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Post by Clover on Feb 4, 2005 20:50:20 GMT
The syringe is fine for Squeekie because I cut the edge off making it much easyier to fill it with his mashed food . I'm not keen on the large ones, I just think they are too big for their mouths.
No the vet didn't want him on antibiotics because he does have a sensitive tum, but he just want to try a smal course to see how he goes. I'm splitting the dose in the hope that it won't effect him too much.
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Post by skipperdoo on Feb 5, 2005 3:55:32 GMT
Was there an infection ... not clear why he wasn't given something earlier on that might have sped up his recovery?
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Post by Alix on Feb 5, 2005 5:09:10 GMT
I hope he starts picking up soon. He's been poorly for a while now hasn't he. He looks plump though, so you're doing a good job with him.
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Post by Clover on Feb 5, 2005 11:26:22 GMT
Was there an infection ... not clear why he wasn't given something earlier on that might have sped up his recovery? I meant to mention it in my last post, Squeekie had abit of mucus in one of his poops so they think he may have an intestinal infection so thats the reason for him having an antibiotic. His poops are now fine, still not as big as he used to produce, but he's getting there. He's been quite fiesty this morning and showing an interest in his hay, so all going well he's on the up. Yes aL its been two very long weeks, thankfully I've managed to keep his weight stable and he's still above the 2lb mark. The vet checked his wound this morning again and its recovering nicely, so thats a relief.
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Post by Alix on Feb 5, 2005 22:08:26 GMT
Good-o. I'm glad his getting well now, he must have felt so horrible. It's good you caught it in time.
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Post by Clover on Feb 6, 2005 5:52:37 GMT
Thanks aL, just for now I've been giving him Gerty guinea Pig food, just a few bits in their bowl, just to tempt him. Clover and Peachy are like bee's around a honey pot lol. His little head was in the bowl just before I went to bed and he's not hiding in the hay as much.
I have to feed him his veggies seperatly because the girls will whip the food from under his nose. He's speeding up though so its looking really good. I'll be weighing him everyday to make sure he's ok.
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Post by Bean on Feb 6, 2005 13:24:37 GMT
Aww I'm so glad his chomping is picking up - you must be so relieved. I really hope it continues - keep on scrabbling around for those danders lol. It's great that his wound is looking good too - at least you know the problem tooth has been sorted properly.
I like the 1ml syringes with the ends cut off for hand feeding too. I've tried the bigger ones but the smaller ones just seem to work best for me in terms of reliably getting it in in a way they easily take. Plus refilling it gives you something to do while they're clearing their mouths out lol.
I know he's lost weight but he does still look like a healthy chappy, so you must be doing a great job giving him what he needs.
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Post by skipperdoo on Feb 6, 2005 17:28:24 GMT
Improvement is great ... it seems that they seem to get better on their own time and not the time that the caretaker would like ... like YESTERDAY! I still check/feel Tyler's neck area every day to see if there is anything coming back.
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Post by Carrotflavoured on Feb 7, 2005 17:44:22 GMT
I'm glad he's getting better One of my old piggies had to be put down because of overgrown molars, so I'm extra extra paranoid about it. Forever checking they're eating and weighing them (lost weight is a sign that they're teeth are overgrown).
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Post by Clover on Feb 8, 2005 8:43:25 GMT
Hi Carrotflavoured, lovely to see you ;D
I'm so sorry about your piggy, its such a shame that you lost your piggy that way, I think these days they can do alot more for piggies that have teeth problems. Sadly though alot of vets still want to sedate a piggy before they'll do anything, which is risky.
Well I'm afraid Squeekie is being up and down again, he's finished his antibiotic so hopefully that did its job. I can't get hold of Gina a rodentologist that I know, but I'll try again tonight.
He's behaving abit strangly with Clover and Peachy, maybe they are in season, but usually they'd rumble themselves if they were. He's constantly sniffing their rear and wanting to be cuddled up to them, normally he likes his own space. Clover and Peachy are getting fed up and give him a quick nip, he crys out, only to pester them again. I might have to seperate Squeekie from them for abit, to give the girls a break and also its awful hearing him *wheek loudly' when they've nipped him. I've just not seen that behavior in him, certainly not the wanting to be very close to them.
I really hope he starts eating better soon.
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Post by Bean on Feb 8, 2005 10:31:03 GMT
Aww I'm sorry he's not still improving at the same rate.
Might his bottom sniffing be about wanting some tasty poops? When Chas was on antibiotics, she made Charlie's bottom quite sore she was bothering her so much sniffing at it constantly (and I was already supplementing her with a probiotic so I just whacked up the dosage by a few times).
Chas was like Squeekie with wanting to cuddle up to the others but getting nipped and wheeking loudly too - it is such a sad noise, especially when they're not well. I left her in with the others though - I figured if she was craving company more than usual then it was best she was about other pigs. They often wheek quite dramatically in circumstances like that anyway don't they, but you'd soon know if they were really hurting Squeekie as he'd have marks on him or seem scared of them.
Have you talked about having an x-ray done? Maybe he has an abscess at one of the tooth roots or something which means it's still painful for him to eat.
Give him a cuddle from me - I'm rooting for him and I really hope he improves soon.
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Post by Clover on Feb 8, 2005 13:00:38 GMT
Actually Treen, now you've mentioned it, I did see Squeekie munching a little bit, so maybe thats what he was doing. He is having probiotic but there's no harm in a little extra. He's actually with the girls again, I just gave them a couple of hours break. Aww it sounds like Chas was so much like Squeekie dosn't it, wanting a cuddle. Clover is normally quite tolerant of him, but the rear sniffing to was getting to her. He generally picks on Clover more. Thankfully there are no wounds on him. The vet was a different one on saturday, I asked him about an xray and he said an abcess wouldn't show up The way Squeekie is I think they'd have to sedate him as he's been acting quite fiesty. I'll have a word with CC and see what they think.
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Post by Clover on Feb 8, 2005 13:47:50 GMT
Well I managed to talk to Vedra from CCT and she has suggested that my vet give me painkilling tablets. Also to ask if they would be willing to use buccal pad separators which I can buy from CCT. Vedra did say it can take a few weeks to get back to eating properly and at least if I did find a vet that would use the buccal pad separators, then not only can they check his mouth properly but also sort out any problem teeth. I was told some piggies teeth need work on them every week or so!
They said its unlikly to be an abcess because I'd be able to feel a lump or swelling. Anyway I'll get in touch with my vets this evening and see what they say.
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Post by Bean on Feb 8, 2005 15:37:55 GMT
I'm glad you spoke to the CCT, and that they have said it's not unusual to still be sore. I hope you can get him some painkillers. Did you try the Calpol Louise recommended?
Ziggy's abscess showed up on an x-ray before it could be felt, so it's worth keeping it in mind if things don't improve much. I hope you can get your vet to use the buccal pad separators as they do give so much of a better view, even if they don't want to use them or do dental work without some level of sedation. I remember asking the vet who sorted out Ziggy's dental problems if he used them - he did chuckle for rather a long time, but sometimes it's worth feeling stupid to check something!
Needing dental work every week certainly sounds intense. I've heard of every 4-6 weeks, but not that often.
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Post by Clover on Feb 8, 2005 17:37:44 GMT
I'm afraid the Calpol didn't have much effect. I wonder why the vet laughed about using the buccal pad separators? I've seen a few vets that arn't open to options, they know best about everything Anyway Vedra has said they can ring her if they like. Squeekie's quite skinny around his jaw Treen, so its easy to feel in that area but like you say, its an option if he dosn't improve. Yes I was quite shocked when Pauline said every week or so for a few piggies. My vet told me 6 to 8 weeks for bunnies. I think he's had a good feed on Clovers poops lol arn't they clever knowing other piggy poops are good for them to, amazing!
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Post by Bean on Feb 8, 2005 18:29:45 GMT
I wonder why the vet laughed about using the buccal pad separators? It was like 'Oh goodness me, do you think I'm stupid?!' - not in a mean way, just like I was asking something he'd *obviously* be doing (like using anaesthetic for an operation)! (He still preferred to use a whiff of gas while he was working on them although he didn't put them under fully for dental work.) I'm sorry the Calpol didn't work. Did Pauline tell you a specific pain killer to ask for at the vets?
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Post by Clover on Feb 9, 2005 16:54:28 GMT
Oh I see now Treen, I was thinking he was laughing about actually trying to use one. Oh I can't remember the name of the painkiller, it starts with R, thats not much help is it Anyway once I do get to speak to a vet I'll probably remember the word when they mention it. Squeekie has had a good day and is very keen on eating celery, parsley and grass, plus he's been nibbling his pellets. I hope he keeps it up, hes like a yoyo bless him.
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Post by Bean on Feb 9, 2005 18:13:05 GMT
Rimadyl perhaps?
Aww I'm glad Squeekie's having a good day. Hopefully once he gets his jaws properly moving again, it'll get a bit easier for him to carry on eating. I'm sure when it's been painful for a while, they get put off eating because they remember it hurting before. Fingers and toes still crossed that his appetite really picks up soon.
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Post by Clover on Feb 10, 2005 6:15:04 GMT
Thats it Treen!! While talking to Vedra, I wrote it down on a a piece of paper and found it last night, I'd put ramidill lol
Squeekies still eating and he's not dropping his food as much which is a good sign. I'm just topping him up with some syringe feeds just to make sure he's having enough. I'll take a pic of him later tucking into his food, a lovely sight to see.
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Post by skipperdoo on Feb 10, 2005 7:29:25 GMT
Ramidill ... well, it's kinda in the vicinity and it does start with an "r".
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