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Opal is unwell :(

Hannah_xx

Hannah_xx

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Opal isn’t right at all.
A month or so ago I took Opal to the vet as her breathing was a bit strange, not so much her breathing but more the sound, a bit gaspy. But was acting fine in herself. The vet just prescribed her baytril for 2 weeks.
But now, last night, she was acting odd. She came straight away to get her salad dinner but was moving strange, her legs seemed stiff maybe? A bit tottery on her feet. And the she took a piece of carrot and took ages eating it. She went for a drink later and sat there acting as though she had something stuck in her mouth. After she went to the hay tray and started eating hay. But I got her out to take a look, I looked in her mouth a few weeks ago as she had a hay seed gently stuck. But today I couldn’t see anything, I tried looking as far down as possible but she struggles with breath and I can see her throat opening and closing when she gasps? Hard to explain.
I felt around for any lumps and bumps especially around her head as I’m worried she has a pressure on her brain from a tumour or something? I also felt her legs but can’t feel anything unusual.
She also isn’t being as flighty as she normal is. In fact I’m worried her eyesight has gone too?! But she’s mooching around the cage eating hay etc, eating pooping.
Jon took her to our local farm vet this morning as I have to work. They squeezed her on as it’s a Saturday and they had no appointments. Unfortunately the vet that saw her didn’t really know anything about Guinea pigs. So he couldn’t find anything. He pulled out a bit of hay from her mouth but he doesn’t think that was an issue. Nor do I. He couldn’t feel anything wrong and her belly felt okay as was making the right noises. She’s been sent home with baytril and metacam.
If something terrible doesn’t happen over the weekend to her.. I will phone my Guinea pig vet first thing on Monday and get her booked in asap.
Jon called me to say he’s just given her some metacam and that she was upstairs in the hay tray eating.
I’m wondering if she hay arthritis in her legs, but that doesn’t explain the other issues.
I’ll try not to panic.. but I don’t think it’s going to be a good diagnosis if and when I get one :no:
It’s strange symptoms, I really can’t put my finger on it.
Please send healing wheeeeeks.
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Lots of love to Opal and I hope she manages to tell you and the vet what is bothering her xx
 
Hope the meds help Opal and it’s just a blip.
 
Hopefully the meds may do something. Feel better soon Opal
 
Hope she’s feeling better soon, she’s lovely.
 
Opal is so lucky to have such an attentive human slave. You are doing all that you can for her and it’s good that she’s cooperating with the syringe. Hugs to you both
 
Ah poor Opal I hope she improves today - thankfully she has wonderful slaves Mum and Dad to look after her
Sending healing hugs
 
Very pretty girl. Hope you can find out what’s going on and it’s nothing serious.
 
Hope Opal is ok and just having an off day as many piggies do to worry us...
I think you need to see a vet who can check her heart and kidneys, wheezing and breathlessness and tiredness that isnt a respiratory infection could be fluid in the lungs from a heart issue or pressure on the lungs from fluid retention due to kidneys... very tricky when they are just "off" but an ultrasound of the heart, tummy and kidneys, some xrays, and some urine tests can all be done conscious without sedation in most cases if you can can travel to a vet with those small animal diagnostics avaialable and get her a thorough check up. Sending healing wheeks x
 
PigglePuggle said:
Hope Opal is ok and just having an off day as many piggies do to worry us...
I think you need to see a vet who can check her heart and kidneys, wheezing and breathlessness and tiredness that isnt a respiratory infection could be fluid in the lungs from a heart issue or pressure on the lungs from fluid retention due to kidneys... very tricky when they are just "off" but an ultrasound of the heart, tummy and kidneys, some xrays, and some urine tests can all be done conscious without sedation in most cases if you can can travel to a vet with those small animal diagnostics avaialable and get her a thorough check up. Sending healing wheeks x
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Thanks so much for this information. She’s been to an exotic vet just a few months for a general health check with her cage mates. He didn’t pick anything up, but as you say most of that’s probably only diagnosable from X-rays or ultrasounds. Her cage mate has a heart murmur, she has off days but nothing like Opal is showing.
I’m trying to convince Jon for us to take her to ‘The unusual pet vet’ down in Melbourne, they specialise in exotics. It’s 2.5 hrs away. But I think it’s our only Sunday option.. and the best option. Jons only concerned because of the money.
I don’t think she can wait for Monday to go to my usual good vet clinic. Plus the only exotic vet there doesn’t work Mondays!
Opal isn’t enjoying the syringe feeds anymore, it’s quite a struggle.
It was sad watching her truddle over to dinner last night, she so wanted to eat but could only manage a bit of celery that took her 5 minutes to eat :(
 
Poor Opal and poor you. Hannah its so stressful when there's something obviously not right with our furry spuds. Opal is so lucky to have you as her Slave. Healing wheeks being sent and lots of hugs.
 
I'm sorry! It's terrible to watch them when they are not okay and there isn't anything you can do to help.
I hope the trip to the vet will show what the problem is and that it's something easily treatable.
Sending healing vibes!
 
We are just on our way back from a long day in Melbourne. We ended up taking her to the bird and exotic vet in Williamstown admitted in as an emergency. She had stopped eating this morning so I was stressed about her developing gut statis. And it was getting very difficult to syringe feed her.
I didn’t get to speak to the vet in person, only over the phone as the receptionist/vet nurse deals with everything else while the one Sunday vet works through the animals. But they sounded lovely and really knew their stuff. After having a look She doesn’t think she has anything wrong with her teeth especially at her cage with a good diet. She does however think she may have ovarian cysts or an issue down below in her bladder/ovaries as she is definitely very uncomfortable there. She also thinks it’s likely she has arthritis (Her words..Very common in Pigs over 2 as they are walking potatoes with little stubby potato legs! :)) )
So Opal is staying in hospital overnight and will be getting an ultrasound, blood work and urine test and x-ray if need be. So hopefully get to the bottom of her illness by tomorrow. She’s in really good hands so I will try not to worry to much. I feel awfully guilty to Jon with the stress of the huge cost, up to $1,600. But he’s been awesome, and we even had a little walk on the beach while we waited, we haven’t seen the sea for a year or so!
Feel strange leaving her 2 hrs away in the city. Back tomorrow to pick her up hopefully with good news.
 
Hannah_xx said:
We are just on our way back from a long day in Melbourne. We ended up taking her to the bird and exotic vet in Williamstown admitted in as an emergency. She had stopped eating this morning so I was stressed about her developing gut statis. And it was getting very difficult to syringe feed her.
I didn’t get to speak to the vet in person, only over the phone as the receptionist/vet nurse deals with everything else while the one Sunday vet works through the animals. But they sounded lovely and really knew their stuff. After having a look She doesn’t think she has anything wrong with her teeth especially at her cage with a good diet. She does however think she may have ovarian cysts or an issue down below in her bladder/ovaries as she is definitely very uncomfortable there. She also thinks it’s likely she has arthritis (Her words..Very common in Pigs over 2 as they are walking potatoes with little stubby potato legs! :)) )
So Opal is staying in hospital overnight and will be getting an ultrasound, blood work and urine test and x-ray if need be. So hopefully get to the bottom of her illness by tomorrow. She’s in really good hands so I will try not to worry to much. I feel awfully guilty to Jon with the stress of the huge cost, up to $1,600. But he’s been awesome, and we even had a little walk on the beach while we waited, we haven’t seen the sea for a year or so!
Feel strange leaving her 2 hrs away in the city. Back tomorrow to pick her up hopefully with good news.
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Paws crossed the vet can figure out what's going on, very glad you could get her seen as an emergency and it sounds like the ver knows their stuff!
My most expensive vet bill piggy Blodwen sends wheezy kisses to Opal- Blodwen is my pneumonia survivor who now has suspected kidney failure and a huge cyst or abscess too, she is also off to the most expensive vet hospital tomorrow for blood tests and her lump biopsied to spend another month's wages at the vet!
I'm glad your partner is being so kind about the vet costs too. Best of luck x
 
PigglePuggle said:
Paws crossed the vet can figure out what's going on, very glad you could get her seen as an emergency and it sounds like the ver knows their stuff!
My most expensive vet bill piggy Blodwen sends wheezy kisses to Opal- Blodwen is my pneumonia survivor who now has suspected kidney failure and a huge cyst or abscess too, she is also off to the most expensive vet hospital tomorrow for blood tests and her lump biopsied to spend another month's wages at the vet!
I'm glad your partner is being so kind about the vet costs too. Best of luck x
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Poor Blod! Opal, me and the rest of the gang send healing wheeks back to Blod xx
 
The vet text me on the way home, Opal is settled in for the night with pain meds and fluid on board. Her ultrasound results came back all good, no cysts!
However her bladder is full of thick sludge! Vet will phone me in the morning to discuss new plan of action.
What shall I expect with sludge?
 
A sludgy bladder isn't very nice! Pretty Patsy had a load of bladder sludge as well as a raging bladder infection and a massive stone too! It sounds like a bladder stone is out so Opal is lucky there. Hopefully a UTI has been ruled out too.

Sending more wheeky wheeks to Opal, hugs to you and loads of get better vibes for your bank balance!
 
Betsy said:
A sludgy bladder isn't very nice! Pretty Patsy had a load of bladder sludge as well as a raging bladder infection and a massive stone too! It sounds like a bladder stone is out so Opal is lucky there. Hopefully a UTI has been ruled out too.

Sending more wheeky wheeks to Opal, hugs to you and loads of get better vibes for your bank balance!
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Thanks Betsy! I’ll update you all with what the vet says tomorrow
 
Hannah_xx said:
The vet text me on the way home, Opal is settled in for the night with pain meds and fluid on board. Her ultrasound results came back all good, no cysts!
However her bladder is full of thick sludge! Vet will phone me in the morning to discuss new plan of action.
What shall I expect with sludge?
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Bladder sludge can sometimes be flushed out I think, the vet might be able to anaesthetise her and pass a catheter up her urethra into her bladder and flush in water then drain out the sludge. If this can be done safely and the vet is experienced enough this is a good plan- the risk during the procedure is the same as for any minor but fiddly surgery on a piggy- they are small and delicate and such tiny organs and the anaesthesia risk- but, if it can be flushed out successfully, this could buy her several months or even years of good health if you manage her diet carefully. If its left, she is at risk of stones and infections and painful gritty wee...
If the veterinary flushing procedure is too risky you might try to flush from the top as it were by feeding a very low calcium very watery wet cucumber and lettuce plus hay only type diet and syringe feeding her loads and loads of water in the hope she pees out the sludge, but if the vet can manually flush its going to fix this faster and more effectively.
Hope this helps you discuss options with the vet, and she gets well x
 
Dear Hannah hoping Opal can have that sludge removed asap and she comes home soon after. It’s great you have support from Jon as it’s such a worrying time when our animals are poorly and so costly. Take care all of you 🥰
 
PigglePuggle said:
Bladder sludge can sometimes be flushed out I think, the vet might be able to anaesthetise her and pass a catheter up her urethra into her bladder and flush in water then drain out the sludge. If this can be done safely and the vet is experienced enough this is a good plan- the risk during the procedure is the same as for any minor but fiddly surgery on a piggy- they are small and delicate and such tiny organs and the anaesthesia risk- but, if it can be flushed out successfully, this could buy her several months or even years of good health if you manage her diet carefully. If its left, she is at risk of stones and infections and painful gritty wee...
If the veterinary flushing procedure is too risky you might try to flush from the top as it were by feeding a very low calcium very watery wet cucumber and lettuce plus hay only type diet and syringe feeding her loads and loads of water in the hope she pees out the sludge, but if the vet can manually flush its going to fix this faster and more effectively.
Hope this helps you discuss options with the vet, and she gets well x
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I really appreciate what you’ve said, thank you! And gives me hope she hopefully will be okay if she pulls through the treatmeant. But I understand it could become an issue again down the line.
I recon I do give a very low calcium diet, and also only use either rain/tank water or spring water from the store for the pigs. So it’s odd she’s developed such bad sludge. However I was, up until 2 weeks ago giving the pigs a handful mixed salad twice a day, this could be the culprit as they usually contain spinach and other high calcium leaves.. and I recon she always ate the salad mix first before going for the other veg on the plate!
Thanks piggle puggle, I’m prepared for the chat with the vet tomorrow now!
 
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