[Gpdd] Health: Re SNOWDROP

[juliejohnson12 at bigpond.com]

Hi every lovely person and piggy, nothing like a bit of variety hey?    Just letting you know what happened with Snowdorp, my long haired pure white piggy love. On Tuesday I woke to hear Snowy breathing so deeply, the rattling was so loud I could hear it from the next room.   The normal vet here (knows nothing about pigs but this has worked before) has previously told me if one can hear the rattling with the bretahing, it could be something in the throat, and to steam the piggy and hopefully the causative would be dislodged.     I was straight on to it.   I didn't bother the vet as I seem to know more, and so do most of you!  Oh, also, I recall Ann telling me to use my nebuliver when I needed for myself, but she has used them for piggies so I held Snowy whilst I nebulised.  No real effect. I steamed him, and could feel the odd little shiver.   I wrapped in warm flanalette and a lovely soft cover (it's not wool, but it's fleecy), Then I took him to bed in a big bed covered in warmth.    He did not want to be in it, but wanted his mum.   I had to cuddle him, and he was so very scared and kept pushing himself harder & harder into myself, as if he was saying mummy, please help me.   After an hour, he settled a tinsie bit, but any movement he was suffering and could breath again.   I straight away gave him 0.04ml Baytril (or is it 0.4ml I always get it mixed up when I relay it but I get it right doing the action).   Then it was back to bed with my boy for a few hours of snuggling.   He wanted no food, no grass, no parsley, nothing.  I have him a little hydralyte but that was all.      After a while I really thought perhaps he was better back in his cage, next to his other mates, so I made the cage warm and put him back there.. I was grateful to go out in about an hour and to hear only the slightest of a wheeze.     When I stood there looking at him, he made the effort to eat a couple of stalks of grass.   He does that.   Lies in his bed but when mummy comes, he says I'd better eat something. That night I used a hot water bottle for him (and Sooty), and when I awoke Wednesday morning there wasn't a sound of a wheeze.   I gave him another dose of Baytril and kept a very very very close eye on him. I am scared to give the little ones too much yukky antibiotics in case they lose their GI tract as has Sooty.   So after day 2, I stopped Baytril, and have kept the room where they stay a constant temperature with no windows or doors open because the cold is setting in. I am please to report that my precious precious boy is doing well.    I am grateful to have had the Baytril on hand, and don't like using it, but I could tell the way he was snuggling he was frightened, and I really thought I'd lose Snowy at the time. I am a very lucky girl - 2 miracles within a month is nothing to disbelieve! Please accept condolences and apologies for my lack of writing skills in offering caring love to those slaves who had lost their beloved pets.     I know only too well what you are going through, and send comforting prayers your way. Love to allJulie + still 5