his peppers and cucumber for vitC and hydration. He is still very gassy, but will pass most of it with tummy massages and is still on gut stimulants so she says she's unsure what is causing it but it clearly isn't diet if he's managing the cucumber and pepper. She suggested wet veg and herbs to try and flush his system, but to stay largely away from leafy greens if possible. She suggested Melon, and I also picked up some tomatoes and corriander. Are these likely to be alright? Are there any other things to try which would be beneficial?

Thanks all

 

[DM030819]

I think it depends on the pig. I had a pig that was prone to bloat and he loved tomato, had it every day.

I have a pig that suffers from a rumbly tum and tomato really makes him suffer.

I've had a few different pigs with digestive issues and I've found that the following has affected one of them (but others were fine:

Tomato
Green Pepper
Dill
Parsley
Apple
Broccoli
Cucumber

Also, some pellet foods

And Readigrass.

 

[Wiebke]

So Weasley saw the exotics specialist on Wednesday and she wants to start reducing his meds. He's come off his antibiotics and since then his poop has become on large a much nicer shape and no longer wet and is happening more regularly. It is however now very dry and slightly greenish, which the vet said may happen.

She has told me to put him back on pro-C and try and introduce more veg back in to his diet but maintain his peppers and cucumber for vitC and hydration. He is still very gassy, but will pass most of it with tummy massages and is still on gut stimulants so she says she's unsure what is causing it but it clearly isn't diet if he's managing the cucumber and pepper. She suggested wet veg and herbs to try and flush his system, but to stay largely away from leafy greens if possible. She suggested Melon, and I also picked up some tomatoes and corriander. Are these likely to be alright? Are there any other things to try which would be beneficial?

Thanks all

I usually try coriander, celery and green beans first (add only one new veg per meal and make sure that it is going down well). Peppers are often not too bad either. After that, it is very much a matter trial and error as personal reactions can differ quite a bit.

I would try to switch to grain-free pellets. There are now several brands available online at zooplus.

 

[CraigGlasgow]

Thanks Jaycey. I've heard it can be a hit and miss, same as humans I suppose! I've already tried him with carrot a few weeks ago and that set him off so that's now off the menu, as is lettuce for time being as that seems to have been the trigger for his 2nd bout, which he's very huffy about as that's his favourite! He's has had both green, yellow and red pepper and has had a small amount of gas with all but nothing he's not been able to pass and hasn't gone in to bloat with them. I tried cutting them for a few days to be sure and there was no major change in his gassyness so they are assumedly okay, same with the cucumber. He's been off veg for that long I'm a wee bt scared to start adding stuff back in!

 

[CraigGlasgow]

I usually try coriander, celery and green beans first (add only one new veg per meal and make sure that it is going down well). Peppers are often not too bad either. After that, it is very much a matter trial and error as personal reactions can differ quite a bit.

I would try to switch to grain-free pellets. There are now several brands available online at zooplus.

Thanks Wiebke I'll try the corriander tonight then and pick up some celery tomorrow, they used to get that fairly regularly but I stopped it after a previous vet told me it was a choking hazzard due to the veins. They weren't cavy specialist though so if you've used it I will add it back in as he used to love it

I asked the vet about pellets, as he is eating a lot of these at the moment (no more than 40g per day though) and these seem to be his main concern as he will wheek when the bowl is empty but I've been told not to refil it to try and encourage more hay eating which seems to be working He gets the Excel with Mint nuggets which the specialist and the vet nurse both feed their pigs and he's been on it for over 3 years so she said it should be fine to leave him on it, I've checked the ingredients though and it does have wheat and oats which seems a fair amount of grain?

Any suggestions for other brands? I've heard Science Select can be good for pigs with stomache issues and I know they have it in the local pets at home.

 

[CraigGlasgow]

Corriander seems to have gone fine, pooping less often again and now slightly speckled/holey looking but the general colour is much darker and he seems to be passing them easily, and no increase in gassyness He had his peppers this morning so will try the celery this evening in place of his cucumber and see how he goes

 

[VickiA]

Hi @CraigGlasgow re celery - if you cut it into small slices it reduces the choking hazard. Alternatively my MIL was seen by my lads with a veg peeler "peeling the strings" from celery before she served it to my piggies on one occasion. My piggies love celery.
Glad the coriander went down well. Hope the celery does too.

 

[CraigGlasgow]

Thanks @VickiA will try that, sounds a handy wee trick fingers crossed!