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Heartbreaking decision, don’t know what to do?

Ure97

Ure97

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi

My guinea pig (nibbles) has had stone surgery on Thursday afternoon, as she was in a lot of pain. However my last guinea pig had the same stone surgery last year, and I wish I hadn’t put her through it, as she became lifeless a week later, didn’t recover well and then had to be put to sleep, she was 6 years old.

So the same has now happened to my younger guinea pig (nibbles) who is 3 1/2 years old. I didn’t want to do surgery again, but decided to do it for her thinking maybe she will get through it better, as she’s younger. But now the same thing is happening again. She is also not recovering well, not really bothered to eat much since Thursday, wants to stay in her bed all day, and not interested in anything. I’m feeding her critical care day and night, fluids, baytril, pain killers, and gut moving drugs, but still no improvement. So it’s been 3 days since the surgery, and I don’t want want to wait until she is lifeless like my last piggie, as it traumatised me for weeks! I feel like I’m torn between her maybe getting better, or declining. I just don’t want to prolong her being miserable any longer.

Also the vet noticed she has a small hernia where the wound is, which would involve more surgery! Which I don’t want to put her through anymore even if she recovered. I also feel that force feeding her is distressing her, as she really does NOT want to take the critical care. I feel I’m quite experienced feeding piggies like this in the past, but she is so resistant to it. I just feel enough is enough, I don’t want her being miserable anymore. I wish I hadn’t done the surgery again, as I felt this would happen again. What do you think, should I put her out of her misery tomorrow, as that’s when her check up is?
 
Not willing to eat, huddling in a corners and not willing to move is often a sign of pain, could the vet perhaps increase her pain relief dosage and keep providing a gut stimulant to counter act some side effects?

Any chance of offering some halved grapes and a bit of cucumber to keep hydrated? Or is she drinking ok but just having some issues with eating?

How about some “pellet mash” if she is not a fan of thr critical care?
 
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Sorry you are going through this again.
Definitely worth speaking to the vet about other pain / more pain relief. Have you tried things which focus on the bladder comfort like pearl barley water / glucosamine or cystophan? They are food supplements rather than meds but alongside anti inflammatory do seem to help calm bladder linings. It can take a while for bladders to recover.
Sometimes pigs with stones can have compromised kidneys and do struggle with recovery from anesthetic ( I know this from experience sadly) so worth asking vet to check that - wee testing but they may want to do blood testing but that needs a whiff of gas usually. Ultimately we don't know your piggie as you do and so no one can say when it is time to say enough is enough but it seems you are giving her great care and the best chance of recovery and you just need to discuss with your vet what the realistic outcomes are. Hugs.
 
Another thought, some piggies don't do well on baytril and it wrecks their appetite. Can u ask for an alternative AB eg septrin? When is the baytril course due to finish?
 
I’m not experienced with this I’m afraid but here’s sending you healing vibes & huge massive hugs. You’re doing a great job even though it’s draining & tiring :wub:
 
So sorry you are going through this. I would definitely see about upping pain relief. You seem to be doing a great job and it sounds like surgery was the only choice if your piggy was already in pain. Sending you hugs.xx
 
Squeakz said:
Not willing to eat, huddling in a corners and not willing to move is often a sign of pain, could the vet perhaps increase her pain relief dosage and keep providing a gut stimulant to counter act some side effects?

Any chance of offering some halved grapes and a bit of cucumber to keep hydrated? Or is she drinking ok but just having some issues with eating?

How about some “pellet mash” if she is not a fan of thr critical care?
Click to expand...
I’ve tried her favourite things to eat, like cucumber, but not interested, also she had a strong painkiller injection at the vets, but still didn’t make any difference. I’ve noticed her trying to drink from her bottle, but struggling, so provided a bowl of water also, but dosent touch it. I’m really struggling feeding her now, as she just spits it out.
 
lauraboara said:
Another thought, some piggies don't do well on baytril and it wrecks their appetite. Can you ask for an alternative AB eg septrin? When is the baytril course due to finish?
Click to expand...
She has baytril for 7 days, so another 5 days, which I agree kills there appetite. I’m trying to give her probiotics aswell, but nothing seems to help. I also feel the pain injections are so painful for her, it stresses her out even more. I just feel so helpless and shattered, but thanks for the support.
 
Ure97 said:
She has baytril for 7 days, so another 5 days, which I agree kills there appetite. I’m trying to give her probiotics aswell, but nothing seems to help. I also feel the pain injections are so painful for her, it stresses her out even more. I just feel so helpless and shattered, but thanks for the support.
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Can the vet not give you metacam to give at home?
 
Have you tried syringe feeding her softened nuggets instead of critical care? I've found that the only pigs that will willingly eat critical care are healthy pigs that don't need it. They try to steal the syringe or lick the mouth of the ill pig.

Nuggets tend to go down better.

I'm sorry you're having such a hard time. Please don't blame yourself, or beat yourself up as the surgery can go really well, I've had a pig have bladder surgery twice and he was okay.
 
I don’t have any advice either sorry but sending you hugs from me and my piggies! I did once tho have a cat with a broken hip and metacam helped massively so worth an ask. Breaks your heart when they can’t tell you xx
 
What’s her weight and what dose of metacam does she have? A lot of pigs struggle after surgeries but with the right help they usually get through it well.

Have you tried a bit of wheat grass powder with some nuggets and critical care? That always helps as they prefer it. Tonks refuses critical care when she first came out of surgery but she wouldn’t be here with me now if I hadn’t be firm about it, as hard as it is.

Hope she gets better soon!
 
hi there, sorry your Nibbles is having a tough time of it at the moment :(

i think if she were mine i would try as the others have suggested & see if you can increase her Loxicom pain killer, is she on the dog or cat version? the dog version is 3x stronger, so just check make sure the vet is giving the strong enough dosage for whichever version you have, also make sure it's spread out across the day, as guinea pigs have a fast metabolism & so any dose wears off quickly, it won't last 24hrs for a one dose a day.
if Nibbles is stressed about the injections then try & ask the vet if she can just have the oral version, this is usually taken easily as it is quite sweet.

its only just over 3 days from her surgery & she is probably very sore, so please make sure the vet gives the maximum dose of painkiller/loxicom for a few days & then reduce it gradually as she heals.

discuss with the vet about using cystease too, it contains glucosamine which lines the bladder wall, this should also provide more comfort for her.

if she is in pain it will reduce her appetite, keep going with the syringe feeding, whatever she will take, Critical care, veg, her usual nuggets softened with boiled water, left to cool & either spoon or syringe fed.
I've had success with Supreme Science Recovery for Small Animals
but even the powder at the bottom of your usual nugget bag can be enough to get her eating again. if she's strong enough to fight you for feeding her, then that is probably a good sign. but she needs to keep eating.

have you tried feeding her with handfuls of washed grass & dandelions, these are readily taken normally & apart from washing bugs & dirt off of them it will also help to keep her hydrated without you having to struggle getting water into her, (i have been known to cut the end off of a dandelion & fill the stem with water, put your fingertip over the end of it & the water will stay in the stem, this way they drink & eat at the same time :)
try to handfeed her strands of hay at a time to perk her up a bit,also try different types hay to encourage her to eat.

as the others have also said, only you know your little girl & you will be able to tell when she has had enough. discuss with your vet the options you have & the recovery rate they are expecting.
sorry i have never had any experience with hernia's so i am no help there.

keep us updated & here's sending a truckload of healing vibes for Nibbles & wishing her a full & speedy recovery.
love the girls & I. xx
 
Ure97 said:
She has baytril for 7 days, so another 5 days, which I agree kills there appetite. I’m trying to give her probiotics aswell, but nothing seems to help. I also feel the pain injections are so painful for her, it stresses her out even more. I just feel so helpless and shattered, but thanks for the support.
Click to expand...
Hello

What injections is she having to have each day?

AB's and Metcam can be orally given.

Can I ask your location please?
 
sport_billy said:
Hello

What injections is she having to have each day?

AB's and Metcam can be orally given.

Can I ask your location please?
Click to expand...
She is on baytril and metacam orally each day, only the occasional painkiller injection, I live in Midlothian outside Edinburgh. She looked slightly better last night, so decided to go ahead with the hernia operation today, so fingers crossed she gets through all this, although going under anaesthetic again today worries me, as it will probably set her back again. Just have to keep ploughing on with the round the clock feeding! I feel like I have a newborn again, I’m just so tired!
 
Ure97 said:
She is on baytril and metacam orally each day, only the occasional painkiller injection, I live in Midlothian outside Edinburgh. She looked slightly better last night, so decided to go ahead with the hernia operation today, so fingers crossed she gets through all this, although going under anaesthetic again today worries me, as it will probably set her back again. Just have to keep ploughing on with the round the clock feeding! I feel like I have a newborn again, I’m just so tired!
Click to expand...
It is exhausting :( Sending them lots of healing vibes
 
GPTV said:
hi there, sorry your Nibbles is having a tough time of it at the moment :(

i think if she were mine i would try as the others have suggested & see if you can increase her Loxicom pain killer, is she on the dog or cat version? the dog version is 3x stronger, so just check make sure the vet is giving the strong enough dosage for whichever version you have, also make sure it's spread out across the day, as guinea pigs have a fast metabolism & so any dose wears off quickly, it won't last 24hrs for a one dose a day.
if Nibbles is stressed about the injections then try & ask the vet if she can just have the oral version, this is usually taken easily as it is quite sweet.

its only just over 3 days from her surgery & she is probably very sore, so please make sure the vet gives the maximum dose of painkiller/loxicom for a few days & then reduce it gradually as she heals.

discuss with the vet about using cystease too, it contains glucosamine which lines the bladder wall, this should also provide more comfort for her.

if she is in pain it will reduce her appetite, keep going with the syringe feeding, whatever she will take, Critical care, veg, her usual nuggets softened with boiled water, left to cool & either spoon or syringe fed.
I've had success with Supreme Science Recovery for Small Animals
but even the powder at the bottom of your usual nugget bag can be enough to get her eating again. if she's strong enough to fight you for feeding her, then that is probably a good sign. but she needs to keep eating.

have you tried feeding her with handfuls of washed grass & dandelions, these are readily taken normally & apart from washing bugs & dirt off of them it will also help to keep her hydrated without you having to struggle getting water into her, (i have been known to cut the end off of a dandelion & fill the stem with water, put your fingertip over the end of it & the water will stay in the stem, this way they drink & eat at the same time :)
try to handfeed her strands of hay at a time to perk her up a bit,also try different types hay to encourage her to eat.

as the others have also said, only you know your little girl & you will be able to tell when she has had enough. discuss with your vet the options you have & the recovery rate they are expecting.
sorry i have never had any experience with hernia's so i am no help there.

keep us updated & here's sending a truckload of healing vibes for Nibbles & wishing her a full & speedy recovery.
love the girls & I. xx
Click to expand...
Thanks for the reply. She is on 1ml of metacam once a day orally, but the vet thinks the hernia might be bothering her, so she’s gone through surgery again today unfortunately to fix it. She likes the odd bit of grass but hasn’t eaten the dandelions which is unusual for her. The surgery today again will set her back again, when we had a slight improvement yesterday, so fingers crossed! I pick her up at 6pm tonight.
 
Hope she is doing ok this evening xx
 
:wub:aww bless her, i hope Nibbles got on ok? i would definitely ask if you could split her Loxicom dose to two (0.5ml)or three (0.3ml) times daily - 1ml is quite a high dose (nearly a full 1ml syringe?), is that the dog or cat version? What weight is Nibbles usually? must admit I've had my doses in the kg syringes lately will try & hunt out an old dosage label to compare.
I know the saying goes "in for a penny, in for a pound...." but you've been a real glutton for punishment :(
hope you're doing ok with your lack of sleep, meds & nursing duties?
fingers & paws all crossed here for a speedy recovery. Take care. xx
 
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Ure97 said:
I’ve tried her favourite things to eat, like cucumber, but not interested, also she had a strong painkiller injection at the vets, but still didn’t make any difference. I’ve noticed her trying to drink from her bottle, but struggling, so provided a bowl of water also, but dosent touch it. I’m really struggling feeding her now, as she just spits it out.
Click to expand...
I had a similar issue with a rat recently (the not eating and drinking part), I cut a grape in half and offered it, he licked it and from there went on to take a few small nibbles. It wasn’t much but it was at least some fluids.
I feel so terrible for you, it’s so hard to watch a pet suffer and not respond when you are trying so hard to help them. I am really hoping she starts eating or at least stops refudingbyour efforts :soz::soz::soz:.

Big big hugs
 
GPTV said:
:wub:aww bless her, i hope Nibbles got on ok? i would definitely ask if you could split her Loxicom dose to two (0.5ml)or three (0.3ml) times daily - 1ml is quite a high dose (nearly a full 1ml syringe?), is that the dog or cat version? What weight is Nibbles usually? must admit I've had my doses in the kg syringes lately will try & hunt out an old dosage label to compare.
I know the saying goes "in for a penny, in for a pound...." but you've been a real glutton for punishment :(
hope you're doing ok with your lack of sleep, meds & nursing duties?
fingers & paws all crossed here for a speedy recovery. Take care. xx
Click to expand...
 
I will ask the vet if I can split the dose. She seemed brighter after the op yesterday, but has again reverted back to hiding and not eating. I got up again at 3am to feed. The vet said she will need plenty of recovery time as it’s been a big bladder op for her, so it’s expected. But I feel like getting up every 3 hrs is starting to take its toll on me.
 
Update: so nibbles had her second op on Monday, but again is still depressed and not eating much. The vet checked to see if her bladder was painful, but she seemed fine compared to before, so they were happy with that. She dosent seem to be in pain she just wants to sleep all the time. She is pooping and weeing fine, but I still am feeding her round the clock with critical care. The vet wants to see her next week for a check up again. Has anyone had this length of recovery, and they got better? Or will she never be the same?
 
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