Sierra

[Sef]

"Never been so happy to have that tell tale warm wet spot on my shirt."

Hooray for pee! ;D Keep up the good work, Sierra!

[brendab]

Rough night. Sierra ate a dime sized hole in one of the cuddle cups. So I had to watch to make sure she pooped. Which took forever.

She also is licking the fleece once in awhile. Is she deficient in something?

So, she is holding at 920 overnight, eating, drinking, peeing pooping BUT still has hamster sized poops.

[Sef]

The licking/chewing could be a sign of discomfort. Are you still giving her Metacam? I wouldn't go with a high dose, but she may need something for pain management.

[sabrina]

You know, Otto used to chew on fabric when he was dealing with GI issues. Usually stasis and gassiness. In fact, I just finishing patching all the cozies, huts, and blankets that he chewed up. So, I second sef's theory about possible pain.

[vanillapooh1979]

Could she have arthritis causing the wobbly walk?

[brendab]

She was gassy when I gave her a belly rub. Do you think I should ask about getting some reglan? She is still on metacam .1 two times a day.

She has always been a funny walker...

[brendab]

Ok, I called the vet and they do not want to start reglan unless she stops pooping. They are not as concerned with the size of the poops. But I am. Guess the word stasis freaks me out...

I came home early wondering if she were in trouble. She pooped a few little poops while I was gone. Her weight is 940. But she may have drank just before I weighed her. I worry that her weight is up with so few poops...but she is eating more veggies and hay and less pellets. And CC.

Her tummy is very soft. If it were stasis, would she be bloated and have a firmness to her tummy? I could massage her tummy like pizza dough...very soft and no pain.

Please advise...I can get reglan from another vet just by asking. The one she is seeing is an exotics vet, a very good one... but not my friend who sees my dogs. He is a more gerneral practice vet but will give me reglan if I ask....but I don't want to jack her up worse either.

[Sef]

How is she otherwise? The poops...are they small, but perfectly formed? Or are they thin? Any mucus with them?

Really, if it were me, I'd want another x-ray before adding a motility drug to the mix. She's still on Bactrim, right? And probiotics, plus the Metacam?

What's her fluid intake?

[brendab]

Poops are small and thiner. Like a large hammmie poop. A little lighter in color.

Fluid intake seems good but I am adding extra pedialyte just incase.

She is acting normal otherwise. Just came running when I came home from the store. Was very happy that I splurged on blueberries.

Gut still feels soft and squishy when I massage her tummy.

[Sef]

I would keep up the extra fluids, handfeeding CC, probiotics, and just continue to monitor her poos. She has a sensitive gut to begin with; Metcam + Bactrim could be causing further upset.

If you can get away with it, I'd back the Metacam down to once a day and see how she does with that.

Definitely wouldn't add any other medication (such as Reglan) unless the exotics vet recommends it.

Sending lots more good thoughts your way.

[brendab]

So, I bought yet another different bag of hay and she dove in and had poops closer to normal. But, then she got picky again and her latest poops are smaller so I think she is not eating enough hay. Even with the CC and pumpkin, she won't get enough fiber unless she eats more hay.

Dare I give just a little alfalfa?

I went longer without cc and her weight is stable at 920. Just small poops.

I removed all beds and replaced with pads and piled hay all around the cage....

Silly pig. She has mama jumping through hoops. Wait...silly mama!

[sabrina]

I'm so glad he weight is holding steady. When I was jump starting Otto's gut/appetite, I would give him a bit of oat hay. Not all pigs like it though, he was my only one. Oxbow sells small bags of it. If I had any left I would send it to you.

I'm not sure about the alfalfa, maybe someone else will know? I can't imagine that a small amount would upset things but I'm not certain.

Oh yeah, they know how to make us jump through the hoops, don't they?! Flaming hoops, too.

[brendab]

Before I left for work she had 3 small, but normal color and shaped poops.

I gave her some cc, pedialyte and greens. Also fresh hay before I left. Now I get to work for 5 hours and wonder....

[brendab]

So more small but normal poops. Maybe she is actually getting better? I am afraid to think it is possible. She was so weak the other night.

I have to bring my daughter to audition for a lead role in The Wizard of Oz for ballet....I will log into chat when I get home.

[brendab]

We have normal poops and LOTS of them! YAY!

Thank you everyone for helping me through this. I really thought she was dying the other night when she could not make it up the ramp into the loft. She was so ill.

Love you guys!