• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

Harvey update

Status
Not open for further replies.
ferboz

ferboz

Joined
Mar 13, 2011
Messages
24
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
Lincolnshire
Hello,
i posted last week about my piggy who had developed alump/baggy skin under his chin. I had afew helpful replies & wanted to update the forum, just incase anyone else had a piggy with the same problem.
Well after 1 week i noticed if anything the baggy skin become larger. I weighed him & indeed his weight had gone up. Even his genital area was swollen, poor bub. I took him back to the vet who described things as interesting! He confirmed my suspicions that Harvey was gaining weight thru excess fluid. The vet has now given him a course of diuretic pills. Its a case of more luck than judgement with the doeage, as its a quarter of a quarter of a pill! Anyway I am now administrating the pill, mixed with water thru a syringe, which Harvey takes no probs. He has to be on 1 dose per day, but if no chnage the doseage can go to twice/thrice per day. I am really hoping this will work. The only good news i have is that Harvey is well in himself, bith eating & drinking, although his mobility isn so good as the skin gets in his way. I honestly thought Harvey wasnt coming home, so at least he is still in with a fighting chance. BTW the vet couldnt find a reason why this has happened, only that its not a tumour as its built up around his torso, plus as he is happy & eating then his heart seems fine, again good points. Will update again if i have some more positive news.
 
I am glad that the vet found the course of Harveys problems.

The only context I have heard of with a build up of fluid like that are kidney problems. I hope that the diuretics will work and do the trick!

Do you pulverise the pill (or half a pill), mix it with a measured amount of water, shake before use and give him 1/16th ot 1/8th of the solution for best dosage? I would recommend storing the solution in the fridge.

Laura, who now runs a guinea pig helpline has had that problem with one of her piggies; perhaps you can profit from contacting her?
http://www.guineapighelpline.com/
 
Thanx Wiebke for the advice. I have sent an email to Laura explaining all, so hopefully she may have some more advice.
You are spot on with the diuretic. The vet assistants kindly scored the pills into quarters so i crush the remaining quarter into 40 mls (i think) of water. I have to administor 10 mls each day, then increase after 4 days if no better. The vet has said i can ring mon/tues for advice but a re-visit isnt necessary at this stage. I really hope this will work. I havent noticed a difference yet, but then its the 2nd day. Little Harvey is such a brave special boy, so friendly as we nearly lost him twice at an early age & had to hand feed him. I will update again if i know anymore, as everyone on here is so helpful & i feel like ppl are there for us ( that sounds so daft & cheesy but its true!)
Thanx again.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top