Eriathwens piggies

So, Tilly has been given baytril in case of an inner ear infection, hopefully this shows an improvement in her wobbliness. As it stands, she (like me) doesn't believe she is in pain, and that this decline is neurological, so fingers crossed this works to at least improve her symptoms a little bit, but she's never going to be back to her "normal". I need to update her how she's doing in 10 days, we can try azithromycin if the baytril doesn't do much or anything but as Biscuit reacted so badly to it, we're trying something a bit gentler. Tilly hasn't really had much in the way of antibiotics in her life so there's less worry about resistance apparently.
I did get to speak to her about Tillys xrays as well and apparently there was the option for surgery where they remove the ball joints from her femurs, one at a time, 3 months apart which I assume removes any pain from rubbing and makes walking easier, which I declined.. shes doesn't need to spend 6 months recovering from surgeries at the end of her life she will be halfway through the year to her 10th birthday by the time shes fully recovered, she might not even have 6 weeks of her natural life span left, nevermind 6 months so ethically we decided that wasn't going to be the plan, especially since pain is not the current issue.

Pippin has improved loads and her lungs sounded good. Her poops are firming up and very frequent...it was like a cow had walked through this morning with the big puddles of soft poop everywhere!
She said I'd managed to jump in and get on top of things early and to carry on what I was doing (I had started her on the co trimoxazole yesterday that I had left over from the hamster last month but didn't have enough for a full course so she's given me more of that.
The carrier she was in is going to need a very good clean, there's poop up the sides and everything 🥲 but at least the bloating seems to have subsided.

So all in all, happy with both of them. Definitely could have been worse.

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Yes, I really hopes she makes 9, not long now bless her.

Of course, as well, this specialist is also only at my regular practice until August, so even if I opted for the surgery I would have to take Tilly miles away to the practice she owns, to a team I dont know for at least the 2nd surgery.. or have a non piggy specialist perform it.

I must admit, considering I usually throw the kitchen sink at them, I'm having a hard time being ok with declining something that'll make her more comfortable so I'm kind of thinking out loud trying to justify to myself why I declined, but the 6 months of recovery would be for a young, healthy piggy, not taking any complications into account or slower healing times for elderly animals. Who knows the real recovery time for her individually. Oh for a crystal ball! If I knew she had another year in her, I might consider it, if only we could ask them what they want to do, too.
 
I’m glad the Vet visit went well - you’re making the best decisions for your girls…..after all you know them best ❤️❤️❤️
 
Thankyou, you're right. I'd rather she had a dignified however long left than put her through that. She isnt unhappy or suffering, so best to let her be.

Shes had a good evening, built herself a little hay burrow and has a full belly of critical care 😅

Pippin and Mabel are just finishing up their syringe feeds, which has taken longer because I keep having to fish Pip out from underneath Mabel 😂

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So I got up today to find Mabel limping on a front leg! Currently being treated as a soft tissue injury so separated into a little sectioned off area to encourage her to rest without the others dogpiling her, shes already on lots of pain meds so hopefully she's pretty comfortable. I've been out to get her some grass and mint from the garden to hopefully cheer her up. If it's not one thing it's another! Poor girl.

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So madam is, as usual, much better out of the cage with us when she isnt feeling 100%. She is happily causing chaos flipping over one of her little hay stations but doesn't want to put weight on that little foot. I've had to wash her back end as she had peed all over herself, but other than that, and a slight reluctance to eat, she seems to be alright.
I'm dreading tomorrow as I'll have to leave her for a few hours to run a race, as much as she loves people I don't think she would appreciate getting jostled around along a half marathon, in the sun. But fingers crossed with some extra pain meds on board she will be a little more comfortable at least.

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So Tilly declined a little bit over the week, we have another appointment for her first thing on Monday, unfortunately the exotics specialist isn't there for a week but hopefully we can get her on some medication for her neurological issues. The baytril has cleared up the gunky eye and snotty nose quite well but she is still struggling to move around well so I dont think its an ear infection, although she did headbutt Banjo halfway across the cage just now when he got in her way! 😅 so she isnt all bad.

She had a nice bath a while ago (her favourite part of the day is getting dried 🥰) and then we sat outside for a bit so she could eat some grass, feel the suns warmth, smell the fresh air and the lavender we're growing and hear the birds. Seeing as she's blind I figured it'd be good enrichment to get her other senses working.
She also had the first raspberries of the year off the bush 🥰 and some plantain I found growing in the lawn.

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Eriathwen said:
So Tilly declined a little bit over the week, we have another appointment for her first thing on Monday, unfortunately the exotics specialist isn't there for a week but hopefully we can get her on some medication for her neurological issues. The baytril has cleared up the gunky eye and snotty nose quite well but she is still struggling to move around well so I dont think its an ear infection, although she did headbutt Banjo halfway across the cage just now when he got in her way! 😅 so she isnt all bad.

She had a nice bath a while ago (her favourite part of the day is getting dried 🥰) and then we sat outside for a bit so she could eat some grass, feel the suns warmth, smell the fresh air and the lavender we're growing and hear the birds. Seeing as she's blind I figured it'd be good enrichment to get her other senses working.
She also had the first raspberries of the year off the bush 🥰 and some plantain I found growing in the lawn.

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Tilly you is just gawjuss!
 
She’s adorable. I’m glad she’s had some nice pampering and those lovely smells and tastes outside.
 
Sounds like Tilly has had a great menu today. Hope she enjoyed her special treats. I’ve never had any success growing raspberries (the birds and squirrels always get them before I can pick them) so I’m rather impressed at your home grown fruit.
 
Currently syringe feeding Tilly and Mabel, usually they sit apart.. Mabel on her vetbed and Tilly on her towel and I try to keep them apart as they don't live together.
I turned my back trying to shoo the cat away and I return to find Mabel has moved over to sit with Tilly and is cleaning her back end (she's peed on herself again) and they've spent the last half an hour or so chatting away to eachother and laying side by side.

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Tillys appointment went well, she has been swapped from once daily to twice for her baytril as its finally started to show improvement and she's going to speak to the exotics specialist about ordering in and dosing the medication for her vestibular issues so hopefully that will help ease her vertigo. She's decided it's time to go back to bed now though, it is a bank holiday morning after all! 🤣

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Well today was interesting! I had to call an ambulance for my poor mother again (she's back home and fine now, resting) but 3 paramedics came out, one had to go upstairs to make a phone call as it's the best place to get signal here, she noticed the guinea pigs.. cue all 3 of them in my guinea pig room taking pictures and asking questions!
It does make me laugh at how surprised people always are that they all have names and that I remember them all 😅
 
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