First off, an apology. I have been crazy busy, and if you don’t follow my Facebook page you wouldn’t know Mr. Doinkers is ok. How rude of me.
Doink got sick on Wednesday, just two days before a long-planned mini vacation set to start on Friday morning. Good grief. On Wednesday, he was not moving. At all. Not even for watermelon two inches from his mouth.
Plans were made, mostly in my head with the vet’s advice, to get him up to Ft. Collins to the vet hospital. This plan involved a rolling him into a rug, lifting him into the world’s largest dog crate with a removable top, lifting crate into my car and taking him on a long drive to the hospital. It required three strong men plus myself, and a leap of faith the plan would work that defied common sense.
Uh, no. I’m not going in there. I don’t care how comfy that blankie looks. And you can forget about that rug idea.
On to Plan B. A simple fecal sample delivered to Ft. Collins on Thursday morning. Maybe we could get some idea what was wrong? Seemed like a more do-able plan.
To get said sample…pig’s gotta poop. Thursday morning I headed out to the barnyard, large bowl of watermelon in hand and went into the shed. Doink was still not interested in moving. After much coaxing he got up and begrudgingly lumbered out like it was the last mile of a marathon. He ate some of the watermelon, but you would think it was the worst food in the world by the way he was picking at it. I spent the morning trying to get him to move around. He’d walk a few feet and lie down. I’d rub his belly for a while. He’d get up, walk a few feet and lie down. You get the idea.
Finally, poop happened. YIPPEE! I jumped in the car and headed north to Ft. Collins. When I returned home hours later, Mr. Doinkers was obviously feeling better. Not great, but better. He had a pinched look about his eyes, like he really needed to fart . (Go ahead. Smile. A farting pig is funny.) He ate more watermelon and walked around a bit before bedtime. Things were looking up. The vet called around dinnertime. All tests showed no obvious problems. Everything looked normal. Whew.
When he stopped letting the chickens steal his watermelon, I knew he was getting better.
Friday morning, watermelon in hand (again) I headed out to the barnyard. I saw Mr. Doinkers’ head peeking out of the shed. He was up! He downed breakfast and looked at me—the sparkle was back in his little bitty eyes.
When we’re gone, I leave the animals in the capable hands of The Best Neighbor In The World, Joy. She came over and we discussed Doink’s additional needs—lots of watermelon to keep up his hydration—and his improving countenance. I knew she would take extra good care of him.
Crisis was over. Trip was on. The visit to see Excellent Kids Libby and Sawyer in Durango was wonderful, even if it was too short.
By the time we got back on Sunday, he was fine. Maybe he got that fart out. Who knows? But it sure was good to see him back to being the Doink we all know and love.
Back to his old self, dragging food to the shed for a midnight snack later.
Lesson learned by me. A sick pig, even one that is just mildly sick, simply doesn’t want to budge. He wants to curl into a ball (as much as a pig can curl) and be left alone until he feels better. Kinda like us humans do sometime.
I’m really, really glad we let sleeping pig lie to recuperate. That whole rug idea was just plain nuts. 🙂
**Shared at (mis)Adventures Monday, Simple Saturdays, From the Farm and Our Simple Homestead**
I am so glad to hear this! I have been thinking about him and hoped he was doing OK.
Deb Matlock recently posted…Blog Subscription Now Available
I will tell him you were thinking about him 🙂 He loves attention!
Good news, Joan! Thanks for the update.
Of course. How are the ducks, Tia?
Yeah for Doink! Nothing better than the watermelon cure! Thanks for posting about his recovery – he has been in my thoughts since the last post.
Watermelon does cure most anything 🙂
SO glad to hear Doinkers is better! Your article was hilarious!
Well, I’m glad he’s back to his old hilarious self!
What a relief! Give that pig some seltzer! ;0D
daisy recently posted…The Maple Hill Hop 96
I never thought about seltzer! I’m putting that in my first aid kit 🙂
Thank goodness Doink is okay, what a relief and glad you were still able to have a good trip. Thanks for the update that we have all been waiting for. Way to go Dionk and just don’t go scaring us like that!
Carol Caldwell recently posted…Butterscotch is getting back to normal
He definitely likes to keep me on my toes 🙂
Yay!
I second that!
So, so happy that Doink is feeling better. I can’t believe he didn’t go for the bait of the really nice blanket in the carrier! He does have somewhat of a leery look as he looked in there at it. I know his loves his blankets! Must of been the watermelon that was the “get well” pill. Anyway, tell Doink for all of us that we’re thrilled he’s back to his old self and hope to hear more good news in the upcoming days. Thanks for letting us know how he has recuperated. Take care and blessings to all.
Thanks, Lisa! I think it could have been a bed made of watermelon and he still would not have gone into that carrier 🙂
I worry the same way you do when one of our animals aren’t acting themselves. We have to remember that some days they just don’t feel good..just like humans! Are farm animals are just like kids to us.
Tracy @ Our Simple Homestead recently posted…Our Simple Homestead Blog Hop #15
Very true. And sometimes they just need to lay around for a few days 🙂 Lesson learned!
Joan Hobbs recently posted…Crisis Is Over, Pig Is Better
So glad Doink is feeling better and you got to get away for a bit too ! Now everyone can get back to normal for a little while anyway ha ha ha……
It was so fun to see the kids—and as soon as I know what normal is around here…I’ll let ya know 🙂
So glad he’s better!!!
Nancy @ Little Homestead in Boise recently posted…Independence Days Challenge
It is a relief, that’s for sure.
Oh I am so pleased to hear this, Joan. I have been thinking about you and Doink a lot – not been on Facebook for a while. What a relief for you, too. Happy days are here again! 🙂
Cath recently posted…Aug 8, Candling : identifying the blood ring.
Hope all is ok with you and yours over there in your neck of the woods 🙂