Fergie Diagnosed Finally: Heart.

[Sarah.aJones15]

I need some advice please. It’s a long story so, the actual issue is the last paragraph. For those who need the full story there's a long thread elsewhere about Fergie's symptoms that started 6 or 7 weeks ago. For the middle ground, here’s a summary:

Background
9 month old Fergie started "stomach breathing/panting" 7 weeks ago when he was 7 months old. Multiple local vet appts had him on Frusol (diuretic) and Baytril (antibiotic) twice a day for 6 weeks suspecting pneumonia due to the chest-shadows on the x-rays. At my suggestion, they readily agreed it could be heart and the Frusol would help both now & with full diagnosis. His weight was reasonably maintained and even gained a fraction, he was on pro-biotic an hour after his antibiotic and his poops & demeanour were both normal. His brother Bumble is a sturdy little number so comparisons were easy. After 6 weeks, his breathing difficulty & slight wheezing were unchanged so we asked to be referred to Sarah Pellett at Animates in Thurlby. That was last Monday 27 Oct.

This week - the diagnosis
Thu 30 Oct - We took Fergie (along with Bumble for stress-relief/support) to Animates. Sarah immediately identified his left side was much worse than his right & discussed likely outcomes (heart issue, lung issue, lymphoma) and associated diagnosis/onward care costs which would be between £155 if we did nothing more, and £390 if we needed scan & bloods. She wanted to take xrays and would prefer to ring while he was under to recommend & get agreement for further appropriate treatment.

Fri 31 Oct – Took 3 xrays (left, right & aspect) but couldn't leave him under as his breathing was very worrying. Blood tests were recommended & lymphoma ruled out so she put him under again for a short while later to take bloods. The results could have come back the following day/yesterday (Sat) so we agreed to leave the piggies there til yesterday in case his liver or/& kidneys were compromised (white blood cell count) which might dictate the medication used.

Sat 1 Nov – I got my babies back! Both really shell-shocked & skitty but our house is peaceful this weekend. We were shown the latest xrays (v clear & showed the extent of damage/issue/fluid). The blood results hadn’t come back so we’ve come away with:

Benazepril – Benafortin Pal Tabs 5mg in 10ml syrup = 0.08 once per day
Frusol sol 40mg/5ml = 0.2 twice per day
OR Furosemide 40mg in 10ml syrup = 0.44 twice per day
Vetmedin flavour tabs 5mg in 10ml syrup = 0.35 twice per day
Zithromax oral susp 15ml = 0.33 once per day for 5 days

And lots of syringes!

They recommended getting a nebuliser too so we also bought:
F10 antiseptic solution 100ml = 2ml to 5ml bottled water up to twice a day as required.

Sarah will ring on Monday once the blood results are back to discuss changing or extending medication.

We also asked discussed the likelihood of Bumble having a similar defect but she thought he probably
would have exhibited by now but to be vigilant.

What went well
Very quick referral process, less than an hour & could have gone the following day.
My vets don’t charge to refer & shared the earlier xrays.
Immediate progress at Animates & really confident with the outcome so far.
Happy that daily maintenance can be taken over by my local vet.
Can now get Bumble insured without questioning value for money.

What could have been done differently
My vet could have been clearer about likely scenarios, symptoms to look out for and suggested considering referral sooner.
I could have asked if a nebuliser would have helped while he was undergoing standard treatment.
I could have had him insured.

The immediate challenge – help!
We are away next weekend from Friday morning to Monday afternoon & cannot cancel. What on earth do we do about piggy while we’re away!?

By the way, can you believe that flipping Bumble, came back limping on his front left foot & won’t weight-bear on it! I’ve emailed Sarah as I know she’s on duty but am considering giving him Metacam. What do you think?

Your comments/feedback/help/support are always appreciated so, by all means, feel free.

 

[helen105281]

Glad you have a diagnosis at last and know what you are dealing with. If I can help in any way I will. It's good to see that your vet has prescribed both an ACE inhibator and Vetmedin aswell as diuretic. Do your vets offer boarding? If not you will need to find a small animal boarding place or get someone to come and in give the meds as it is important that a dose is not missed. There may even be a forum member nearby?

 

[Pebble]

When I had an arm in plaster and couldn't give my piggies their meds, I paid a vet nurse from my local practice to privately come in and do it for me. I found it reassuring as she also was very vigilant over the piggies general health and actually identified one youngster had entropion (ingrowing eyelashes) that was serious enough that it required corrective surgery.
HTH
x

 

[Poppy'sMum]

I'm so pleased you found Sarah so good She does boarding there too, it cost me £10 a day this year so hopefully it will be about the same. I really recommend you board them both with her next weekend, she will give him his meds etc within that boarding cost & also any problems she would probably treat him without charging a vet call out fee as they stay in her flat with her until the Exotic hospital/boarding facility is finished. Give her a ring tomorrow to discuss, I am sure she will have them both for you & they will be in very safe hands

 

[Sarah.aJones15]

Thanks everyone. I may well take them back to Sarah thanks Poppy'sMum as she's calling tomorrow anyway.

Just noticed a mistake in my post; we're to give him 0.2ml (not 2ml) of F10 to 5ml water in a nebuliser. Incidentally, he HATED it. He was really terrified of being in the steamy box so will wrap him up and cuddle him next time, with the nozzle just under his nose. Any other suggestions?

 

[Poppy'sMum]

That sounds a better idea regarding the nebulizer Give him a few bits of tasty veg at the same time & he will soon associate it with nice things If you get stuck & she can't have them, give me a shout as I live within easy reach of the surgery & could probably have them for you & give meds, but I do have lady pigs so it is not the best situation in case your boys smell/hear them it might cause fights which is not really what you want on top of everything else lol

 

[Pebble]

F10 nebulisation is normally recommended for suspected microbial pneumonia.....which can be a secondary complication of a pre-existing heart condition.

It looks like your vet is wanting to cover all bases at the moment given the length of time of Fergie's illness (hence also the zithromax) which is great.

However I do think it is pertinent to point out to other members that nebulisation is not generally a routine treatment for "purely" a heart condition, which is treated by the other meds you have been prescribed ...namely frussol, vetmedin and benazapril.

The differential diagnosis to a heart condition, namely that of Microbial penumonia, requires antibiotics such as zithromax, and a diuretic such as frussol with F10 nebulisation being a common third option.

HTH
x

 

[Sarah.aJones15]

Thanks Pebble.

By the way, I've found 3 boarding places in/near Lincoln who seem very experienced with guineas and medication that we'll be checking out this week. In fact, check out Pet Matey services near Nottingham. I'd love to go there myself with deluxe apartments, air conditioning, pre- and pro-biotics as standard to combat stress and classical music piped in! The woman that runs it is, she claims, owned by her 5 house rabbits. I know how she feels...

 

[dearbarbie]

What is relief to have a diagnosis! Hope you find somewhere x

 

[Sarah.aJones15]

Do you know if we can "stack" the different medications in one syringe-full? So I'd draw up one, then another straight on top of the first, and then the third like an unpleasant popsicle! It'd be much easier for my friend to give him just one syringe-full per morning and evening while we're away. Naturally, I'd be careful to draw up the correct dose per drug and would scrupulously label them.

I took Fergie over to her house this evening so that she could have a go and it was fine. The piggies were both skitty after returning from the vet's and, since his blood-work came back yesterday, he has to be on the antibiotic for 10 days so there's less risk of negative reaction so I'd prefer them to be with my friend's. Feel very happy with the arrangement.