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Post by Clover on Jul 15, 2005 13:55:03 GMT
I can send you some oxbows pellets for him to try Pauline. Anything is worth a try isn't it. He really does need the fibre. I'm sorry he is blind, like Kathy has mentioned, piggies can adapt so well. As a young girl, I had a piggy called Stephen who was totally blind, but he still managed to chase my female through sence of smell and was a happy wheeking little boy.
I really hope he pulls through this difficult stage.
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Post by poms on Jul 15, 2005 14:34:18 GMT
Jackie i am taking him to see a different vet this evening, the one i saw deals mostly with farm animals, this other one deals with small animals.I feel so useless, it is like he has given up the will to live. Thank you for you offer, i will try any thing.
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Post by Clover on Jul 15, 2005 14:55:22 GMT
Good luck Pauline. They should have some recovery sachets that they can give you . Force feeding him will hopefully help build his strength up and increase his appetite. You could add a little organic baby veggy food, just to flavour the recovery. I hope you manage to get some much needed fibre down him. Hang in there little boy.
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Post by Josie on Jul 15, 2005 15:00:19 GMT
i'm sure that if you can get him eating it will give him a total new lease of life. it will make all your hard work worthwhile.  dont give up little dude!  |
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Post by skipperdoo on Jul 15, 2005 15:24:05 GMT
Is it that he's not eating on his own or that there seems to be no improvement that is the main concern at the moment? I had to continue with the Critical Care several weeks beyond when Jasmine was "cured" and also I was to give her Vitamin C for six months (I give GNC's liquid Vitamin C). Do you still have to force feed the slurry and is he eating anything on his own? Towards the end, I put less water in the powder and made it stiffer and out it in a little sucer and she ate it that way. Fortunately, I never had to use a syringe like I did with my rabbit and the babies. Do you hear any clicking sound when you hold him up to your ear (maybe some fluid got into the lungs?)
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Post by Josie on Jul 15, 2005 15:26:46 GMT
when i hold my pig fudge up to my ear, i hear a clicking sound, is that bad?
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Post by poms on Jul 15, 2005 20:56:10 GMT
Ok where do i start, i saw the vet for small animals this evening. She said that he is blind, brain damaged and a badly deformed jaw and that is the reason for him not eating.She said there is also some thing wrong with his throat and that makes it hard for him to swallow. She said it would be kinder to put him to sleep, but on saying that she thinks he could live on soft foods. She thinks he wont be able to eat pellets or veg because of his jaw.She trimmed his bottom and top teeth. I said i would like to see if i can get him to eat soft foods and maybe he will pick up in the next few days. I said that i would give him a week before i take him back.I am hoping with his teeth being trimmed it will make a little difference.I am not sure if he is eating some dried food, i thought he was but he could just be trying, i am not really sure. But he must be eating some because he don't take as much milk as he was a few days ago. She also said that his eyes go in opposite directions. I have put a bit of every thing in his cage this evening and will check first thing in the morning to see if any thing as been eaten.
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Post by skipperdoo on Jul 15, 2005 21:41:28 GMT
Sorry to hear that.  I took Willie, who has a dislocated shoulder (totally free-swinging limb) and a head tilt, to the vet and asked what was best and most humane for him (not me). For him, she said that if he was eating and acting "normal" then we would play it by ear (rather than put him down right away, which is what the breeder was going to do). She's not sure if he has a congenital or neurological problem or if his problems were due to an accident such as getting his leg caught in the cage wire or being sat on my an adult pig. For me, if your pig were mine, I would do what you have indicated that you are going to do and then I would review his quality of life and proceed from there |
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Post by Alix on Jul 15, 2005 21:49:27 GMT
You've really stuck it out for this little guy and I do hope it works for you and the little one. Let us know how he goes Pc.
Josie, if you have a health concern for your pig you should make a thread about it.
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Post by samnbud on Jul 15, 2005 22:14:09 GMT
I am so glad that you have decided to stick it out. I will say thought that the soft foods may produce softer stools. And did the vet say anything about the milk? I would think that the vet would be against it. Did the vet give you any medications? I would try the hand feeding. Also note that this is a very lengthy process. You have to do it ALOT. Every other hour and at the least 3 or 4 times a night. Please consider this also and don't be afraid to enlist someone to help out! I hope you can do it! Here are some helpful websites! Good luck! guinealynx.info/handfeeding.htmlwww.diddly-di.fsnet.co.uk/Syringe-feeding.htmwww.caviesgalore.com/faq/medical.html |
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Post by Mgirl on Jul 16, 2005 8:39:07 GMT
We were watching him last night trying to eat by the looks of It. Awwww bless, he had food In his mouth but It kept falling out. Poms said she will check In the morning to see If that piece he was eating was still there. Fair does to the little thing he was having a good try of munching!
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Post by Clover on Jul 16, 2005 11:23:18 GMT
I'm really sorry Pauline about his jaw problems to . It sounds like he's really trying to eat on his own. Are there many poops in his cage? That can help in wondering if he is actually eating something.
The high fibre pellets should reach you early monday, fingers crossed.
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Post by Mgirl on Jul 16, 2005 12:01:09 GMT
That's a good and accurate idea Jackie. I didn't even think of that one and so obvious Durrrr!
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Post by Josie on Jul 16, 2005 13:16:13 GMT
how come your ideas are so good?
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Post by skipperdoo on Jul 16, 2005 16:02:23 GMT
She's got a lot of experience, does research, listens to others' experiences and therefore learns. |
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Post by poms on Jul 16, 2005 16:22:39 GMT
I cut carrots, cucumber and broke the pellets up in tiny bits from his dried food, its only the flakes he tries to eat, i also put the powder that the vet gave me all over the top and guess what he eat some. I also gave him some carrot tops with bread mixed with milk and his powder and he ate some of that. Not a lot but it is a start and at least i know he can eat even if he is slow doing so.
The vet didn't say any thing about the milk, i know milk isn't that good for him but its the milk that as kept him alive up to now.
skipperdoo, i know most vets think they are doing the best for the animal, but they can be wrong.
He isn't in any pain, he gets so much attention he is always on some one's lap. And today he looks better than he have for days, so fingers crossed.
I don't want to keep giving him soft foods, because of his teeth and that is why i cut the carrots up into tiny cubes.It took me ages picking out the flakes from the sack of food, but it is worth it even if he only eats one or two.
Thank you all for you help, i am really grateful.
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Post by Merry on Jul 16, 2005 18:03:11 GMT
Pauline I'm so glad he seems to be improving, and he couldn't have a more caring mum! Maybe for the pellets you could put them in a zip-lock bag and hit them with a spoon to crush them into flakes? That way you don't have to fish them out. Also do you have a picture of him, I'd love to see him.
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Post by Janet on Jul 16, 2005 19:05:06 GMT
We're all pulling for the little piglet. I'm glad he has you to help him. The Wheekers' members certainly bring a lot of knowledge to this forum.
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Post by skipperdoo on Jul 16, 2005 19:35:07 GMT
You might try just shredding the carrots. They should be easier to eat yet still provide the fiber and nutritional needs. One thought though, if he is having trouble swallowing you might want to watch what non-soft and non-easy to swallow foods you give him since he may choke. I don't know if you are giving a supplement of vitamin C but Jasmine got the liquid vitamin C daily for a while.
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Post by Mgirl on Jul 16, 2005 19:49:42 GMT
Thank you all for your help.  I have been back to the vets, he was shocked that he was still alive. I still think that he is brain damaged, but the vet said that he cant tell, but he is blind. Sorry the pic is so big. Poms did post a pic at the start of this thread but she was told by a member It was too big. She didn't bother to explain It was already stored and rezied by photobucket so she just removed It. I will find the pic and repost It. If It Is larger than allowed then mods feel free to resize It. |
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dont give up little dude! 
I took Willie, who has a dislocated shoulder (totally free-swinging limb) and a head tilt, to the vet and asked what was best and most humane for him (not me). For him, she said that if he was eating and acting "normal" then we would play it by ear (rather than put him down right away, which is what the breeder was going to do). She's not sure if he has a congenital or neurological problem or if his problems were due to an accident such as getting his leg caught in the cage wire or being sat on my an adult pig. For me, if your pig were mine, I would do what you have indicated that you are going to do and then I would review his quality of life and proceed from there
I have been back to the vets, he was shocked that he was still alive. I still think that he is brain damaged, but the vet said that he cant tell, but he is blind.