Satins Disease/ Osteodystrophy

[JandfpiggiesUK]

Hi everyone

My piggy fudge has OD. He’s managing well & fighting as hard as he can.

Pigmum on the other hand is feeling down & often gets upset over fudge.

Does anyone else have experience of OD in pigs? What keeps you powering through on the days you feel down?

 

[Wiebke]

Hi everyone

My piggy fudge has OD. He’s managing well & fighting as hard as he can.

Pigmum on the other hand is feeling down & often gets upset over fudge.

Does anyone else have experience of OD in pigs? What keeps you powering through on the days you feel down?

Hi and welcome

I am very sorry. OD can unfortunately not be bred out of satin guinea pigs but because the breeding of them is so far only forbidden in Finland (to my knowledge) it does crop up from time to time. Unfortunately, indiscriminate backyard breeding seems to also have resulted in OD increasingly turning up in non-satins, especially in Australia and Germany.

You can find more information on SGPS (OD) in the satin chapter at the end of our breeds guide. Cavy Central Guinea Pig Rescue from Sydney in Australia has written a very information bit about their (sadly plentiful experience) with the disease.
What-breed-are-my-guinea-pigs-picture-guide-to-common-pet-breeds

Satin disease is one of the most heart-breaking illnesses for owners to care for because it is so insidious and affects the whole body and not just the bones; it is even harder because it is entirely caused by irresponsible humans.

It is important that you look after yourself. I would strongly recommend to do soul balancing and stress relieving Mindfulness exercises (there are also downloadable meditation soundtracks to help you get into the mood) and to also do some regular physical sports activity that produces endorphines (happiness hormones).
Get out into nature as much as you can, or if that is difficult, plant a pot with a plant of your own liking or some windowsill boxes with grass seeds or herbs for enrichment. Looking after them will bring the calming and refreshing benefit of nature into your home and can also serve as enrichment for your piggies.

Please keep in mind that in order to care for others in the long term, you need to need to care for yourself, too. This is not selfish - who will care for those in your care if you can't do it anymore? Striking a certain balance and making sure that you have quality 'me' time for your own mental and physical should be part of any longer term care, whether that is for pets or for partners/relatives. Especially when you are exhausted and your batteries have run out.

This guide here may help you with all the tough issues that come with looking after a terminally ill piggy: A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs

 

[Eriathwen]

From my experience, remember to take time to do things for yourself. Your entire life can become wrapped up in their care, their comfort becomes your all consuming goal.
I dont have much to add to the above, caring for palliative animals is hard, I currently have 3, 1 of which has OD. I have a satin boar I need to take in soon to request xrays for to see whether or not he has it too so possibly a 4th soon.

 

[Black piggies]

Sorry it's so tough caring for him. Fudge looks so appreciate of his pigmum

 

[Bradshaw Piggies]

I'm so sorry you are both going through this.
Last year when my boy was poorly, I spent over 9 months in the house caring for him around the clock, even every hour of the night. I didn't go out or go to work etc. I literally drove myself insane with worrying about him and got into quite a dark place. I couldn't have got through it without this forum. So my advice would be for you to talk on here as much as you can, but also make sure you get out and about and do 'normal' things as much as possible. I know, easier said than done! I didn't take my advice and last year with my poorly boy was the hardest year of my life.

Here if you ever need to talk. Sending lots of love to you and your boy. Stay strong

 

[Bill & Ted]

I’m so sorry Fudge has OD, I can only imagine how hard it is for you. After having a guinea pig with dental problems and the care and effort and sleepless nights that’s involved but hang in there, you are doing an amazing job. This also applies to you too @Eriathwen You do an amazing job x

 

[JandfpiggiesUK]

Thank you everyone.

Up till the point he was diagnosed I suspected he’d have OD. It still hurt a lot when it was confirmed and I’m still struggling to process it. It effects his jaw bones, his legs seem fine.
He’s fed through a 1ml syringe everyday & can usually take up to 50ml per sitting.

Fudge has surprised me a great deal since diagnosis. He’s become energetic and enthusiastic, whether that’s down to the painkillers I’m not sure?
Each time I take him for a teeth trim the vets tell me that he’s not improving and that euthanasia is best. However I know he’s happy at home, he sings for his food and chats away to me whilst I eat my breakfast on a morning.

I know he’ll let me know when he’s had enough. My mum & grandparents help me to care for him around the clock when I’m not around which means the world .

I love him to bits, it breaks my heart everyday when he tries to eat normally and can’t .

Thanks for your support everyone.

Chloe & Fudge x

 

[Black piggies]

Aw he's gorgeous. So sad. He looks happy.

 

[Bill & Ted]

Aw, Fudge is a poppet. Does he have conscious teeth trims every so often or does he have to have general anaesthetic? there is a marvellous vet in Northampton who we used for conscious dentals for both our boys

 

[JandfpiggiesUK]

Aw, Fudge is a poppet. Does he have conscious teeth trims every so often or does he have to have general anaesthetic? there is a marvellous vet in Northampton who we used for conscious dentals for both our boys

Yeah, they do conscious teeth trims on him

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you everyone.

Up till the point he was diagnosed I suspected he’d have OD. It still hurt a lot when it was confirmed and I’m still struggling to process it. It effects his jaw bones, his legs seem fine.
He’s fed through a 1ml syringe everyday & can usually take up to 50ml per sitting.

Fudge has surprised me a great deal since diagnosis. He’s become energetic and enthusiastic, whether that’s down to the painkillers I’m not sure?
Each time I take him for a teeth trim the vets tell me that he’s not improving and that euthanasia is best. However I know he’s happy at home, he sings for his food and chats away to me whilst I eat my breakfast on a morning.

I know he’ll let me know when he’s had enough. My mum & grandparents help me to care for him around the clock when I’m not around which means the world .

I love him to bits, it breaks my heart everyday when he tries to eat normally and can’t .

Thanks for your support everyone.

Chloe & Fudge x

Fudge is lucky to have found you. As long as he has a zest for life and can express normal species behaviour, then he has still quality of life. The painkillers make quite a difference.

Try to see every day more that he is with you and is doing comparatively well as a special gift.

 

[miowmix]

Hi, I had a lovely satin boar called Caramel with OD. Caring for him took over mine and partner's life for a while, I can't remember exactly how long but at least a few months and we even cancelled a holiday and events because of it but I don't regret a thing.

Having a routine made things easier. He was able to eat soaked excel blackcurrent nuggets by himself, banana, crushed watermelon, and veg that was grated finely with the small side of the grater, so we got the syringe feeding down to just three times a day, at breakfast time, lunchtime and tea time, which fitted around my work. He also had 0.4ml johnson's '4 joints' liquid once a day and metacam (think it was 0.2ml twice a day). He had a bell ornament attached to his pen and learned to ding it when he wanted more food (honestly!)

Are you able to lose yourself in something between syringe feeds that will take your mind off it for a while? I was actually glad of my horrible job for a change as it at least took my mind off the situation for a bit. Other things that are short enough to fit between feeds are walks, geocaching, listening to your favourite podcast, watching a light-hearted film, going to look round the shops or supermarket for an hour. Hope those suggestions don't sound trite, it's just things I've found helpful.

You are doing something so worthwhile and it is stressful and tiring but won't be forever. All the very best to you and Fudge. xx

 

[Bill & Ted]

Hi, I had a lovely satin boar called Caramel with OD. Caring for him took over mine and partner's life for a while, I can't remember exactly how long but at least a few months and we even cancelled a holiday and events because of it but I don't regret a thing.

Having a routine made things easier. He was able to eat soaked excel blackcurrent nuggets by himself, banana, crushed watermelon, and veg that was grated finely with the small side of the grater, so we got the syringe feeding down to just three times a day, at breakfast time, lunchtime and tea time, which fitted around my work. He also had 0.4ml johnson's '4 joints' liquid once a day and metacam (think it was 0.2ml twice a day). He had a bell ornament attached to his pen and learned to ding it when he wanted more food (honestly!)

Are you able to lose yourself in something between syringe feeds that will take your mind off it for a while? I was actually glad of my horrible job for a change as it at least took my mind off the situation for a bit. Other things that are short enough to fit between feeds are walks, geocaching, listening to your favourite podcast, watching a light-hearted film, going to look round the shops or supermarket for an hour. Hope those suggestions don't sound trite, it's just things I've found helpful.

You are doing something so worthwhile and it is stressful and tiring but won't be forever. All the very best to you and Fudge. xx

Well done you for giving your piggie such care, it can be a long haul syringe feeding as one feeding session moves into another but you made the very best if it x