Persistent diarrhoea - prognosis

[danuutka]

DISCLAIMER - Ozzie is currently hospitalised and under very good veterinary care!

We took my Ozzie in to the emergency vets after realising he experienced a bout of diarrhoea. He’s been there for about 24 hours and they are still battling the diarrhoea, he’s getting fluids and pain relief.

They feel they have stabilised him enough to do some further testing which includes bloods and an X-ray, however have been honest with us that he may not make it through GA.

I guess I’m just wanting to reach out to anyone who has had an experience with a guinea pig having really bad diarrhoea which they’ve overcome? In my heart I feel like we may lose him (either to the GA or because he’s so poorly), but a part of me wants to see if there’s any hope at all of him coming home.

 

[Wiebke]

DISCLAIMER - Ozzie is currently hospitalised and under very good veterinary care!

We took my Ozzie in to the emergency vets after realising he experienced a bout of diarrhoea. He’s been there for about 24 hours and they are still battling the diarrhoea, he’s getting fluids and pain relief.

They feel they have stabilised him enough to do some further testing which includes bloods and an X-ray, however have been honest with us that he may not make it through GA.

I guess I’m just wanting to reach out to anyone who has had an experience with a guinea pig having really bad diarrhoea which they’ve overcome? In my heart I feel like we may lose him (either to the GA or because he’s so poorly), but a part of me wants to see if there’s any hope at all of him coming home.

Hi

BIG HUGS

I m very sorry. Is he also being fed solids?

If the diarrhoea doesn't improve within a day off any dry food and remains runny, then you are most likely up against one of the nastier bugs and intestinal parasites; the same applies when it persists.

Generally panacur is used against the majority of those while flagyl antibiotic is effective against giardia (we have only seen one or two cases of this in nearly 20 years; it's much more common in places with a bad/unsafe water supply).
The most extreme form of diarrhoea (very smell blackish pure water output) can be fatal but this is thankfully really rare in the UK - we've never come across a case on here so far.

Your vets are currently in a bit of a race against time to find out what exactly they are up against so they can specifically target it but as he is being kept hydrated in expert care he is in with a bit better chance. Please accept that in those situations you have to accept that procedures may come with a risk - but that without them he may not survive for long, either. It's always tough at the hard end because there are no easy ways out.

Guinea Lynx :: Diarrhea

Fingers firmly crossed!

 

[danuutka]

Hi

BIG HUGS

I m very sorry. Is he also being fed solids?

If the diarrhoea doesn't improve within a day off any dry food and remains runny, then you are most likely up against one of the nastier bugs and intestinal parasites; the same applies when it persists.

Generally panacur is used against the majority of those while flagyl antibiotic is effective against giardia (we have only seen one or two cases of this in nearly 20 years; it's much more common in places with a bad/unsafe water supply).
The most extreme form of diarrhoea (very smell blackish pure water output) can be fatal but this is thankfully really rare in the UK - we've never come across a case on here so far.

Your vets are currently in a bit of a race against time to find out what exactly they are up against so they can specifically target it but as he is being kept hydrated in expert care he is in with a bit better chance. Please accept that in those situations you have to accept that procedures may come with a risk - but that without them he may not survive for long, either. It's always tough at the hard end because there are no easy ways out.

Guinea Lynx :: Diarrhea

Fingers firmly crossed!

Thank you so much.

He’s being syringe fed and given fluids, and is being encouraged to eat his own food too (which is the only good update really - he’s been nibbling a bit more).

He survived his GA! He is definitely not out of the woods but it was a big possibility he wouldn’t make it through. We’re waiting on blood test results, but his x Ray has shown nothing of real concern. We get to go visit him later today and bring his other cage mate so they can all be together (he lives as part of a trio and has had one of his friends with him through the night).

It’s all a bit confusing really, and I’m hoping we get some answers soon. His care is being managed by a team of exotics vets so we know he’s in the best hands, I just wish I could have him home where he’s most comfortable - even though I completely understand why it’s vital he remains hospitalised given his need for IV fluids etc. We’re going to bring him some soft things from home so hopefully that also provides him some comfort.

 

[fluffysal]

Fingers and paws crossed for him. My boys send healing rumbles

 

[Claire W]

I hope Ozzie makes a full recovery. My thoughts are with you both x

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you so much.

He’s being syringe fed and given fluids, and is being encouraged to eat his own food too (which is the only good update really - he’s been nibbling a bit more).

He survived his GA! He is definitely not out of the woods but it was a big possibility he wouldn’t make it through. We’re waiting on blood test results, but his x Ray has shown nothing of real concern. We get to go visit him later today and bring his other cage mate so they can all be together (he lives as part of a trio and has had one of his friends with him through the night).

It’s all a bit confusing really, and I’m hoping we get some answers soon. His care is being managed by a team of exotics vets so we know he’s in the best hands, I just wish I could have him home where he’s most comfortable - even though I completely understand why it’s vital he remains hospitalised given his need for IV fluids etc. We’re going to bring him some soft things from home so hopefully that also provides him some comfort.

All the best that you get to the bottom of it but great news that he has Ozzie has made it through the GA.

 

[danuutka]

We’ve had some pretty horrible news - Ozzie’s bloods are showing liver disease and infection. They’re unsure if this relates to a mass or a form of hepatitis. They’re going to give him antibiotics overnight and discuss with the exotic vet in the morning (if he doesn’t deteriorate more during the night). I’m utterly heartbroken and it doesn’t feel like there’s any way back from this

 

[Wiebke]

We’ve had some pretty horrible news - Ozzie’s bloods are showing liver disease and infection. They’re unsure if this relates to a mass or a form of hepatitis. They’re going to give him antibiotics overnight and discuss with the exotic vet in the morning (if he doesn’t deteriorate more during the night). I’m utterly heartbroken and it doesn’t feel like there’s any way back from this

BIG HUGS
I am so sorry for the bad news. See what the vet says tomorrow morning.

 

[danuutka]

Hello.

Unfortunately I’m coming with a sad update. Ozzie has deteriorated further - although he’s better hydrated and having bits of food, his diarrhoea has become worse (to the point that what’s coming out is in digested food). We could carry on doing tests and scans, but it likely wouldn’t change the prognosis, even if he got better in the short term.

We’ve had a long discussion with our exotics vets who have said that they would be willing to continue treatment for another 24 hours, but after that they’d strongly suggest euthanasia. Given how poorly he is, the pain he is in and the fact that he is deteriorating despite all of the specialist care he is receiving, we have decided that it is kinder to let him go. He will get to say goodbye to all of his humans, and be put to sleep surrounded by his piggy sisters.

My heart is broken, because we were really hopeful, but I feel like we’ve exhausted all options and it isn’t fair on my beautiful little boy to keep him trodding along in the hopes that a miracle happens.

We raised Ozzie from 6 weeks when he was just a tiny 440g, saw his cheeky personality emerge and go on to rule a herd of his ladies. We love him so much and this decision is breaking my heart. Thank you for all of the support on this post.

 

[Piggies&buns]

I'm so sorry to hear this.
It’s never an easy decision but one made out of love for him. It’s clear how much you love him.

 

[Wiebke]

Hello.

Unfortunately I’m coming with a sad update. Ozzie has deteriorated further - although he’s better hydrated and having bits of food, his diarrhoea has become worse (to the point that what’s coming out is in digested food). We could carry on doing tests and scans, but it likely wouldn’t change the prognosis, even if he got better in the short term.

We’ve had a long discussion with our exotics vets who have said that they would be willing to continue treatment for another 24 hours, but after that they’d strongly suggest euthanasia. Given how poorly he is, the pain he is in and the fact that he is deteriorating despite all of the specialist care he is receiving, we have decided that it is kinder to let him go. He will get to say goodbye to all of his humans, and be put to sleep surrounded by his piggy sisters.

My heart is broken, because we were really hopeful, but I feel like we’ve exhausted all options and it isn’t fair on my beautiful little boy to keep him trodding along in the hopes that a miracle happens.

We raised Ozzie from 6 weeks when he was just a tiny 440g, saw his cheeky personality emerge and go on to rule a herd of his ladies. We love him so much and this decision is breaking my heart. Thank you for all of the support on this post.

HUGE HUGS

PTS/euthanasia is the most loving and at the same time the most heart-breaking gift we can make a beloved pet of ours to spare them any further unnecessary suffering. It is always so totally gutting and gut-wrenching. Even when you see it coming you never really feel properly prepared for it.

But your heart is absolutely in the right place. You are putting Ozzie's welfare before your own feelings and heartache, so you aren't failing him in any way - his body is clearly already breaking down and he has started his journey to the Bridge.

We can sadly never choose when and in which form the end comes; all too often it's not in a nice way - it very much depends on which organ (including the immune system) gives first and in which way. That is always random (if it isn't clearly genetic) and there is nothing we can do about that once their much faster metabolism is turning against our piggies.
The liver is an organ where very little can be done about in guinea pigs. Be sad but please try not to feel bad; you and your vets have gone above to keep him going for his diarrhoea only to discover that it was just a secondary complication masking something far more serious and sinister.

He is lucky to have found you and you are blessed that he has found you. Don't let the traumatic end obscure all the happy years with him.

If it is any consolation to you, I had to make the same decision for my Llelo on Valentine's Day. He was one of the few babies born here, so I have known him from the first hour of his life and seen him making his first steps to explore the cage together with his two litter brothers; that always makes for a special bond. Even after so many goodbyes over many years, it was still totally tough but his body had clearly gone into failure rather quickly during the weekend. However the process was not going as smoothly for him as I would have liked and he was still there and in discomfort by Monday morning.

Be sad but please try not to feel bad about yourself; the latter is just our own human species wiring. However strong feelings of failure or guilt are not reflecting reality - they represent in fact the depth of your love. Give yourself time to grieve and seek help if you get hung up and struggle to function. Each bond is unique so each grieving process is different; the special ones can really take you by surprise with how they whack you.
Human Bereavement: Grieving, Processing and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children
Pet bereavement and pet loss

 

[piggieminder]

I'm sorry, such a hard decision to have to make but the right one to save Ozzie suffering.

 

[danuutka]

He’s gone my heart is broken. Especially because when we visited him today he seemed so well - he was running around and being sassy and even eating. So it made it even harder to say goodbye, because that bit of me was hoping we were wrong and he was going to pull through. But I know it’s probably only because he has excellent care, has had his pain medication and was probably feeling marginally better. I know long term he probably wouldn’t have made a recovery and I was holding in to false hope - he was still passing diarrhoea, and still not absorbing nutrients.

Selfishly I wish he appeared more unwell because it would have made my decision easier. Thank you for all of your kind words

 

[VickiA]

I’m so sorry. You’ve undoubtedly done the kindest thing for him. Sleep tight, Gorgeous Ozzie. Go gently with yourself as you grieve - this has been a very tough time for you saying goodbye unexpectedly to your beautiful boy. Hugs

 

[fluffysal]

Sleep well and popcorn high little man