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Advice About A Guinea Pig With Edema

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Heather Gail

Heather Gail

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Hi

I was wondering if anyone had ever had a guinea pig with edema.

2 weeks ago I noticed my little lady Pippa had a bulge on her neck/chest area. I took her to the vet who said to keep an eye on it and gave her some pain meds. I had an appointment for 5 days later.

By the time I took her back the lump was not only bigger but she seemed to be stolen underneath, feeling noticably squidgy (only word to describe it) underneath when I picked her up. The vet gave her xrays on her side and from above and took a fluid sample from the lump on her neck. She also heard a heart murmur.

The conclusion was pippa had edema due to a heart condition. How I understand it is her cells are collecting excess fluid down her chest and under her belly, swelling up. I was given a diuretic to give to her twice a day. Her lungs are clear but the stolen tissue is pushing her wind pipe up a bit meaning her breathing is wheezy at points. She's still on pain meds. She's been on the diuretic since Tuesday.

I'm back at the vets this coming Tuesday. There are days she's brighter and I think it's improving then the next day I'm not sure. She's eating great and still happily toddling round the cage. She does have a habit of getting comfy and sitting in her own poops so she's had to have her underneath washed twice in 5 days.

Has anyone else experienced this diagnosis and what was your piggies prognosis? Any advice would be appreciated or things to watch out for. The vet said it was not a very common condition apparently.
Thanks
 
I've sadly just lost my heart piggy, but she had a mass as well as heart failure. She was on a high dose of Furosemide daily plus Vetmedin & Metacam & had 4 months of really good quality life after diagnosis. Adelle's piggy was diagnosed more than a year ago I believe. Is she on heart meds other than the diuretic? The key is getting the balance right between the two.
 
Pippa is just on furosemide and metacam twice daily. I've been told tomorrow to drop the furosemide down to 0.2ml from 0.4ml. They haven't given her any heart medication. In the xrays we couldn't actually see her heart it was covered by cloudy stolen tissue. Sound was the only indication of a heart issue. First thing was to try and slow down the rate of the edema as it had got worse very quickly.

Unfortunately the 2 weeks prior to finding the initial lump they were with my parents due to a very erratic work schedule for me and my parents are not as good at spotting these things so it appeared within those 2 weeks. My mum thought she just had some excess skin under her chin. They know to watch out for lack of appetite and change in poops and volume of poops as warning signs but not much else.
 
@helen105281 has the most experience with heart meds and can likley give you the best tips.
What diuretic is your girl on and could you speak to the vet re. how high you can push it safely on her bad days?
 
Is it Frusol she is on? Do you know what the dose is in mg? I usually have tablets which we crush. I believe they can have 2.5mg twice a day but can go up to at least 10 to kick start the fluid clearing in a really poorly pig. It is a while since my heart pigs have needed diuretics though.
 
The diuretic is furosemide. I've been told to diluent one tablet in 2ml of water and give 0.4ml of the solution twice a day for the first 4 days then drop down to 0.2ml after that. Tomorrow should be her first day on 0.2ml but she's still pretty swolen underneath so I'm considering keeping going at 0.4ml.

I'm back at the vets Tuesday with her.
 
If you have a look on the packet, or the label it should give you a 'mg'.

My pig had 20mg tablets and I gave him 1/4 per day split into two doses, so that's 2.5mg per dose (5mg per day).
 
Thanks for all your replies.

Sadly my worst fears were realised this morning when I went to give pippa her morning dose. She was curled up unable to move, barely breathing. I picked her up and held her on my knee for 10 minutes till she closed her eyes and passed away.
Unfortunately it's all progressed too fast for her little body to handle. She was a very sweet piggie and I'm really going to miss her.
 
Oh goodness me, I've just seen this thread. I couldn't have said anything to help but I'm really sorry that it ended up the way it did.
Huge hugs. She passed with you right there to give her comfort. :hug:
RIP sweet girl x
 
Thank you everyone. Even though I've been through losing a piggie before its still horrible, especially as I thought I had a diagnosis and a way forward to make her better.

I'm worried about her Cage mate Tilly. She's defintley not herself. Very quiet, sometimes just sitting curled up, other times running and hiding. Not coming up to the side of the cage when I go in like she usually does to see if I'll give her more greens. Had her out for a cuddle but she's defintley out of sorts.
I'm assuming she's missing Pippa.
 
BIG HUGS

I am very sorry! You have tried your best, so please take consolation from the fact that Pippa couldn't have had a better home or life.

When a heart goes into acute failure, there is only so much you can do. Even if you had got her more and stronger meds, it is doubtful that they would have bought her more than a very few days at the most. :(
 
I hope you find this useful for Tilly Looking After A Bereaved Guinea Pig

It's a stressful time because you are upset and at the same time worrying for Tilly. It's hard to know how they will react, it's a case of time will tell. Sometimes they snap out of it in a day or two and other times they go down-hill. Being as she is out of sorts it may be worth starting the process of looking for another companion, without yet making any commitments at this stage, but I know from my own experience that it's not always what we want to be doing - it can seem too soon for us.
If she snaps out of it you and her will have time to come to terms with the loss of Pippa, but if she stops eating and really goes into herself then at least you will already be a step closer to getting a companion for her :hug:
 
Thanks Critter and I've started the process of looking for a new friend. I'm in an awkward situation as I'm due to have an operation a week tomorrow. I'll be in recovery for 2 weeks at my parents place relying on them to get me about. Obviously the plan was for both girls to be with me at my parents but now it'll just be Tilly. I either need to find her a new friend before I go up there or she'll spend the next month potentially alone as I won't be able to take her out to bonding until I'm cleared to drive again the 2nd week in March.

It does feel too soon for me but I'm trying to think of her and I don't want her to be alone any longer than she has to be.
 
Oh no, it's never a good time for a loss but this is horrible timing. I hope something slots into place for you xx
 
Heather Gail said:
Thanks Critter and I've started the process of looking for a new friend. I'm in an awkward situation as I'm due to have an operation a week tomorrow. I'll be in recovery for 2 weeks at my parents place relying on them to get me about. Obviously the plan was for both girls to be with me at my parents but now it'll just be Tilly. I either need to find her a new friend before I go up there or she'll spend the next month potentially alone as I won't be able to take her out to bonding until I'm cleared to drive again the 2nd week in March.

It does feel too soon for me but I'm trying to think of her and I don't want her to be alone any longer than she has to be.
Click to expand...

@pig in the city - Can you help or do you know somebody from a rescue who could help with freshly bereaved Tilly while her owner is undergoing an operation?
 
Yes, l am sorry about your poor heart piggy Heather, but hopefully we will get Tilly sorted with a new friend so that you can relax and recuperate from your operation x
 
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