[Gpdd] [HEALTH] Ongoing eating problems - Archie

[DebJonSara at aol.com]

Oh Julie and Archie
 
My heart absolutely goes out to you. I have been there, done that and I  know 
the absolute agony you are going through. I experienced a very similar  
nightmare with our Red Dandy, who was seen by numerous vets, including the  author 
Virginia Richardson, rodentologists and Vedra at the CCT herself. We  never 
really got a diagnosis, and he didn't receive nearly as much medication as  
Archie has had - just Daktarin Oral gel, antibiotics, an over-the  counter 
cystitis remedy and liquid Calpol for pain. He was syringe fed  for about 6 weeks in 
all I think, and it dominated our lives, searching always  for new tastes to 
stimulate his appetite - he had Critical Care, baby foods and  juice from 
everything I could find to juice, including dandelions and achillea.  He wanted to 
eat - he was eager when he saw the syringe, and when the taste was  good he 
guzzled it up. But I had to keep changing the tastes or he got bored and  then 
getting him to eat was a struggle. He would sometimes nibble grass if  inserted 
into his mouth the right way, or funnily enough wholemeal bread. I must  
admit, he never slobbered, although he had his teeth trimmed many times. It was  
exhausting trying to get enough food and liquid down him each day - a 24 hour  
job I would say. Each feeding session took so long, there was only about an 
hour  before the next was due.
 
I brought him back from the CCT to France to nurse him after Vedra had  
trimmed his teeth, but he continued to lose weight steadily, and eventually, the  
evening of my birthday, I spent all my birthday money driving him back to  
Britain through the Channel Tunnel to Cavies Castle, convinced they would be  able 
to save him.
 
I know they did everything they could, but one thing Tich told me stuck in  
my mind, as I had never been told it before but it made sense. He said it was  
very rare for dental problems to be the primary cause of not eating. He said  
that more usually, what happens is that the piggie feels unwell and stops  
eating. Because it is not eating, its teeth overgrow. Then when piggie is taken  
to the vet, the dental problem is identified and treated and everyone watches  
for the expected recovery. Only the underlying cause of piggie not eating in 
the  first place has not been diagnosed or treated, so the piggie still 
doesn't eat  because it still feels unwell. So the cycle begins again, overgrown 
teeth,  dental treatment ... and the primary cause of the pain which made the 
piggie  reluctant to eat in the first place in overlooked. 
 
Sadly, Red Dandy passed away in Tich's arms just over a week after I left  
him in their care. An autopsy seemed pointless, and he was buried in their  
garden with one of their own piggies who died the same night. I know they did  
their very best for him, but in the end, it wasn't his teeth, it was something  
else.
 
Sorry, you probably don't want to hear that. But as you seem to have access  
to proper exotics vets (which I don't here in France) maybe it's not too late  
for you. Is there any possibility there could be an underlying problem 
causing  the overgrowing teeth? Could the vet do a "blood panel" or whatever it is 
they  do?
 
Someone on here, I think it was Hermann in Germany, told me a piggie could  
never recover if it lost more than a third of its body weight, so I promised  
myself that I'd take Red Dandy to be put to sleep if lost more than that. But  
then, when he did, there was absolutely no way I could take him to be killed. 
He  was still wanting to eat, he still loved cuddles and attention and his 
food.  That was the point at which I drove him back to the UK.  My experience is  
very similar to yours, in that I have lost many beloved pigs through 
inadequate  vet care. I really believed Vedra or the CCT could save him, and it broke 
my  heart when they couldn't. I think when we syringe feed a piggie over a 
long  period the bond becomes closer than ever - it is as though we gave birth to 
that  little piggie. 
 
So I fully understand your reluctance to have Archie put to sleep - we  would 
not have a baby to whom we had given birth put to sleep. You say he is on  
pain relief, and if he is still eating, he can't be suffering too badly. If he  
is snuggling, he is getting some pleasure from you, and from life. So don't 
let  others coerce you into terminating his life. You will know if and when the 
time  comes, or hopefully he will choose it himself, as Red Dandy did.
 
Oh Julie and Archie, I will be praying for you. You don't mention how old  
Archie is, but I am hoping maybe age is on his side - Red Dandy was just over 3  
years old. Do keep us posted - surely it's about time we had a miracle here 
on  the gpdd, there seem to have been so many departures just lately. 
 
Sorry to be so longwinded and not very helpful - just wanted to offer my  
support.
 
Debbie (in rural France)