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Ovarian cysts? Very poorly 4 year old piggie!

kitsvnesyndrome

kitsvnesyndrome

New Born Pup
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Hi all, I am in desperate need of advice and help, my vet and the people around me aren't very supportive and my dearest Eevie is extremely ill.

A month ago we adopted a 4 year old rescue named Eevie, we actually went for another piggie and ended up taking Eevie as an extra, I cheekily asked to hold her because I'd seen her on the website and I instantly fell in love and had to take her too. I know nothing about her previous owner or history, she came with all the fur missing off her rump and was quite slow/lethargic.

About 2 weeks down the line we noticed she had stopped eating, she had severe diarrhoea, a very wet and muddy bum, swollen/hard genitals and had lost 100grams. She was rushed to the vets, they gave her a steroid injection and some co-troximazole for 5 days. I also supplemented with critical care and fibreplex and slowly she picked up and started eating again. She never put the weight back on and rested about 1.020kg.

2 days ago I noticed Eevie had stopped eating again, she just sat in her little castle all puffed up and shivering this time, she had lost a further 100grams now dropping to 920grams, i think now struggling to maintain body heat. Rushed to vets again and they did the same steroid injection and antibiotics, told me they have no idea what's wrong with her and didn't really offer to do any checks either. When I got her home she was still shivering, I brought her inside and warmed her up fully expecting to lose her, I just cried and cried for 2 hours. I put her in a box by my bed on a heat pad, woke up about 20 times to check on her, I was pleasantly surprised to see she made it to the morning and was eating a bit of hay on her own! She continues to pick up a bit but I am not hopeful for her long-term health if this is going to keep happening every few weeks..

For 8 years of owning piggies I've never even thought of putting one down but now I am having this thought as it seems the vet can't help and Eevie getting extremely sick again seems imminent..

I've been doing tonnes of research and I think what she's experiencing matched ovarian cysts the most, can anyone advise based on what I've described?

Also does anyone know of an experienced guinea pig vet in Southport/Merseyside area? It's clear my vet has no idea what they're doing... Any advice is so so appreciated, I've barely slept the past two days worrying about Eevie, I just want her to be comfortable .
 
Qualcast&Flymo said:
Sorry to hear your Eevie is unwell.
There are several recommended vets in the Merseyside area on the forum vet list Recommended Guinea Pig Vets Also @PigglePuggle is in Liverpool so has first hand experience of the vets in the area.

I hope you can get the right treatment for your girl, sending healing vibes x
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Thank you so much, I rang 5 vets this morning and got directed to Rutland House which is on that list, my regular vet said they can do a referral for her to be seen there urgently.
 
All the best for finding a vet with guinea pig experience and getting her seen soon!
You really need that hands-on examination for a proper diagnosis. We certainly can't tell you what is going on, sight unseen.
Have you adopted from a rescue or privately? And is she your only piggy or does she have a companion?

Please step in with feeding support asap. Your care at home as every bit as important as any medical intervention in order to keep your piggy alive and going during any medical treatment.
Our feeding and medicating guide will take you through all the practical tips and related aspects to ensure that you can give that support correctly and appropriate to the level needed under any circumstances.
Here is the link: All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures
Here is the link to our one-stop emergency and crisis care information, including care until your piggy can be seen by a vet: Emergency and Crisis Care as well as Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
 
I think Rutland House have a good reputation so I would have her seen there asap.

You also mention brining her inside.
Does this mean she currently lives outdoors?
If so what is their set up like?
Is she on her own?

Given her medical issues I would give some serious thought to trying to move her (and companions) indoors until you get to the bottom of things.
The sudden change in the weather to cold and wet is placing further strain on her already fragile body, so a cosy indoor set up would probabably help.

Good luck with the vet and please keep us updated.
We are all here to help and support you and Eevie.
 
Swissgreys said:
I think Rutland House have a good reputation so I would have her seen there asap.

You also mention brining her inside.
Does this mean she currently lives outdoors?
If so what is their set up like?
Is she on her own?

Given her medical issues I would give some serious thought to trying to move her (and companions) indoors until you get to the bottom of things.
The sudden change in the weather to cold and wet is placing further strain on her already fragile body, so a cosy indoor set up would probabably help.

Good luck with the vet and please keep us updated.
We are all here to help and support you and Eevie.
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They live in an insulated outhouse, it isn't outside-outside but it's not as warm as the house, they get on just fine out there under regular circumstance, I just think Eevie has lost so much weight she cant heat herself anymore :( I have seven guinea pigs so bringing them all indoors simply isn't an option :( For the past two days I've been leaving Eevie outside with heat pads in the day when it's not too cold, and bringing her inside just for the night time.
 
Sorry Eevie is so poorley. Hopefully the new vets will be able to give you an insight into what is wrong and provide effective treatment x
 
Great advice given here already, and I would definitely recommend getting a referral to Dr Molly Varga at Rutland House- she really is the best rabbit and guinea pig vet in the North West, even very good piggy vets refer tricky cases to her, they have excellent diagnostic facilities there but also often Molly just knows what is wrong because she's so experienced. The initial consultation when registering there is quite expensive but the follow-up visits are usually much cheaper, and one visit to Dr Molly usually includes the equivalent to 3 or 4 visits to a regular vet. She can also anaesthetise even very poorly piggies quite safely when needed, when other vets might say the piggy is too old or too ill.
Best of luck, I hope you get some answers!
 
kitsvnesyndrome said:
Thank you so much, I rang 5 vets this morning and got directed to Rutland House which is on that list, my regular vet said they can do a referral for her to be seen there urgently.
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Rutland House is excellent.
I was referred there and was very impressed.
As @PigglePuggle said, Molly Varga is outstanding.

Hope she can help you.
 
Healing vibes being sent from me too. Hope you get an appointment very soon and she can be on the road to good health again. :hug:
 
Merab's Slave said:
Rutland House is excellent.
I was referred there and was very impressed.
As @PigglePuggle said, Molly Varga is outstanding.

Hope she can help you.
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PigglePuggle said:
Great advice given here already, and I would definitely recommend getting a referral to Dr Molly Varga at Rutland House- she really is the best rabbit and guinea pig vet in the North West, even very good piggy vets refer tricky cases to her, they have excellent diagnostic facilities there but also often Molly just knows what is wrong because she's so experienced. The initial consultation when registering there is quite expensive but the follow-up visits are usually much cheaper, and one visit to Dr Molly usually includes the equivalent to 3 or 4 visits to a regular vet. She can also anaesthetise even very poorly piggies quite safely when needed, when other vets might say the piggy is too old or too ill.
Best of luck, I hope you get some answers!
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Thank you so much for your messages! Molly is who we are seeing on Tuesday, it was so expensive to book but I feel really happy about it, knowing shes the best of the best! 💗
 
Molly was very helpful, doesn't think its ovarian cysts or stones as can't feel anything. Eevie was well when seen so she's given me a pot and if the diorrhea reoccurs we need to get a sample and take her back to the hospital for an xray. Also gave metronidazole to kill off any bad gut bacteria, only to be used if flares up again. Hoping and praying Eevie doesn't have another bout of diorrhea but if she does it seems theres a good support system in place now! I will keep feeding critical care and fibreplex in meantime to build her weight back up.
 
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