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Specialist Cocoa Poorly Lip And Congested. Pls Help. Photos

Has she now completely lost the use of both back legs Dave? If so it sounds like she is getting worse. Poor sweet Cocoa. When is she having her scan?
 
I am trying to make some sense of what is going on here. Were the vets aware of the fact that Cocoa had a strange pelvis (I can't remember exactly what the issue is) before they did the x ray? I am wondering if they pulled her legs into the position they needed for getting the x ray images, which would be completely the right thing to do with a piggy without Cocoa's issues, and have inadvertently made things worse.
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
I am trying to make some sense of what is going on here. Were the vets aware of the fact that Cocoa had a strange pelvis (I can't remember exactly what the issue is) before they did the x ray? I am wondering if they pulled her legs into the position they needed for getting the x ray images, which would be completely the right thing to do with a piggy without Cocoa's issues, and have inadvertently made things worse.
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When Cocoa came in to the Potteries rescue she was health checked and saw the rescue's vet in Stoke as she had an unusual gait. She was diagnosed on clinical exam with a pelvis that was fused flat possibly from an old pelvic fracture that the vet thought might have been caused by her having been dropped in the past. She has since been seen by a number of vets. I am not sure how much of this has been relayed to the vets (she has seen several vets over the past few months).
 
VickiA said:
When Cocoa came in to the Potteries rescue she was health checked and saw the rescue's vet in Stoke as she had an unusual gait. She was diagnosed on clinical exam with a pelvis that was fused flat possibly from an old pelvic fracture that the vet thought might have been caused by her having been dropped in the past. She has since been seen by a number of vets. I am not sure how much of this has been relayed to the vets (she has seen several vets over the past few months).
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I know that to get good x ray images, the piggy needs to be in a certain position (which is why it is best for a piggy to be asleep for x ray). It does make me wonder if the pelvic issue has been made worse or irritated by the procedure. This really needs to be discussed with the vets. I am not for one minute suggesting the vet has done anything wrong, but it is the only explanation I can think of at the moment. My friends male piggy had surgery to remove a urethral stone. The surgery, which was very complex, was successful, but initially Gino lost the use of his front legs. He was taken back to see Simon and Simon did say that maybe the positioning of him for x ray could have caused the problem, especially as Gino is a very elderly piggy (he was almost 7 when he had the surgery), so could have been quite stiff and arthritic. My friend thought euthanasia was going to be the best option for him, but Simon encouraged her to wait a while and slowly Gino regained the use of his legs. He was taking Metacam and Johnsons 4Joints. Gino is now completely back to normal and celebrated his 7th birthday a couple of months ago.
 
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Guys I asked the vet if piggie legs are pulled for a xray and she left the room and returned with a no. I personally think if you look at the xray they have. I'm tryin to get a opoint ment asap
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
Remind me, why were they x raying her, when you took her re a problem with her lip? I am sure you've mentioned it, but can't for the life of me think why x rays were taken. What bit of her were they looking at, or was it just a general x ray of the whole guinea pig? xx
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I have no idea.
I think it was to eliminate any teeth problems around her mouth / lip.
 
David Pet Lover said:
I have no idea.
I think it was to eliminate any teeth problems around her mouth / lip.
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Seriously?!?! So why aren't the images concentrating on the jaw area? I think you need to have a proper chat with them. Go armed with questions written down, or you will forget things and take notes too.
 
VickiA said:
I thought it was because you were worried that she was swollen down her left side?
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Vicki you right. my heads all over the place. I'm tryin to get Kath with me to take piggie and can only get half hour window at lunch to sort things. I should 're read thread. sorry. x
 
No surprised your head's all over the place Dave, you must be exhausted working and looking after a poorly piggy!
 
I think it’s a good idea you & Kath go together as 2 heads are better than one at remembering what’s been said by you to the Vet & by the Vet to you. I always go with someone if there’s important info to discuss.
 
VickiA said:
I think it’s a good idea you & Kath go together as 2 heads are better than one at remembering what’s been said by you to the Vet & by the Vet to you. I always go with someone if there’s important info to discuss.
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Gem789 said:
Just catching up with this and wanted to send my love to poor cocoa and you and kath xx
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Thanks Guys.
 
VickiA said:
I thought it was because you were worried that she was swollen down her left side?
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Yes, you can see she looks swollen down that side. What did they think was causing it?

Like I said, make a list of everything you want to ask the vet. It is so easy for forget things, especially when you're worried about your pet. You and Kath should make the list together, so you can both think of things you need to ask.
 
Sending all my love guys. Poor little Cocoa, both her and yourselves are trying so hard for her. I really do hope you can get answers from the vet. I agree with everyone that writing down things you need to ask is a good way to go.
 
Hi again, I’m sorry if anything on this thread sounds confusing :hmm:
When Dave & I first took Cocoa to Kris we were concerned about her lip problem (& our vets said we needed an exotic specialist) but she also suddenly had a lumpy side. Kris was worried she might have a cystic ovary. So we agreed to her having x-ray. Kris & a student looked at Cocoa very thoroughly & commented on her walk/gait. We explained about her pelvis.
She then went back 2 days later to have a GA & 3 biopsies taken from her lip & x-ray. The x-ray confirmed it was not cystic ovary but it was gas & that there was no tumour behind the lip, it’s more of a tissue problem.
Zantac & metacam & hibiscrub prescribed.
When she came home, at first I thought she was weak from her meds & GA & that’s why her legs were dragging.
We took her back to see Kris to get her legs checked out & kris was shocked. Kris took 2 more X-rays while Cocoa was awake to check her spine. Kris thought it’s nerve damage of some sort. Her spine looked ok.
More metacam prescribed.
We still awaiting the biopsy results.
Her legs have got worse & she’s dragging both now :(xx
 
When taking everything into consideration, I suspect that Cocoa is suffering with T.Caviae (Mange mites).
 
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