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Post by luvcats22 on Nov 24, 2008 13:42:30 GMT
thought i would let you all know benji has been off his food this weekend, he has lost a lot of weight. i took him to a good vet who said everything is normal and gave me some science recovery which i am syringe feeding him every hour, he is a good patient and enjoying being fed, he is having some fruit babyfood in between feeds and some vegetable baby food, he is being a good piggy and this is my first time doing it. he is taking between 4 and 6 mls per feed i hope this is ok if anyone can tell me i would appreciate it. he has perked up a bit after three feeds and i did see him nibbling his dried food about half an hour ago. it just came so quick but anyway his temperature and teeth are all ok, poops very small as he hasnt been eating so i am keeping a close eye on him. but if anyone knows how much he should have every feed i would be grateful. thanks dawn and benji xx
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Post by Orlaith on Nov 24, 2008 14:09:52 GMT
I hope he gets better soon
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Post by luvcats22 on Nov 24, 2008 14:37:52 GMT
thanks vojera, me too xx
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Post by luvcats22 on Nov 24, 2008 16:14:25 GMT
just to update, he has eaten a nice bowl of green veggies tonight, he didnt touch the peppers but ate lots of kale,watercress,rocket,beet greens. so thats a good sign i think? i will be continuing with the syringing until i go to bed(about 10;30pm). he is still doing small poops but they are a good colour and consistency now. he doesnt like the veggy babyfood much but seems to enjoy the organic fruit (apple banana and mango!!!) he is having this with his slurry stuff. his fur this morning seemed quite dry and scruffy but now is looking much glossier so fingers crossed he is on the mend. xxx
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Post by xxlunaxx on Nov 24, 2008 16:53:41 GMT
Aw poor Benji... i hope he continues to make progress xx
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Post by luvcats22 on Nov 24, 2008 17:00:32 GMT
thanks luna xx
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Post by abby on Nov 24, 2008 17:29:46 GMT
This all sounds very positive. In my experience they go down hill very quickly so the fact he is eating by himself as well as taking your feeds is an excellent sign. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed he's even brighter tomorrow, you're doing great well done. I've never had the experience of bringing one back from the brink unfortunately (though with gorgeous guineas stuff i've cured a skin condition- helping them feels wonderful when it works). Well done you and Benji!
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Post by luvcats22 on Nov 24, 2008 18:16:25 GMT
thanks abby, ive never had to syringe feed before,but i phoned dawn and she helped me a lot, benji is getting a bit more difficult to feed now, but i think thats a good sign as he has more energy, still sleepy and hiding in the pigloo,but barney keeps calling for him when im syringing benji so i dont think thats helping. but we are building a great bond. i always adored benji as he is such a sweet friendly chap but he never really liked being held but this experience is bringing us closer. i just hope its enough, he only weighs 982g tonight. hoping for an improvement soon i have booked tomorrow morning off work to continue with the feeding (very understanding boss!!) so by 12;30pm when i leave for work tomorrow i am hoping benji will be eating on his own again. xx
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Post by cavymaniac on Nov 24, 2008 18:52:42 GMT
I hope Benji gets better luvcats. I've been syringe feeding my Jack for almost 2 months now as he's been losing weight. When we took him to the CCT we asked how much he should be having but we were told that it varies but they said that they usually do about 5 or 6 feeds a day, so we're having to work it out for ourselves. At the moment he's having 60mls per day and we're weighing him every other day. His weight is still up and down but overall it's on the increase.
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Post by luvcats22 on Nov 24, 2008 18:56:21 GMT
gosh, i dont think my boss would be that understanding i am desperate for him to show some improvement, he is chewing on his cardboard tube at the moment, any little thing he does i am praying is a good sign, i really cant lose him as he is my baby and barneys best buddy. ahhh well 7pm now time for another feed if he will take it, last feed he only managed 2mls but he did eat a big tea earlier so hopefully he will be getting hungry now. thanks for all your kind words, i do appreciate it xx
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Post by cavymaniac on Nov 24, 2008 19:19:07 GMT
(((((hugs))))) I've got my fingers crossed for the little guy. I'm lucky that I'm home all day to take care of Jack, I don't know what I'd do if I was working.
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Post by luvcats22 on Nov 24, 2008 20:00:22 GMT
well luckily my boss has said if i need to i can take benji in to work in the afternoon and see to him, but i think that would stress him out so im hoping i dont need to do that. xx
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Post by luvcats22 on Nov 25, 2008 8:05:20 GMT
well, this morning benji has eaten some hay and a little dry food on his own, looks a bit more like himself today, his weight has rocketed to 2.26 pounds which is 1025g woohoooooo woohoooo i am crying i am so pleased yayayayayyay
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Post by abby on Nov 25, 2008 8:18:46 GMT
Wow, that is a dramatic weight gain, well done! Am so pleased for you. I agree taking him to work would only stress him out. I find taking mine out of the porch just into the kitchen stresses them out! When i had to bath Percy i took everything into the porch and did it in there so at least he knew he was at home. Come on Benji, keep up the good work, your buddy and mummy need you!
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Post by luvcats22 on Nov 25, 2008 8:27:12 GMT
i fed him every hour up until 10;30pm then every two hours during the night until 6am this morning, then i let him have breakfast as normal at 7;30am. i have put extra dry food in the cage scattered round incase barney scares him off yay woohoo from what i have read he is no longer considered thin, i would like to get him back up to round the 1100g mark but 2.2lb is pretty good for a himi x (his mum was himi his dad a pew) i am praying that we are on the road to recovery now as i am worn out and so is benji, xxx
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Post by Orlaith on Nov 25, 2008 9:36:18 GMT
I'm really happy to hear he's on the mend
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Post by luvcats22 on Nov 25, 2008 10:16:54 GMT
thanks vojera, i hope this is a good sign. xx
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Post by cavymaniac on Nov 25, 2008 13:12:06 GMT
I'm so glad that Benji is getting better! I just wish my Jack would put more weight on!
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Dawn - Admin
Administrator
MOTM May 2006, TPOTM Nov 2007
Dawn and the Cutiecavies
Posts: 22,784
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Post by Dawn - Admin on Nov 25, 2008 13:24:08 GMT
Oh that is great news Dawn I am so glad he is gaining weight again and eating too. You dedication will pay of just you wait and see he will be back to his old self before you know it
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Post by luvcats22 on Nov 25, 2008 13:50:43 GMT
wel, i have decided to let him eat normally for the rest of today,then weigh him tonight and if he is losing again then feed him 2 hourly tonight, again. then maybe two hourly until i see some improvement, im hoping leaving him alone this afternoon wih lots of nice food and hay will get him motivated to eat on his own, if not then i will feed him. luckily through all this he is still enjoying his veggies so thats got to be a good sign. will keep you updated xx
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Post by luvcats22 on Nov 25, 2008 18:55:49 GMT
weighed benji tonight,he weighs 2lb3oz which i believe is 1040g, so he has gained weight while i have been at work woohoo yay, here is a couple of pics of him, feel free to say if you think he looks a bit on the thin side xx and one of him eating thanks everyone for your kind thoughts and prayers xx
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Post by cavymaniac on Nov 26, 2008 11:13:43 GMT
Awww, he's gorgeous luvcats! I'm so glad he's still gaining weight.
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Post by luvcats22 on Nov 26, 2008 11:54:38 GMT
thanks, i think he is a pretty special little piggy. xx
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Post by celia on Nov 26, 2008 23:42:19 GMT
So glad he is on the mend , i had this with one of my boars and if it wasn't for the hard work i put in i am sure he would have died . You have done a great job , he has you to thank for saving his life x . I would love to know why a healthy pig goes off their food and go down hill so fast that they nearly die ? Its a mystery
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Post by Niki on Nov 27, 2008 1:13:33 GMT
Only just seen this Dawn but am so pleased he's gaining weight - he is gorgeous btw, i love PEW's
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Post by luvcats22 on Nov 27, 2008 7:01:09 GMT
thanks everyone, i too would love to know what made him go off his food, he seems to be eating much better now although still not 100% his usual self, i ordered a load of nice herbs and stuff off pampered piggies and it came yesterday, benji was quite keen on the mountain hay and the raspberry leaves . i am very grateful for all your support, i couldnt have done it without you all. he is a cute looking pew niki, as he has the pink eyes but grey ears,black feet and a grey smudge on his nose as his mum was a himi, i feel this experience has given me and benji a bond we didnt have before and he seems much more accepting of having a cuddle now. i really am pleased he seems to be getting better and seems to be a 'normal' weight now, i will keep fattening him up for now till he gets his little pudgy belly back thanks again everyone. dawn and benji xx
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Dawn - Admin
Administrator
MOTM May 2006, TPOTM Nov 2007
Dawn and the Cutiecavies
Posts: 22,784
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Post by Dawn - Admin on Nov 27, 2008 10:35:48 GMT
Sorry I haven't anwswered this sooner Dawn but I hvae been so busy latelt organising Hyde & Glossop Show. I am glad to see that he is a bit better Dawn I am sure with all the treats you are giving him he will be back to his nice chunky weight very soon
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Post by luvcats22 on Nov 27, 2008 11:55:55 GMT
no probs dawn, i know you are always busy, thanks again for listening to me blubbering on the phone. problem with giving benji treats is barney has to have one, and he is getting rather fat now never mind.
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