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Weight loss

Lady Kelly

Lady Kelly

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So Boris has had some weight loss. It had been gradually going down by tiny tiny amounts which wasn't an issue as he was a chunky, chunky boy who I had clearly let overfeed at some point so he could afford to lose a bit. Last week it jumped down to 917g so I paid attention, I watched it seemingly go back up but weighed him today and it's shot right down to 706g. He's a skinny boy now. Got a vets appointment for tomorrow morning after the receptionist checked with clinical staff to make sure they didn't want to definitely see him today. He's eating and looks bright, he's eaten pellets out of my hand (around 10) before stopping for his pooping session. Passed poops easily but did hunch a little when doing it. He then went on to eat some mushed pellets.

I'm worried about him but kicking myself also. I should have done the weekly weigh in on Friday but didn't. We were out all morning and then in the afternoon I got an emergency text telling me hubby had been in a crash and needed help, luckily I was able to get hold of him and confirm that wasn't the case but I was in the car ready to drive around looking for him. (His Garmin smart watch has this feature for being in an impact... He was on the driving range at golf and obviously hit the ball too hard... We laugh about it now but I cried and nearly vommed it got to me that much). Then Saturday I had my second covid vaccine unexpectedly as there was a walk in and I haven't been feeling well until today. I know I need to be kind to myself and this was a one off of letting it slip but typical the one time I'm not on top of it this happens.

So send lots of well wishes for Boris please and if anyone believes/prays please pray for my regular vets to deal with it as I only work part time now so don't fancy the huge specialist vet bills.
 
My thoughts are with you Boris , hopefully it's something simple that can be put right . I'm going through end of life care at the moment with one of my rats who's developed a pitituory brain tumor and is going down hill each week . I'm heart broken and having to try and concentrate on work at the same time ☹️

How old is Boris? . It just sounds alot like one of my boars who had arthiritis and got on fine with life long metacam on prescription .but then it could be many things
 
Lady Kelly said:
So Boris has had some weight loss. It had been gradually going down by tiny tiny amounts which wasn't an issue as he was a chunky, chunky boy who I had clearly let overfeed at some point so he could afford to lose a bit. Last week it jumped down to 917g so I paid attention, I watched it seemingly go back up but weighed him today and it's shot right down to 706g. He's a skinny boy now. Got a vets appointment for tomorrow morning after the receptionist checked with clinical staff to make sure they didn't want to definitely see him today. He's eating and looks bright, he's eaten pellets out of my hand (around 10) before stopping for his pooping session. Passed poops easily but did hunch a little when doing it. He then went on to eat some mushed pellets.

I'm worried about him but kicking myself also. I should have done the weekly weigh in on Friday but didn't. We were out all morning and then in the afternoon I got an emergency text telling me hubby had been in a crash and needed help, luckily I was able to get hold of him and confirm that wasn't the case but I was in the car ready to drive around looking for him. (His Garmin smart watch has this feature for being in an impact... He was on the driving range at golf and obviously hit the ball too hard... We laugh about it now but I cried and nearly vommed it got to me that much). Then Saturday I had my second covid vaccine unexpectedly as there was a walk in and I haven't been feeling well until today. I know I need to be kind to myself and this was a one off of letting it slip but typical the one time I'm not on top of it this happens.

So send lots of well wishes for Boris please and if anyone believes/prays please pray for my regular vets to deal with it as I only work part time now so don't fancy the huge specialist vet bills.
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Hi!

HUGS

Please don't beat yourself up; these things do have a habit of happening at the worst of time and you had more than enough on your plate. However, if the deterioration is that quick, I doubt that booking him in on Friday or Saturday will ultimately make that big a difference.

Fingers VERY firmly crossed! Hunching is generally a sign of pain inside the body but it is anybody's guess where exactly it is located and what is causing it. :(

You know the necessary crisis/bridging support care measures... :tu:
 
My Edward has gradually lost weight but has stabilised around the 900g mark (He was round 1100g). He’s been vet checked and the vet couldn’t find anything wrong so has put it down to ageing (he’s 5 and a 1/2). Hopefully it’s something similar for Boris.
 
Thinking of you and Boris. Please don’t beat yourself up. We all have a lot to juggle in life and your pigs are very lucky to have you as their hooman.

I had a similar situation with Thor. He’s only turning 3 this year, so not quite a senior yet. He used to always weigh around 1200g. Then he kept gradually and slowly losing weight over a few months. The vet couldn’t find anything wrong with him. He stabilised around 970 and has been 970 ever since! The vet says he’s perfectly healthy.

Hope all goes well at the vet and hope you’re feeling better about the situation. The boys and I are sending love!
 
Claire W said:
My Edward has gradually lost weight but has stabilised around the 900g mark (He was round 1100g). He’s been vet checked and the vet couldn’t find anything wrong so has put it down to ageing (he’s 5 and a 1/2). Hopefully it’s something similar for Boris.
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They can lose muscle mass when they get old ish . My sky did before he got ILL with something unrelated
 
Good luck at the vets. Sending healing vibes Boris’s way 😊
 
Sending you & Boris all our good wishes for the vet visit tomorrow x
 
Sending positive wheeky thoughts for Boris, and please don't blame yourself for missing a weight check with so many other things going on- if he is still eating and pooping and ok in himself then a few days wont have made any difference whatever the cause x
 
Thank you everyone, Boris is 3 and a half now and he's never needed to see the vet since I've had him!

Thank you Wiebke for the common sense talk, yes you are right whatever the vet decides tomorrow there's going to be no miracle treatment that would have him cured between Friday and Tuesday
 
Sending lots of healing vibes to Boris and hugs for you. Sometimes life throws a spanner in the works. So please do be kind to yourself. You’ve addressed it quickly n
 
Sat outside the vets in the sunshine. External examination showed up nothing unusual but he did squeal when his tummy was pressed. Now he is a bit of a fusspot but I do think this is likely a pain response. They are currently trying to do an x-ray to see what's going on in there as it all felt normal from the outside. Vets are still doing lock door policy here due to the layout, they haven't been able to work a way around it at the moment. A positive case in the staff team would mean everyone isolating and the practice having to close for 10 days so I am wearing my mask when she comes out to chat to me in order to protect them a bit more. It's very warm already though, half tempted to drink from the dog bowl :))
 
Well it's not great news. They have scanned and x-rayed. He has a hazy patch in his abdomen which they believe is a mass. They haven't been able to get a side on x-ray to confirm and have said there's a tiny chance it could just be two bits of intestine passing over each other. They don't really want to sedate at his current weight to x-ray again as he's vulnerable. We have decided to go with pain relief and monitor in a week's time in regards to his weight. If no improvement then book for another x-ray. If there is a slight improvement or can maintain weight at least then consider long term pain relief until whatever it is becomes too much.

I asked the vet in an ideal world if there was a guarantee that he would survive sedation and money was no object what would be her call. She said that she would do the side x-ray but that it is highly likely to confirm a mass and then her recommendation would be to keep him comfortable for as long as he's happy.
 
Lady Kelly said:
Well it's not great news. They have scanned and x-rayed. He has a hazy patch in his abdomen which they believe is a mass. They haven't been able to get a side on x-ray to confirm and have said there's a tiny chance it could just be two bits of intestine passing over each other. They don't really want to sedate at his current weight to x-ray again as he's vulnerable. We have decided to go with pain relief and monitor in a week's time in regards to his weight. If no improvement then book for another x-ray. If there is a slight improvement or can maintain weight at least then consider long term pain relief until whatever it is becomes too much.

I asked the vet in an ideal world if there was a guarantee that he would survive sedation and money was no object what would be her call. She said that she would do the side x-ray but that it is highly likely to confirm a mass and then her recommendation would be to keep him comfortable for as long as he's happy.
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BIG HUGS

I am very sorry for the bad news. I hope that the medication will help to stabilise Boris for a goodly while.

Not at all what you wanted to hear but at least the delay won't essentially change the outcome or treatment, so you can rest easy on that score.

We can feel blessed for every piggy of ours living to a good old age but do our best to give those that only have a short time on earth the best of lives while it lasts. The choice is never ours; the love and care is.
 
So sorry it wasn't the news you wanted. Sending big hugs. I hope that Boris still has many happy piggy days left with you, i know that you will treasure each one.xx
 
Oh I’m so sorry for your sad news. Big hugs. X
 
HUGE HUGS x

I’m so sorry that it isn’t better news. I hope you can keep him comfy so that he can enjoy the rest for his days with you and his ladies.
 
Oh thats not the news you were hoping for. Poor Boris. I hope the pain meds keep him nice and comfy for many, many more todays. ❤️
 
I am so sorry Kelly.
I really think you are doing the right thing trying with pain killers, which will hopefully keep him comfortable.
But sorry it wasn't better news.
 
Big hugs - although it wasn’t the news you were hoping for he’s a lucky piggy to be seen so quickly. Hope the painkillers manage to keep him comfortable x
 
So sorry, I know it’s not a great diagnosis but hopefully Boris will continue to have a pain free life for a long time x
 
I’m sorry it’s not the news you wanted. Just keep giving him lots of happy todays as you’ve always done.
 
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