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Boxy - ?renal failure

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Amanda1801

Amanda1801

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I have another sick animal 8...

Went to my mums today, where the piggies are currently residing while my landlord tries to let my flat.

They were due a clean out so I did Jeff and Cameo, fed them, had some piggy cuddles, then moved on to the boys.

As soon as I went in the room, Boxy came running up as always, standing up against the bars, so I didn't notice anything to begin with. I let him out so I could clean the cage and noticed that under his neck was a bit saggy. Picked him up and he's got oedema mainly under his neck but all along his under carriage :(

He was fine on Sunday when I last saw him, now this 8...

Managed to get him in the vets this evening, not where I work but a local vet. Discussed it with him, likely to be heart or kidneys (could be a protein imbalance but unlikely), given that he's been PUPD since I've had him, we're going with kidneys!

The vet has put him on frusomide, and we'll see what happens :...

Any advice greatly received! I'm on my phone at the moment at my mums so I've not had a chance to look at anything yet!
 
Oh dear, i cant offer much advise my friend, i just hope hes ok. I would expect oedema with renal issues, but i guess I'm no vet.

I hope hes ok. Are you going to have any bloods run?

x.
 
ta.

I wonder if this is what my salt had, he was treated for uri and then pneumonia, but they said he had fluid under his chin which was probably an underlying heart problem?
 
Abi_nurse said:
Oh dear, i cant offer much advise my friend, i just hope hes ok. I would expect oedema with renal issues, but i guess I'm no vet.

I hope hes ok. Are you going to have any bloods run?

x.
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I'm happy to do whatever is necessary, the question is, are there "normal" values for piggies? Also weighing up whether, if it is renal/heart failure that's just going to be a case of management rather than cure, is it worth putting him through the risks involved to take bloods?
 
When I'm thinking about whether to have test done I always ask myself if it's going to tell me something useful - which basically comes down to whether the result would change treatment. If not, as you say, it's not really kind.

We have a 6 year old guinea pig who's been on furosemide for 8 months now for what the vet thought may be heart failure. Before we started it she would just get really breathless and then develop a chest infection and this came back when we stooped it We have a liquid version that was quite expensive, but an awful lot easier to syringe. We realised a couple of months back that it has alcohol in it, but that doesn't seem to have done any harm.

Paula
 
Amanda1801 said:
I'm happy to do whatever is necessary, the question is, are there "normal" values for piggies? Also weighing up whether, if it is renal/heart failure that's just going to be a case of management rather than cure, is it worth putting him through the risks involved to take bloods?
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Problem is, meds for heart failure and meds for renal failure are different. Maybe a heart scan and conscious chest xray may be able to rule out or confirm heart problems, that way you could always start on vetmedin etc if need be.

x.
 
piggyfan said:
Oh no I am so sorry.Poor little man. How is he now?
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Pretty much the same. He's eating well so that's a good sign, but he's clearly not right. I don't think he's painful at all, the vet had a good old feel of his kidneys and there was no squealing or any attempt to get away or anything, so that's good at least.

He took his frusemide well this evening. My mum did it under my supervision so she knows how to do it.

He's got an appointment for next Monday, but I've told my mum that if he looks any worse in anyway, just take him down. I've left my account in credit for any emergencies :...
 
Abi_nurse said:
Problem is, meds for heart failure and meds for renal failure are different. Maybe a heart scan and conscious chest xray may be able to rule out or confirm heart problems, that way you could always start on vetmedin etc if need be.

x.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I need to decide really. The vet started the frusemide tonight to just start on shifting some of the fluid, I've got a week to A) see how he responds and B) to make some decisions.
 
Amanda1801 said:
I'm happy to do whatever is necessary, the question is, are there "normal" values for piggies? Also weighing up whether, if it is renal/heart failure that's just going to be a case of management rather than cure, is it worth putting him through the risks involved to take bloods?
Click to expand...

I made this decision with Bette - due to her age I decided just to assume kidney failure as I thought what's the point, kidney failure is kidney failure.

Had I opted for bloods, I strongly believe Bette wouldn't have died as soon as she did.

However you do need a VERY good vet, as taking blood from the Vena Cava can kill. I would get the most experienced vet you can find.

My Milo had bloods, so I know there is values for guinea pig's but it maybe rabbit values.

x
 
flintstones said:
I made this decision with Bette - due to her age I decided just to assume kidney failure as I thought what's the point, kidney failure is kidney failure.

Had I opted for bloods, I strongly believe Bette wouldn't have died as soon as she did.

However you do need a VERY good vet, as taking blood from the Vena Cava can kill. I would get the most experienced vet you can find.

My Milo had bloods, so I know there is values for guinea pig's but it maybe rabbit values.

x
Click to expand...

There certainly is blood values for piggies, ive got them in a textbook somewhere.

x.
 
Poor little baby. I am so sorry to hear he is unwell. How awful. Why do our loved ones have to get ill so often. :( I am keeping my fingers crossed for you both.
 
flintstones said:
I made this decision with Bette - due to her age I decided just to assume kidney failure as I thought what's the point, kidney failure is kidney failure.

Had I opted for bloods, I strongly believe Bette wouldn't have died as soon as she did.

However you do need a VERY good vet, as taking blood from the Vena Cava can kill. I would get the most experienced vet you can find.

My Milo had bloods, so I know there is values for guinea pig's but it maybe rabbit values.

x
Click to expand...

Abi_nurse said:
There certainly is blood values for piggies, ive got them in a textbook somewhere.

x.
Click to expand...

Thinking of speaking to Debbie to see if I can get him in to see Simon...
 
Hi Amanda
See how he goes on the fruseamide - my Muffin had massive abdominal fluid and oedema in her front paws but it got sorted (slowly over months) with diuretic and heart meds. However I'm slightly concerned about the accumulation under Boxy's chin in view of other case histories and don;t think you can afford to wait months.....

if you want bloods done i would reccommend my vets in Horsham - they've now bled practically all my piggies with never a problem (even piggies who have heart/respiratory probs) and they are the one vet I'd trust to do this.

Oooh - and I'm up your way next saturday so could pick him up and bring him back down here if that helps with the logistics ;)

Sorry Boxy is unwell - can;t be easy for you in this current situation.

x
 
Pebble said:
Hi Amanda
See how he goes on the fruseamide - my Muffin had massive abdominal fluid and oedema in her front paws but it got sorted (slowly over months) with diuretic and heart meds. However I'm slightly concerned about the accumulation under Boxy's chin in view of other case histories and don;t think you can afford to wait months.....

if you want bloods done i would reccommend my vets in Horsham - they've now bled practically all my piggies with never a problem (even piggies who have heart/respiratory probs) and they are the one vet I'd trust to do this.

Oooh - and I'm up your way next saturday so could pick him up and bring him back down here if that helps with the logistics ;)

Sorry Boxy is unwell - can;t be easy for you in this current situation.

x
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Thank you for your offer Pebble :)

I think he needs to go somewhere, as I don't know any vets down here where this is in their remit. It was different when Cameo was ill, as that was "basic" things like gut stasis and ileus.

I spoke to Debbie, who said she'd be happy to have him and take him to see Simon to work out whats going on and formulate some kind of treatment plan.

I honestly don't know what to do.

As for the fluid under his chin - it runs the length of his under carriage. He's gone from a very slimline 750g little piggy to an 870g fluidy blob in 48-72 hours.

It's really visible too - the "before" photo is him in my avatar.

404891_386923364655994_100000150017800_1691273_1490900033_n.jpg


429242_386921871322810_100000150017800_1691271_170481013_n.jpg
 
I've booked a provisional appt for tomorrow to have him put to sleep if there's no improvement in the next 12-18 hours 8...
 
Amanda1801 said:
I've booked a provisional appt for tomorrow to have him put to sleep if there's no improvement in the next 12-18 hours 8...
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Oh lovely I am so so sorry :( big hugs, sending him all my healing vibes for the next 12-18 hours :laluot_29::laluot_29::laluot_29: xx
 
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