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Iris isnt very well! Helppppp!

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STOP THE PROCEDURE.
Contact Vedra.
Buscopan is a muscle relaxant and would help.
Attempting to push the stone back will cause unnecesary damage.
 
alcesterpigs said:
STOP THE PROCEDURE.
Contact Vedra.
Buscopan is a muscle relaxant and would help.
Attempting to push the stone back will cause unnecesary damage.
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Vedra's phone is switched off. I'll have a word with the vet. hes going to ring me very soon. I really dont know what to do now. Shes ill, i havent got much money and you all think having her pts is a bad idea. i really dont know what to do.
 
Has your vet ever removed any stone anywhere in a pig's urinary tract?
To say she would need the pelvis to be fractured is nothing short of barbaric.
I have just given Vedra a call but the phone is off the hook.
 
alcesterpigs said:
Has your vet ever removed any stone anywhere in a pig's urinary tract?
To say she would need the pelvis to be fractured is nothing short of barbaric.
I have just given Vedra a call but the phone is off the hook.
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Yes I think he said he has. He talked to another vet whos done quite a few and he doesnt think she will be able to pull through it either
 
Miss Magpie, I think many of us will understand the financial aspect. Vet bills don't come cheap at all. You can only do what is right for your pig and your situation...it's a case of weighing it up. That said I don't think it should be considered the end for Iris, there is certainly more to explore if you and your vet can stretch to it. I'm sure there are other ways of finding financial help (aside from winning the lottery...), and if you could work something out with your vet in terms of a payment plan, it might make a difference. Just do everything you can, no-one can say you're not trying. x
 
There is no need for a general anaesthetic.
I know it is a difficult question with a difficult answer but how ill is Iris?
I appreciate it is difficult to give an opinion without seeing the pig but I would be more concerned if the stone were in her bladder. A sow's urethra is short and straight, unlike a boar's which has a kink in it and hence more difficult to remove a stone.
What has the vet done so far, has it involved a general anaesthetic?
 
I suggest that I Iris would improve, if only to gain time, if she were given pain relief.
For what it is worth:
One Buscopan tab. crushed, mixed with water and given orally.
The Buscopan has an indirect action, it reduces the muscle spasm that causes the pain.
0.2ml of Junior Calpol by mouth.
 
alcesterpigs said:
There is no need for a general anaesthetic.
I know it is a difficult question with a difficult answer but how ill is Iris?
I appreciate it is difficult to give an opinion without seeing the pig but I would be more concerned if the stone were in her bladder. A sow's urethra is short and straight, unlike a boar's which has a kink in it and hence more difficult to remove a stone.
What has the vet done so far, has it involved a general anaesthetic?
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Shes has had anaesthetic (the sleep one) twice today now. Well shes lost alot of weight, her bits are bleeding and shes got diarrea. Shes not drinking water and the eats very little.

The vet just rung me and she has a cystic ovary aswell! Hes taking it out for me and he said that the stone is in a very awkard place right in her pelvic area. he said he can get the stone out but its moved over so theres a much better flow through the urethra.
I cant believe it!
I asked him about pdsa help and I'm not elegable as I'm a student which i am really annoyed at.
 
Ovarian cysts need no surgery. A lot of vets think hysterectomy is the only answer - it was once, but now it is the last resort. Hormone injections will suffice, a fraction of the price and nowhere near the trauma to Iris. It seems Iris' problems are building up, but each is treatable. I don't know how much he will give you evidence of (ask to see xrays etc. if you can - especially since you have paid for the things!) but it's worth asking him to consider/discuss each problem on its own. Overall, Iris' condition does count, but it's worth seeing what can be done.

I don't know how much you can push your vet, I suspect he'd start to wonder just what you do expect from him with so much doubt about the advice he is giving...I can only wish you luck and hope that he is willing to listen and learn, preferably by talking to plenty of others with more experience and to Vedra.
 
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CCC4 said:
Ovarian cysts need no surgery. A lot of vets think hysterectomy is the only answer - it was once, but now it is the last resort. Hormone injections will suffice, a fraction of the price and nowhere near the trauma to Iris. It seems Iris' problems are building up, but each is treatable. I don't know how much he will give you evidence of (ask to see xrays etc. if you can - especially since you have paid for the things!) but it's worth asking him to consider/discuss each problem on its own. Overall, Iris' condition does count, but it's worth seeing what can be done.

I don't know how much you can push your vet, I suspect he'd start to wonder just what you do expect from him with so much doubt about the advice he is giving...I can only wish you luck and hope that he is willing to listen and learn, preferably by talking to plenty of others with more experience and to Vedra.
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I've already told him to take it out. I really dont think i can afford much now. This is costing me £250 and theres no garantee she will be better. ive only got £20 a week coming in from my job now as they have cut my hours and my student loan which isnt much and my rent hasnt gone out yet. I'm starting to think having her put to sleep will be best all round as it wont be long where i cant afford her treatment and she'll be suffering.
 
hi i really feel for you it must be hell to be stuck with these problems and no matter what happens we will all be here to support you and i think you should do what you feel is right, i've heard vedra is great, might be worth persisting with calls your bound to get through soon if you decide to go the other direction then best wishes and lots of love from

me(bonnie),Boris,Smokey,Bandit & Basil xxxxxxxx>>>
 
Why has he taken out the ovary, that will add to her problems?
You are faced with a dreadful ethical problem, one which I have never experienced and for once I will not venture an opinion.
 
I have just caught up with this thread - what a nightmare for you!

My heart goes out to you and Iris. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. At least you're trying to do your very best.

Big vibes vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
 
Hi,

So sorry to hear about this :(

If you are on working tax credit or council credit then you should be able to get help with payment - try to phone them free on 0800 731 2502 to check if you would get help, if you have a student card then there is still hope, it's worth a try?
 
You are in a horrible situation here, but the main thing for everyone to remember is that you CARE about your animals, and I'm sure whatever you decide, you'll be going through enough. I am really sorry for you, and I wish you all the best of luck in whatever happens. *hugs*
 
The vet rung me about 30mins ago. The stone has moved a little to the side so its not obstructing the flow. Shes has a historectomy aswell. Shes recovering now and I'm either going to pick her up tonight or tomorrow. Perhaps tomorrow as if somethings up they are there to help...or should I bring her home so she with the familar and more comfortable.
They are giving me antibiotics, probiotic and painkillers. I'm crossing everything ive got that shes going to fight through this and hopefully she'll pass the stone herself.
Thank you to everyone who has helped me through today especially Alcesterpigs and CCC4.
Let all hope Iris keeps her stubborness, fights this and comes out a winner.
 
if you could get her tonight that would be best as she would be back home with you, have you any other guineas she could go with aswell as this would encourage her if shes used to others.

best to keep her on towels with a hot water bottle under them.
 
Kirstycc said:
if you could get her tonight that would be best as she would be back home with you, have you any other guineas she could go with aswell as this would encourage her if shes used to others.
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I think this depends on the vet. If they have 24 hour nursing and a vet either on call or on site, then she may be better where she is. However, not that many vets do have that level of service, in which case, at home where she can be monitored, cared for, fed etc is certainly a far better option.

With everything that's been going on with my critters I'd only skimmed the thread, so hadn't fully thought about stones in this case :(
 
I know they have 24 hour nursing. I'm going to ring her soon to see how shes doing and ill see what the nurse says.
I didnt think it was a stone either or two cystic ovaries, just goes to show how good guinea pigs are at hiding illness.
 
She still hasnt come around from the anaethetic yet. I think its best shes in over night. I hope shes not too lonely, her daughter and cage mate Greta is very quiet and ive been trying to comfort her. Poor Iris pig
 
Poor you! Keeping everything crossed for you all!
 
She deserves to live, not only for overcoming the health problems but, hopefully, for surviving the very extensive and major treatment.
This will be the longest night of your life, it will not be an easy one to endure.
 
Miss Magpie said:
I didnt think it was a stone either or two cystic ovaries, just goes to show how good guinea pigs are at hiding illness.
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Ovarian cysts aren't at all uncommon, and it wouldn't surprise me if the vet kind of panicked about seeing two fairly small ones that weren't causing any complications. However, much as I think it was slightly un-necessary surgery that's added complications, on the bright side it's one less thing to worry about developing into a real problem further down the line :)

The stone.. Well I'd like to be surprised the vet didn't rule out stones from a proper examination (including x ray) after this length of time, but I'm not. Many vets seem to think they have some form of super power fingers that can feel everything from a quick squeeze and grope. The better vets at least accept they only *sometimes* can, and still warn you about stones and what to look for in case the problem is that and not a UTI.

Lunch passed a small but very sharp stone a few weeks ago (I assume it was Lunch, her urine blood test was off the scale!), she seemed fine before and after, even though when the stone came out there was a *lot* of blood. So yeah, they're pretty good at hiding all sorts of maladies. What they don't seem to comprehend is that makes it all the harder for us to be able to get them the right treatment!

I'm rather concerned she hasn't come round from the anaesthetic as yet :( She was probably under for a long time, plus twice in one day. Hopefully the vet will have given some form of stimulant, and when she does wake up I think she's going to *need* a digestive stimulant too as chances are her guts won't be up to speed by any stretch.

Fingers still very much crossed for her.
 
Hi, I have been following this thread but haven't replied yet as I lost my little Connie a few weeks ago due to bladder problems so didn't really know what to say :(
You have been given some fantastic advise and I really do hope that Iris makes a full recovery. You shouldn't feel bad that you can not afford the treatment for much longer. In 5 months, I spent around £400 on vets bills for Connie. I do not regret it in anyway but it did make a big dent in my bank account.
I wish both you and Iris well and I am thinking of you both x
 
I won't be near a computer for the weekend, but I will keep thinking about Iris and you and sending my vibes to you both!

I'm wishing from the bottom of my heart theat Iris will make it!

All the best
Vicky
 
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