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Emergency Vets For Wills

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Crossing my fingers hoping he gets better. Big hugs x
 
The vet called this morning and said he had picked up a bit again. But she wanted to talk about his long term care as he will have ongoing problems after he gets over the bloat. His heart is enlarged and he possible has a bladder tumour. She told me to think things over and speak to her. My partner and I spoke and decided if he is in pain or will have no quality of life it might be his time. That was the hardest thing ever. But we visited the vets this evening and he ate for me. Quite a fair amount and seemed brighter than yesterday. The vet has talked through the options of carrying on his care. It would be to start diuretics and metacam and see how he copes. After many cuddles and lots of discussing we are going to carry on trying. He just seemed to have so much more hope and life today it wouldn't have been fair to say goodbye. He's staying overnight again and will update you all tomorrow. Boy this is a roller coaster.
 
Keeping my fingers crossed for him! Lovely picture :luv:
 
Glad you have a plan in place and it's great that he ate for you. Did the vet mention an ACE inhibitor in addition to the diuretic?
 
Come on Wills! You can beat this! Healing squeaks from Albie and Percy. xx
 
I personally think you're doing the right thing, as he's not ready to give up yet. With the right meds perhaps his heart will improve, and if so it will be down to his bladder and if indeed he has a tumour or not, in which case I think, personally if it were me, to ride that out until he looks like it's getting uncomfortable for him, and if there's nothing they can do for the bladder, perhaps to have 'the' discussion then? The thing to consider with the bladder is whether or not it really is a tumour, is it operable and how big the risk would be with his heart being as it is, and is it kinder to let him live with it or to put him through an op.
It's so hard. Sometimes it is clear when they need help to pass over, as you know they can't get better and it's downhill from there, and sometimes it is not, as with Wills you don't know what tomorrow will bring for him.
:hug:
What ever you decide and when you decide it, it will be with love, and his best interests at heart xx
 
PopcornPigs said:
She didn't but I can ask about it tomorrow. Do you think I'm doing the right thing?
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Yes I think so. He showed you he wants to eat. The diuretic will help his breathing for now and if an ACE inhibitor is introduced that will help his heart condition. An example is Benazapril. Brand names are Fortekor and Nelio. You will know if you need to change your decision at any point. Take each day at a time and let him be your guide.
 
Hope the little guy continues to improve and stay perky. I'll be rooting for him!
 
Wills has eaten more on his own today and passed faeces. We are picking him up tomorrow but he will be coming to work with me on Friday so I can continue his syringe feed. He's not put any weight on yet unfortunately but will do everything we can to keep him comfy until the time comes x
 
Wills is home. But I'm not sure how I feel :-( he looks so sad. He's still v I'll. He's on 5 meds plus syringe feeding. We've set up a home for him and his wife in the living room to keep a close eye. He's got his own medicine, feeding and weighing station. I hate seeing him like this .
 
P.s does anyone have syringe feeding tips as I'm not doing well this evening.
 
Have a read of the guide and shout if you have any questions. Take it slowly though if he is struggling to breathe.
 
I'm still struggling with syringe feeding. . Have read the thread and it's helped but can only get 5ml in at a time and that takes me a long time. He doesn't like the critical care at all he really struggles sometimes.. is there anything I can add to make it more appetising? He's lost 30g overnight. He's eating hay, the occasional pellet and veg but I just feel hopeless with the syringing.
 
PopcornPigs said:
I'm still struggling with syringe feeding. . Have read the thread and it's helped but can only get 5ml in at a time and that takes me a long time. He doesn't like the critical care at all he really struggles sometimes.. is there anything I can add to make it more appetising? He's lost 30g overnight. He's eating hay, the occasional pellet and veg but I just feel hopeless with the syringing.
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Hi. Sorry he is so poorly. I am syringe feeding one of mine at the mo after an operation so I share your pain! There is another product that is similar to Critical Care but tastes different - Supreme Science Recovery or Recovery Plus (which has extra vit C). Same theory of mixing to paste but my boys prefer it. It comes in small sachets.
Debbie at TEAS always goes for normal pellets made into a paste so you could try that also? My boys seems to reject that usually but I always try it.

Also should say that you have to be relaxed (as much as you can be) so I 'watch' the telly whilst syringe feeding and the background noise seems to calm us both. You have to be fairly determined to get it in them whatever gloop you use - I say in my head - you may not want this but you NEED it
 
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Wills wheeked for his veggy dinner for the first time this evening since he's been ill. Brought a tear to my eye.
 
That's great that he wheeked, did he eat it?

For syringe feeding you could try mushing his normal pellets? (unless they are the grainless ones as mine won't eat them mushed).
 
We had success with mushed up pellets also. Syringe feeding can be so frustrating when they wont eat... Sending lots of vibes x
 
lauraboara said:
Hi. Sorry he is so poorly. I am syringe feeding one of mine at the mo after an operation so I share your pain! There is another product that is similar to Critical Care but tastes different - Supreme Science Recovery or Recovery Plus (which has extra vit C). Same theory of mixing to paste but my boys prefer it. It comes in small sachets.
Debbie at TEAS always goes for normal pellets made into a paste so you could try that also? My boys seems to reject that usually but I always try it.

Also should say that you have to be relaxed (as much as you can be) so I 'watch' the telly whilst syringe feeding and the background noise seems to calm us both. You have to be fairly determined to get it in them whatever gloop you use - I say in my head - you may not want this but you NEED it
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Who has had an op @lauraboara?
 
I'm glad he wheeked for his veggies.Is he feeling perkier? x
 
Yes he wheeked for it then ate all the veggies. He seems perkier. I bought some nice Timothy hay yesterday and he likes that especially if I hand feed and pick out the 'fuzzies'. He's just not interested in pellets. He took one from me today that I had moistened but then lost interest. Taking treats fine too. I am just constantly trying to feed him along with the syringe feed whenever he's up as he gets sleepy often too.
 
PopcornPigs said:
Yes he wheeked for it then ate all the veggies. He seems perkier. I bought some nice Timothy hay yesterday and he likes that especially if I hand feed and pick out the 'fuzzies'. He's just not interested in pellets. He took one from me today that I had moistened but then lost interest. Taking treats fine too. I am just constantly trying to feed him along with the syringe feed whenever he's up as he gets sleepy often too.
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My Millie likes the fuzzy bits

I would definitely ask about an ACE inhibitor if you can.
 
Yeah he's having a recheck tomorrow so I'll ask. He's eaten some pellets this morning. I've got three different types and he had some of each. Fingers crossed he keeps eating them.
 
So Wills went to the vet for a recheck yesterday. She was happy with his progress in terms of demeanour , he was a lot more alert and responsive however his weight was declining. He is now dangerously frail. When Wills was discharged he was on metacam, tramadol, septrin, emeprid and cisapride. The vet asked us to lower his metacam dose down as it was high and stop the cisapride. His pooing has been fine. Although this morning /today Wills has been squeaking considerably more when urinating and more often, he's also passing blood spots in his urine which are bright red. I called the vet and she wasn't in but another exotic specialist asked me to up his metacam again and bring him in tomorrow. I just feel so sad that he's doing so well yet his body seems to be giving up. For the first time today he maintained his weight which was good but its just the blood which is worrying. I know he has a bladder tumour but I was hoping it could be managed for a bit longer. The vet said that although his heart looks enlarged on the xray she doesn't want to start more treatment for that without a definitive diagnosis. Although I work in a referral vets and our cardiologist has said he would be happy to do an echocardiogram on him. Our ultrasonographer is also willing to do an ultrasound on his bladder for further imaging. So I'm hoping to get this done tomorrow and take it with me to the exotics specialist.
 
Am sorry he is taking one step forward and 2 steps back. Hope you get some answers tomorrow.
 
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