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Scheduling of Surgery for Ovarian Cysts And "Pre-Care"

Thanks, Wiebke. Yeah I have been there before with the secondary complications with past pigs. That's good to know that the daily weight swing can be that big but definitely the trend has been downward since the surgery (and even beforehand with the cysts in the first place). Hopefully I'll know more by this time tomorrow after my vet visit.
 
Devout_Haruhiist said:
Thanks, Wiebke. Yeah I have been there before with the secondary complications with past pigs. That's good to know that the daily weight swing can be that big but definitely the trend has been downward since the surgery (and even beforehand with the cysts in the first place). Hopefully I'll know more by this time tomorrow after my vet visit.
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Wishing you all the best.
 
Figured I would post another update on here. Hilda went to the vet last Monday (January 20) for a follow up after having been on antibiotics for a week for a suspected infection. As mentioned in my prior posts her weight had not really been increasing at all and if anything slowly decreased even with me supplementing with Critical Care (~2-3 tbsp daily which she took willingly) and her acting and eating mostly normally.

At that appointment the vet checked her temperature and she still had a slight fever, though lower than last time she was in. The vet and I spoke at length about a possible hyperthyroidism situation as well. He was hesitant on the hyperthyroid idea and also noted he had to check with his lab to see, if we even drew blood, if they could diagnose it. For the time being he told me to continue the antibiotics for one more week to see if her fever goes away completely or if her weight starts to improve, and we set another follow up for January 27th (tomorrow).

Most of her week went the same as the prior week-- still acting energetically and eating, in addition to taking the antibiotics and critical care. She stopped losing weight and sort of settled at the low weight of 690g - 710g depending on the time of day. Part of me was thinking maybe things were starting to turn around. But today, Sunday Jan 26th, I've noticed her condition has deteriorated some. She is less interested in the Critical Care, kind of just nibbling at it tentatively rather than ravenously eating it like she was prior. I also notice her hiding more and withdrawn. She did still run around when it was feeding time, ate her veggies and a little bit of hay here and there this afternoon. I also found some soft stools from her-- wondering if that is just from her diet being a bit disrupted. I also noticed her drinking more Friday/Saturday but less today.

Really unsure what could be going on with her. For the time being I am going to try and get more food into her and bridge her to her appointment tomorrow but I feel like I really don't have a good direction to go with the vet (and this is a trusted vet I have treated a lot of piggies with and also treats many of the rescue pigs in my city). Seems like her condition is a bit of a mystery still, but I'm worried it could go downhill now. Luckily I only have ~15 hours until her appointment I guess.
 
Hi there just seen this thread I'll be thinking of you and pray your girl gets well soon. Take care, stay strong and follow your gut feelings. It is good that you have a vet you've used before so be honest and say you desperately want an answer so your precious girl can get through this 💕
 
Devout_Haruhiist said:
Figured I would post another update on here. Hilda went to the vet last Monday (January 20) for a follow up after having been on antibiotics for a week for a suspected infection. As mentioned in my prior posts her weight had not really been increasing at all and if anything slowly decreased even with me supplementing with Critical Care (~2-3 tbsp daily which she took willingly) and her acting and eating mostly normally.

At that appointment the vet checked her temperature and she still had a slight fever, though lower than last time she was in. The vet and I spoke at length about a possible hyperthyroidism situation as well. He was hesitant on the hyperthyroid idea and also noted he had to check with his lab to see, if we even drew blood, if they could diagnose it. For the time being he told me to continue the antibiotics for one more week to see if her fever goes away completely or if her weight starts to improve, and we set another follow up for January 27th (tomorrow).

Most of her week went the same as the prior week-- still acting energetically and eating, in addition to taking the antibiotics and critical care. She stopped losing weight and sort of settled at the low weight of 690g - 710g depending on the time of day. Part of me was thinking maybe things were starting to turn around. But today, Sunday Jan 26th, I've noticed her condition has deteriorated some. She is less interested in the Critical Care, kind of just nibbling at it tentatively rather than ravenously eating it like she was prior. I also notice her hiding more and withdrawn. She did still run around when it was feeding time, ate her veggies and a little bit of hay here and there this afternoon. I also found some soft stools from her-- wondering if that is just from her diet being a bit disrupted. I also noticed her drinking more Friday/Saturday but less today.

Really unsure what could be going on with her. For the time being I am going to try and get more food into her and bridge her to her appointment tomorrow but I feel like I really don't have a good direction to go with the vet (and this is a trusted vet I have treated a lot of piggies with and also treats many of the rescue pigs in my city). Seems like her condition is a bit of a mystery still, but I'm worried it could go downhill now. Luckily I only have ~15 hours until her appointment I guess.
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BIG HUGS

I am so very sorry. There seems to be something something else underlying in play that is very, very hard to finger but is preventing recovery.

With their much faster metabolism and guinea pigs very much falling into the gap between classed as exotic pets but being to 'pedestrian' common 'children's pets', there is still a huge lag in research and species knowledge, and vets have to transfer to other species most of the time once you get past the standard illnesses. :(

You are such a dedicated and loving owner and are truly doing your best, as seems your vet within their own abilities and means.
 
Figured I would give another update on Hilda here. So last I posted Hilda was seeing the vet on Monday, Jan 27th. That Sunday she had been on Albon for two weeks and was still slowly losing some weight (sitting in the 690-700g range) and had some soft stool starting up.

At the vet, he took some xrays and didn't see anything. He took her temperature and she still had a fever (105F+). He was still convinced she has an infection due to the fever and prescribed two new antibiotics. She got put on .2mL of pradofloxacin orally and .2mL of ceftiofur injected for 2 weeks. He has had some success with these with one or two pigs over the years from the local rescue Today marked day 8 of that treatment. I've been taking her to the vet to get help with the injections (I am giving the injections but a tech is helping hold her). A few times they also checked her temperature:

Weds Jan 29th-- still had a 105F+ fever
Sat Feb 1-- very mild fever of 103.6F
Sun Feb 2-- no fever
So I got kind of hopeful, and so did the vet, that the antibiotics were working. I should also mention her weight loss stopped and she was sitting around the mid 680s-690g for that whole week. Still not gaining weight back but it was a start.

But then today she had a fever again when I took her for her injection, 105.5F. Behavior for the most part still seems normal and I see her eating throughout the day, drinking normally, poops normal, excited for food, etc. I am still giving some critical care which she takes off a spoon (though her interest in it varies).
Been weighing her in the morning and at night. This morning she was her "normal" 686g, but tonight-- despite a very normal seeming day, she was only 643g. Now I will say she did pee (on me) right before I weighed her and I know she can fluctuate daily but I was still a bit shocked, lowest I ever saw for her by a longshot. One maybe silver lining is it doesn't seem the antibiotics are messing with her stool or anything

My vet is out of town until next Monday so our current plan was just to finish this 2 week course of antibiotics (which goes until this upcoming Sunday) and then see him next Monday. Glad I have all that setup but I am a bit worried. I got my hopes up the antibiotics were working but now I'm not so sure.
 
Hey everyone, figured I'd give another update on Hilda.

Sadly she is still under the weather. She finished her two week course on the two antibiotics I mentioned in my last post (one oral, one injected) on Sunday and saw the vet Monday. She still had a mild fever and had not gained back any weight (sitting around ~648g). On the plus side she has still had a lot of energy and seems to be in good spirits, eating on her own and taking critical care and water on her own. But the underlying cause has not really been found. Nothing on xray or ultrasound to speak of, nothing notable on her coat, ears, teeth, poop, etc. based on the vet's exam.

So we started on yet another antibiotic since the vet is still concerned about the fever and thinks it's an infection. This time we started on Doxycycline and today was her third day of it. So far no change in her weight or behavior in any direction. I did see some slightly off looking poops so was worried about it affecting her gut. Giving her BeneBac and keeping an eye on that. She is on this course for 10 days and then seeing the vet again. I'm hoping one of these antibiotics will work.

If they do work, I'm not sure if I should expect to see any upward weight change until she is off all medications. Just hard to tell if it's doing anything.
 
Devout_Haruhiist said:
Figured I would give another update on Hilda here. So last I posted Hilda was seeing the vet on Monday, Jan 27th. That Sunday she had been on Albon for two weeks and was still slowly losing some weight (sitting in the 690-700g range) and had some soft stool starting up.

At the vet, he took some xrays and didn't see anything. He took her temperature and she still had a fever (105F+). He was still convinced she has an infection due to the fever and prescribed two new antibiotics. She got put on .2mL of pradofloxacin orally and .2mL of ceftiofur injected for 2 weeks. He has had some success with these with one or two pigs over the years from the local rescue Today marked day 8 of that treatment. I've been taking her to the vet to get help with the injections (I am giving the injections but a tech is helping hold her). A few times they also checked her temperature:

Weds Jan 29th-- still had a 105F+ fever
Sat Feb 1-- very mild fever of 103.6F
Sun Feb 2-- no fever
So I got kind of hopeful, and so did the vet, that the antibiotics were working. I should also mention her weight loss stopped and she was sitting around the mid 680s-690g for that whole week. Still not gaining weight back but it was a start.

But then today she had a fever again when I took her for her injection, 105.5F. Behavior for the most part still seems normal and I see her eating throughout the day, drinking normally, poops normal, excited for food, etc. I am still giving some critical care which she takes off a spoon (though her interest in it varies).
Been weighing her in the morning and at night. This morning she was her "normal" 686g, but tonight-- despite a very normal seeming day, she was only 643g. Now I will say she did pee (on me) right before I weighed her and I know she can fluctuate daily but I was still a bit shocked, lowest I ever saw for her by a longshot. One maybe silver lining is it doesn't seem the antibiotics are messing with her stool or anything

My vet is out of town until next Monday so our current plan was just to finish this 2 week course of antibiotics (which goes until this upcoming Sunday) and then see him next Monday. Glad I have all that setup but I am a bit worried. I got my hopes up the antibiotics were working but now I'm not so sure.
Click to expand...

All the best. My fingers are firmly crossed. You are such a committed, caring owner.
Devout_Haruhiist said:
All the best.
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Hilda finished her latest course of antibiotics and went to the vet today. Weight still unchanged (~650g), still had a 104.9F fever at the vet. The vet and I are definitely on the confused end now. She acts and looks healthy otherwise, even the vet was impressed with her energy level. At this point after 4 antibiotics thinking maybe it is not bacterial. Going to try no antibiotics for a week or two and just see if her condition changes.
 
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