Conditions Sick Pig. Abdominal Swelling - Sow

[Kim37040]

First, I am waiting on a call from the vet.
My area is currently in an ice and snow storm and roads are hazardous.
As a result, I can't get out of my driveway and the only clinic in my area with a regular operating schedule that I know of that I can take a pig to has a vet who also is having difficulty getting into the office

So, I am posting this to see if anyone has had a similar issue with a pig and for emotional support while I wait for the vet to call.

My sow, Joanie, was fine yesterday after dinner. I noticed at around midnight she was not in her usual spot. She is not a hider. She lays out in the open 90% of the time. I picked her up. Played with her. She seemed her usual. I did notice that her stomach was fuller than I would expect that long after a meal. But nothing alarming.
I got up this morning to a driveway I can't get out of and a Joanie who was still in hiding. She was also "puffed up" and her belly is huge.
She is pooing. Not like I am used to her pooing but they are well formed.
Still waiting on a pee.
No chance of her being pregnant. She is in a cage with her sister.
Her poo does have an different smell. Sorta chemical like (for lack of a better description).

Waiting on the clinic to call then I will get an Uber.
Of course I have been reading guinealynx and the best I can find similar is ovarian cysts. But I can't find anything that says they increase in size overnight like this.

Any info or support would be greatly appreciated.
The waiting is driving me crazy and this is the WORST day for this to happen.

 

[Guinea Pig Papa]

I could be wrong, but it sounds like bloat.

Do you have any infant simethicone? A vibrating pillow is also ideal, but if you have a towel you can lie her on with a vibrating toothbrush, or a vibrating razor with the razor removed you can put underneath, this would also help. The buzzing may help to get her tummy moving again.

Bloat is a serious medical emergency and if you can get her in, do it ASAP.

Has she not peed at all?

 

[Kim37040]

I haven't noticed a pee pee yet.

I have infant gas meds in my gp kit but just noticed that it is expired. Good reminder to make sure I check that more often.
I have her on on a towel now with my toothbrush under her.

Thanks for suggestion. I will try anything while I am waiting to hear back from vet.

 

[Guinea Pig Papa]

If she hasn't peed I would be concerned that she has a bladder stone trapped in her urethra. Hopefully that's not the case.

I have not experienced this but read a fair bit on this site, and these two things are what come to my mind.

The expiry date is simply for effectiveness I believe, I don't think it'll hurt to try and give her some, especially if it isn't that old.

 

[bpatters]

What's the expiration date on the infant gas drops? They're not likely to become dangerous after the expiration date, just possibly less effective. And they won't do that, immediately. I'd probably give her some.

Is she eating?

 

[Kim37040]

The drops expired in 2014.
And she nibbled on some hay, but has not eaten the carrot I gave her and carrot is her favorite.
Just got the call that the vet will be in in an hour.
And she still has not peed.

 

[spy9doc]

Hi, Kim......miss seeing you around here! So now you have sows?? I still remember the anal sac cleaning video you posted! (that was you?)

Simple gas can make a piggy mighty cranky! Have you gently thumped her belly? It usually will sound hollow if it is distended with gas. Simethicone drops and a bit of vibration has saved many a trip to the Vet for me. I know that you are an experienced piggy owner, but just as an FYI, I suggest giving her an entire dropper-full of the simethicone for the first dose and perhaps split it in two doses for the next session. I have found that it should work within 48hrs. if it is simple gas.

Yes, I see on the weather that you folks are getting slammed with ice and snow today. The storm is moving our way and we are supposed to get hit with it tomorrow. Thankfully the copious rains this past weekend melted most of the snow from the previous storm. Think it's a tough winter for much of the country.

Keep us posted!

 

[Kim37040]

Yes, that was my video Me and my charlie.
Yes, I adopted 2 sows from a guinea pig rescue. I have had them since around 2013. They are the best and so much personality.
Because she has not yet made a pee, I am about to call an Uber and head to the vet.


Joanie has the most flamboyant personality of all my piggies. So, when she is in the corner, I am super concerned. Her belly does sound a bit hollow when I give it a thump.

I will keep everyone posted

 

[Guinea Pig Papa]

Best wishes for you and Joanie. Looking forward to hearing some good news when you get home with her.

 

[Kim37040]

Waiting on xray results.
Praying the swelling is air and not fluid or stones.

 

[Kim37040]

Xray is showing air and something impacting.
Vet suggested surgery to remove impaction but she is noy as versed with pigs as u would like for her to do that to a pig who is 4 years old.
So i have asked if she can go in and remove the air and give her something to loosen her bile.
There is nothing she could have eaten that would stop her up.
Vet is looking up other options.
I am scared and i can tell that joanie is hurting.

 

[bpatters]

There are exotic vets in Nashville. I wouldn't let a small animal vet operate on my guinea pig.

https://www.avianandexotics.com/ -- has an exotic specialist
https://www.priestlakevet.com/about-us/meet-our-veterinarians -- has two vets "with an interest in exotics," but no certification.

 

[Kim37040]

Unfortunately, because of the ice and snow, getting to Nashville today is impossible.
I was lucky to get an Uber to take me to the vet.

So, we are back from the vet. It was a horrible experience! They could tell from the xray that there was a lot of air and poos in her gut just sitting there.
What they could not tell if it was because of some obstruction.

So, they removed the air from her stomach. This process had me in tears. First they tried to do it by putting a tube down her throat. After 2 tries of that not working, they decided to remove it via a needle in her stomach.
People, I cannot tell you have horrible it was to be there for all of this.
They removed the air along with like 10 syringes of gunk from her stomach.
They then put in a solution via syringe to lubricate her intestine to get the poos moving.

And the poos definitely started to move.

So, I have been told to look out for more bloating. That would mean that it was not just fecal impaction and that there is something else in there. Although nothing was seen in Xray.
I need to make sure she eats. After the procedure when I was getting aftercare instructions I put her back in her carrier and she started to eat hay.
I need to keep an eye on her poos. Make sure she keeps pooing.

If there are changes with those 3, I need to bring her back in.
I pray that if that is the case, we will be over this snow and ice and the roads will be safe for me to take her to the specialist I know in Nashville.

Appreciate thoughts and prayers.

I am putting her in a cage by herself for today so that I can better tell her poos and pees from her cage mate.

But on a difference note. This was my first time at this vet and although she said that pigs are not on her schedule often, I do appreciate how she was with me.
Cause I was a wreck during the whole tube and syringe process.

Another question - I can tell when my pigs are discomfort and I know that Joanie is right now. When I spoke to the vet I asked if it would be ok to give her some baby aspirin with her condition condition and I was told yes.
But I do not have any baby aspirin and not sure I want to get another Uber to go get any. I have regular low dose aspirin. Can I use that instead? I am thinking the baby part was just for taste and I can mix her piece of aspirin with a little baby food applesauce instead.

Thanks

 

[Guinea Pig Papa]

Kim, you and Joanie are in mine, and my herds thoughts. All of our positive energy is being sent your way, in the hopes that Joanie's ordeal is done.

Please keep us posted on how she's doing. I'm so sorry you had to go through that with her, but if she's eating now that's definitely a positive.

 

[spy9doc]

What a nightmare for you! I'm so sorry that you're going through this. Chip & Sparky send wheeks of encouragement and comfort to Joanie. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

 

[Kim37040]

Ok. Fingers crossed that the roads are clear enough for me to go to Nashville.
Joanie is eating, but all those amazing poos she gave at the Dr.'s office have stopped.

So, if the interstate is clear tomorrow, I am taking her to an exotics doc in nashville.
Crappy that I don't have a car that I trust on the interstate covered in ice and snow.
Hopefully, I will be able to get a disc of the xrays that were taken today.

Since she is taking in but not putting out, should I give her her usual dinner or just water and hay?

the roads are super wet and temps will be below freezing tonight. Praying for no ice and that my sweet girl has a good poo filled night.

 

[Guinea Pig Papa]

Anything she eats now will take between 8-20 hrs to go through her system. She had lots of poos at the vets office and that's good, some of the way has been cleared.

Does she seem to be in less discomfort? To be honest I would leave her with plenty of the basics, water and hay. Plenty of fibre to go through her system and help everything along the way.

 

[Kim37040]

She does not seem to be in as much discomfort.
But she is so not her usual Joanie self.

Anything she eats now will take between 8-20 hrs to go through her system. She had lots of poos at the vets office and that's good, some of the way has been cleared.

Does she seem to be in less discomfort? To be honest I would leave her with plenty of the basics, water and hay. Plenty of fibre to go through her system and help everything along the way.

 

[Guinea Pig Papa]

Oh, the poor sweet little girl. That face just says it all.

Are you continuing with the towel/toothbrush and the simethicone?

 

[bpatters]

Is she eating anything?