Very poorly pig

[Stripyhoglets]

One of my pigs is v poorly. Took him to the vet yesterday and he's got a respiratory infection and had an upset tum. He's on antibiotics and eyedrops and something for his digestive system. But he's worse today. He's not eating or drinking himself although he's had some water and critical care when we've syringed it into his mouth. But he's not peeing or pooping and I have put him in a separate cage so can see he's produced nothing. So as they are supposed to eat and poop constantly I don't know if there's going to be a way back for him really. He's just lying in his cage and sounds very snuffly when I lift him out to feed him. I don't want him to suffer needlessly, has anyone had a pig recover from a respiratory infection?
Thank you

[FernieB]

So sorry to hear about your poor piggie. Just keep him warm and quiet and keep trying with the food but don't stress him. Make sure that he can still hear his friends even if he's not in with them. Will keep fingers crossed.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Very for Stripeypig

He's got all the "GuineaPig Going Downhill" symptoms I'm afraid so I wouldn't give you false hope, it sounds very much like your little piggie is on his way out.

I think you'll know within the next 24 hours really.
Keep him warm, giive him a nice cosy bed, if you can make a little fleece donought shape under a fleece blanket then it will support him if he lies on his side to ease his breathing.

Is he floppy rubbery
Does he accept the food or do you have to fight him to get the food down him?
When they stop eating it's not a good sign TBH.

Crossing fingers though

[Stripyhoglets]

Thank you both. He's not keen on the food but is letting some go down, he's always hated being so the fact he's still enough to feed by syringe means he is v poorly. We've mixed a bit of blackcurrant cordial into the water so he's drinking that from the syringe. He seems the same today so going to keep feeding every hour today and take him back to vets tomorrow for an honest opinion on whether he should be pts as I really don't want him to suffer too much for too long. He's somewhere aged between 3.5 and 4 years as he was a rescue so not really sure on exact age. His brother is looking a bit lost as even though they never cuddled up and used to argue alot they were bonded well together.

[Stripyhoglets]

*hated being held

[FernieB]

How's everything going today Stripy?

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

How is your piggie Stripy ?

[Stripyhoglets]

Hi. Thank you for asking but sorry to say that Piggy died overnight on Sunday. By Sunday afternoon it was clear he wasn't going to make it and had stopped taking food from the syringe. He was just lying peacefully but snuffly when I went to bed and I made sure he was covered up and warm, and he'd died by the time we woke up. I was going to take him to be pts on Monday if he hadn't as I hate seeing animals suffer. Sorry for not updating sooner. His brother seems ok so far so fingers crossed that he didn't catch it from him before I separated them. He was a right little character though - first time I've had boy pigs and loved their antics!

[FernieB]

Sorry to hear this. Hope his friend is doing okay.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Very sad , from what you described (the snuffliness , the not eating and the tummy upset) he really didn't sound like he had long.

It sounds like he went quietly, in his own bed which is a comfort to you I'm sure.They don't suffer really, I've sat with several dying pigs (and had some die with their cagemates) and they've all been peaceful (even Evil Edna who stretched out on the dining room floor )

Our GP3 died last year (he had liquid poo ) we took him out of the shared cage on the Monday, he went to the vets but passed on the Tuesday morning. I was worried about the girls but they were fine.

They do go quickly, in a way it's good that they don't linger. But you'll ask yourself "Could I have done something?"

When they set their sights on The Bridge, they don't hang about

[Stripyhoglets]

Thank you. Our last 2 girl pigs, one died peacefully in the cage but one started having fits at the and it was awful, and we had to rush her to vet to be pts, so I didn't want that happening again. But thankfully it was peaceful, he hadn't moved at all. The other pig seems ok, eating and drinking and still squeaking for veg. Although he is the quieter one, he was also the most dominant one in the pair. They used to bicker alot! They are indoor pigs so going to see how he goes on his own with us paying him more attention etc . rather than get another one at the moment.

[fortifiedwithtea]

Oh dear, tbh I've never heard of a guinea recovering from a respiratory infection

RIP Stripypiggie