Heart & dental issues

[Puddles1999]

Penelope has had dental issues for the last few years. They usually start up once/twice a year and then she’ll be good for a while.

The beginning of this year, she had fluid in her abdomen and the vet heard a tiny heart murmur and a slightly enlarged heart. Since then, she’s on Vetmedin twice a day and Benazepril once a day. Her heart still looks good and hasn’t changed since starting the meds. She does not have to take a diuretic.

The past few days, Penelope’s teeth I think are becoming an issue again. She was at the vet last week and she didn’t see anything. Penelope was still eating hay but I could just see little signs of it bothering her. Would it be possible her teeth were bothering her but we couldn’t see it yet?

She has now stopped eating hay and is still eating her oxbow urinary and joint & on a critical care diet. She has a crazy appetite still but won’t touch hay. I see her making the mouth motion of something getting stuck which is the #1 sign of molar issues with her. Trying to get her booked back in the vet currently.

Sorry for the long back story but this leads me to my point. Her teeth are usually an easy fix. She’s very lightly gassed and has them filed down. She hasn’t had them done since she was diagnosed with the heart stuff. I’m nervous for her. I’m nervous for the vet to not find anything on her teeth but I really have the feeling that it’s her teeth. Granted, she’s just lightly gassed and been okay and her heart issues aren’t too severe. I guess I’m just looking for some reassurance or experiences. This is the place I look to because I know I’m not alone in this situation.

 

[naguya]

I am sorry for your situation my dog Sonny who had heart problems, he was taking several heart medications, one of which was Vetmedin and Benazepril like yours. I am sending plenty of healing waves for Penelope.

Did your vet diagnose what type of heart problem she has besides the enlarged heart? I don't know if it's possible to do an echocardiogram on guinea pigs. Depending on the degree of heart disease, they completely lose their appetite at times...

 

[Puddles1999]

I am sorry for your situation my dog Sonny who had heart problems, he was taking several heart medications, one of which was Vetmedin and Benazepril like yours. I am sending plenty of healing waves for Penelope.

Did your vet diagnose what type of heart problem she has besides the enlarged heart? I don't know if it's possible to do an echocardiogram on guinea pigs. Depending on the degree of heart disease, they completely lose their appetite at times...

Hi, thank you! awe, what kind of dog was Sonny?

Not sure. She only had mentioned hearing the tiniest heart murmur which took a few appointments before she heard it. A x-ray showed a slightly enlarged heart as well. She hasn’t seemed to experience too many side effects other than the fluid in her abdomen when it had just started. She got diagnosed in February of this year and just now started having some medical issues which I think is her teeth again. She’s started making the motion of something stuck in her mouth again sometimes when eating critical care so I guess somethings bothering her in there again. I hate seeing her not feel good

 

[naguya]

Hi, thank you! awe, what kind of dog was Sonny?

Not sure. She only had mentioned hearing the tiniest heart murmur which took a few appointments before she heard it. A x-ray showed a slightly enlarged heart as well. She hasn’t seemed to experience too many side effects other than the fluid in her abdomen when it had just started. She got diagnosed in February of this year and just now started having some medical issues which I think is her teeth again. She’s started making the motion of something stuck in her mouth again sometimes when eating critical care so I guess somethings bothering her in there again. I hate seeing her not feel good

Sonny was a pinscher, he was with me for 15 years!

Was the fluid in the abdomen justified? Typically heart disease, such as heart failure, causes fluid retention. Is she having trouble walking or has she been standing still more? Was it just a heart murmur that she heard or was there some extra sound present?

When you notice her bothering with her teeth does she look like she's going to cough? I hope it is not any cardiac repercussions You seem like a very dedicated owner, she is definitely in good hands with you!

 

[weepweeps]

I’m so sorry your piggy is poorly. I think the best thing would be to have a chat with the vet about heart conditions and anaesthesia. Unfortunately you can’t leave her not eating but hopefully a little gas will be ok to have her teeth sorted.

Sending you hugs at this difficult time and healing vibes to Penelope.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi, thank you! awe, what kind of dog was Sonny?

Not sure. She only had mentioned hearing the tiniest heart murmur which took a few appointments before she heard it. A x-ray showed a slightly enlarged heart as well. She hasn’t seemed to experience too many side effects other than the fluid in her abdomen when it had just started. She got diagnosed in February of this year and just now started having some medical issues which I think is her teeth again. She’s started making the motion of something stuck in her mouth again sometimes when eating critical care so I guess somethings bothering her in there again. I hate seeing her not feel good

Hi

HUGS

Overgrown teeth are the end of the road for your girl, so since her heart issues are not severe, she should still have a fairly good chance of coming through the necessary treatment as opposed to not having any chance at all.

With frailer piggies it often boils down to an assessment of chances and a weighing up of benefits vs. risks when the easy choices are becoming increasingly rarer. Unfortunately, it won't get any less difficult for any loving owner the frailer a piggy gets. These are some of the hardest decisions you can be forced to make as an owner. Since you have to judge the situation each time on its own merits - whether that is for the same piggy with a chronic or progressive health issue or for another piggy of yours - whenever you are called to make a decision, there is never an easy way out because of how deeply we love and how much we want the best for those in our care - and of course, prefer to have them with us for that bit longer. Unfortunately, what is never possible is a sneak peek at the outcome; we always have to make our choice in good faith.

If you have concerns, you can always book a telephone consultation with your vet to talk through all the aspects and concerns involved, so you are able to make as informed a decision as possible; this also includes the treatment cost and the likelihood of potentially expensive post-op complications.
Best make a list of what you want to ask them/points to discuss beforehand and check that list before you end. What neither we nor any vet can do is tell you how to decide. This is the privilege but also the heavy burden we can face as owners when both ways equally have their pro and cons and there is no clear right or wrong, just a personal preference in weighing the factors in play - and it is all up to just you.

What we can do on here is to help you ask all the necessary questions so you can find out where your heart lies to make any decision with a clearer mind so you will hopefully less conflicted and overwhelmed. We can also give you ongoing moral community support throughout the whole time.

My thoughts are with you in this anxious and stressful time.

 

[Puddles1999]

Sonny was a pinscher, he was with me for 15 years!

Was the fluid in the abdomen justified? Typically heart disease, such as heart failure, causes fluid retention. Is she having trouble walking or has she been standing still more? Was it just a heart murmur that she heard or was there some extra sound present?

When you notice her bothering with her teeth does she look like she's going to cough? I hope it is not any cardiac repercussions You seem like a very dedicated owner, she is definitely in good hands with you!

Awe, I’m happy you had 15 years with your sweet boy.

She is not having trouble walking or standing still. She did when she had fluid in her abdomen but she’s been perfectly fine ever since. It was just the heart murmur she had noticed.

She does this thing I call the peanut butter mouth motion. She opens her mouth trying to get something moved around in there. She’s done that since she first started with her dental issues. It seems to only be the same symptoms when she has problems with her molars. Thank you so much

 

[Puddles1999]

I’m so sorry your piggy is poorly. I think the best thing would be to have a chat with the vet about heart conditions and anaesthesia. Unfortunately you can’t leave her not eating but hopefully a little gas will be ok to have her teeth sorted.

Sending you hugs at this difficult time and healing vibes to Penelope.

Thank you usually it’s a pretty quick process for her but I always get nervous when things are wrong with her and this will be the first time she’s had them trimmed since having her heart issues. I am hoping the same since her heart issues are minimal and slight gas should hopefully not bother her.

 

[Puddles1999]

Hi

HUGS

Overgrown teeth are the end of the road for your girl, so since her heart issues are not severe, she should still have a fairly good chance of coming through the necessary treatment as opposed to not having any chance at all.

With frailer piggies it often boils down to an assessment of chances and a weighing up of benefits vs. risks when the easy choices are becoming increasingly rarer. Unfortunately, it won't get any less difficult for any loving owner the frailer a piggy gets. These are some of the hardest decisions you can be forced to make as an owner. Since you have to judge the situation each time on its own merits - whether that is for the same piggy with a chronic or progressive health issue or for another piggy of yours - whenever you are called to make a decision, there is never an easy way out because of how deeply we love and how much we want the best for those in our care - and of course, prefer to have them with us for that bit longer. Unfortunately, what is never possible is a sneak peek at the outcome; we always have to make our choice in good faith.

If you have concerns, you can always book a telephone consultation with your vet to talk through all the aspects and concerns involved, so you are able to make as informed a decision as possible; this also includes the treatment cost and the likelihood of potentially expensive post-op complications.
Best make a list of what you want to ask them/points to discuss beforehand and check that list before you end. What neither we nor any vet can do is tell you how to decide. This is the privilege but also the heavy burden we can face as owners when both ways equally have their pro and cons and there is no clear right or wrong, just a personal preference in weighing the factors in play - and it is all up to just you.

What we can do on here is to help you ask all the necessary questions so you can find out where your heart lies to make any decision with a clearer mind so you will hopefully less conflicted and overwhelmed. We can also give you ongoing moral community support throughout the whole time.

My thoughts are with you in this anxious and stressful time.

That is what I am hoping. I think she has a much better chance since she’s only lightly gassed and doesn’t have severe heart issues. She’s always came out of her dental procedures okay but that was before her diagnosis. I still feel positive about it and I think she’ll be okay, it’s just hard not to worry.

She is still doing okay and acting mostly herself. Still has an appetite and willingly eats critical care out of her bowl and then her daily oxbow tabs. I noticed her mouth bothering her occasionally though so I really want to get it sorted for her.

She has a drop off appointment tomorrow in the morning. I will update. Thank you everyone for the support. It is much needed and very appreciated

 

[Wheekallweek]

Best of luck to you and Penelope

 

[Wiebke]

That is what I am hoping. I think she has a much better chance since she’s only lightly gassed and doesn’t have severe heart issues. She’s always came out of her dental procedures okay but that was before her diagnosis. I still feel positive about it and I think she’ll be okay, it’s just hard not to worry.

She is still doing okay and acting mostly herself. Still has an appetite and willingly eats critical care out of her bowl and then her daily oxbow tabs. I noticed her mouth bothering her occasionally though so I really want to get it sorted for her.

She has a drop off appointment tomorrow in the morning. I will update. Thank you everyone for the support. It is much needed and very appreciated

Fingers firmly crossed for tomorrow.

 

[naguya]

Sending lots of good and healing waves for Penelope! Everything will be alright!

 

[weepweeps]

Good luck tomorrow

 

[Puddles1999]

Hi, thank you everyone for the support.
The vet just called and she’s ready to be picked up. Said she was lightly gassed and trimmed her molars down. Her top left is her problem area as that was an area that grew into her cheek and took a while to find it last time she had issues.

So she had her left and right top molars filed down. She said the left was a bit worse but both were overgrown.

Hopefully she’s on the right track now & can start eating hay again. Usually it’s a fast recovery so hoping it is this time too.

 

[weepweeps]

Sending healing vibes for a quick recovery.

 

[Wheekallweek]

Glad she's OK