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Kidneys? Heart? Help

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Rebecca23

New Born Pup
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Hi, I have an approx 6 yo gpig who has lived with me for 4.5 years. She has been extremely healthy. Over the course of a week she went off pellets and hay, then gradually stopped all veg. My (supposedly) cavy savvy vet thinks X-rays show kidney disease, enlarged heart, either cancer/pneumonia but didn’t seem certain on anything. She prescribed gabapentin, baytril and doxycycline. The gabapentin has made her very wobbly. She did not prescribe any heart meds.

She’s been through stasis (less bad) twice before and came out of it.

I have attached xrays. Has anyone had experience with kidney issues? Is that what this seems like? Since the vet seemed uncertain now I feel uncertain about what it is and how to proceed.
 

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Hi

I am very sorry for the bad news. This is an owner's forum and I do not have the medical training to interpret x-ray but it definitely doesn't look normal.
@Abi_nurse
 
I can't offer medical advice, but what I would say is that you know your own piggy best.
Take your cues from her.
Size is a good age, and starting with antibiotics and pain killers is a good place to rule out obvious issues and make sure she isn't in pain.
If the Gabapentin doesn't agree with her, ask if you can reduce the dose or possibly switch to another pain med.
Go with your gut feeling, and if the vet can't reach a conclusive diagnosis try to focus on quality time with her.
I am sorry you are in such a difficult situation, but it is clear you love your piggy and at the end of that day that is all that matters to them.
 
Hello and welcome to the forum. I can’t offer medical advice but wanted to say I’m thinking of you at this difficult time. I hope the meds start to make her feel a bit better and she starts to eat soon.
 
Wiebke said:
Hi

I am very sorry for the bad news. This is an owner's forum and I do not have the medical training to interpret x-ray but it definitely doesn't look normal.
@Abi_nurse
Click to expand...
Have you dealt with kidney failure in pigs before? I'm trying to understand if that is what we're dealing with (or heart failure, or pneumonia, or cancer, or all of the above), but the internet is full of conflicting information. :/ @Wiebke
 
Sorry your piggy is poorly... not sure where you are but could you seek a 2nd opinion from another exotic vet?
 
Rebecca23 said:
Have you dealt with kidney failure in pigs before? I'm trying to understand if that is what we're dealing with (or heart failure, or pneumonia, or cancer, or all of the above), but the internet is full of conflicting information. :/ @Wiebke
Click to expand...
Yes, I have had several piggies with their kidneys going wrong. Unfortunately, there is very little you can do for longer effective relief with the cost/success ratio not working out for me, so I concentrate on pain relief and quality of life in the remaining time. Guinea pig kidneys are unfortunately an area that is very much and stubbornly at or rather beyong the limit of medical ability at the moment.
For pneumonia you are looking at strong antibiotics (if wished after a lab test to check for bacteria and for response to the various antibiotics that can be used) and for heart failure, your vet may try diuretics (like frusol) and vetmedin; heart meds either work pretty instantly or not at all.

I am very sorry that I haven't got a magic wand measure for you. You can always look for a second opinion.

If you are looking at end of life care, then you may find this guide here very helpful:
A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs
 
Does anyone know how long it takes Vetmedin to start working? She’s had two doses so far, 12 hours apart.
 
Sorry, I haven't got any practical experience with it as my own potential heart piggies have never reacted to heart meds.

I would give it at least 2-3 days.
 
Update: We’ve seen a second cavy savvy vet twice now. Today she said she thought heart and lungs sounded better, clearer. She checked teeth again and said they look fine.

Snickers had a really rough day yesterday, and I nearly took her in to the emergency vet for a final goodbye. But this morning she sat outside in the sun for 20-30 minutes munching on grass, ate a piece of lettuce, and then chowed down a good size piece of celery.

Sometimes she seems ready to give up and other times she acts like she wants to hold on.
 
Hardest decision is when to say good bye and allow your piggy to cross the rainbow bridge. Hopefully Snickers can hang on! Godspeed.
 
Rebecca23 said:
Update: We’ve seen a second cavy savvy vet twice now. Today she said she thought heart and lungs sounded better, clearer. She checked teeth again and said they look fine.

Snickers had a really rough day yesterday, and I nearly took her in to the emergency vet for a final goodbye. But this morning she sat outside in the sun for 20-30 minutes munching on grass, ate a piece of lettuce, and then chowed down a good size piece of celery.

Sometimes she seems ready to give up and other times she acts like she wants to hold on.
Click to expand...

HUGS
It is so hard with all the ups and downs. Unfortunately, all you can do is ride the tiger as best as you can.
I hope that the medication is working.
 
She seemed to rally and even started eating a bit of veg today. But about two after I gave her some metacam she’s really wobbly and out of it - but still trying to walk to food. She’s lost a lot of weight. I just don’t know if it’s time or if the metacam is making her feel wobbly and icky. ☹️ It’s like she’s decided to try to live but she’s very weak.
 
Rest In Peace, sweet Snickers. She started seizing and died in my arms in the parking lot of the emergency vet.

She was the pig I’ve had the longest, adopted with her sister from a lady who had them
In tiny pet store cages. She was my sweet shy pig who loved hay, to burrow under blankets, and to run around for floor time. I will miss her dearly.
 
I'm so sorry to hear about Snickers. You gave her a good home with lots of love for many years and I know she was very grateful for that.
 
I’m so sorry for your loss. Please understand you have done the best you could have done.

Take care of yourself during this time.
 
So sorry for your loss. You did everything you could to make her comfortable at the end... it sounds like it was just her time x
 
Rebecca23 said:
Rest In Peace, sweet Snickers. She started seizing and died in my arms in the parking lot of the emergency vet.

She was the pig I’ve had the longest, adopted with her sister from a lady who had them
In tiny pet store cages. She was my sweet shy pig who loved hay, to burrow under blankets, and to run around for floor time. I will miss her dearly.
Click to expand...

BIG HUGS

I am so sorry but very glad for you that it didn't happen at Christmas.

Metacam doesn't make piggies wobbly but something clearly went wrong and her body was closing down. You did all the right things. Seizures are common in dying piggies in the later stages when oxygen deprivation hits the body; we call them 'running to the Rainbow Bridge'. Thankfully Snickers would have been mostly out of it by then. It is more distressing for human owner to witness, especially when they don't know that this can happen.
When piggies are as frail as Snickers, death can happen at any time; often after a little rally. And when it happens, it happens very quickly and very davastatingly, like a house of cards falling down. :(

Please be kind with yourself in the coming days while you digest the shock of a very physical death and your loss. Sickers will always have a special place in your heart but it may take a little while until it stops hurting.

You may find the information via this link here helpful, especially when you are struggling with some of the issues you have experienced: Death, Dying, Terminal Illness; Human Grieving and Bereaved Companions: Information and Support for Owners and Their Children
 
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Snickers had a wonderful life full of love with you. You did absolutely everything you could for her, sadly it was her time. Sending you hugs.
 
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