My wiggly pig has a tumor!

[Foggycreek]

Didn't the vet notice her cataracts? Yes, they can be a sign of aging, and failing vision.

[Beignet'sMom]

I am so sorry to hear about Henrietta. However my little Beignet has a huge tumor and has been doing fine with it for over a year! The vet and I did not expect her to live past a few months! So hang in there! My suggestion is to make sure she is getting ample Victamin C - I feed mine in the pure liquid form through a syringe (prescribed by the vet) and I mix it with ensure (the energy drink). My piggy likes the strawberry flavor. I have also fed my pig small quantities on Xango juice. It is very expensive, but is contains the mangosteen fruit - wich is said to contain cancer fighting properties. You can find Mangosteen juice at an herb/health food store.

[kitties]

I know we shouldn't feed them too much, but broccoli has cancer-fighting properties... I researched it all when my dog had cancer and she lived off a diet of steamed salmon, rice and broccoli for months as she recovered from surgery. She lasted way longer than the vet said she would. In these circumstances anything is worth a try!

[Foggycreek]

I can't recommend the Ensure. It is full of sugar.

[sus4rabbitsnpigs]

Ensure is a milk product, no? Ditto, bad idea. Use Critical Care or pedialyte, or Odwalla.

[Beignet'sMom]

I know Ensure sounds like a bad idea for all of the reasons stated above - and at first glance, I would agree. I, too, would get my hands on some Critical Care, and try that first. But if you have a picky eater, with a tumor that is doubling in size at a rapid rate (say within three-six months time) and you are trying to promote comfort care - who cares about sugar? Also, if your pet is loosing weight due to the tumor (because my girl has lived so long with tumor, she has dropped from 2.2lbs to 1.2lbs in the year she has lived with this condition) then the sugar and calories are not a horrible thing. It just all depends on your circumstances and if your pet's digestive system can tolerate it. Also, keeping a little Bene-bac on hand is always helpful in the event a piggy ever has an upset stomach or stops eating.

[kitties]

Excuse me if this sounds ignorant, but what is Bene-bac? I'm not from the US so I'm not always familar with terms / product names here! I like to keep a small 'first aid' kit in the house and this sounds like a useful addition....

[Beignet'sMom]

No problem! Bene-bac is a gel that comes in a tube and is an appetite stimulant/stomach soother. It contains "naturally occurring microorganisms" that occur in the digestive tracts of small animals (like dogs, cats, guinea pigs, etc.) The effect is similar to that of humans eating yogurt - it replenishes the "good" bacteria into the digestive system. It is helpful to give this to your piggy if you notice loss of appetite, loose stools or after surgery or illness.

[kitties]

Where can I get this? (Sorry to hi-jack the thread!)

[Beignet'sMom]

You can purchase it online - just google it. It will come up. You do not need a prescription and the dosage is right on the container. It also must taste good to piggies because they lick it right off your fingertip! Exotic vets will/should carry it.

Also, Metacam is a prescription pain medication usually used for inflammation associated with arthritis in dogs. It can be given in very small dosages - based on your pig's weight. It has to be prescribed by a vet. I also mix it in with the Ensure on days when Beignet's tumor seems to be bothering her or she seems lethargic. You can ask your vet about it.