clair26
Junior Guinea Pig
I adopted Poppy in April 10, her then owners didn't seem sure but said they thought she was just over one years old.
Since she has lived with us, she has been very lively, vocal and always the first there when it's veggie time. Her appetite was always the best out of all the piggies.
About a week ago, she started to shun veggies, and for the next few days sat hunched in the corner getting thinner, I hoped it was a phase and just kept an eye on her, 2 days later she was bleeding from the back end. I noticed her anal area was protruding, but was unsure whether that was due to her becoming very thin. Poppy is also messy around that area, despite numerous attempts at cleaning.
I took her to the vet who took her temperature, said she had a fever, gave her an anti biotic injection, some supreme recovery feed, and told me to come back the next day. Went back; she was then given a pain relief injection, and some oral anti biotics and told to come back in 3 days. She is also squeaking whilst toileting (don't know if its pee or poop or both).
Over the course of the 3 days the bleeding stopped and she started picking at food. Took her back to the vet who said Poppy had lost even more weight and suggested it was time to put her to sleep.
I asked if I could persevere with the care (syringe feeding and anti biotics twice a day) rather than give up on her. The vet agreed and told me to bring her back in 3/4 days.
Since then she has shown more interest in food, spends around 70 percent of her time in the corner (less than previously) hunched up, drinking lots, starting to take interest in hay again. Poppy is still squeaking when toileting though. She is interacting more with her cagemates. Little improvements I see.
Am I kidding myself that she is improving enough? or am I being selfish because I cannot bear to part with her? Is 6 full days of anti-biotics enough to know for sure either way?
Watching her right now munching on some romaine lettuce and spinach, it seems unthinkable to have her put to sleep, but am I in denial of the bigger picture?
Since she has lived with us, she has been very lively, vocal and always the first there when it's veggie time. Her appetite was always the best out of all the piggies.
About a week ago, she started to shun veggies, and for the next few days sat hunched in the corner getting thinner, I hoped it was a phase and just kept an eye on her, 2 days later she was bleeding from the back end. I noticed her anal area was protruding, but was unsure whether that was due to her becoming very thin. Poppy is also messy around that area, despite numerous attempts at cleaning.
I took her to the vet who took her temperature, said she had a fever, gave her an anti biotic injection, some supreme recovery feed, and told me to come back the next day. Went back; she was then given a pain relief injection, and some oral anti biotics and told to come back in 3 days. She is also squeaking whilst toileting (don't know if its pee or poop or both).
Over the course of the 3 days the bleeding stopped and she started picking at food. Took her back to the vet who said Poppy had lost even more weight and suggested it was time to put her to sleep.
I asked if I could persevere with the care (syringe feeding and anti biotics twice a day) rather than give up on her. The vet agreed and told me to bring her back in 3/4 days.
Since then she has shown more interest in food, spends around 70 percent of her time in the corner (less than previously) hunched up, drinking lots, starting to take interest in hay again. Poppy is still squeaking when toileting though. She is interacting more with her cagemates. Little improvements I see.
Am I kidding myself that she is improving enough? or am I being selfish because I cannot bear to part with her? Is 6 full days of anti-biotics enough to know for sure either way?
Watching her right now munching on some romaine lettuce and spinach, it seems unthinkable to have her put to sleep, but am I in denial of the bigger picture?
We took her to the vets straight away and again her urine samples showed crystals, blood and protein. The vet prescribed Septrin but a higher dose than usually. We had to take in weekly urine samples and although they started to look clear to us, they still contained blood etc. A long 4 weeks later, Eliza's urine samples were clear and she came off the Septrin and started to gain the weight she had lost. 