Siikibam
Forum Donator 2022/23
I’m sorry you and the boys are struggling. I have everything crossed (including paws) that you don’t have to say bye to both of them. I think you will know what is best to do with regards Dash. Hugs
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What next? Feel stuck in a crackly nose loop
- Thread starter CV26
- Start date
CV26
Junior Guinea Pig
Thanks. I feel like all the **** of 2020 just wants to keep kicking until the bitter end.
Dash is being pretty active and eating lots but you can tell his movements are erratic and he's struggling. Also might be seeing the start of his poops not being great after yesterday's doses. He was OKish on Baytril last time we tried it but if his back end takes a turn then we've got a problem as he's not really got a great track record on oral meds. I've got some Pro C and some Nutrabio to help. I've also got some Oxbow digestive support turning up today hopefully. And he's on Emeraid.
I just can't do the jabs, I really have tried and I can't. It would be stressful for both of us if we went down that road again, not to mention costly if we opted to have another jab course done at the vets. So if he can't tolerate oral antibiotics comfortably then that's something we've got to think about too.
Dash is being pretty active and eating lots but you can tell his movements are erratic and he's struggling. Also might be seeing the start of his poops not being great after yesterday's doses. He was OKish on Baytril last time we tried it but if his back end takes a turn then we've got a problem as he's not really got a great track record on oral meds. I've got some Pro C and some Nutrabio to help. I've also got some Oxbow digestive support turning up today hopefully. And he's on Emeraid.
I just can't do the jabs, I really have tried and I can't. It would be stressful for both of us if we went down that road again, not to mention costly if we opted to have another jab course done at the vets. So if he can't tolerate oral antibiotics comfortably then that's something we've got to think about too.
DougalandDiego
Teenage Guinea Pig
Big hugs to you. Fingers crossed the specialist can shed some light on something to help the boys xx
CV26
Junior Guinea Pig
Spud's back end has settled down but his weight is still dropping. He topped out at 916g a couple of weeks ago and this morning he was 742g. I usually weigh at night so I'll check again later but the overall trend is losing not gaining.
I'm trying to find a balance between giving him Emeraid and time for him to eat hay on his own which he does seem to be doing. He's quite reluctant to take too much Emeraid and it gets into the realms of forcing him which I'm reluctant to do if he's still trying to eat hay and veg on his own. It just seems that the weight isn't sticking though.
Dash is better today but still unsteady. This is day 3 on this round of Baytril and it seems to be going OK for now stomach wise. He's eating like a horse and is being incredibly affectionate. On one hand I'm valuing that he wants me at the moment, but equally it's just heartbreaking as I think I know what will ultimately have to happen.
Ticking by one day at a time as the moment but that specialist appointment feels very far away. Not that I think we'll get any different answers at this stage
I'm trying to find a balance between giving him Emeraid and time for him to eat hay on his own which he does seem to be doing. He's quite reluctant to take too much Emeraid and it gets into the realms of forcing him which I'm reluctant to do if he's still trying to eat hay and veg on his own. It just seems that the weight isn't sticking though.
Dash is better today but still unsteady. This is day 3 on this round of Baytril and it seems to be going OK for now stomach wise. He's eating like a horse and is being incredibly affectionate. On one hand I'm valuing that he wants me at the moment, but equally it's just heartbreaking as I think I know what will ultimately have to happen.
Ticking by one day at a time as the moment but that specialist appointment feels very far away. Not that I think we'll get any different answers at this stage
Siikibam
Forum Donator 2022/23
You will have to up the frequency of the syringe feeds I’m afraid. You need to aim for 60-90ml in a 24 hour period. This could mean 5ml every two hours. Could you try giving it to him on a spoon or in a bowl?
DougalandDiego
Teenage Guinea Pig
Sorry to hear you’re having a really difficult time with your boys. I find mine prefer mashed pellets (and warm at that!) when I have had to syringe feed. Hopefully by upping the amount you feed you can keep his weight up. Big hugs x
Bradshaw Piggies
Forum Donator 2023/24
Just caught up with the thread. So so sorry to hear you’re having a difficult time. Sending love and I hope Dash starts to improve. Take care of yourself too, caring for poorly piggies takes it’s toll.
Thinking of you both
Thinking of you both
T-Rex
Forum Donator 2023/24
Aww just read this thread. Sorry your are having so much trouble. It’s so hard caring for these poorly babies.
I always found when syringe feeding Jazzy that giving him a good big amount of syringe food simulated his appetite when back in the cage.
I imagine it’s the same advice as I give the elderly people I care for.. the longer you go without food the harder and more uncomfortable you feel when trying to eat. If you keep eating and topping yourself up it gets your insides working better and becomes less uncomfortable and easier to eat.
I always found when syringe feeding Jazzy that giving him a good big amount of syringe food simulated his appetite when back in the cage.
I imagine it’s the same advice as I give the elderly people I care for.. the longer you go without food the harder and more uncomfortable you feel when trying to eat. If you keep eating and topping yourself up it gets your insides working better and becomes less uncomfortable and easier to eat.
valsie
Junior Guinea Pig
So sorry that you’re having such a tough time with your two boys. Dealing with one poorly piggy is hard enough let alone two. The stress and worry really does take it’s toll, especially if you’re having to syringe feed too.
I hope you can find some answers to Dash’s problems at the vets on 4th January. Let us know how you get on. Sending hugs to you
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I hope you can find some answers to Dash’s problems at the vets on 4th January. Let us know how you get on. Sending hugs to you
.CV26
Junior Guinea Pig
Really appreciate everyone's comments, thank you.
I've not been good over the last few days, very tearful and struggling with all the information we have on the table at the moment. I'm trying to work my way through things so that nothing, be it good or bad news, really comes as a suprise when we see the specialist on Monday. I don't do well with uncertainty so 2020 has taken its toll and I think I'm on my final straw at the moment.
The boys on the other hand...well you'd think I was giving them red bull rather than Baytril!
Dash spent this morning running round his cage so fast we thought someone was trying to knock down the bedroom wall. His head tilt and ear issues are currently gone (although they're most likely lurking in the background still) and he's on oral Baytril. We had a couple of days of slightly pointy dark poop but over the last two days it's all looked pretty normal.
Spud has been getting a Baytril injection each day at the vets. Today was his first dose of oral Baytril. His poops are back to normal and he's putting weight on again. I think the antibiotics helped his snuffles and in turn he's felt like eating more for himself. We'll just need to wait and see now if he can cope with the oral Baytril.
We're back at our normal vets tomorrow for a check up.
On Monday we'll see the specialist and see if they can bring any other ideas to the table.
I've not been good over the last few days, very tearful and struggling with all the information we have on the table at the moment. I'm trying to work my way through things so that nothing, be it good or bad news, really comes as a suprise when we see the specialist on Monday. I don't do well with uncertainty so 2020 has taken its toll and I think I'm on my final straw at the moment.
The boys on the other hand...well you'd think I was giving them red bull rather than Baytril!
Dash spent this morning running round his cage so fast we thought someone was trying to knock down the bedroom wall. His head tilt and ear issues are currently gone (although they're most likely lurking in the background still) and he's on oral Baytril. We had a couple of days of slightly pointy dark poop but over the last two days it's all looked pretty normal.
Spud has been getting a Baytril injection each day at the vets. Today was his first dose of oral Baytril. His poops are back to normal and he's putting weight on again. I think the antibiotics helped his snuffles and in turn he's felt like eating more for himself. We'll just need to wait and see now if he can cope with the oral Baytril.
We're back at our normal vets tomorrow for a check up.
On Monday we'll see the specialist and see if they can bring any other ideas to the table.
CV26
Junior Guinea Pig
The specialist pretty much agrees with the main vet we've been seeing. They have an underlying problem which is highly likely to keep flaring up. The specialist suspects that they may have pockets of infection that get suppressed on medication but kick off again when the course is stopped - quite severely in Dash's case. He thinks regardless of what we do next, they will have a much shorter life than average - although its very hard to say what that would be.
He's suggested 2 options...
1) Long term antibiotics. He's recommend continuing as we are with the Baytril for 8 weeks and then having a break. It may be that we get a short period antibiotic free before any symptoms reappear, or it might be pretty instant as we've already seen with Dash. The aim would be to have as much antibiotic free time as possible but they can be on it constantly if needs be. There is the risk that they become resistant and we'd then have to see if another antibiotic could work for a time. And there's potential for some digestive issues.
2) A CT scan to identify what is going on inside. He said it isn't infallible but is better than an xray for detecting things and it might well show up where these pockets of infection could be, or might show us something else. Either way, once the problem is identified its highly likely surgery would be an appropriate course of action to scoop out the infection/ deal with the issue. This obviously has risks and also might not even work in the long run. It also has a high price tag for the scan in the first place and then a huge ? over the costs of any action we take off the back of the results.
There is of course option 3 of PTS if their quality of life deteriorates because either of the above didn't work / stopped working.
He's also recommended vitamin C tablets and a UV lamp (one for birds) to help boost their immune system as much as possible. It might not add much but he said at least it was something we could try.
My gut is saying option 1. They're on a clock although we don't know how much time is on it. But they're happy and if the antibiotics can give them a comfortable life for x amount of time, that seems preferable to the stressful and invasive route of option 2 - particularly when that gives no guarantees of a resolution anyway.
I feel ok today about it all at the moment. It hasn't ended the problem but it has given us a more defined route rather than fire fighting each issue as its occurs. They're holding up well so far on the Baytril so that's a good start for now. We'll just have to see how things go.
Thanks for all your support.
He's suggested 2 options...
1) Long term antibiotics. He's recommend continuing as we are with the Baytril for 8 weeks and then having a break. It may be that we get a short period antibiotic free before any symptoms reappear, or it might be pretty instant as we've already seen with Dash. The aim would be to have as much antibiotic free time as possible but they can be on it constantly if needs be. There is the risk that they become resistant and we'd then have to see if another antibiotic could work for a time. And there's potential for some digestive issues.
2) A CT scan to identify what is going on inside. He said it isn't infallible but is better than an xray for detecting things and it might well show up where these pockets of infection could be, or might show us something else. Either way, once the problem is identified its highly likely surgery would be an appropriate course of action to scoop out the infection/ deal with the issue. This obviously has risks and also might not even work in the long run. It also has a high price tag for the scan in the first place and then a huge ? over the costs of any action we take off the back of the results.
There is of course option 3 of PTS if their quality of life deteriorates because either of the above didn't work / stopped working.
He's also recommended vitamin C tablets and a UV lamp (one for birds) to help boost their immune system as much as possible. It might not add much but he said at least it was something we could try.
My gut is saying option 1. They're on a clock although we don't know how much time is on it. But they're happy and if the antibiotics can give them a comfortable life for x amount of time, that seems preferable to the stressful and invasive route of option 2 - particularly when that gives no guarantees of a resolution anyway.
I feel ok today about it all at the moment. It hasn't ended the problem but it has given us a more defined route rather than fire fighting each issue as its occurs. They're holding up well so far on the Baytril so that's a good start for now. We'll just have to see how things go.
Thanks for all your support.