Lulum
New Born Pup
Hi, I've been running around the vets with my piggy boy since June. It's been about a month since he started having breathing problems, he was also diagnosed with mold, yeast and antibiotic resistant bacteria in his gut. He's been on medication for this for less than a week and nothing was getting better, more like rapidly getting worse, so I took him to the vets again yesterday and today he was diagnosed with an enlarged heart which is the reason he's been so absent of spirit and exhausted for the last month. They're going to keep him in overnight today again and see if the meds are working for that, he's also supposedly breathing much better in the oxygen chamber.
I'll be going there tomorrow with his brother, who is from the same litter, as the vet thinks it may be due to genetics, but it has already manifested itself now when he is only 2 years old as he has been very ill and it has been challenging for him. I'll also have to contact the lady at the kennel to alert the owners of their other siblings, but so far I've been unable to reach her.
I don't know what to do now. I know I have a tough decision to make tomorrow if I'm told the meds aren't working for him. I love him so much and I don't want him to go to the other side of the rainbow, but if there is no more help for him, then that's the best thing for him. Unfortunately, I can't imagine getting a mate for his brother Kiro, who is a very dominant massive male (he's about 1400g) who he only gets along with because Chiro doesn't care much for any hierarchy and when his brother gets too annoying, he'll point it out and Kiro will leave him alone. There aren't even many places in the area where guinea pigs can be adopted, but I keep wanting to hope that won't be necessary.
What is your experience with guinea pigs with heart defects when it's diagnosed late? What special care do they require afterwards and even if it is stabilized, is life just about survival for them or do they enjoy life as any other healthy piggy?
I'll be going there tomorrow with his brother, who is from the same litter, as the vet thinks it may be due to genetics, but it has already manifested itself now when he is only 2 years old as he has been very ill and it has been challenging for him. I'll also have to contact the lady at the kennel to alert the owners of their other siblings, but so far I've been unable to reach her.
I don't know what to do now. I know I have a tough decision to make tomorrow if I'm told the meds aren't working for him. I love him so much and I don't want him to go to the other side of the rainbow, but if there is no more help for him, then that's the best thing for him. Unfortunately, I can't imagine getting a mate for his brother Kiro, who is a very dominant massive male (he's about 1400g) who he only gets along with because Chiro doesn't care much for any hierarchy and when his brother gets too annoying, he'll point it out and Kiro will leave him alone. There aren't even many places in the area where guinea pigs can be adopted, but I keep wanting to hope that won't be necessary.
What is your experience with guinea pigs with heart defects when it's diagnosed late? What special care do they require afterwards and even if it is stabilized, is life just about survival for them or do they enjoy life as any other healthy piggy?
I don't have any advise but hopefully someone with more experience will be along soon to advise you further (((hugs))) xx
