pot belly fever

Question
Hi, I have a year and half old male pot belly. He just recently stopped eating and does not want to get up for very long. I think he has a swollen gland behind his jaw. It is alittle smaller than golf ball. His lip is alittle swollen behind his nose. I think this may also be a gland. I gave him .5ml of antibiotics for one day so far. Can you please give me some advice? It is not easy to get him to the vets.

Answer
I am not a veterinarian and can not make a medical diagnosis over the internet.

Any time a pig stops eating, it's bad news. Pigs are prone to dental problems and mouth/nose/throat tumors. Try giving piggy soft dairy, like Boost or Ensure drinks or milkshakes or sour cream or yogurt.

It's possible that his lack of appetite is not connected to the swollen lumps at all. In fact it may be caused by something completely different. But, my guess is they are connected.

I suspect the swollen lumps are not glands but abscesses from an infected tooth or foreign object stuck in his mouth. This could cause enough pain to prevent him from eating. Get piggy down for a belly rub, and try to get a finger inside his mouth to check around. Look for loose teeth, gobs of junk stuck in the teeth, or swollen spots inside the mouth.

Piggy will most likely need to see a vet. Dental infections can be difficult to cure, especially if it is a drug resistant strain of bacteria. He may need to have infected teeth pulled. If the problem is oral cancer, he will need surgery.

The easiest way to transport a piggy is in a crate or dog cage. The airline approved crates are best. They come in sizes large enough to hold a Shetland Pony, and most pet supply stores carry them in sizes big enough to hold a St Bernard or Great Dane. Ordinary dog cages work well too, but the plastic floors can be a little weak. Larger size cages usually have a wire floor under the plastic floor, and that can be reinforced with wood board.

Look for a crate with wheels, or get a furniture mover/dolly. A furniture dolly is just a wooden square that sits on four wheels. Get piggy into the crate or cage. Lift one end (or the whole) crate or cage, slide the dolly underneath, set it down and adjust it. Now, you can roll piggy anywhere, including up a ramp into the back of a rented or borrowed suv or minivan