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Guinea pig had a stroke but is eating

Charlottibiscot

Charlottibiscot

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi all, Gertrude is around 2.5-3 years old and has no previous health issues except a bladder stone which has been treated with removal & diet changes.

She's been absolutely fine recently, last night before I slept she was fine, screaming for food as usual and active and no signs of any vestibular disease or anything.

Today she was only barreling herself lopsided into objects and between this she was jerking or motionless, and kept toppling over. She has poor coordination of her front feet and front teeth.

After the initial shock wore off and I realised she wasn't dying in my arms, I got her comfortable and encouraged her to eat.

She was initially refusing food but has now perked up and I have been syringe feeding her bio lapis mixed with mushed nuggets for over an hour now!
She's pooping it all back out again - her poops went quite small for a couple of hours but they're back to normal now.

What's the prognosis for my girl? I'm planning on taking her to the vets once she's stabilised because she finds car journeys incredibly stressful and she's eating well. I am in an unfortunate financial position - her last emergency surgery in December drained the very last of my savings 🙁

I've read all the relevant threads which have been helpful.

Is it just a wait-and-see sort of thing?
 
Charlottibiscot said:
Hi all, Gertrude is around 2.5-3 years old and has no previous health issues except a bladder stone which has been treated with removal & diet changes.

She's been absolutely fine recently, last night before I slept she was fine, screaming for food as usual and active and no signs of any vestibular disease or anything.

Today she was only barreling herself lopsided into objects and between this she was jerking or motionless, and kept toppling over. She has poor coordination of her front feet and front teeth.

After the initial shock wore off and I realised she wasn't dying in my arms, I got her comfortable and encouraged her to eat.

She was initially refusing food but has now perked up and I have been syringe feeding her bio lapis mixed with mushed nuggets for over an hour now!
She's pooping it all back out again - her poops went quite small for a couple of hours but they're back to normal now.

What's the prognosis for my girl? I'm planning on taking her to the vets once she's stabilised because she finds car journeys incredibly stressful and she's eating well. I am in an unfortunate financial position - her last emergency surgery in December drained the very last of my savings 🙁

I've read all the relevant threads which have been helpful.

Is it just a wait-and-see sort of thing?
Click to expand...

Hi

HUGS

I am very sorry. Unfortunately, it is indeed very much a wait and see thing - rather like with humans. There is no medication for it.

The risk of another stroke is highest in the next weeks and months and sadly not all that uncommon. But with a bit of luck, it has been a milder one-off stroke with no long term damage.

What I would recommend after looking after a severe stroke survivor for a few weeks once is to keep an eye on the front teeth to see whether the affected side is still chewing as strongly (potential gradual one-sided overgrowth of the back teeth becoming visible as a growing slant at the front) and whether the eye on the affected side is cleaned and kept moist as much as it should; dehydration in the affected eye can be a stroke after-effect but is less likely if there is no head tilt.
An in-drawn eye is a sign of pain/discomfort when the stroke has interfered with the tear glands functioning of the affected side. Getting hold of some eye gel online (rather than drops) can help. The human eye gel is also useful to have at home in case of a hay poke; any brand will do.

These aren't things you need to necessarily worry about but please keep a weekly eye out and see a vet if you notice a developing problem.

I would recommend that for the coming 1-2 weeks you switch to weighing daily on your normal kitchen scales first thing in the morning for best day to day comparison to ensure that the eating and chewing have indeed not been affected and the weight remains stable. Hay intake is the one crucial thing that you cannot just by eye.

I am adding these links for people coming across this thread in their searches:
First Aid: Immediate Care Measures and Non-medication Products

First Aid: Immediate Care Measures and Non-medication Products

You are welcome to ask any questions and air concerns in the coming rather anxious week on this thread. We are also glad to hear back on how your piggy continues to get on. The more information there is and the more cases with outcomes we get and can add to our growing database, the better. That is also why we want to encourage searchers to please open their own thread. It is important to have a range of outcomes documented so we can address the skewed online picture where normal positive outcomes are dreadfully underdocumented and are causing a lot of unnecessary anxiety.

You may want to bookmark this thread so you can pick it up easily again. I am keeping my fingers firmly crossed.
 
Wiebke said:
Hi

HUGS

I am very sorry. Unfortunately, it is indeed very much a wait and see thing - rather like with humans. There is no medication for it.

The risk of another stroke is highest in the next weeks and months and sadly not all that uncommon. But with a bit of luck, it has been a milder one-off stroke with no long term damage.

What I would recommend after looking after a severe stroke survivor for a few weeks once is to keep an eye on the front teeth to see whether the affected side is still chewing as strongly (potential gradual one-sided overgrowth of the back teeth becoming visible as a growing slant at the front) and whether the eye on the affected side is cleaned and kept moist as much as it should; dehydration in the affected eye can be a stroke after-effect but is less likely if there is no head tilt.
An in-drawn eye is a sign of pain/discomfort when the stroke has interfered with the tear glands functioning of the affected side. Getting hold of some eye gel online (rather than drops) can help. The human eye gel is also useful to have at home in case of a hay poke; any brand will do.

These aren't things you need to necessarily worry about but please keep a weekly eye out and see a vet if you notice a developing problem.

I would recommend that for the coming 1-2 weeks you switch to weighing daily on your normal kitchen scales first thing in the morning for best day to day comparison to ensure that the eating and chewing have indeed not been affected and the weight remains stable. Hay intake is the one crucial thing that you cannot just by eye.

I am adding these links for people coming across this thread in their searches:
First Aid: Immediate Care Measures and Non-medication Products

First Aid: Immediate Care Measures and Non-medication Products

You are welcome to ask any questions and air concerns in the coming rather anxious week on this thread. We are also glad to hear back on how your piggy continues to get on. The more information there is and the more cases with outcomes we get and can add to our growing database, the better. That is also why we want to encourage searchers to please open their own thread. It is important to have a range of outcomes documented so we can address the skewed online picture where normal positive outcomes are dreadfully underdocumented and are causing a lot of unnecessary anxiety.

You may want to bookmark this thread so you can pick it up easily again. I am keeping my fingers firmly crossed.
Click to expand...

Thank you for your help, I originally read this yesterday.

Sadly Gertrude passed away after a seizure in my arms in the early hours after worsening paralysis stopping her from being able to breath etc. Her head tilt slowly worsened over the course of the day until she could no longer stand by herself, and her nystagmus became very pronounced.

She's at peace now although it feels really quiet not having her demanding lettuce and peaflakes (the other two have lost their squeakers!)

Luckily she never stopped refusing mushed nuggets so she was satiated when she passed and I gave her 0.15ml dog metacam to keep her more comfortable.

She was 2.5 years old, gone far too soon but given lots of love and was adopted malnourished from a neglectful situation, so she's persevered and fought and done well for her circumstances. In her last few days she spent her time lounging in her favourite plush basket under a fleece forest.

I'll miss her. She once refused pea flakes for 4 months because the boarder gave her too many. Such a wonderful personality.
 
Charlottibiscot said:
Thank you for your help, I originally read this yesterday.

Sadly Gertrude passed away after a seizure in my arms in the early hours after worsening paralysis stopping her from being able to breath etc. Her head tilt slowly worsened over the course of the day until she could no longer stand by herself, and her nystagmus became very pronounced.

She's at peace now although it feels really quiet not having her demanding lettuce and peaflakes (the other two have lost their squeakers!)

Luckily she never stopped refusing mushed nuggets so she was satiated when she passed and I gave her 0.15ml dog metacam to keep her more comfortable.

She was 2.5 years old, gone far too soon but given lots of love and was adopted malnourished from a neglectful situation, so she's persevered and fought and done well for her circumstances. In her last few days she spent her time lounging in her favourite plush basket under a fleece forest.

I'll miss her. She once refused pea flakes for 4 months because the boarder gave her too many. Such a wonderful personality.
Click to expand...

HUGE HUGS

I am so very sorry. Piggies tend to sadly very often have another episode not very long after. There is nothing you can do but what you have done: give her your love and care.

Gertrude looks very full of personality - but you have brought it out and have allowed her to flourish and be happy. Her life may have been short and not always good, and the end has come very soon; however you have given her that quality that has made all the difference and that has give value to her time on here. Never underestimate the impact and importance of that. You cannot undo the long shadow of her past and her genetic inheritance but you can change lives.

Be sad but also be proud of what you have done for your beautiful, precious lady.

PS: We now have an End of Life and Bereavement section where we provide understanding community support for those difficult questions, terminal illness care, bereaved companions and owners as well if you feel that it would help you.

We also have a Rainbow Bridge Section which is there for those of us who would like to leave a tribute. We do however respect that it is not for everybody.
 
Charlottibiscot said:
Thank you for your help, I originally read this yesterday.

Sadly Gertrude passed away after a seizure in my arms in the early hours after worsening paralysis stopping her from being able to breath etc. Her head tilt slowly worsened over the course of the day until she could no longer stand by herself, and her nystagmus became very pronounced.

She's at peace now although it feels really quiet not having her demanding lettuce and peaflakes (the other two have lost their squeakers!)

Luckily she never stopped refusing mushed nuggets so she was satiated when she passed and I gave her 0.15ml dog metacam to keep her more comfortable.

She was 2.5 years old, gone far too soon but given lots of love and was adopted malnourished from a neglectful situation, so she's persevered and fought and done well for her circumstances. In her last few days she spent her time lounging in her favourite plush basket under a fleece forest.

I'll miss her. She once refused pea flakes for 4 months because the boarder gave her too many. Such a wonderful personality.
Click to expand...
I am so sorry about your loss of Gertrude, she was a beautiful piggy ❤️
 
I am so sorry your darling girl crossed The Rainbow Bridge 🌈 but the love you gave her will have guided her peacefully as she crossed 🌈
 
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