Big Dave at the vets

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Amanda1801

Amanda1801

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Well, I left him there at 8.45 this morning. Signed the consent form with the always very expensive "investigate and treat as necessary" instruction.

They're going to sedate him, and do a full dental exam. If anything is found with his teeth, then they'll treat.

If nothing is wrong with his teeth, then they're going to take a blood sample and do full body xrays while he's under.

Fingers crossed it's something nice and simple!

I still think it's hyperthyroidism, but there's no real known T4 values for pigs mallethead

Good news is, that he's gained weight since being on the critical care + vit C so we're going to keep that up!
 
Here's hoping the bloods or xray's show something as for his teeth I think you would notice if he wasn't eating correctly.

I do hope something is found that can be treated, pigs are such a worry and it's so hard getting a diagnosis!

It's actually really depressing how hard it is to have a pig successfully diagnosed and treated - prior to what people say it's not the vet's that don't have the knowledge necessarily - people don't use vets, pigs are deemed disposable so no one does the work. I hope this cycle finally gets broken it would be a fabulous result for Guinea Pig's everywhere.
 
Aw hope big save is ok (and not too expensive!) fingers crossed for you both & do let us know how he is, big kisses! x>>
 
Hi, just wanted to send Big Dave and you lots of best wishes, hope all goes well :)
 
flintstones said:
Here's hoping the bloods or xray's show something as for his teeth I think you would notice if he wasn't eating correctly.

I do hope something is found that can be treated, pigs are such a worry and it's so hard getting a diagnosis!

It's actually really depressing how hard it is to have a pig successfully diagnosed and treated - prior to what people say it's not the vet's that don't have the knowledge necessarily - people don't use vets, pigs are deemed disposable so no one does the work. I hope this cycle finally gets broken it would be a fabulous result for Guinea Pig's everywhere.
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I have an old-er exotics vet (ok, he's in his 60s and semi retired, I can get away with calling him old!) so he's very experienced, and I also have a young exotics vet, who graduated about 5 years ago, so she's very up to date on the new stuff. Add into the mix that I'm a veterinary anatomist, I think we'll make a good team to find out what's going on!

I've been estimated £200+ for todays tests, that's before there's even any treatment for whatever we find is going on.

I don't think it is his teeth to be honest, as he's eating well, he's just not as enthusiastic about it as he used to be, if that makes sense!

I've been told that "we won't ring you unless we find something REALLY exciting" - I'm going in today at 3pm for work, so hopefully should know more then.

Thanks for the well wishes! I'll pass them on to Big Dave :))
 
COME ON BIG DAVE.........WHEE WISH YOU ALL THE BEST XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


HUGS for you love............ i hate the waiting time too...... xx>>>xx>>>xx>>>
 
Argh I typed a whole reply and my internet disconnected mallethead

It's not going as well as I'd hoped! Just had a call from Ian the vet.

His dental exam showed nothing, teeth are fine (as I suspected!) so this is good news at least!

He's had xrays, but they're waiting to be "developed" (they're digital) but they've had an emergency in, so that's currently taking up use of the xray machine and viewer etc. I'll go through those with the vet later when I go to work.

As for his blood sample, they sampled via the femoral artery (the large one in the leg) as opposed to the cranial vena cava (the main vein leaving the heart) as most veterinary texts would recommend, as there's a risk of intrathoracic haemorrhage (internal bleeding into the chest cavity) when sampling from the cranial VC. They couldn't really get much blood, and have only got enough to do some smears. The vet is looking into how much the lab fees are for them to be sent off to an exotics pathologist for analysis, and is going to get back to me with the price, not that this is really an issue, but they have to inform you before they send the samples.

If his xrays don't show anything much, then I have to decide whether to get them to attempt to take more blood from him tomorrow for further tests. You can't really get much information from a blood smear, so I might have to go down that route.

The good news is, that he's awake and eating well after his anaesthetic. I'm due to start work in 25 minutes (better hurry up and get dressed!) so I'll take him some yummy veg as I think he deserves it!

Thanks for the vibes and well wishes, I'll be sure to pass them on ;)
 
Aww bless him. Still sending my healing vibes his way, glad he's doing ok after the anesthetic and i'm sure he'll enjoy your pile of veggies!
 
I've made the decision that I'm going to get the blood smears sent off, if they find anything, great, if they don't, then I'll look at getting another blood sample and maybe more xrays. Money isn't an issue (well it is, I'm a penniless student!) but his wellbeing is my priority, and I don't want to put him through another anaesthetic just yet.

The exotics vet was on a half day today, and didn't get a chance to look at the xrays, so he's in tomorrow and we're going to look at them. Here's a copy of his xray, I can't see anything glaringly obviously wrong with it, but you can see what I mean about huge abdomen!

316980_281658358515829_100000150017800_1329672_3091387_n.jpg


He's currently hiding in his pigloo, he's still not quite himself after his anaesthetic, he's eaten some broccoli and gone to sleep. I think he's ok but I can't help but worry!

Total bill for today: £198 - and I didn't get charged for the bloods or dental exam!
 
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Poppy'sMum said:
I can't really say much that will help except sending get well piggy wishes for him :)
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Thanks :)

The only thing I'm concerned about in the xray is the gas in his stomach and digestive system...

We'll see what the vet says tomorrow!
 
Gosh that's very expensive. I thought £70 to do my guineas teeth was a lot! Hope they find out what's wrong with him.
 
Just caught up with Dave's thread. Just wanted to send healing vibes his way x
 
Rachaelf said:
Gosh that's very expensive. I thought £70 to do my guineas teeth was a lot! Hope they find out what's wrong with him.
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Hope so!

I'm not entitled to staff discount as I don't work enough hours (I work like 12 hours a week), but I've done so much over time this summer, management have given me a load of discounts on stuff so it's all helping!
 
ok, I've now noticed that Big Dave is drinking from the water bottle, which is something I've never seen him do before.

So I guess I'm adding in increased drinking to the mix now... :...
 
It is just awful not knowing what is wrong. I really hope he is ok. You must be worried sick. :(
 
Only just seen this thread, sorry I'm a bit late.")
Sending positive vibes Dave's way. x
 
i have only just seen this thread too hope he is ok and is recovering well. Big hugs for big dave.
 
never seen a gpig xray before :-O

anastetict will mmake him sleepy for a few days if its like human stuff

get well sooon :-) big hugs
 
We are all sending out the love and light for Dave here from our end! :X
 
ok, I've now noticed that Big Dave is drinking from the water bottle, which is something I've never seen him do before.

So I guess I'm adding in increased drinking to the mix now... :...


have they ruled out kidney problems? or diabetes?
sorry just trying to think of the things to do with drinking the water......

DARLING BIG DAVE WHEE WISH YOU HEALING WHEEEKY LOVES XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
 
Glynis said:
ok, I've now noticed that Big Dave is drinking from the water bottle, which is something I've never seen him do before.

So I guess I'm adding in increased drinking to the mix now... :...


have they ruled out kidney problems? or diabetes?
sorry just trying to think of the things to do with drinking the water......

DARLING BIG DAVE WHEE WISH YOU HEALING WHEEEKY LOVES XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Click to expand...


He's not been tested for diabetes as the drinking is new. I'll get a urine sample Friday night and test it at work on Saturday. As for kidneys, they've not been tested as they couldn't get enough blood for a full analysis. They didn't sample from his cranial vena cava due to the risk of haemorrhage, so I'm now in the position where everything so far has been inconclusive & I don't know whether to go for more testing or leave him as he is. He's gaining weight again now he's on regular critical care, he's eating well and is happy and active so I dunno what to do!
 
Amanda1801 said:
He's not been tested for diabetes as the drinking is new. I'll get a urine sample Friday night and test it at work on Saturday. As for kidneys, they've not been tested as they couldn't get enough blood for a full analysis. They didn't sample from his cranial vena cava due to the risk of haemorrhage, so I'm now in the position where everything so far has been inconclusive & I don't know whether to go for more testing or leave him as he is. He's gaining weight again now he's on regular critical care, he's eating well and is happy and active so I dunno what to do!
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so dam frustrating..... i really hope you can find out what's happening with darling Big Dave :... GOOD LUCK XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
 
Glynis said:
so dam frustrating..... i really hope you can find out what's happening with darling Big Dave :... GOOD LUCK XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
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Thanks :)

I'm currently in a quandary lol if I subject him to further tests, there's big risks, and if something abnormal does come back, chances are it won't be treatable anyway. I'm inclined to let him carry on as he is. Does that make me a bad piggy mum?! Obviously if he goes downhill then I'll persue it, but at the moment he's doing ok.
 
No i understand what you mean.
There's times you don't want to put them thru anymore......
You know him the best.... i'm sure you'll do what ever you can xx>>>
 
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