[Gpdd] Health Misc Notes esp. for Laura and Leah, Joy and Sara, Craig

[Sandra Oliver-Poore]

Dear Laura,

I don't know if your vet is an  exotics specialist but I am concerned when
you say he put a needle into the bladder to get a urine sample.  Sounds
dangerous to me, if he didn't have a tear before??  My vet either expresses
the urine with a little pressure externally or syringes up a sample after
the piggy pees on the examine table.  Also you don't say what kind of
antibiotic he got, does your vet know to avoid penicillin in all its forms"
Baytril is usually very effective. Diarrhea should be treated with
probiotics during and after treatment.  Give yogurt with live cultures
midway between doses of antibiotic and for several days after the course is
completed.  Start immediately, diarrhea in piggies is an emergency.


For Leah and every one.  I have had probably more than 50 piggies in my many
years as a slave and never had a UTI or bladder stone.  I do feed parsley as
often as I can, I think its wonderful.. For Joy and Sara, you have a nice
list of veggies but you are shy in Vit C rich foods.  I feed more tomato,
peppers, oranges,  cabbage, broccoli, even lemons. For other nutrients  I
like to get in berries and grapes occasionally, as well as whole dill and
basil plants,clover and dandelion.  I think that variety is the key as well
as cleanliness, and Vit C emphasis.

Also for Leah  Of course you won't change pellets.  Besides high calcium
alfalfa based pellets have a much higher protein content than timothy hat
based pellets.   Oxbow Cavy Cuisine) rules  And for newbies, we don't
recommend iceberg lettuce and carrots should be limited to about an inch per
day.  Also note that your piggies should always have food in their cages.
Eating is what the do!!

In addition to what I see other people feeding sick pigs, I used oat meal
and bananas quite a bit, but emphasize Critical Care or mashed  wet pellets.
I loved the idea of pumpkin pie filling, but I think pureed pumpkin wouldn't
have enough calories.  I think Luita and Dana had a lot of good advice on
this subject too.

For Mites I use Ivermectin in the horse paste form. Its $7.95 for enough for
the whole herd.  I use just the amount that fits on a Q-tip swab and I
repeat in 3 wheeks.  I alternate with Frontline, usually one double
treatment of Ivermectin followed in 6 months by a double treatment of the
Frontline.  I also use 8 in 1 Kitten or avian spray on an as needed basis,
or wash with mild flea shampoo.

We are so happy to see our old friends back and welcome all the new ones.  I
have grieved for your piggies now gone to the bridge and welcome all the
little new guys.

Happy days
Sandy and the Penny Giggles