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How Fast Should Baytril Work? Bulging Eye And Chewing Problem

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Thank you Swissgreys, it's a constant learning curve and I'm trying my best to care for him as he deserves.

He's a kind of pig who almost always curls up a bit when in a hidey, he pancaking is a rare occasion. During his ill time, he has curled up and fluffed his fur a bit when he is sleeping/hiding. He looks a bit sad now when resting, but I can't tell if it's just because he has his eyes almost closed, as he is so dozed off. When I pick him up he seems quite normal and more alert. I don't even have to force the syringe on him for feeding, I just lift him up to our feeding position and offer the syringe, and he takes it in his mouth willingly. And doesn't want to surrender it for me to fill it up again.
 
I have often found that when they start to eat better, whether syringe food or independent eating, they often become a bit quiet. I wonder if they get a bit of tummy ache as their body isn't used to getting so much food. I give Zantac for a few days, when they are like this, and that seems to settle things nicely.
 
Well that would fit @furryfriends (TEAS) ! Ampeeri is already having 0.25 ml of Zantac twice a day. His poo is again a bit softer, and the last time it was like this he clearly had a tummy ache. The last time some poo soup helped, so I gave it to him again yesterday. In addition of him eating more syringe food, he has also eaten the pellet mash that I keep for him in the cage, so he is certainly eating more than before.
 
After such encouraging weight gain, Ampeeri has again lost some weight since yesterday :( Yesterday morning he was 811 g, today 799 g. He is still eating the support food better than before, I don't need to force it to him at all, and I'm achieving roughly 60 ml per day. He is still quiet and spends most of his time in a hidey, occasionally coming out to explore or beg for treats. I increased the Metacam dose again to maximum, since I was afraid that lowering the dose caused the weight to decrease again. Since I'm support feeding him more than before, he must be eating less on his own I guess. He seems interested in food and hay in the cage, but doesn't actually eat them that much.
 
They were checked last week at the vet's and they were fine then. The molars were fixed three weeks ago last time.
 
I know, the molars were fixed in the beginning of April too, and then again three weeks ago. The vet looked into his mouth with a magnifying like tool, I don't know the name of it. The same kind of tool that was used last time when the molars needed fixing. This was a conscious check.
 
I haven't updated in a while because I haven't had much to update. Ampeeri's weight has fluctuated slowly, today being 804 g. But, I was just giving him his evening meds when I noticed that he has hair missing from his chin! I'm not sure how long it has been like this, I've seen something in his chin for a couple of days now, thinking it's just some dirt. His skin feels a bit thicker on the area where the hair is missing, compared to the skin around it. Could this be another symptom of whatever is wrong with him? Or have I caused this with almost two months of syringe feeding and wiping of his chin?

Here's a photo of the area, not the best one but he was trying to bury his head when I was taking it.
IMG_20170529_192244.webp

My vet will be available only on Wednesday... I was going to call her anyway to discuss about the last option we have (pts). The Zithromax treatment ended today, and I'm under the impression that since Ampeeri's condition is still quite the same, that's what my vet would suggest now.
 
Having a wet chin can cause the hair to fall out, so it could be possible that a combination of syringe food getting on his chin and wiping it has caused it.

I'm lucky to have not had a dental pig but I know from hearing TEAS experience that it can take multiple visits to fix, so he may need another tidying up.

How is he in himself?
 
Thank you @Jaycey for your reply. His chin has definitely been wet since I tend to get some syringe food in there too, and I'm not always able to wipe it completely dry, so your explanation would fit.

He is actually again clicking his teeth in a way that I suspect his molars could need fixing. They were checked two weeks ago, but then they didn't need fixing. The problem is, that my vet set two conditions: if Ampeeri's weight loss won't stop and if his general condition won't improve, she strongly recommends pts. Ampeeri's weight is roughly stable right now, but his general condition is still poorly, so I'm not sure if the vet will agree to treat anymore since Ampeeri is only meeting one of the two conditions. Ampeeri sits still a lot, but occasionally gets up, explores, nibbles very little hay or begs for treats. He is able to bite through a piece of apple, but not the skin. Syringe food he takes really well.

My vet will be available this Wednesday, but then she's taking a week and a half off, such a perfect timing. I could book an appointment for Wednesday and ask her to check for the last time. But for my selfish reasons I really hope the pts would be carried on the weekend when I'm off work, and I'm not sure if my vet would agree to us leaving on Wednesday and coming back on Saturday to meet anothet vet if we do agree to go ahead with pts.
 
@Powerpigs You know him best, so you should know if he is suffering, or if he has fight in him yet. If you think he deserves more time to get better I would take a video of him, or some photos being happy and enthusiastic. Show them to the vet.

If you do decide to have him PTS then the vet should be willing to cooperate and wait until Friday evening.

Stable weight is good. It shows that he's getting enough food to maintain his current weight.

But by the sounds of it I think he needs further dental work. You can ask your current vet to do it, or if you think they will be reluctant then you can try to find another vet who would be willing to do it.
 
I know I'm the one who should know, but I'm so afraid I do the wrong decision... Ampeeri is my first poorly pig, so I have no experience of this kind of situation. But honestly, when you suggested that I should take a video of him being happy, my first thought was that it's so seldom it's difficult to catch on video. I think I have my answer right there. I suppose what's holding me back is the fact that he takes the syringe food so willingly, and I keep reading that a pig has given up when they have no appetite for anything.

Anyway, I just booked a time for our usual vet for tomorrow. The nurse I talked to also wrote down my wish of postponing the pts until Saturday if that's the course of action my vet suggests instead of any treatment.
 
At TEAS we deal with poorly piggies all the time. Knowing when it is time to call it a day is hard, but I take the view that when they stop doing normal piggy things and barely move around, maybe facing towards the corner and have a general fluffed up look, it is time to consider whether letting them go is the kindest thing. I would definitely postpone any decision until weekend and observe him over the next few days. Does he look bright and alert more than he looks dull and fed up? It is very difficult to get enough food into them by syringe feeding, so sometimes they can look a bit quiet, just because they haven't got as much energy as normal due eating a smaller amount of food than they would normally do xx
 
Thank you @furryfriends (TEAS) . You have provided excellent points for me to consider. I'll keep these in mind, and discuss with my vet tomorrow. My vet won't be available on the weekend, but there's another vet at the clinic who can help Ampeeri for the last time if it is needed.
 
After a long night of cuddling Ampeeri, observing him and discussing things with my husband, I'm starting to feel it's not right to keep Ampeeri going for few days still just for my sake. This morning Ampeeri's weight was only 750 g, the lowest it has ever been. So if the vet suggests we should have Ampeeri pts, I think I'm ready to do it already today. I feel like I'd like more time to say goodbye, but honestly speaking, will there ever be a time that I could say I've had enough time? Either way, he will still be taken far too early as he is only 2,5 years old.

As Ampeeri has now been a couple of days off Zithromax and his eye is still the same, I'm starting to feel that retrobulbar abscess may be a wrong diagnosis for him after all. I would imagine the eye getting worse after finishing the antibiotic? I was hoping that cutting off the antibiotic would at least make his appetite for food better, but I see no change there. The vet has no other diagnosis for him, so the cause for him being so poorly may remain a mystery. His biting has been as poor since the first dental op in the beginning of April.

Yesterday I took Ampeeri beside me as I was laying on the sofa. Miraculously, he stretched out and lent his side to me. I haven't seen him this relaxed in ages. Occasionally he would rise up, look me in the eye and then went back to lying down. I stroked him the way I know he likes best, long strokes from the forehead all the way down his back. I will cherish this moment with him forever.

We have the vet appointment at 5 pm today (3 pm UK time).
 
As you have such a close bond with Ampeen, you are going to know if it is time to say goodbye. I remember so clearly having to make the decision for Monty, who had lived with dental disease for nearly 4 years, with lots of vet appointments but a very good life quality. All piggies are special but Monty was one of the 'extra special' ones and I was worried that I would find it very hard to make the decision. When Monty started to struggle and was going into congestive heart failure, I initially felt able to make that appointment. Then as the time got closer I started to question whether I should be going ahead. I sat with him and he suddenly looked up at me and his eyes said it all. He had loved life, but he was now tired and didn't want to continue. At that moment I knew I was making the right decision. Be guided by the love you feel for Ampeen and cherish the wonderful memories that can never be taken away from you.
 
As Debbie has said, you know him best and you need to go with your gut feeling. Will be thinking of you both at 3pm.
 
He is gone.

Thank you all for your support xx
 
Thank you Helen xx

The vet and the nurses were really kind and understanding, and the whole situation was calm and beautifully handled. I got to hold Ampeeri in my lap as he drifted to sleep, he fell asleep really quickly. The vet said it was due to him being so poorly already. We were also given as much time as we wanted to say our goodbyes. Finally, I got to place Ampeeri in a box in which he will be transported to be cremated. I had made a little fleece blanket for him, and I placed it on him to keep him warm. It's the same fleece I've made their cosy cups from. We chose a beautiful urn for him, and I'm looking forward of getting him back in it. There's also a place for a little candle that we can light for Ampeeri. We also cut some fur for us as a keepsake. I'm planning embedding some of it into a resin pearl that I can wear in a bracelet. That way I'll always have Ampeeri with me, although he will always remain in my heart, too.

I'll be posting a tribute to Ampeeri to the rainbow bridge section when I'm a bit more composed. I'm as ok as I can be, missing him crazy already. I can't understand that just yesterday I held him and now I can't and never will. Tending for Voltti alone felt horrible, and it's also so sad to see him alone. Every time I look into the cage I expect to see both of them.

Here's a photo of him from yesterday, with the last piece of apple he tried so hard to bite. At least he got teeny tiny pieces off, so he was able to taste his favorite treat one last time.

IMG_20170531_144640.webp

I also want to thank each and every one who replied to me in this thread, your help and support were and still are so valuable for me. I can never thank you enough xx
 
I'm so sorry you lost your piggy. You tried so hard. For future reference ask your vet to contact Simon Maddock at The Cat & Rabbit Clinic, Northampton for dosage info x
 
You tried everything to keep Ampeeri with you. despite your wonderful care it wasn't to be. My thoughts are with you, he will always be with you. PTS is the hardest thing, you have to be brave to make that decision,
But you have given Ampeeri the greatest gift, he's out of pain now. RIP Ampeeri, Sleep tight, run to the rainbow bridge. If you need to chat, everyone is here to chat & support you. Hugs :luv:
 
I am so so sorry for your loss :( Sadly there are very few vets that are able to do conscious dentals like Simon can & because of that he is in very high demand, people come from all over the UK to see him. It's sad there wasn't someone in your country like him who would have been able to save your boy.:( You did your absolute best for him & probably gave him a good few extra weeks. Guinea pig's teeth tend to grow incorrectly when there are problems with eating, usually as a pain response. There probably was some underlying problem there already. I am sorry xx
 
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