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Worried my Boar is dying post surgery.

Morning all.

Not the best update, I'm afraid. Noop improved dramatically last week and started eating unaided. Very happy, gaining weight, playing in the hay and eating it. I started to reduce syringe feeding and cautiously started to introduce veg/herbs and some dandelion leaves. The leaves were a mistake. He immediately became unwell and was rushed to the vet. He was diagnosed with mild bloat again. He's been on Emeprid, Loxicom, Probiotics and Fibreplex. I started up the syringe feeding again but his weight wasn't stable enough, so I upped the feeds even more but had to swap to Emeraid IC from Oxbow CC. I'm not sure if that's suitable but it's all I have at the moment. (I'd appreciate advice on suitability!)

This morning he became very physically lethargic. Very alert and aware but physically weak. It was horrible. He was kissing me all over my face and neck but couldn't stand properly. He was rushed to the emergency vet about an hour ago and she diagnosed bloat again/stasis. He's been given fluids, gabapentin and we've been encouraged to increase the Emeprid to three times a day. She can't find anything else wrong. His heart was a little faster than normal but she said it could be pain/stress. His breathing was OK. His temperature a little low but all she could find was the bloating. He's peeing but yesterday evening he only passed a few tiny poos.

What am I doing wrong? I'm feeding him 4/5 times a day. The most I manage to get in per feed is about 15ml before he starts struggling and spitting it out. I'm giving him fluids between mouthfuls. This weekend we tried dioralyte too as his poos were very firm and dry. I just feel like I'm failing which is heartbreaking because he was fine until I risked reintroducing other food.
 
Oh I’m so sorry to hear that Noop is unwell again. All you can do is carry on with the feeding support and medications. Hopefully he will start to improve soon.
 
You are doing a great job, just keep on feeding him at least 60 ml a day and hopefully he will comes through it 🤞
 
You are doing nothing wrong far from it keep up with the syringe feeding and weight checks each day I'm sure someone will be on here soon to advise. How is he now physically still lethargic? 💐
 
Thanks for the encouragement all.

He's home and agitated. I don't know how best to describe it. He's clearly bloated. Not incredibly firm but definitely wider than normal and full of gas. There is undeniable firmness but also some give. He's hobbling around when in his cage but he seems a little disorientated. Earlier he couldn't stand so hobbling is an improvement. It's like he's looking for something though. His stomach is gurgling quite a bit since his Emeprid and he has wee'd on me. It was very yellow so I'm hoping the fluids they gave him at the vet will help with that. He's acting like a Guinea pig would with mites. Jumping occasionally and moving his head really quickly whenever his stomach starts popping and crackling.

I honestly have no idea what to do. The vet suggested that if he doesn't show signs of improvement this afternoon I should take him to another vet. I don't know what another vet can even do though! I'm still feeding him small mouthfuls of Emeraid IC and Probiotics in water. I don't know what I'm looking for in terms of improvement. I don't think he's pooing anymore though. I tried placing the handle of an electric toothbrush on the side of his stomach and underneath him for a minute or two but it made him cough/choke a little bit so I stopped it. I've read everything I can find online, particularly the Guides on here, but I can't tell what I need to do next. Do I keep feeding, massaging, waiting for the Emeprid to work or book more vet appointments? I don't know if the lack of poos means it's a sudden blockage or not. There's quite a bit of noise coming from his stomach so I don't think it's entirely stopped. With massaging, do I work the gas towards his mouth or his bum?! I have no idea what to do.

I'm so exhausted and lost.
 
We've opted to take him to an exotics specialist in Eastwood, Notts. I'm just at a loss of what to do. He just feels like he's refilling with gas. His stomach seems to soften for a few minutes and then balloon again. My partner has just taken Noop and his lady, Floof, for support. I'm scared he won't be coming home.
 
AbbieMiddleton said:
Thanks for the encouragement all.

He's home and agitated. I don't know how best to describe it. He's clearly bloated. Not incredibly firm but definitely wider than normal and full of gas. There is undeniable firmness but also some give. He's hobbling around when in his cage but he seems a little disorientated. Earlier he couldn't stand so hobbling is an improvement. It's like he's looking for something though. His stomach is gurgling quite a bit since his Emeprid and he has wee'd on me. It was very yellow so I'm hoping the fluids they gave him at the vet will help with that. He's acting like a Guinea pig would with mites. Jumping occasionally and moving his head really quickly whenever his stomach starts popping and crackling.

I honestly have no idea what to do. The vet suggested that if he doesn't show signs of improvement this afternoon I should take him to another vet. I don't know what another vet can even do though! I'm still feeding him small mouthfuls of Emeraid IC and Probiotics in water. I don't know what I'm looking for in terms of improvement. I don't think he's pooing anymore though. I tried placing the handle of an electric toothbrush on the side of his stomach and underneath him for a minute or two but it made him cough/choke a little bit so I stopped it. I've read everything I can find online, particularly the Guides on here, but I can't tell what I need to do next. Do I keep feeding, massaging, waiting for the Emeprid to work or book more vet appointments? I don't know if the lack of poos means it's a sudden blockage or not. There's quite a bit of noise coming from his stomach so I don't think it's entirely stopped. With massaging, do I work the gas towards his mouth or his bum?! I have no idea what to do.

I'm so exhausted and lost.
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BIG HUGS

Nothing you have done wrong. The gut microbiome can be extremely sensitive after a bad reaction to an antibiotic or GA drugs and a period of syringe feeding because the microbiome that deals with fresh food has died off but has not recovered and can therefore not deal with any new foods. At some point you do have to make that step however. :(

Have you got painkiller to help with the discomfort? The lack of poos can either mean that there has been no intake for a day or two; it also doesn't always happen as a nice and steady stream. The sudden bloating event could have interrupted the digestive process.
However, as long as long as your boy is still accepting feed, the internal conveyor belt is still working and poos will eventually appear (re. partial stasis). It is as simple as that and a good reminder to keep yourself from panicking. ;)

All you can do is persist. See a vet if there is any deterioration or if things do not improve.
 
He's on dog strength Loxicom, 0.4ml twice a day, and had a dose of gabapentin at the emergency vet at around 7:30am. He was taking feeds at 6:30am, not entirely willingly. I fed him a bit just after he got home too. However, a few minutes before we decided to rush him to Eastwood, the last mouthful I offered him didn't seem to register. I had to agitate him a little bit to start him chewing. He seemed spaced out. I was determined to ride it out and have him on me most of the day so I can monitor him and offer food and drink but that last mouthful scared me.
 
AbbieMiddleton said:
He's in with the vet now. Jonathan Hadley, we visit him when we can't see Simon. (Not for dentals though.) He's been very good to us and our pigs in the past. If Noop is beyond saving, I believe Jon will know.
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BIG HUGS

My thoughts are with you. Something is very much not right. I am so sorry.
 
AbbieMiddleton said:
Jon said the same thing and that Noop needs an urgent Xray.
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I would agree. It is an all or nothing situation but without getting an idea as to what is really going on there is no basis to make any informed decisions. I am so very sorry that you are in this situation. I feel for you.
 
He's next for an X-ray and Simon has sent across Noop's notes. Unfortunately, Jon suspects a twisted gut and if so a very poor prognosis. He specialises in small animal surgery but says it would be incredibly complex and probably not the right decision to attempt. I feel like I've failed Noop by giving him a few dandelion leaves. I've been helping him battle bloat and tummy upsets since early February and I've made such a stupid mistake. I feel like I've killed him.
 
Whatever the outcome, this is not your fault. A few dandelion leaves wouldn’t have caused the gut to twist, if that is found to be what’s happened. Regardless of the reason, you haven’t caused this. I’ve lost a few piggies to these symptoms and sadly it’s just one of those things that can happen xx
 
AbbieMiddleton said:
He's next for an X-ray and Simon has sent across Noop's notes. Unfortunately, Jon suspects a twisted gut and if so a very poor prognosis. He specialises in small animal surgery but says it would be incredibly complex and probably not the right decision to attempt. I feel like I've failed Noop by giving him a few dandelion leaves. I've been helping him battle bloat and tummy upsets since early February and I've made such a stupid mistake. I feel like I've killed him.
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Hi

A twisted gut happens spontaneously. It is entirely random, totally unforeseeable and therefore not preventable. Just one of the really bad short straws in the cosmic lottery. Not your fault just plain old bad luck. :(

To be honest, Kim Maddock has once likened an operation of the gut to being 'like trying to stitch paper to butter'. Even if Noop would make it through the op. So far I have only ever heard of one successful outcome, and that was from an exotics nurse in one of the super-vet hospitals who quite literally raced her piggy to the operating table.
When making your decision, please also consider how would Noop's quality of life be afterwards and in the long run?

You have given Noop a really good run for his money in adverse conditions and have got him far further than other boys in his sitatuation would have got. Don't take that away from yourself.

Strong feelings of guilt are an expression of how deeply you care; they are NOT a representation of reality. As humans we are wired to reflect everything back onto ourselves as our own fault irrespective of whether that is actually the case. You are not in charge of the cosmic lottery of bad luck, are you?

HUGS
 
He wouldn’t make it through the operation. These issues initially started because of him having surgery so we wouldn't want that for him again. Especially now we understand that his reaction to GA and ABs is extremely aggressive and wasn't a one off. I'm still waiting to hear about his X-ray.
 
Sending you hugs. I hope the outcome is something treatable 🤞🏻🤞🏻
 
I’m so sorry you’re going through this. You are doing all you can and have done nothing wrong.
 
AbbieMiddleton said:
He wouldn’t make it through the operation. These issues initially started because of him having surgery so we wouldn't want that for him again. Especially now we understand that his reaction to GA and ABs is extremely aggressive and wasn't a one off. I'm still waiting to hear about his X-ray.
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HUGS

It may be kindest to not waking him up again but at least you will hopefully have some answers.

Concentrate on sending Noop your love in the form of gentle green nurturing vibes as a Mindfulness exercise instead of tearing yourself apart. Whatever is going on, it is not normal and you could not have known in the first place.
 
Me and the pigs are sending support your way. Stay strong❤️
 
So far the Xray has been inconclusive, showing only extreme and severe bloat. Our options at the moment are to let Jon attempt to put a tube down Noop's throat to release the gas. However, if the tube won't go down we'll know it's a twisted gut and will have to let him go. Jon said he's not performed a twisted gut operation successfully and it's not what we want for Noop. Jon did say he could attempt it while Noop was sedated for the tube but we've politely declined. Noop is scheduled to have the tube inserted this afternoon but we don't yet know what will happen.
 
I fed him every 3/4 hours. Mixed Fibreplex into his food 2 or 3 times a day. Offered fresh ProC probiotics after every mouthful of CC or Emeraid. I gave him his Loxicom. His Emeprid. I made sure he had access to everything he needed. I kept him warm. Massaged his belly. Cleaned out any impaction. I don't know how it's come to this. I've helped him through bloat episodes before but this time I just couldn't get on top of it. He's seen 5 vets this month. 3 in the last 5 days alone. He's been given gabapentin. IV fluids. I administered a few drops of dioralyte too. What did I miss?
 
AbbieMiddleton said:
I fed him every 3/4 hours. Mixed Fibreplex into his food 2 or 3 times a day. Offered fresh ProC probiotics after every mouthful of CC or Emeraid. I gave him his Loxicom. His Emeprid. I made sure he had access to everything he needed. I kept him warm. Massaged his belly. Cleaned out any impaction. I don't know how it's come to this. I've helped him through bloat episodes before but this time I just couldn't get on top of it. He's seen 5 vets this month. 3 in the last 5 days alone. He's been given gabapentin. IV fluids. I administered a few drops of dioralyte too. What did I miss?
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You've missed nothing.

It is just one of these things that you cannot control; they blow up out of nowhere with devasting force and speed. I've lost several piggies to the same symptoms with rushing them to the regular or out-of-hours vets for mercy pts when they didn't die before I could get them there.

When you have never before witnessed one of these illnesses, they are totally terrifying and hugely upsetting but they are not your fault.
The same as an earthquake, a tornado or an volcanic eruption is not your fault; you are simply up against the force of nature at full swing. Severe bloat can be just as much a killer disease on its own as a twisted gut and they do kill healthy piggies as much as frail ones, only that the frailer ones succumb that bit faster.

They can (and do) happen to any owner and piggy out of nowhere at any time but they are not caused by you or anything you have done. They just happen spontaneously.

All the best for Noop.
 
This is absolutely not your fault whatsoever. I’m so sorry you are in this situation. I’ve lost one of my own piggies in identical circumstances. It’s natural to question what we’ve done but the reality is that these things can and do just happen spontaneously.
 
Sorry to say that we've decided to let Noop go. Jon inserted the tube and removed a lot of fluid but Noop immediately started to refill and vocalise discomfort. Jon said without major, complex and invasive surgery there was nothing he could do and that surgical recovery was unlikely regardless. My partner is going to him now to say goodbye and let Noop drift away, peacefully. He's nearly 5. He has been an absolute pleasure to love, nurture and raise. My favourite, and only, boy. I tried so hard and I hope he knows that.
We're in pieces. We've never had to make a decision like this before. We've lost pigs before but never had to decide like this.
 
I'm so so sorry 😢 It's truly the hardest part of having any pet, but it sounds like you're making the right decision for him. He will absolutely know how much you tried and how much you loved him. Sometimes though it's just their time.

Please don't think you're at fault here; you truly truly aren't. You've done more than many pet owners would.

I'm a believer in heaven and an afterlife for our piggies. He will be watching over you and your girls. Give them lots of cuddles and love tonight.

RIP sweet Noop, over the Rainbow Bridge 🌈❤️
 
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