CAMP SKIPPING PIG  SANCTUARY

 

 

 sNygyl arrived on November 8, 2000. He was rescued from an auction for $5 at about 18 months of age. This is often about the age when pig owners decide their pet pig isn't cute anymore or has become too much trouble to care for (think piggy version of the teens). Very vocal and affectionate, it appeared that he'd been loved and cared for, but there was no way to discover why he'd been discarded at a livestock auction. sNygyl has been a character here ever since his arrival and has presented a few challenges health-wise. In the spring we need to be especially watchful for when the blackflies come out. If we're not prepared and haven't coated his ears with ointment, on the day they emerge, his ears will triple in size from an allergic reaction to the bites. Then begin the rounds of Benadryl and ear rubs to ease his discomfort. It's far better, we've found, to slather his ears with ointment ahead of time rather than try to play "catch up" after he's been bitten. None of the other pigs have this response to the black fly bites, but poor sNygyl seems to be severely allergic. Other issues we've dealt with for several years are urinary blockages and urinary tract infections. Generally his flare-ups occur along about January or February, possibly because it's our coldest part of the winter and he's less active. In February of 2006, sNyg required lifesaving surgery for a blockage. sNyg's bladder was "tacked" to his abdominal wall and a catheter was inserted into his bladder thru his side to drain his over extended bladder, give the crystals time to pass and his urethra time to heal. Though a first on a pig for Dr. Ted, and his chances were only 50/50, it was our only chance to save him. Without the surgery his bladder would  rupture and he'd  die. We were rewarded by a long, but successful recovery. He's had a couple of emergency trips back to the clinic when he appears to be blocking. On one such visit, the clinic was packed and no pen was available, so sNyg was allowed to roam the back area while they worked on other patients. He successfully puddled in a corner, begged shamelessly for their lunches and finally made a bed in a cubby under the counter. They were amazed at how gently he eats his cranberry sauce from a spoon. When I arrived to pick him up he scolded me with loud "barks", then politely walked into his crate for the ride home. No treatment was necessary that time. Perhaps the ride over was enough to get things flowing. But it was nice that he didn't require any thing to be done and for once a visit to the vet was a pleasant experience for all. sNygyl's PH level is tested regularly. Ideally we aim for 6 and accept a reading of 6.5 as normal for him. Any higher and his diet is manipulated and his Ammoniun chloride and DL Methionine doses are increased. His regular diet is three meals a day consisting of 1/4 to 1/3 cup Mini Pig pellets, 1/4 to 1/3 cup medicated piglets crumbles (don't know why, but the meds in these make a difference), 1/8 tsp. each of the DL Methionine and Ammonium chloride, 1/3 can cranberry sauce or an apple, and 1/3 to 1/2 cup pumpkin, wheat bran or hay extender pellets as needed to keep him regular. Added to each meal is a quart of warm water, to be sure he's getting enough fluids. Offered free choice, he doesn't drink as much as he should. Added to his meals, it's a sure thing. Our sNyg has been an educational experience, to say the least, but he happily perks along and we're hoping to enjoy his company for many more years. When it appears that he's starting to block he gets massages to help pass the urine. He also is put on antibiotics as needed when a urinary tract infection crops up. sNyg is pretty much kept indoors to better monitor his urine output, but does have an outdoor run for when things are flowing smoothly.

 With great sadness that we had to have sNygyl euthanized on March 17, 2009. He'd been having back, upper respiratory and urinary tract issues since January. If I administered prednisone for his back pain he'd develop a severe upper respiratory infection. Antibiotics would clear that up, but only after I'd dropped the pred. His back pain made it uncomfortable to relieve himself, which would cause constipation and even more pain. For several weeks we struggled to keep him comfortable, keep everything moving and his appetite up by spoon feeding him if necessary. He was on several medications and we were just unable to turn him around. He fought a good fight but it was  to the point that I was keeping him going for myself, not because it was best for him.He'd pulled thru so many other times I felt if we could just get him into warmer weather he'd recover once again. This time he let us know it was time to let him rest. sNyg has presented many challenges over the years but was always a great little character in the barn and will be very missed. He was about 10 - 11 years old.