Enlarged Heart

[Fred&HarryPigs]

Hi

It has been a very worrying month with Harry. To keep a long story short, I’ve been back and forth to my local vets as Harry was experiencing pain when going to the toilet. We tried antibiotics and painkillers which didn’t make a different so an X-ray and ultrasound were done. Both clear for stones or sludge or anything which would explain the pain. The vet basically told me that they couldn’t do anything else and that I would need to speak to a specialist if I still wasn’t happy with his progress.

I contacted the specialist who has been fantastic and has a wealth of knowledge on exotics and I’m very happy with his care. He looked at the X-ray taken at the other vets and was not happy with the quality but could see a few areas of concern. One being his heart.

Harry had his X-ray yesterday and it shows a very enlarged heart. This makes sense now with some of the symptoms and behaviours he has displayed since he was a baby. But it was still a huge shock. I knew he had a small heart murmur but didn’t expect it to be this serious. At the moment we are continuing with the painkiller and I am keeping a close eye on him. He was not very good last night but is a lot better this morning so I’m hoping it was just the stress of the day and anaesthetic that got the better of him.

My long winded post is to ask if anyone has been through something similar with a guinea pig with an enlarged heart and what I can expect or any advice, I’m all ears.

I’m in contact with my vet but I think it’s always good to get experiences from others, although I completely understand that every case is unique.

Thank you for taking the time to read.

 

[Wheekallweek]

Sorry, I have no experience in this. Just wanted to wish you luck and glad he is feeling a bit better today

 

[T-Rex]

I’ve no experience either but just wanted to send you support. Glad you have found the specialist helpful and that he is feeling a bit better. Hope this continues.

 

[Popcorns & Wheeks]

So sorry to hear about your boy Harry. My thoughts are with you both . I wish you both the best of luck.

 

[lauryn1289]

No advice either unfortunately but just wanted to wish you both the best, thinking of you both

 

[Fred&HarryPigs]

Hi everyone

Thank you for your support and well wishes. I will be speaking to my vet today so hopefully will find out more regarding our plan going forward. X

 

[piggieminder]

Let us know how you get on at the vets with Harry, sending him healing vibes. I will be thinking of you both.

 

[Fred&HarryPigs]

Hi everyone
Harry’s blood test results have come back. His kidneys and liver are good, but the blood test shows some inflammation. This is likely the cystitis as he is still having pain when going to the toilet. We are upping his metacam and will see how this goes.

X-rays and ultrasounds are still on the cards for the future and we will look at medication to give him a good quality of life for as long as we have him. Overall good news as I wasn’t sure if we were already past this point.

Harry is a lot better, still eating and drinking and talking away. I just need to get his stools back to normal and help him gain the weight back that he has lost.

Thank you again for the support and messages!

 

[Bill & Ted]

Wishing Harry the best of luck and loads of healing vibes x

 

[Popcorns & Wheeks]

Hi everyone
Harry’s blood test results have come back. His kidneys and liver are good, but the blood test shows some inflammation. This is likely the cystitis as he is still having pain when going to the toilet. We are upping his metacam and will see how this goes.

X-rays and ultrasounds are still on the cards for the future and we will look at medication to give him a good quality of life for as long as we have him. Overall good news as I wasn’t sure if we were already past this point.

Harry is a lot better, still eating and drinking and talking away. I just need to get his stools back to normal and help him gain the weight back that he has lost.

Thank you again for the support and messages!

Hi, I also have a piggie Ruby who suffers from cystitis. When I took her to the vets for this they prescribed her metacam for 2 weeks but also nutracyst capsules for 2 weeks.

This definitely improved her symptoms (whining when peeing/pooping) so after the prescribed course finished, I began buying cystease capsules for cats (which is the same as nutracyst) and continued with half a capsule everyday, sprinkled on food. She is now only on cystease and her symptoms have stayed improved.

I am pleased to hear that Harry's kidneys and liver are good.