[Gpdd] Health: SOOTY - Coccidiosis

[Juwles]

Hi all

 

Since the passing of Honey, I have been quiet because towards the end of
Honey's life, my little Sooty got sick.    He was diagnosed with
coccidiosis.  That is highly contagious, so I touched Sooty last, wash my
hands every time I touch anything he had touched, washing everything he
touched in hot water and dried in sunshine, etc.  I practised top quality
hygiene.

 

1.	I know the main cause of teeth problems is mouth infection, I had
given him the Niystatin, but the vet said there was no infection.  I had his
back teeth clipped twice.

 

2.	Then, I did everything I could think of, relating it back to how a
human reacts if they have a gut ache.    I know we humans would  just stop
eating, but that's not possible for a piggy without the teeth becoming a
problem.    He's never eaten green grass, nor hay, nor grain/pellets.   So,
I had some had thinking to do and much work.      In between, I recently
spent a week in hospital with the old asthma.  That did give me time to
recoup my energy and come home with the determination that I was not going
to lose another pig!  I'm just going to put it into point form because
there's too much to tell.

 

3.	Relating to a human, we stop eating, have gut cramps, feel sick &
lethargic.    With Sooty, originally we gave him Baytril, that made the poos
worse.   Then I decided to act the vet and just put him on to Bactrim, until
I knew the diagnosis.   The vet said I did the right thing.   However, that
was no good because poos were still very sloppy.  So I stopped the Bactrim.
I asked the vet to get me Albon, another product which can be used for
coccidiosis.  I haven't got that yet.

 

4.	Then I went back to natural type products - giving him critical
care, which he ate straight from the syringe without any fighting, and would
stop when he'd had enough.   Then I gave him banana to munch on, because
that's high in potassium and a piggy needs that following any bought of
diarrhoea.   Also, even though a piggy should not eat bread, I would toast a
piece until the crust was nice & hard, and give him that to chew on, to keep
those teeth at bay.

 

5.	I mixed tinsy bits of Imodium, repalyte to replace electrolytes,
probiotics, and vitamin C, which he also took like the good piggy he is.   I
only did this concotion once because then I found myself in hospital for
nearly a week.

 

6.	Whilst in hospital I did much more logical thinking and researching,
and when I came home, Sooty was still doing sloppy cow poos, but not watery
poos as previously. 

 

7.	I kept him warm, putting hot water bottles beside his tent which is
in his cage and he kept leaning on it.  When we gave him some floor time, he
would sit on top of the bottle for warmth.  When he has floor time now, I
put him in the sun which he loves to sit in.  I provide some shade over the
cage if it gets too hot.    

 

8.	I finally decided to stop everything, see what nature might bring,
and just kept  him warm, feed him some Critical Care once a day (maybe only
10ml),  put food in front of him (he loves parsley, banana, thistle.  Whilst
I know thistle causes diarrhoea, it made no difference to Sooty so I gave it
to him anyway to keep those teeth working.

 

THEN..... one day I woke up, and praise and lo & behold, Sooty had done a
normal pellet, not squishy as he's always done in the 2 years since I
adopted him, but well form and bigger than ever!!!   I cried & cried &
cried.   My little boy was getting better.

 

I can now pick Sooty up without getting covered in his sloppy poos!!!!!
Just to be able to cuddle my beloved boy is a miracle and a gift from God,
and I couldn't stop thanking God for his kindness, love and help he has
bestowed on me.

 

Sooty continues to do well - eating his veges and fruit, he likes the
Timothy pellets I got from Oxbow, he likes the Timothy hay I got from Oxbow,
and he LOVES me!!   I am so very very grateful because my prayers have been
answered!

 

I must admit I'm  always out there with the pigs - if anyone doesn't know
where I am, they know to look in the piggies room.  I watch them like an
eagle for any change of habit or condition.  I am just hypersensitive to
their moods, needs, actions, etc.   They are simply my life.

 

 

This is my first success with a sick piggy - all the others have left me for
greener pastures, but I told God I was not giving Sooty up without a fight.

 

Best wishes to all,

Condolences to those poor slaves who have lost their masters (I know how you
guys are feeling)

And Bless you all too!

 

Julie & Sooty, Joey, Hugo, Treacle, Kimba and Snowdrop