Drooling senior pig

[BetterEatCheese]

Evening all! In a bit of a dilemma with regards to my elderly pig and would appreciate any advice.

I noticed this morning that he didn't come out of his house for breakfast. He looked a bit subdued so I picked him up and he had a wet chin. I've noticed he hasn't been 100% for a couple of days but thought he was just snuggled up as he was chilly. I took him to the vet and she looked at his teeth, spotted a small spur but they don't look sore or infected etc. She gave him a pain relief injection and said if he starts eating this evening after pain relief, it is his teeth and she can file them under sedation

He hasn't started eating again. He is drooling and gagging on the amount of saliva he has in his mouth.

Do you think pain relief would have helped him eat if it is his teeth? I'm not so sure as maybe they're obstructing rather than sore.

I'm now in the situation where I'm worried he's going to die overnight as he can't swallow. The vet suspects possibly something more serious.

I've syringe fed him some soaked pellets but am concerned the vets advice is wrong. She said if the pain relief hadn't improved his appetite overnight it would be kinder to put him to sleep.

He is very old but I'm worried his teeth are in his way and she hasn't spotted it

He's slowly fading. Dd is holding him. Heartbreaking

So sorry to hear this. Sadly pigs can go quite quickly if it's 'their time'. If the vet looked in his mouth then it's likely she would have noticed if his teeth were causing an obstruction. Probably pain relief was the right way to go, if only just to make him comfortable.

Sorry I can't offer any advice but am thinking of you

Thanks @FernieB - he just passed. I'm pleased you think the vet would have seen problem teeth, I'm beating myself up as I took him to another vet as my usual one is extortionate and I'm wondering if this new vet was experienced with exotics.

It's good that he went peacefully at home with you and your DD. Far better than at the vets.

I've been around this board for a good few years now and we've seen quite a few pigs pass. They are quite complicated little creatures and it seems that vets can diagnose quite well but treatment is difficult - probably due to their size. Pain relief is often the best thing and kindest thing. Don't beat yourself up. You did everything you could and were there with him at the end. 

Could he be choking? I know rats can choke slowly for days.

I'm also pleased he went at home. The trouble is, they hide illness, so probably already too late when I discovered the drool this morning. The vet said as much - didn't want to operate, was happy for sedation for tooth filing but like I said, she didn't think it was likely the tooth. I'm going to have a look in his mouth now he's gone

My goodness , he went quickly ! Which TBH , is a blessing really.
These little animals really do hide their illnesses , sometimes it is just a tiny change in their behaviour that alerts you.

It doesn't sound like the vet had many options really , putting a "Senior Pig" under sedation is risky , (for any pig really but age is a huge factor). How old was your piggie?

Eating is their life , once that is affected the warning bells go clanging !

Nice for all round that he slipped away at home

Yes , now you can have a feel about in his teeth (he won't be too judgey) !

Thanks @70isaLimitNotaTarget that made me feel better. Looking back, his behaviour did change, slightly more time in bed, but he's 5 and it's cold and there have been fireworks etc so I thought he was just cosied up and feeling safer. It's only retrospectively that I can see that now. Blooming hindsight.

I waited until dd was in bed (she was such a sweetheart and handled it so well) and tried to look at his teeth, but he was too stiff. Couldn't open his jaw. Maybe it's a good thing as if I discovered they were overgrown and the new vet had missed it I wouldn't forgive myself.

You are right though, sedation may have stressed and killed him anyway.

Poor little piggy