My Piglet is Sick

[tude]

Mina,

Thanks for the update on your Piglet, I was hoping you'd do so. He sounds like Beaker huh? That's funny- I can totally imagine it! Tell me, is giving meds to a guinea pig like giving meds to a cat? I tried that once- most of it ended up on his furry face!

Best wishes to you and Piglet,
tude

 

[cragger65]

Mina, I hope your little guy is feeling a little better today, he certainly isn't lacking in love. Let's hope he's back on his furry little feet and "meep, meep, meeping" away real soon.

 

[jeapea]

Mina~

Love is never silly. I still have a soft spot and an ache in my heart when I think of my little whistle pig, Willy. Hope he's up and whistling soon! :)

 

[Mina]

Thank you, everyone! :Hug_emoticon: Lunar seems to be improving every day. We have found him a new favorite food: fresh wheatgrass, which he just inhales! It's very healthy for him, and is really helping his digestive system start moving along normally. He's not quite back to his normal patterns yet, but so much better than he was.

Tude, he was taking the meds well, but as for the hand-fed nutritional supplements...well, those were winding up ON him as much as IN him. However, someone on the guinea pig forum I frequent suggested something which worked like magic - mix it with Odwalla Superfood juice. Boy, after that, he couldn't get enough! :thumbs-up

 

[fin]

That is good news Mina, will continue sending good thoughts and prayers your way.

I used a syringe when my rabbit needed extra liquid suppliments, into the side of the mouth. But it is better that Luna is taking it in his juice like that.

 

[Mina]

Just an update...

We went to the vet last Saturday. They took an xray, which shows Lunar's lungs clearing. There were also no obstructions, which the vet and I were both relieved to see!

Piglet is going back to the vet again tomorrow morning. They are going to sedate him, draw blood, and check his teeth. He is eating well and maintaining his weight, but no hard foods like pellets or carrots (or even lettuce "spines"). This is leading us to believe there might be something wrong with his teeth or mouth. Hopefully a dental x-ray and thorough examination will reveal something which can be remedied so he can get all better very soon!

Of course, mom is really scared by the idea of her Piglet being sedated. It's a trickier business than with a cat or dog, as they can't use the same procedures. I've talked to Lunar and told him about it...not because he understands, but more to calm myself and assure myself it'll be okay.

Thanks to everyone for your prayers, kind thoughts, PMs, and visitor messages! :Hug_emoticon: The support really means a lot to me.

 

[Leda]

It´s so nice to hear about such a caring pet owner. But it´s true that people without pets has a problem with understanding the bond we pet owners hav wit our animals -them beeing big or small.

We were supposed to go away on a mini vacation this weekend, but we had to cansel because one of our cats has an eye infection and needs his meds twice aday. Some of our friends does not understand that at all. It´s just a cat they say. But to us he is much more.

 

[Mina]

Update

After a couple of sedations with two rounds of bloodwork, urine samples, etc, the vet has concluded that Lunar's kidneys are failing. They don't know where he would fall on the continuum, as there is no established scale/baseline for this in guinea pigs. About the best they can do is extrapolate based on dog/cat situations. It does equate to a shortened life span, but no idea on the length. He could live another month, another year...no clue. They also don't know what causes the kidneys to fail; most cases are confirmed post-mortem, and there are no obvious common risk or pre-disposition factors. There is nothing they can do. The organs are so tiny, and guinea pigs' health is quite fragile, so any medical action (including biopsy) carries an extreme risk which the vet and I agree is out of the question. All I can do is take good care of him.

It frustrates me that so much is known about guinea pigs' health tolerances in relation to their being lab animals (and do I ever hate to think about one of these little guys being experimented on), but little in relation to their just being guinea pigs. There's hardly any baselines to measure against. And he's just a little 2-lb pig...he's never hurt anyone or done anything wrong...that frustrates me too, to know he suffers without having done anything at all to deserve it.

As I told a friend last night, I am of course not looking forward to the inevitable, but am trying to enjoy the now. Easier said than done, especially when today I keep crying when I think about it. But, I will keep trying.

 

[Tinyflame]

Lunar has so much love from you Mina, he would never live so happily or so long as with you. In fact, however long he lives will be twice as long as with anyone else I am sure. And he loves you back the same. AND he's got lot's of will (like his "mom").

-My prayers for the 2 of you.
:Hug_emoticon:

 

[cragger65]

I'm sorry your little guy is still ill, Mina. Kidney failure was the issue with my little Ruf as well. Enjoy the time you have together, as much as possible. My heart goes out to you.

 

[midi]

How sad. I hope he lives long and pain-free.

 

[Leda]

I´m sorry for your little ill friend. I hope he is not in much pain. I did have a cart with kidney failure, and we had to put her to sleep when the pain got to much for her.