JaseChase
Junior Guinea Pig
Tofu has been to the vet with impaction and arthritis and I’m really just looking to see if I’m doing everything I can for him
He’s about to turn four, he isn’t neutered, and he’s had suspected arthritis for about a year or so. He’s been on daily metacam at 0.2ml (dog strength) to manage it
A few weeks ago I noticed he had what looked like the start of impaction so took him to the vet. He was given liquid paraffin and emeprid for a few days to get things moving, which worked initially, then a couple weeks later the impaction was back. I also noticed he was walking differently - he hops with his back legs, though he’s still fully mobile and popcorns and zooms a lot with his younger cagemate
Took him back to the vet, she checked his back legs and found them very stiff and arthritic, and said the arthritis was likely causing the impaction. His metacam was upped to 0.3ml daily and she advised me to check him every few days to keep him clean. I also found and read through the very helpful forum impaction guide, which I’ve been following
Initially I was only needing to clean him out every week or so. Now it’s more like every 2-3 days. I’ve also noticed that his poops are a lot smaller, not runny just smaller, and that hasn’t changed with more frequent checks and cleaning. His weight is stable, but on the low end (his normal is 1.25-1.3kg and he’s been at 1.24kg the last couple of weeks)
I know he’s getting older and they can start to lose some condition, and he is monitored regularly by the vet for the metacam + his ongoing eye condition. I’m wondering if I should take him back for the smaller poops and the slight weight loss, or if I continue to monitor and see what happens? He hates the vet, so I don’t want to put him through another visit unnecessarily
Here he is. Luckily he is a very mellow boy and isn’t too bothered by the frequent handling - as long as he gets coriander anyway
He’s about to turn four, he isn’t neutered, and he’s had suspected arthritis for about a year or so. He’s been on daily metacam at 0.2ml (dog strength) to manage it
A few weeks ago I noticed he had what looked like the start of impaction so took him to the vet. He was given liquid paraffin and emeprid for a few days to get things moving, which worked initially, then a couple weeks later the impaction was back. I also noticed he was walking differently - he hops with his back legs, though he’s still fully mobile and popcorns and zooms a lot with his younger cagemate
Took him back to the vet, she checked his back legs and found them very stiff and arthritic, and said the arthritis was likely causing the impaction. His metacam was upped to 0.3ml daily and she advised me to check him every few days to keep him clean. I also found and read through the very helpful forum impaction guide, which I’ve been following
Initially I was only needing to clean him out every week or so. Now it’s more like every 2-3 days. I’ve also noticed that his poops are a lot smaller, not runny just smaller, and that hasn’t changed with more frequent checks and cleaning. His weight is stable, but on the low end (his normal is 1.25-1.3kg and he’s been at 1.24kg the last couple of weeks)
I know he’s getting older and they can start to lose some condition, and he is monitored regularly by the vet for the metacam + his ongoing eye condition. I’m wondering if I should take him back for the smaller poops and the slight weight loss, or if I continue to monitor and see what happens? He hates the vet, so I don’t want to put him through another visit unnecessarily
Here he is. Luckily he is a very mellow boy and isn’t too bothered by the frequent handling - as long as he gets coriander anyway
he seems fine in himself so I didn’t want to drag him back to the vet needlessly