Poorly Pig

[counttotenandbreathe]

Noticed today one of my guineas has a wet chin and seems off it. Been to vet they gave him a pain killing injection and have to go back tomorrow for anesthetic and check for tooth spurs or other problems. Any ideas have upset children thinking the end is upon us! He is eating but very very slowly and only lettuce leaves. Difficult to comment on poops as we have 2 pigs. Other pig is being overly dominant too which I guess isn't helping?

Sorry to hear about your pig. The important thing is that he's eating. One thing you could try is to mash up some of his pellet food in boiled, cooled water and see if you can get that down him - maybe spread on a lettuce leaf.

Hope all goes well at the vets tomorrow. If it is teeth, it is quite fixable and a common problem with piggies.

Poor piggy .
But you've caught him quickly and your vet should make him alot more comfortable and functional (they live to eat, that's their function )

YY to mash up some pellets and either use a slim teaspoon handle to pop in his mouth or a calpol syringe if it's a bit more watery. Lettuce is soft and gives him moisture so that's probably why he's scoffing it.
Would he eat grated food? Carrot, cucumber,apple?

70 hogs paws crossed

Thanks guys for responding it's awful watching him struggle. Mashed up his pellets and dh is now trying to feed him. He definitely wants to eat but is struggling so hopefully it is a teeth issue that is easily resolved. He has tried apple kale hay but just chews and chews and chews. I will update after tomorrow's anasthetic.

When i was new to piggie keeping i once found one of mine with wet chin and not eating quickly just like you describe. It was overgrown back teeth. She had them filed down under light anesthetic and after a week or so of syringe feeding her that green mush the vets provide along with pureed carrots and greens she was fine. Lived to be 5+ .. so if the cause is teeth and you can get food in and poo out ..i'd be hopeful. Plus this was 12 years or so ago and vets now are far more savvy

Oh I'm not sure it's good. The vet couldn't really find anything his teeth were slightly overgrown so they have been filed but he has come home and Is not interested in eating or drinking. They gave me critical care which I have mixed and put in a plate I have put some hay in with him and some fruit and veg pieces. Put some cc in my finger but he just turns away. He has lost a lot of weight. Vet wants him back tomorrow as well. I am dreading the worst now hoping the lack of interest is down to anasthetic.

Oh, not the good news we were waiting for

Hopefully the work they did will be enough to get him going again.
With guineas they really really don't like being syringe fed so you need to take the bull (or the boar in this case) by the horns and tell him it's For His Own Good.

The best way to feed is make us a loose Critical Care slop and put the syringe just behind his teeth (at the side) . Squeeze a tiny bit, he'll chew the syringe and that will make him swallow. Don't squirt it too forcefully , it'll go the wrong way, possibly into his lungs. He has to do the work.

We wrapped our pig in a towel then sat them on DDs lap with the rump against her tummy so they couldn't waddle backwards. I got to hold the muzzle (yes the bitey end)

It is messy and time consuming.
He'll be a bit meh from his anaesthetic but they wouldn't have let him home unless he was okay.

Hope he rallies once he's a bit more settled and got some food in him.

One plus I have separated him from his friend and have found a poop in his new cage never thought I'd be so chuffed to see a poop! I have got some CC down him am going to give him some every couple of hours he was chewing the syringe like you said. Approximately how much cc does he need to eat to help or is it just as much as possible? What about water as he hasn't drunk from his bottle either?

When I've had to CC I've gone for little and often and then left veggie treats for in between. It's just to keep the digestive system moving. Leave some pellets for him too in case he fancies a nibble. I always give lots of options just in case they fancy something. Make sure he can still see his friend so they can chat. Good news about the poop.

Hope he perks up.

CC is quite wet so he may not need a drink from his bottle.

Just to add 🐾🐾🐾🐾 crossed and keep him warm. They go very cold when unwell and then look utterly miserable
Hope news today is better xx

Well he has survived the night had more bits to eat. Back to the vets today everything crossed

He now has antibiotics to take every 2 hours. Taking the critical care but still not really eating. But definitely pooing and weeing. He just sits there doesn't look comfy but vet was happy that he looked perkier but he had lost a little more weight! The waiting game continues.

How is he today?
If he wants to quietly huddle away , maybe give him a cardboard box full of lovely hay, then he's comforted by the warmth and he can eat it without too much effort on his part.
And fresh cut grass. Even the most poorly pig can be tempted by a handful .
Keep up the CC, he needs his guts to keep moving. (Pooh and wee is good )

< clover for piggie

Well we are still going he is very slowly improving dare i believe it!? We put them both outside for 15 minutes in the glorious sun and he happily nibbled away on grass. Since coming in he has had a good glug from his water bottle too the first I've seen him have in days (been syringing water). His weight is exactly the same tonight as last night ( 874g) his brother weighs (1220g) so hasn't lost anymore. He is choosing to eat Kale, cucumber, hay but it still takes ages! He is on antibiotics, critical care food and painkillers back for a check up on Tuesday

Piggie seems so much better he weighs 886g now and eating hay and veg. Still doing the cc til we see vets on Tuesday but hopefully he is now on the mend. Thanks for all your advice much appreciated