Harvey's health issues

[lilmisscavy]

I recently took Harvey to see a vet at my usual clinic for his rapid weight loss and blood in his pee. The vet had a good feel around in his belly and, much to Harvey's disgust lol, found no lumps or bumps that would be giving him these problems so just treated him for cystitis, gave me Baytril and that was when I made a thread about it before. He said to bring him back when I'd finished the Baytril if it hadn't improved and he'd have to be sent away for tests/scans.

It hasn't improved but he's lost even more weight and the blood is getting worse. I weighed him the other day and with my mum's help, we figured he's about 670gms... *gasp* He wasn't that bad a couple of weeks ago when he was in the vet, but I don't want to go back to that vet as they're completely hopeless!

So, with advice from others when I had problems with one of my sows, my mum's taken down the number of the woman in Cambridgeshire and will be contacting her tonight for me, but I'm concerned he'll either need to be put to sleep because he's an older pig, he likely won't survive surgery (though I would be prepared for that) or I won't be able to afford treatment. I get some money go in every fortnight, but I'll only have £100 in there by tomorrow and I don't know if that'll be enough for just a scan and tests even.

I'm in a pickle about this and until my mum gets paid, which won't be for another couple of weeks now, I don't know where I can go from here with him. Everything else he's fine with, his poop has gone back to dark brown again after being quite pinkish, and his appetite is good, he's alert still and climbs up the bars of the hutch to call for attention lol, its just his body is giving up on him and I don't want him suffering by this weight loss and painful, bloody pees.

Any advice will be appreciated.

 

[flintstones]

I really think at this point you need an Xray or scan, my pig Patrick suffers from chronic cystitis he pee's blood when he urinates, he has had both septrin and Baytril both clear up with abs within 4 days.

However his problem then returns within a couple of days perhaps a week - if it wasn't for the fact he's been scanned regularly I would presume he has a stone.

Good luck x

 

[Poppy'sMum]

I recently took Harvey to see a vet at my usual clinic for his rapid weight loss and blood in his pee. The vet had a good feel around in his belly and, much to Harvey's disgust lol, found no lumps or bumps that would be giving him these problems so just treated him for cystitis, gave me Baytril and that was when I made a thread about it before. He said to bring him back when I'd finished the Baytril if it hadn't improved and he'd have to be sent away for tests/scans.

It hasn't improved but he's lost even more weight and the blood is getting worse. I weighed him the other day and with my mum's help, we figured he's about 670gms... *gasp* He wasn't that bad a couple of weeks ago when he was in the vet, but I don't want to go back to that vet as they're completely hopeless!

So, with advice from others when I had problems with one of my sows, my mum's taken down the number of the woman in Cambridgeshire and will be contacting her tonight for me, but I'm concerned he'll either need to be put to sleep because he's an older pig, he likely won't survive surgery (though I would be prepared for that) or I won't be able to afford treatment. I get some money go in every fortnight, but I'll only have £100 in there by tomorrow and I don't know if that'll be enough for just a scan and tests even.

I'm in a pickle about this and until my mum gets paid, which won't be for another couple of weeks now, I don't know where I can go from here with him. Everything else he's fine with, his poop has gone back to dark brown again after being quite pinkish, and his appetite is good, he's alert still and climbs up the bars of the hutch to call for attention lol, its just his body is giving up on him and I don't want him suffering by this weight loss and painful, bloody pees.

Any advice will be appreciated.

Do you mean Vedra at the CCT? If you do she charges £30 a year to cover all your piggies (no matter how many you have!) for basic bits (teeth checks, nails trimming, worming etc) she will do x-rays whilst they are conscious & also can do dental checks & teeth filing/trimming without anaesthetic too. She charges much less than a normal vet because there is no charge for consultations once you have paid the membership fee. If he has a stone she will find it Hope your boy will be okay.

 

[lilmisscavy]

Do you mean Vedra at the CCT? If you do she charges £30 a year to cover all your piggies (no matter how many you have!) for basic bits (teeth checks, nails trimming, worming etc) she will do x-rays whilst they are conscious & also can do dental checks & teeth filing/trimming without anaesthetic too. She charges much less than a normal vet because there is no charge for consultations once you have paid the membership fee. If he has a stone she will find it Hope your boy will be okay.

Yea her, I couldn't remember her name lol

And he does have a lump, but it's like a cyst lump, and the vet I saw had a feel of it too but said it was a cyst (why I took his word, I don't know!) but it's not got bigger, it's not moved, it's changed... slightly, it's hard to explain, but it's like it's attached to a piece of thread? If that makes sense? I suppose it's a tendon it's attached to, but it's just like a hard fatty lump.

It's a bit smaller than a broad bean and it's in his groin so I guess that is all pointing to a stone, it's just really obvious to feel, so that's why I thought it was a cyst rather than a stone, thinking they'd be in the body more? No? :{

 

[Poppy'sMum]

Yea her, I couldn't remember her name lol

And he does have a lump, but it's like a cyst lump, and the vet I saw had a feel of it too but said it was a cyst (why I took his word, I don't know!) but it's not got bigger, it's not moved, it's changed... slightly, it's hard to explain, but it's like it's attached to a piece of thread? If that makes sense? I suppose it's a tendon it's attached to, but it's just like a hard fatty lump.

It's a bit smaller than a broad bean and it's in his groin so I guess that is all pointing to a stone, it's just really obvious to feel, so that's why I thought it was a cyst rather than a stone, thinking they'd be in the body more? No? :{

Is it near his boys bits or testicles? Maybe it could be a hernia? That wouldn't explain the other symptoms though.

 

[Poppy'sMum]

She is pretty successful at removing stones; in my girlies she removed two, they were just popped out rolleyes but then they were sitting in the exit already if you see what I mean rolleyes

 

[lilmisscavy]

Is it near his boys bits or testicles? Maybe it could be a hernia? That wouldn't explain the other symptoms though.

It's between his bits at the top and his right leg, right in the groin area. It's loose like a cyst, I have some myself so I know it feels like one, but then I don't know what a stone feels like.

He's had the lump for about a year and because I know what cysts feel like, I didn't worry about it, but the whining when he pees, the blood and weight loss has only started recently so I don't know if the two are connected.

Would it hurt them to touch a stone? Because he makes no fuss when it's touched and pinched slightly.

 

[first_time_piggie_mum]

I'm sorry but this doesnt sound like an abscess...

I have seen a lot of xray pics of Stones as I researched them like a loonie when Rodney had them, and that sounds like a stone.

As far as I know, please correct me if I'm wrong, but an abscess would not cause that level of weight loss, whining or blood in his pee.

I think an xray is definitely needed. The vet couldnt feel Rods stone but it was plenty big enough when they removed it! Its the size of a baked bean, which when you think how small a pigs bladder is...thats huge

I hope he's ok, let us know how you get on .

 

[lilmisscavy]

I'm sorry but this doesnt sound like an abscess...

I have seen a lot of xray pics of Stones as I researched them like a loonie when Rodney had them, and that sounds like a stone.

As far as I know, please correct me if I'm wrong, but an abscess would not cause that level of weight loss, whining or blood in his pee.

I think an xray is definitely needed. The vet couldnt feel Rods stone but it was plenty big enough when they removed it! Its the size of a baked bean, which when you think how small a pigs bladder is...thats huge

I hope he's ok, let us know how you get on .

All I know about cysts and abscesses is they're fatty/puss filled lumps which feel hard and gristly to touch, which is just like this he's got, but I don't believe they can cause these problems. I've had rats with them before (in quite gruesome places..) and they didn't have the problems Harvey's having.

If stones feel exactly the same then I won't know either way until he's seen anyway. Just have to wait until my mum lets me know what Vedra (is her name?) if/when she contacts her back.

I'm also going to bring them two in again this weekend for winter, sort them out with some fleecing I think (you've all weakened me :p). It's far too chilly for him out there now he's not well.

 

[Poppy'sMum]

All I know about cysts and abscesses is they're fatty/puss filled lumps which feel hard and gristly to touch, which is just like this he's got, but I don't believe they can cause these problems. I've had rats with them before (in quite gruesome places..) and they didn't have the problems Harvey's having.

If stones feel exactly the same then I won't know either way until he's seen anyway. Just have to wait until my mum lets me know what Vedra (is her name?) if/when she contacts her back.

I'm also going to bring them two in again this weekend for winter, sort them out with some fleecing I think (you've all weakened me :p). It's far too chilly for him out there now he's not well.

I could feel my girlie's stone it was a hard lump just above the Y opening. The problem is that boys do have a lot more complicated bits though

By the way, Vedra showed me a stone that was removed from a piggy that was huge, about three times the size of a baked bean!
Good luck, I am sure she will be able to help you.

 

[Glynis]

Whee all hope you can get to the bottom of little Harvey's illness :...

HEALING WHEEEEEEEEEEKS AND LOVES TO YOU HARVEY XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

 

[lilmisscavy]

Wanted to update this thread instead of making another on the same subject.

My mum contacted Vedra by text last Thursday, but I forgot to ask on here how long, on average, would it take her to reply? I understand she'd be very busy, but if it's an emergency, like Harvey is becoming, can my mum call her instead? I don't want her calling if it's the wrong thing to do though.

I just don't want to go back to my other vet clinic who know nothing about guinea-pigs, to have Harvey sent to have tests and scans and have to wait weeks and weeks for results when he could have been seen by someone professional and pin pointed the problem there and then.

I've heard Elwood and Briggs in Boston (Lincolnshire) is decent with rodents too, and my mum's contacted them before about consultation prices, but we never followed up taking him there. Just as a last resort, does anyone recommend me taking him there instead?

Any advice appreciated.

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

If you want a vet who is very guinea pig experiened and you're willing to travel then I would suggest you go to:

Simon Maddock
Cat and Rabbit Care Clinic
Limehurst Square
Northampton.

Telephone 01604 478888

Quite a long way to travel there, but if you're considering going to Vedra then Simon is by far the better option.

 

[lilmisscavy]

If you want a vet who is very guinea pig experiened and you're willing to travel then I would suggest you go to:

Simon Maddock
Cat and Rabbit Care Clinic
Limehurst Square
Northampton.

Telephone 01604 478888

Quite a long way to travel there, but if you're considering going to Vedra then Simon is by far the better option.

We're very used to long journeys, an hour or so is absolutely nothing to us, it's about the money sides of things to pay for the journey and his treatment now. I thought my money from ESA was going in last week, but it never did and I'm extremely ticked off about that as I have absolutely no money to get him in so it's thrown me. My mum doesn't get paid until Friday so unless my money comes in one day this week, I'll have to wait until next week, which I don't want to do and shouldn't do but I can't do anything about it.

 

[Poppy'sMum]

It's most unusual for Vedra not to reply, have you made sure it was the right mobile number?

http://www.britishassociationofrodentologists.co.uk/CCT.html

If you feel it is now getting urgent I would ring her instead, she is always around as she has boarders there as well. If she is busy she will ring you back or suggest a time to contact her.

If that fails then as Furryfriends says try Simon or Ellwood & Briggs was recommended by Allabouttheanimals, the vet called Nigel is the person to see.

 

[lilmisscavy]

It's most unusual for Vedra not to reply, have you made sure it was the right mobile number?

http://www.britishassociationofrodentologists.co.uk/CCT.html

If you feel it is now getting urgent I would ring her instead, she is always around as she has boarders there as well. If she is busy she will ring you back or suggest a time to contact her.

If that fails then as Furryfriends says try Simon or Ellwood & Briggs was recommended by Allabouttheanimals, the vet called Nigel is the person to see.

Thank you.

My mum and I double and triple checked it was the right number so I doubt we both would have made a mistake, my mum's quite particular about that kind of thing.

I feel it is urgent, seeing as he's losing so much weight and still passing blood, though eating and drinking normally, and alert.

I'm not able to contact my mum tonight about this but I'm going into town with her tomorrow to see if my money has gone in the bank yet.

And that's about as best I can do for now

 

[Poppy'sMum]

Thank you.

My mum and I double and triple checked it was the right number so I doubt we both would have made a mistake, my mum's quite particular about that kind of thing.

I feel it is urgent, seeing as he's losing so much weight and still passing blood, though eating and drinking normally, and alert.

I'm not able to contact my mum tonight about this but I'm going into town with her tomorrow to see if my money has gone in the bank yet.

And that's about as best I can do for now

If you can pay by cheque, by the time you see Vedra & pay her wouldn't your money be in your account? I really would ring her tomorrow, she does see emergency cases very quickly so you could well be able to see her in the next day or so. Seeing her will still be a cheaper option if funds are low, but you will still get proper help for him. Good luck let us know what happens.

 

[lilmisscavy]

If you can pay by cheque, by the time you see Vedra & pay her wouldn't your money be in your account? I really would ring her tomorrow, she does see emergency cases very quickly so you could well be able to see her in the next day or so. Seeing her will still be a cheaper option if funds are low, but you will still get proper help for him. Good luck let us know what happens.

The problem is, I don't have any money at all in the bank, and I don't know when, if it will, go in. I'm having my appeal for ESA looked at.

I'll see what happens tomorrow, sometimes I just want to give up because I don't know how much more of this I can take.

 

[lilmisscavy]

Well now I'm well and truly stuck.

The woman at Cambridge texted my mum back last night to ask if we could go down this morning but my mum was working so we couldn't go. Went into town to check if my money had gone in, surprise surprise, it hasn't. So my mum'll have to ring up the Job Centre or whoever deals with ESA to see what's going on, otherwise it will have to be next week til I get him in.

 

[BellasMummy]

I really think you should have thought about the financial implications before getting any guinea pigs if you rely on benefits. If I was in your situation with a very ill pig, then I would do everything possible to get it treatment, I would beg, borrow and steal to get any of my pets out of pain. I just don't understand why in one breath you say its an emergency and in the next say oh well can't do it as I have no money.

 

[lilmisscavy]

I really think you should have thought about the financial implications before getting any guinea pigs if you rely on benefits. If I was in your situation with a very ill pig, then I would do everything possible to get it treatment, I would beg, borrow and steal to get any of my pets out of pain. I just don't understand why in one breath you say its an emergency and in the next say oh well can't do it as I have no money.

I'm sorry but you have absolutely no right to assume I've never thought about financial implications.

It is an 'emergency' as I don't want to be leaving him like he is and I want to know what's wrong and how to help him if he can be helped, but no I can't do anything about it right now because I only have £3.71 to my name. I could ask my girlfriend to lend me the money as I know she could afford it, but I owe her enough already.

And this has rubbed me up the wrong way because I was feeling a little bit better from the other day when I was speaking of having my pigs re-homed due to not feeling close to them, and I had been giving them more cuddles and attention. Now I feel even more inclined to give them up because clearly I shouldn't have them at all because I can't pay for one animal's vet treatment right away for the first time in my 14 years of owning animals!

 

[Abi_nurse]

If your on benefits and having problems with finance, have you thought about ringing the PDSA to get some treatment for your piggie? Sorry to hear about your dilema, i wish i could help.

x.

 

[Little Pig]

How is Harvey doing today?