You could always call the exotics vet and get their opinion as well.
The little girl has been seen and examined by one vet already, not an exotics vet. I sat on the phone for almost an hour with an old friend, an exotics vet, last night. She is the one who recommended the injections, along with everything else in that post. I know that they have ultrasound at her clinic as well, too. But, I don't know that they are board certified radiologists, but if we're just checking for babies...that doesn't necessarily need to be important. So if we can't get the one guy out here to my clinic, then I'll take her to the other clinic to have her checked out.
If she is pregnant you need to be thinking about not only feeding veggies high in vitemin C but also high in Calcium like kale, parsley, spinach.
That's a good point...now, I know she's likely on the unhealthy side, so giving these boosters vegetables will be beneficial now. But, long term she probably should be getting extra doses, so to speak? When do you think I should stop and go back to a regular healthy pig menu?
Bell pepper is your best natural source of dietary C - high quality, fresh pellets also contain it.
I had tried Bell Pepper with Loofah, my original pig, and she wouldn't touch it. So, I don't have any peppers in the fridge, but I'll definitely get another to see if the new girl will like them. I know I need to avoid red, right? I bought a yellow pepper when I first tried to give some to Loofah. Is there a difference between green and yellow?
If you suspect she is pregnant be very careful picking her up and putting pressure on her belly. Do you have any pictures of her? I'd like to see a picture, maybe it will be easier to tell. Or maybe it won't lol Can't hurt to ask though.
Thanks for the information on the weights. I would assume that different pigs will have different weights at a full grown healthy state. So, I don't really know where she should stop at. :silly: I have the girls with me at work today, we're going to weigh and xray her, so I'll post where she's at today. I also have pictures...some from up top, too (during her introduction with Loofah) and you can really see her funny shaped belly. But, on the same hand...I've never had pigs before, and Loofah is a fluffly little thing, so I don't know her 'shape'...but she certainly feels a lot different than the new girl. (She really needs a name!)
I just wanted to say THANK YOU for chosing to "pick up a pig with unknown history," you probably saved her life! I don't see how this is the same as comparing to putting the pig to sleep. I understand that spaying is harder than neutering, and shouldn't be done unless necessary. Tiffers - you are trying to find out as much information possible, looking at ALL your options, and you're trying to do what's in the best interest for you pig. I see that as someone being a responsible pet owner, and cleaning up after the last irresponsible owner. I don't see any shame in that. I don't get how people can get away with being so rude.
Thank you for that, and it is exactly how I feel.
As you said spaying can be risky, I think Feylin was saying that putting a pig through a very risky surgery just because she MIGHT be pregnant isn't much better then putting a down simply because it had teeth problems or severe mites.
Heaven's...I never said I'd spay the pig because she might be. I said I'd want her spayed if she was indeed pregnant. This is how everything gets blown out of proportion...and, it's not just what she said...I was basically called a murderer and this absolutely horrific pet owner when all I've done is ask questions about what's best for the pig.
No one is saying she shouldn't have rescued her, obviously. We are saying that adopting from unknown backgrounds has its share of risks and with that risk comes the responsibility to help the pig in the best way possible. Not by putting her into more risk.
I realize that rescuing comes with it's share of risks and issues. I own plenty of special needs animals, every single one rescued or pulled from the street. I take in orphaned babies (dogs/cats) all the time and bottle feed and get them over the hump so that they can be adopted later through our hospital's adoption program. I've been doing it for nearly 7 years now. I'm not saying I didn't expect problems. I knew full well what I was jumping in, and I jumped in knowing full well that she may be pregnant. In fact, I almost didn't take her the first time I was told about her. We left...and then drove back 30 minutes later to pick her up. The simple fact is that I am trying to get AS MUCH information as I can, to make the best possible decisions for my pig. I have been talking to different veterinarians since I picked up this girl. I would like the opinions of people who have had pigs for a while and can offer more information and help as well.
Spaying is dangerous. So is an older pig giving birth, esp. if it's for the first time, which I gather is unknown. It's going to take a vet visit to tell which is safer for this particular pig, if this particular pig is diagnosably pregnant.
This is exactly where I am at. We're working towards figuring out if she's pregnant or not. If she is not, then SWEET! I'm doing all this worrying for nothing. If she is, I need to be prepared for it and I need her in tip top shape. I've already talked to an exotics vet, and she said if she's young, we're having babies. If she's older, we're having surgery, likely a c-section...but, we'll cross that when we get there. She explained to me all the risks with her, especially since we do not know her history...and I'm prepared for them. But, my pig's health comes first and foremost. I'm not sure how that makes me a terrible owner, but some apparently do.
It sounds more like she's looking at all her options, and is asking for others opinions. Sounds to me like she's 'trying to help the pig in the best way possible.'
I even stated many times, that I don't want her to have surgery...and so I am not entirely sure where everyone thinks I want to spay her. I've lost a rat to a routine spay, and I know that guinea pigs are even more risky with surgery...I am trying to avoid surgery, but if that's what we decide (me and the vets I've been talking to) then that's what we're doing.
I'll let you all know what we find on xray today, and how much she weighs. We've got some surgeries this morning and this afternoon, so I'm not sure when we'll be xraying her...but, it's definitely getting done. Even if it's after we close.
Thank you all for the advice. I'm trying to soak up as much as possible to prepare for the worst. Everyone has been really, really helpful...at both sites.
We only see dogs and cats here. 
