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zoe update

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It's good that you've sorted out if they are going to be back together again. You have the patience of a saint! :)
 
okay i am plucking at straws now(no pun intended) but is hubby's cage he built too small for our girls?as i am wondering if jessie picks on zoe cause the cage OH built is too small for 2 piggies? it is 4ft long by 18inches wide by 20 inches high. what do you think? at present they each have 2ft as there is a cooling rack halving the cage. am open to suggestions as we will DO anything for our babies!! O0 O0 O0. is our cage too small and this is why jessie picks on zoe? please helpful comments appreciated. :smitten:
zoe has had a bad night with soft poops! she is on protexin-probiotic and this is not having any affect on her! i wonder if guinea pig owners age quicker and go grey earlier? cause these little varmints worry the life out of us.
anyway, think i have a picture on PC of cage so will run too pictures then photobucket and back again, just twiddle your thumbs till i return. O0 O0
jessieandzoe.jpg
okay there is picture and i am pooped with all that running around there are two bedrooms-about 1 foot each, 2 bowls, 2 pellet bowls, 2 bottles, 2 hayracks (which were peg baskets we coverted into hayracks). do you think cage is too small?
honest opinion please as i can buy some more timber and add an extension to cage if you think it is too small. please let me know what you think. hoping you slept well. as for zoe i GIVE up! her poops have me beat! ran out of ideas! if you have any let me know. when a probiotic has no affect for better or worse i am baffled! sweet dreams all. :smitten: :smitten: :smitten:
 
Hi Mary

I personally would say that if you can afford the extra space, I would always do it O0

I had a thought about tummy upsets - are your veggies kept in the fridge? Our Pepe used to have sporadic tummy upsets and someone on here suggested that if the food is given straight from the fridge and not brought to room temp before giving it to them that it can often cause tummy problems. We now always wash and chop our veg up and leave it to warm for about 45 mins (if pos) before giving it to them and fingers crossed no tummy upsets since...
 
Boureki said:
Hi MaryI personally would say that if you can afford the extra space, I would always do it O0
I had a thought about tummy upsets - are your veggies kept in the fridge? Our Pepe used to have sporadic tummy upsets and someone on here suggested that if the food is given straight from the fridge and not brought to room temp before giving it to them that it can often cause tummy problems. We now always wash and chop our veg up and leave it to warm for about 45 mins (if pos) before giving it to them and fingers crossed no tummy upsets since...
Click to expand...
how much bigger do you think we should go? OH is going to be so :tickedoff: :tickedoff: :tickedoff: think he needs a swear jar like homer simpson. have room for another foot or we have an old rabbits cage that sweet thumper was in which is also around 4ft long we could somehow join the 2 cages together and they would have 8ft. would mean alot of rearranging and brain work to join them, what do you think? :-\ :-\ :-\ though would this box have too many bunny germs it is also wooden? HELP PLEASE!!!
as for the food, most times we take out 1 hour before feeding, but sometimes we give straight from the fridge like when OH and zoe have a rockmelon she doesn't have soft poop. there is no pattern to her poops except for carrot, carrot tops, brocoli, cauilflower are big no nos. :'( :'( :'(
thanks for you reply, sweet dreams :smitten: :smitten: :smitten:
 
Hi Mary

I always think that if we can all afford more space it's good to try for it if we can, especially with bonded pigs as space can be a huge factor in falling outs between piggies. I gathered from the previous post before my one that it wasn't a problem for you to add more, perhaps I read it wrong and it will in fact be a problem. I'm rubbish at maths and converting things, but the is a good site for reference: http://www.guineapigcages.com/ I don't know if that helps? As for bunny germs, I know nothing about buns I'm afraid, so can't help you with that - I should imagine if you disinfected it thoroughly in every nook and cranny and leave to dry off in the ample sunshine you lucky Aussies get, I don't see it should be a problem, but am sure more knowledgable bunny owners will be along to help you shortly :)

Regarding the fridge thing - I always suggest that to people now as it seemed to help my lot ;D I doubt if it is that, but I know what it's like to not know something and try desperately to work things out as to why something is happening, so thought I would throw it in the mix anyway!

Julie :)
 
If you can go biger then I would. I've heard the same thing and things being too cold for your guineas tummies. When Ginger had bloat she wasn't drinking her fresh water and someone suggested to me that the water could be too cold. So I leave the water to go to room temperature and the same with her fruit/veggies and this seems to have worked. My fingers are crossed that this works for you :)
 
julie, i was not offended or upset by your post. was thinking of taking thumper's (RIP 2006) cage apart he was a bunny and joining it to the girls cage which will make it 8ft.just have to rearrange one of my book cupboards to make room for the second cage and to run it pass the OH. if you hear profanities you'll know he's not happy jan! :tickedoff: :tickedoff: :tickedoff: he has just got home so have your ears open people. :o :o :o
as for the fridge we take their food out about 1 hour before feeding time and it makes no difference to zoe. the protexin-probiotic is also not making any difference. :tickedoff: :tickedoff: :tickedoff: as zoe is 4 months short of being 4 maybe she will never be right again due to her age and i will just have to be more careful? guessing the anitibotics and surgery didn't help her either. her age and hormones are the only things left that i can think off, as everything else has failed to help. but i am open to suggestions. :smitten: :smitten: :smitten:
 
OH was :o :o :o and hurt :'( :'( :'( that i suggested getting rid of either zoe of jessie. when i explained the cage was too small he said he would get thumper's box out and cut it in half and join it onto the girls box.
so is 6ft big enough or should it be larger? OH saids he will do something but when he finds the time is another matter. will give him a week and then will pretend to start to do it myself then he will do it to stop me from doing it.
call me stupid, but i feel so sad to be cutting up thumper's box, it use to house petal and rosie too, so many memories that cage holds it's like losing them all over again :'( :'( :'( i feel so sad about it. OH feels joining the two cages together which would make 8ft is too large but i don't. so guessing it will be 6ft and the cage will be cut in half. please let me know if this is big enough. :smitten: :'( :'( :'( :smitten: :smitten:
 
I can understand how you feel about taking the old cage apart...but think how lovely it will be for Zoe and Jessie. The things we do for these piggies of ours!

Sorry to hear that Zoe's poops are still soft. It may be something that just resolves with time, I sure you're not doing anything wrong, it's just that guinea pigs have sensitive little digestive systems. I had a piggy (Basil) who had squishy poops for a couple of years and nothing I did helped, but he was perfectly happy in himself. Sounds like Zoe is happy too...bet she loves the tlc!

Love from Daisy and Clover to Zoe and Jessie. :smitten: :smitten:
 
Aw, why would you want to get rid of Zoe or Jessie? My boys think they are lovely girls!
maybe Zoe is going to always have softer poops than most other pigs - how is she doing today? My Roly wants to know as he has had an op and wanted to know how Zoe was doing as i told him all about her. He is doing really well at the moment and his scar is healing nicely, he has been doing loads of poops (though he won't be happy that I've broadcast it!) and said to give Zoe a piggy kiss from him!

I have 5 hormonal pigs and a depressed hamster in the house, plus 2 mad rabbits outside and some crazy chickens that leave me the odd egg - I feel like a mad farmer!
 
i only said i would get rid of jessie or zoe to make OH to make their cage bigger. so far (touching wood) zoe has been clean for 22 hours and hoping it continues. glad roly is feeling better :-* :-* :-* am more concerned about missy the cat at present who is not eating. i would say(sorry for the pun) that you have a funny farm. zoe and jessie send roly and the boys :-* :-* :-* when ever OH will find time to make cage bigger, never enough hours in the day :tickedoff: :tickedoff: :tickedoff: sending hugs and cuddles :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: and roly i will pass on your kisses to zoe but jessie is going to get jealous! :smitten:
 
Mary it IS a funny farm here! Honestly, we had Jehovah's Witnesses banging on the door this morning - we'd been out last night for an indian and lots of beer with friends so I answered the door in my dressing gown with a hangover and told them not to come back or I'd set the dogs on them (we don't have any dogs but the farm next door has some suitably unstable dogs that chase our cars). The chickens have been scratching up all the gravel in our front garden but they are so comical I don't chase them, plus I get a fresh egg laid by the front door every other day! I spend most of my time running round getting food for the piglets/cleaning them out/doing laundry/housework etc etc, plus trying to persuade Jeremy that a bath today would win him points with the lovely Ruby.. they are all such hard work!
I am glad Zoe has been clean - Roly had a messy butt for a bit after his op which was unlike him so we were worried. I know what you mean about not enough hours in the day. jessie shouldn't get jealous - our Scruffy said she was a bit of alright!
 
now jessie is all :embarassed: :embarassed: :embarassed: zoe saids thanks roly and :-* :-* :-* right back at you! the Jehovah's know not to call here but the jolly mormans are so annoying. i was standing waiting for OH down the street and they just came up to me and started talking. the more i told them i have my own faith the more they went on and on. felt like strangling them :tickedoff: :tickedoff: :tickedoff: i am lucky with the pets, house work etc OH loves to help but time still gets away from us.
i get really scared when dogs chase cars poor things are liable to get runned over. people should keep their pets restrained including gravel bullying chooks 2funny 2funny 2funny. just fed zoe she was clean again, after nearly 20 hours of not eating misst finally had a little raw chicken. she is still not herself but at least she has eaten something. going to get some nutrigel to stimulate appetite and gives animal nutrients and some chicken mince for missy. sweet dreams to you, roly and scruffy :smitten:
 
I'm glad Zoe is nice and clean and good to see Missy's having a nibble at something.
 
been doing some research on the internet concerning zoe and her soft poops and have found- erythromycin and related derivitives (sp?) of the drug can actually be harmful to your pig and cause permanent harmful damage to your piggy and this might be the problem for the soft poops. the terramycin might have done permanent damage to zoe's tummy. the antibiotic safe for guinea pigs is baytril as long as given with a probiotic like bio lapis.
so am definately NOT happy with damn aussie vets! :tickedoff: :tickedoff: :tickedoff: as far as missy goes got some nutripet and some chicken mince and she is eating this. will be taking missy the cat to the vet first thing tomorrow morning. will keep you posted. hugs and cuddles :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: girls send :-* :-* :-*
 
I hope Missy gets on ok at the vets tomorrow. I wish I could suggest something to help with Zie's soft poops :)
 
How is Missy today? Did you go to vets? I know it's tomorrow there! You have been through so much. How are Zoe's poops today? Maybe they are going to stay soft. As long as she eats and looks well, her poops may not change. I really hope they both get well. I feel horrible for how long you have been going through all this. Ricky and me are thinking of all of you and are waiting for all your babies to get a clean bill of health! Love to all of you! :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten:
 
hello just got back from the vet, the vet has been talking to maryh's vet from the UK and believes most guinea pigs should only have grass and hay with pellets, everything else is a treat which if out in the wild they wouldn't get. she also believes that like missy zoe has a food allergy and has asked dr taylor if she could get andy to get in touch with her. i told her andy had let dr taylors vet clinic but was told they still keep in touch. :-\ :-\ :-\ here is copy of vet's email.
I am sorry but was unable to use internet on the w/end and so could not reply to you. I am afraid it is an ureliable resourse due to poor quality phone lines.
If missy has vomited again then we need to see her but see you are coming in tonight. it is likely that I will start a rule in rule out phase top on my list is giardia as both cats had vomited hair balls are also a possibility with the skin disease present and the other alternative is that we undertake abdominal ultrasound. can you please tell me what her faeces are like and when did she vomit how many times and also what was in it when did she last eat and what and how much.
As for zoe no I don't believe the gut is permanently damaged as has normal days but the more I think about it the more i am concerned about too much variety in diet as a wild cavy would graze and then get the occassional variety in diet and not regular changes onto lush herbs such as we have available and all herbs have other effects ie sage causes mooth muscle relaxation in the gut coriander can cause stomach upsets and diarrhoea so I think we should get back to basics I shall ask one of the o/seas vets re their recommendations for proper balanced diet and clarify for you but if gut was permanaently damaged then would expect dirrhoea all the time.
kirsty

we had a vet appointment for 4.20pm SA time for missy to get checked out, as she is only eating enough to keep a mouse going.
okay, am back from vet, she wanted to try a food trial, but we were against it and decided to go for the ultra sound of missy's heart and maybe abdomen as well to see how her innards are before we try anything as simple as a change in food. as missy's heart was even faster today than last week as she has lost 170grams. will keep you posted. :-\ :-\ :-\
 
okay just got an email from vet and missy the cat is booked in for a ultra sound at 9.10am south australia time. they will be ultra sounding her heart and if need be her abdomen. and maybe a biopsy taken as well. when we went to vet this afternoon missy's heart rate was 212 beats. so hopefully we will know more tomorrow or soon. will keep you posted. and thanks to those of you that have replied. :smitten: :smitten: :smitten:
 
Well I hope things go ok at the vets for you tomorrow. I think going with the ultrasound is the best option because if there is a problem then I'm sure this would show up something.
 
have just gotten back from the vets and missy had her ultra sound. her heart is normal but her abdomen isn't. in front of her left kidney there is a mass of 3cms and it was hard for the lady who did the ultrasound to make anything out in missy's abdomen as it was inflammed.
they have taken a fine needle aspirate of the mass and this will be sent to pathology and results will be back in 24-48 hours.
missy like zoe just laid there and let them ultra sound her so she didn't need sedatation either. will know if she needs surgery or not and whether it is benign or not. so at present we are doing a food trial until results are in. :-\ :-\ :-\
will keep you posted.
as for zoe the vet has spoken with dr taylor and both agreed that guinea pigs don't need fruit and veggies, just what they would eat in the wild, grass and hay and pellets if i wanted them to have pellets. so am going to try that and as for veggies go i could like today give zoe a celery leaf, tomorrow nothing then the next day a small bit of brocoli and so on. both vets agreed that guinea pigs are being feed a too hugh carbo diet. so whether they are right or not have no idea, she let me a herb book and things like basil, dill, corriander, mint, sage, thyme all say can cause minor discomforts such as upset stomach or diarrhea. but i can hear you saying in moderation, which is what we did with zoe and perhaps the surgery messed her around too, but from now on she is only getting veggies rarely. more pellets, hay and grass. thanks for your replies, will keep you posted on missy. :smitten: :smitten: :smitten:
 
I hope Missy's lump is benign. At least you know now what is probably causing her stomach upset.
Ginger doesn't eat many herbs. She doesn't like Mint and I tried her with parsley and she just eats the stalk and leave the rest. I know people may start shouting now but I don't give my guinea veg/fruit everyday because it makes her stomach upset. She usually has small amounts every other day otherwise she has soft poops too. I think by doing what you suggest it might well help her - fingers crossed.
 
still waiting to hear from the vet about the pathology on the mass. there is also talk of a bowel and chest x ray as missy isn't pooping every day and missy's heart is beating fast but heart was perfect on ultra sound. at present she is on hills prescription diet can food and eats just enough to keep a mouse going. will post when i know more. the vet is 95% sure the mass has nothing to do with missy's present condition. :tickedoff: :tickedoff: :tickedoff:
on hay and grass and the odd bit of parsley zoe has been clean now for 3 days. got everything cross this continues. this a touch and go thing if you add a teeny bit too much grass or pellets then the soft poops return. again will keep you posted. :smitten: :smitten: :smitten:
 
Hi Mary :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten:
awwwwww poor Missy we're sending her heaps of gentle kisses and loves and piggie kisses to help her eat again and feel better :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten:
and give that little cutie Zoe a big kiss on her little nose and ears from us, Dukey sends a :-* :-* :-* too :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten:
 
the results from missy's test are in and here is the vets email and my reply. please don't think me heartless but i want to do what is right for missy. i am in shock and overload.

hello kirsty,
sorry, the phone is switched off as ian has a migraine and hardly anyone rings here. am sorry for the hassles of turning the phone off.
ian has been getting a lot of headaches worried about missy and all the cost involved.
okay i am now in panic mode are you saying missy has cancer? at age 14 what are her chances of beating this? do you think gypsy would have had the same as the symptoms are the same except gypsy lost more weight. do you want me to bring missy into tomorrow or just me and the OH.
sorry to be asking but what would i be looking at for this biopsy and then the chemo? i was under the impression chemo was expensive!
and i though at the ultra sound sample was taken to do a biopsy. when you say biopsy are we talking surgery to remove mass?
i'm sorry as much as i love missy and believe me we do this is all sounding expensive and frankly freaking me out!!
please don't think me heartless but missy is 14 if we went ahead with chemo etc who is too say how long she will live? and would this be causing her not to eat? with chemo would her fur fall out? would she vomit? i feel like i am in over load and can't handle this information you're giving me.
i want to do what is right for missy, and at her age i am not sure chemo is it.
i am guessing you didn't have any appointments in the pm for me, so i will stay up all night again like tuesday.
will see you tomorrow.
mary.

Kirsten Hailstone wrote:

Hi Mary have tried to ring today but no answer so am emailing I would like to discuss this case with you as is involved. The mass we took sample from i missy's abdomen is full of lymphocytes these cells are white blood cells involved in fighting disease . The pathologist felt that the cells were bordering on normal as lymph nodes can enlarge in response to almost any inflammatory condition. However the suspiscion is that given where the mass is it is most likely to be a tumor and the only way that I can prove the diagnosis is to biopsy the mass. this would only be recommended if you are going to consider chemotherapy. The reason for confirming is that obviously chemotherapy can be very involved and can chemotherapy from these involved involve weekly injections and admissions to the surgery and can be quite beneficial in extending lifespan but you can vary the treatments from jsut tablets to multiple injectable drugs with gastrotomy tubes etc. If you told me that chemotherapy was not an option I would use corticosteroids orally as this will at least make her feel much better in the short term but we will not be able to go backwards with the same results as I said i think we need to meet and talk as approx 55% of cats with lymphoma can get into remission with chemotherapy.
I have given you an appointment at 11.20am tomorrow when I can clarify your options anddiscuss if this does not work for you please phone or email us at your convenience
Bets wishes kirsty
 
Oh you poor soul, I'm not surprised you're overwhelmed by it all.

I think you'll probably feel clearer about things when you've seen the vet. You're NOT heartless, you're being realistic about the implications of treatment. It's clear that your main concern is Missy's welfare though we all have to consider the cost of treatment, it's all part and parcel of having pets. It seems from what the vet said in her e-mail that there are various treatment options so you can talk to her about what will suit you all best. You may decide at her age that the best thing to do is not be too heavy with treatment but just to keep her comfortable and happy which is a perfectly valid decision.


Give Missy a big cuddle from me, Daisy and Clover :smitten: :smitten: :smitten:
 
thank you for your reply, the latest email we got from the vet said with chemo missy might get 9 months with other treatment maybe 3-4 months and if left as is a week or two. we can't believe missy is dying, we only lost gypsy 3 weeks ago. this disease the vet said missy has, the net saids cats can only get it by a cat bite, shared bowls, shared trays, grooming each other, or mother cat giveing it to her kittens, missy has had none of these, even when gypsy was alive they were seperated. like you said soozn, i hope to know more tomorrow when i have seen the vet. you get a kitten or any animal and you think you have a life time together, when you think of missy who is 14 i think where has the time gone? seems just yesterday we found her dumped in our yard. will post again tomorrow. :'( :'( :'(
 
Hi Mary so sorry to hear this, give yourself time to take it all in and to get used to the idea that Missy wont be with you much longer, I dont mean to sound harsh I just think you need to bear in mind that whatever you do is only prolonging the inevitable.

Take your time and decide what is right for Missy, it may be kinder just to keep her comfy for however long she has left, and not put her through treatment, only you can decide.

Remember you friends are here when you need us.

Sending you love and hugs at this difficult and sad time

Please give these to Missy for me :-* :-* :-* :smitten: :smitten: :smitten:
 
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