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Healing Wheeks for Holly, please!

Doragon

Doragon

Teenage Guinea Pig
Joined
May 5, 2015
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Location
Liverpool, United Kingdom
Hey there gang! I got a bit of bad news today. I got a call from my parents early morning(I’m still studying in Manchester, they have Holly and Bramble in Bristol) to say that Holly had appeared to injure her leg and they were taking her to the vets that morning. Apparently, it came on very suddenly and they noticed because she was still in the same place as the evening before. The leg seemed inflamed but no wounds.

We took her to our specialist today and he was stumped - he said he couldn’t feel any broken bones. She does eat by herself but only if food is shoved practically inside her mouth as she won’t move. They kept her back for an x-ray this afternoon which came up with no results, apart from a teeny bladder stone which won’t bother her.

Stumped, they’ve taken some bloods and waiting for the results on that and started Holly on some pre-cautionary antibiotics and she’s now on a drip due to dehydration. Another call tonight said she’s not showing any signs of improvement and not responding to the treatment, will not move but will eat if the food is hand-fed. They’re keeping her in for observation tonight and to see if she perks up but they’ve never seen anything like this.

Anyone have any ideas and suggestions? I get no news now until tomorrow morning, I’m crossing my fingers that hopefully with the boost they’ve giving her she’ll be back to her regular self! Initially we thought some kind of fight must have broken out but that was ruled out since the leg wasn’t broken and no obvious wounds on x-ray.

Please send all the healing vibes! I’ll try and keep you updated.
 
DoragonHinansho said:
Hey there gang! I got a bit of bad news today. I got a call from my parents early morning(I’m still studying in Manchester, they have Holly and Bramble in Bristol) to say that Holly had appeared to injure her leg and they were taking her to the vets that morning. Apparently, it came on very suddenly and they noticed because she was still in the same place as the evening before. The leg seemed inflamed but no wounds.

We took her to our specialist today and he was stumped - he said he couldn’t feel any broken bones. She does eat by herself but only if food is shoved practically inside her mouth as she won’t move. They kept her back for an x-ray this afternoon which came up with no results, apart from a teeny bladder stone which won’t bother her.

Stumped, they’ve taken some bloods and waiting for the results on that and started Holly on some pre-cautionary antibiotics and she’s now on a drip due to dehydration. Another call tonight said she’s not showing any signs of improvement and not responding to the treatment, will not move but will eat if the food is hand-fed. They’re keeping her in for observation tonight and to see if she perks up but they’ve never seen anything like this.

Anyone have any ideas and suggestions? I get no news now until tomorrow morning, I’m crossing my fingers that hopefully with the boost they’ve giving her she’ll be back to her regular self! Initially we thought some kind of fight must have broken out but that was ruled out since the leg wasn’t broken and no obvious wounds on x-ray.

Please send all the healing vibes! I’ll try and keep you updated.
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I hope you get some answers soon x
 
Come on Holly, all fingers, paws & toes crossed for a speedy recovery! Will she eat any grass or favorite veg to tempt her to get her appetite back?

Ask if you can give a maximum dosage of loxicom to see if pain & inflammation can be reduced?
Pain often causes lack of appetite.
Speedy recovery Holly xx
 
GPTV said:
Come on Holly, all fingers, paws & toes crossed for a speedy recovery! Will she eat any grass or favorite veg to tempt her to get her appetite back?

Ask if you can give a maximum dosage of loxicom to see if pain & inflammation can be reduced?
Pain often causes lack of appetite.
Speedy recovery Holly xx
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Sorry, I forgot to mention she was on pain relief as well! Despite loxicom still no response or change at all. They literally have no idea what’s causing it but we have all fingers and paws crossed!

What’s killing me a little is the fact if anything was to happen, I'm unable to get down there to see her because of work and I have final exams this week and all. I trust my parents to make the best choices (they’ve asked me every corner and step of the way) for me since I can’t be there, and I really appreciate how quickly they took her (and how much it’s costing...sorry Dad, I’ll pay you back on payday! Promise!)

Just have to wait for the morning call now! I’m hoping she’s feeling better. It’ll be a long 12 hours but I’m too worried to sleep!
 
Healing wheeks from my 4 and me to Holly. Hope she gets better soon and the vet finds out what caused the problem. :hug:
 
So sorry to hear that Holly is sick. Healing vibes from me and the piggies.xx
 
Good morning! I just got off the phone with the vet.

There’s not too much of an update - Holly will now eat hay alone as long as it’s placed within reach as she still doesn’t want to move, even with the pain medication she’s been given. Basically they told me “stable but settled and not moving.” she is pooping and peeing normally, so they’re going to get urine sample for her today.

They’re still in the complete dark at what’s causing this, but they’re hopeful since Holly seems stable right now. They’re once again keeping her in today to keep her on drips and try and work out what’s happening.

Man, always a worry with these piggies! Good news is, Bramble (Holly’s sister) is not fussed about her absence in the slightest and is more concerned with hogging the food bowl.
 
We’re picking her up tonight!

Sadly she has nerve damage to that leg of unknown origin and it is irreversible. However, she’s been trying to bite the nurses and generally a lot more perked up! There’s no reason she can have a happy and healthy remainder of her life (she’s 5). She is moving about now and dragging her leg, so we’ll have to make arrangements. They’re currently in a hutch indoor (meant to be going back outside but I’m gonna try and gently persuade to keep them inside now) with a ramp. I'm prepared to change the cage if need be, but for now we’re going to set up the downstairs like another living area (Holly is always down there anyway) and we need to change the bedding. Care fresh or the safe paper bedding we feel for now is the best bet, and I’m going to see if I can make it find a nice seller who’s willing to make us some fleece! I could always use vet bed too.... hmmm.
 
Hey! I didn’t want to make an entire new thread so I’m just adding onto this one.

She’s home and doing very well! She’s eating fantastically. The only thing that worries us at the moment is despite her eating, she’s still very skinny. She’s not loosing anymore weight, but it’s so easy to feel her spine and ribs. We are hand feeding her and she screams for food like a champ! Just wondering if there’s anything we can give her to try and help her gain some weight back?

she’s walking a lot better now, thank goodness! She is having to drag the leg a bit, but we have made arrangements for her so it’s all very soft. She doesn’t go upstairs anymore which is fine, so the entire bottom of the hutch is all soft bedding now and all food and water is there, along with her beloved pigloos! Bramble is being such a champ as well, I put Holly back in and she immediately went over and started to groom and comfort her.
 
Glad to hear Holly is on the mend.. what a worry for you.. your parents sound amazing!
 
Glad she is doing ok and back home with her friend.
Oats can be good for helping to gain some weight.
Sending hugs.xx
 
Aah glad she’s doing better and home with Bramble :)Oats are definitely a good one, I give them with grated sweet potato a few times a week to my oldie Jess as she’s a boney little lady. And to all pigs for their evening meal instead of pellets. Hope she carries on improving x
 
:agr: with the oats and sweet potato suggestions for helping to gain weight. You could also still give a top up feed of CC or Emeraid if she will take it.
So good to hear she’s doing so well.
 
Sorry, this is dumb - what kind of oats? Do I need to cook? Or is it like porridge oats I can give them? If you guys have any brands I’ll pick them up while I’m out today!

My parents have been amazing and I can’t thank them enough. I’m about to quit my job and move back home for a little while (I’m leaving abroad for 6 months, I’ve been offered a placement in Italy and parents said I can’t turn it down and encouraged me to go) in May so I’m moving back to Bristol for a while before I leave. I just managed to get enough time to come home for a whirlwind visit and they’ve been great. Woke up this morning to go feed and Dad’s sat on the floor handfeeding Holly and gently pushing bramble all like “hey you fatty you eat more than enough this one needs more, go on get-“. Bless him. They’ve done awesome while I can’t be there.
 
Sounds like you have wonderful parents. I'm glad Holly is doing much better.
 
DoragonHinansho said:
Sorry, this is dumb - what kind of oats? Do I need to cook? Or is it like porridge oats I can give them? If you guys have any brands I’ll pick them up while I’m out today!

My parents have been amazing and I can’t thank them enough. I’m about to quit my job and move back home for a little while (I’m leaving abroad for 6 months, I’ve been offered a placement in Italy and parents said I can’t turn it down and encouraged me to go) in May so I’m moving back to Bristol for a while before I leave. I just managed to get enough time to come home for a whirlwind visit and they’ve been great. Woke up this morning to go feed and Dad’s sat on the floor handfeeding Holly and gently pushing bramble all like “hey you fatty you eat more than enough this one needs more, go on get-“. Bless him. They’ve done awesome while I can’t be there.
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I just feed regular porridge oats, well at the moment Jumbo posh ones from co-op but just because there’s a shop very close to me! Lots of other brands are fine! No need to cook them 🙂 My piggies love them and they get wolfed down by all three!
Aah how lovely with your dad, your parents sound brilliant! x
 
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She's beautiful! Glad she likes the oats. Mine go mad for wheat bran powder which you can get from health food shops x
 
Hello! Once again didn’t want to make a new thread so posting here again. We are absolutely stumped - me and the vet! What’s going on with Holly, so we’re hoping you guys have experience. They’ve never seen anything like it.

Holly has lost a lot of weight (she’s 5 years old at only 679g!) and no matter what any of us do, she’s not gaining. We’re boosting her with critical care once a day, she’s eating brilliantly so we’re worried about going anymore in case it stops her eating. The vet suggested we try going her x2 feeds a day to try and help her. Her poops are normal, eating everything and very happy and wheeling for food.

Since her nerve damage, she has to walk a little like a hunchback. I’m not sure how to explain, but it’s like she’s using the whole bottom half of her front legs to walk with her bum in the air, sort of hobbling on her back right leg. Because of this, she’s loosing fur on her front legs and stomach.

She’s been scanned for stones, lumps, anything sinister - all came back clear bar a harmless fatty lump on the opposite leg to the one with the nerve damage. We just have no idea where to go and sort of lost. I’m mainly worried about her weight, but she’s really active, trying to run around to the best of her ability eating everything in sight so we just no idea where to turn. The vet thinks it might be the case she’s just...like this now and we need to support her until she reaches the end of her life, but obviously if I can do more, I will. I’m glad she’s so happy but she’s so teeny.

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I'm afraid I can't really offer any advice but wanted you to know that I am holding Holly in my thoughts. It sounds like you and your vet and doing everything you can for her.

Is she on any pain relief? Maybe she has some pain which is affecting her appetite.
 
YvonneBlue said:
I'm afraid I can't really offer any advice but wanted you to know that I am holding Holly in my thoughts. It sounds like you and your vet and doing everything you can for her.

Is she on any pain relief? Maybe she has some pain which is affecting her appetite.
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She was on pain relief for a while, but sadly that didn’t do much of a difference so she came off that a while ago. Doing all we can!


VickiA said:
Oh bless her. Such a cutie. Has her heart been checked?
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Yep, she was kept in overnight at the vets and had everything - x-rays, ultrasound, bloods, everything and nothing came up abnormal in her case at all. It’s a relief to me that she seems to happy but I’m just so worried since she’s super teeny and all the hair loss and what not. I just wish we knew the cause for her sudden nerve damage too but all the testing came to naught sadly. Very well in herself but I’m highly aware her weight is very, very low and if we can’t get some on her soon I’m worried for potential health decline very quick. She’s having trouble not uh, urinating on herself at the moment due to the leg so bath time tomorrow and I’ll check her weight again as well. These little ones! When they get sick they super go for it
 
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