Many thanks  again Lana for the Donation from the Helping Hoof Program, it is so very much appreciated and a great help in paying Duwees vet bills, which have now totalled well over $1600 the past  months.

On July 20th 07 -  Duwee came in limping, by the next day (Sat) he could not walk on his injured leg. We dont know what he did or what happened while he had been out down the garden. We rang the vets on the Monday and he prescribed Bute for him. He was on this 10 days but showed no sign of improvement. At the begining of August the vet came out and gave him a thorough examination and could not find anything, putting it down to a Sprain and maybe some infection. He prescribed antibiotics Synulox Bolus 2 tablets 500gm each twice a day for 5 days. and still taking the Bute. Nothing happened so he was given a long acting antibiotic shot which would last 12/14 days  ( 3.50mls Draxxin). Duwee is  quite big for a Kune kune weighing 130kg  (287lbs). The vet came back in September (it had been 2 months since the accident) and examined him again - this time he said he could feel something like a break just above his elbow so we arranged for Xrays to be done. Since the beginning  of all this I had been in contact with Dr Carr, who showed an interest in Duwees case and gave help wherever possible and advice to our vet on how to go about getting the best Xrays (as our vet had never done one on a pig before) & conversed with Dr Carr over the phone, the best way to go about it. We were given 10 acp's (Acepromazine) to give Duwee 40 minutes before he was due to be Xrayed. I had been worried incase Ketimine and Rompun had to be used as a sedative but luckily didnt need it -  the Acp's worked just fine and kept Duwee subdued for about an hour of which time he was back on his feet - a little confused but walking ok. It did take about 10 hours for the acp's to completely wear off and most of the time he  slept the last few hours. We had discussed putting Duwee on Metacam (for pain) 13mls a day because I felt the Bute was no longer helping as Duwee was  now showing signs of pain and been a bit Snappy biting. The Xrays came back that Duwee Had broke his leg - just above the elbow - there was what we thought some build up around the bone but later when the Radiologist looked at the Xrays - the results came back that he had Osteomyelitis as well (infection of the bone). Duwee seemed to go down hill around that time, because at one point he had been just touching his hoof on the ground, and then he stopped, not using the leg at all and keeping it up close to his body. He becsme withdrawn and was if he wanted to give up. Synulox Bolus (antibiotic) was given again, but after 6 days I told the vet - this is not working. Dr Carr gave advice on a couple of  antibiotic drugs, both better at getting down to the bone - so we decided on Lincomycin, this was in injection form and as Duwee would not let us give him shots everyday went for the tablet form Lincocin (quite hard to get hold of here)  and expensive.
Now it was 14 weeks since the accident - Duwee was put on 4 lincocin tablets twice a day (12 hours apart) plus I had also talked  with a Homeopath - who did say the symptoms did not sound like Osteomyelitis and was told to give Duwee a course od Arnica for 3 days and then 1 Sympytum and 1 Calc carb once a week.
Duwee was still on Metacam but it too was very expensive so Dr Carr after me asking him recommended asprin or ibuprufin.  2 tablets 3 times a day. So we put him on ibuprufin, which seems to be working well.
After about 10 days Duwee started  'trying' to use his bad leg again and was starting to put his foot down - not for long but a big improvement!. This was around the 12th November and Duwee continues to take the lincocin and ibuprufin every day. We noticed that his good leg looked 'swelled' -  being  three quarters of an inch fatter now than his bad leg. Thus been told -  due to him taking all the weight on his good leg and probably a fibrous tissue build up.
On the 21st November the vet came out to access Duwee again, and although walking a little better - on examination  he said  the bad leg was swelled above the knee and 'possibly' a tumour? and would need more Xrays taken. I said No! -  we cannot afford another $600 and even if we could and it was a tumour - Would you operate? -  and his answer was No - so I said - Well theres no point then! He also said now - that he wasnt sure if it was Osteomyelitis? even though the radiologist had said it was. Funny I said because Dave and I had discussed it and  there was never an open wound for it to get in the blood stream - I told him the Homeopath had also said the symptoms were not that of Osteomyelitis?. But thats not to say that he didnt get it from a foot infection that he may have had before Xrays were taken!.
As of today 2nd December 07 (nearly 5 months down the line)  Duwee seems to be more happy in himself, 'still trying' to use his  leg. I know hes not his Normal self, but would   probably say 60% better -  as he still cant walk for long spells and collapses in a heap wherever he is and whenever he is in need of a rest. Hes still taking the Lincocin and ibuprufin - for how long I dont know. I have kept Dr Carr updated and sent videos periodically to mark Duwees progress. All we can do now is Pray he will continue to improve, and are taking one day at a time - thank you -



Sue Lupton
England