Marsha's Last Days

[Toadies]

Janjam, when I have to feed with a syringe, I do one of two things. I use a 35 ml large tip syringe, which you can get at the vets, or I make up a couple of days worth of slurry, puree it and press it through a wire seive/strainer. That removes the larger peices that block the syringe. I refrigerate the extra. Once you get the syringe altered to where it works well, save it. You can always replace the plunger, but the plastic sleeve will work for almost forever ( for cats, dogs, piggies).
PS - I forgot the most important part of my post. I"m delighted that she is doing well. Good job, Mom.

[JanJam]

Well, Marsha is still with us. She had her x-ray today, revealing arthritis. Her knees are really bad, and she has spurs on her lumbar spine. I have some Metacam to give her, one drop per day, and I will carry on with the Vitamin C as it does seem to help (syringed directly into her, she loves it!)

Her weight is stabilising around the 700g mark, so I'm pleased about that. She still looks bright and interested in everything (including fresh cut grass from the garden)

So she may be an old girl, but it seems she will be sticking about a bit longer with us, I'm so glad. I wouldn't want to make her hang on if there was really nothing that could be done, but as long as she is comfortable and enjoying her life then I'm more than happy to have her about.

[Ziggy&Herald]

Im so glad to hear that it's only arthritis. Metacam works great for that in dogs, im sure it will be just as good in piggies. The only thing I would watch for is loose droppings. It can make dogs have loose stool if not given with food. I work at a Vets office and a Rottie dog that I used to have was on it. It helped him greatly and I was sure to give it with his food, so there was no loose stool side effects. Hope she continues on the path to good health!

[Toadies]

That's wonderful news! Be sure to give extra hugs and kisses, gentley of course, from all of us.

[JanJam]

Hi All - I forgot to add she had blood tests done too, these are all fine but the vet is sending me out some Baytil to give her daily as she's a little dirty underneath, could be she is finding it hard to clean herself and to pee properly.

I had noticed she was dirty but she seems to enjoy a bath so that is something we can do.

Toadies - she got some extra kisses and cuddles and chin rubs last night and I told her it was all from you. She seemed to appreciate it

Ziggy&Herald - thank you for the Metacam advice. One question - I have been putting it in her vitamin C which she gets syringed direct into her (125mg daily). She then gets her dinner right after that. Do you think this would be OK?

[pigsforlife]

I have my sick girl, Ella on metacam. Metacam is an anti-inflammatory and worked great when Buttercup had her toe amputated (she did have stronger stuff for the first 2 days though). It shouldnt cause loose stools, but with anything you put a pig on you have to watch them. Vitamin C wise, I think you need to slowly bring that back down a bit. A sick or pregnant pig needs 50mgs a day. Healthy pigs need about 20-30mgs a day. I have Ella on 50mgs a day, A) Because she is sick, B) Because she isnt eating veggies and C) Because I dont know what food she was getting before.