[Gpdd] [HEALTH]: gas buildup

[warmbreath at comcast.net]

This post from Carole, Cazza177,  is very informative and right on. To add 
to the caution, I recommend against allowing the vet to take or hand off 
your pig for procedures in the "Backroom" if he says that a urine sample 
needs to be collected but it hasn't happened yet. Let them know you will be 
happy to wait there in the room for the pig to pee and that you will summon 
them. This makes any really necessary backroom work more comfortable for the 
pig as he will have already peed and makes sure they wont use the press and 
squeeze method.  I think the piggie may try hold it  or may even use it 
defensively (have you ever seen a really mad sow)  either one are not 
comfortable for the pig if they take him away. Even when procedures are 
necessary in the back room I first ask exactly what will be done and make 
sure they dont intend to sedate him.  Even the last vet trip to try to save 
my precious Manny they came back in with a handful of needled syringes 
preloaded with Reglan. I about fainted, I have never seen it used this way, 
crushed pills are just fine. (One more indication the vet was clueless about 
piggies, and she said she had interned with my specialist who was out of 
reach).  If a vet protests I remind them that I accompanied my children for 
all their procedures, and I had one with a very serious condition who 
required very difficult procedures. Sometimes they have a valid objection, I 
offer to gown up, and stay out of the way, or alternately do the holding.

I dont mean to come off as anti vet I am just very cautious, and learned a 
gentle assertiveness over many years with both children and pets, both of 
whom require the best care. (My son was nearly killed by an incompetent 
neurosurgeon in a clueless hospital, and I would have never know if I had 
left him alone for a second, actually one night he would have likely died 
unattended). I especially like that our poster caught that the problem may 
be in peeing rather than pooing. If it's peeing you can catch that at home 
by the same method, put Tumbleweed in safe place where you can see him pee 
or poo and observe the output. When he pees you can see if it's cloudier 
than usual or even gritty.  If he is crying while peeing then you would want 
to skip my previous suggestions and go to the vet as an infection or stones 
could be the culprit and need a different treatment, pain control, and 
possibly antibiotics or other meds. Again good luck, Sandy and Sammy