Jenwah
Junior Guinea Pig
Hello,
I have been informed by my vet that Gertrude's bloody test has come back with kidney failure.
For a while now, she's had issues with her teeth, she was gnawing the bars and one day I noticed her struggling to eat, long story short for the past year, shes had a lot of dental treatment (back teeth trimming/front teeth, missing two top teeth etc).
Then when Birt died, she suddenly went very depressed. I put it down to being lonely. So adopted a new piggy, from BARC. And she perked up. Then recently her weight dropped, but at the same time, her teeth needed trimming and so on. I kept on top of the teeth, her weight would pick up, then drop, would go get her teeth done and the cycle continued.
I noticed her weight wasn't improving, so I upped the food intake and would take Doris out for a run as she is getting fat, and leave Gertrude in to get more of the food. She's still drinking fine, her appetite is amazing, she runs over and squeels for food and when she hears wrappers open!
Her weight is at a very low 672g. She actually has put on 17g in 3 weeks, which I'm glad because its not a loss. Not a great gain but at least its something.
The vet has told me, she has slight arthritis in her hips and bottom of spine but is the least of worries currently. She said, shes also anaemic and low with iron. She suggested giving some injections, which I believe can help the kidneys but also has a slight steroid in which would increase her appetite and thus weight gain?
I am just looking for some advice from others who has had to deal with kidney issues with their piggies. Other than make them comfortable, which is my number one at the moment - what else can I do? I want to increase the iron, so she's not as lethargic.
Is there anything else? I am going to give more kale/spinach for the iron. And give her some orange juice (not from a carton, an actual orange) but I wont put it in the water, perhaps syringe it a few times a day?
I love Gertrude so much, she was one of two of the guinea pigs I got for my 21st Birthday and were "my" pets. I've already lost Agnes and now Birt, and I can't lose Gertrude. It's not her time I just know it's not.
Rainbow bridge isn't open yet for Gertrude <3 Thanks for any help.
I have been informed by my vet that Gertrude's bloody test has come back with kidney failure.
For a while now, she's had issues with her teeth, she was gnawing the bars and one day I noticed her struggling to eat, long story short for the past year, shes had a lot of dental treatment (back teeth trimming/front teeth, missing two top teeth etc).
Then when Birt died, she suddenly went very depressed. I put it down to being lonely. So adopted a new piggy, from BARC. And she perked up. Then recently her weight dropped, but at the same time, her teeth needed trimming and so on. I kept on top of the teeth, her weight would pick up, then drop, would go get her teeth done and the cycle continued.
I noticed her weight wasn't improving, so I upped the food intake and would take Doris out for a run as she is getting fat, and leave Gertrude in to get more of the food. She's still drinking fine, her appetite is amazing, she runs over and squeels for food and when she hears wrappers open!
Her weight is at a very low 672g. She actually has put on 17g in 3 weeks, which I'm glad because its not a loss. Not a great gain but at least its something.
The vet has told me, she has slight arthritis in her hips and bottom of spine but is the least of worries currently. She said, shes also anaemic and low with iron. She suggested giving some injections, which I believe can help the kidneys but also has a slight steroid in which would increase her appetite and thus weight gain?
I am just looking for some advice from others who has had to deal with kidney issues with their piggies. Other than make them comfortable, which is my number one at the moment - what else can I do? I want to increase the iron, so she's not as lethargic.
Is there anything else? I am going to give more kale/spinach for the iron. And give her some orange juice (not from a carton, an actual orange) but I wont put it in the water, perhaps syringe it a few times a day?
I love Gertrude so much, she was one of two of the guinea pigs I got for my 21st Birthday and were "my" pets. I've already lost Agnes and now Birt, and I can't lose Gertrude. It's not her time I just know it's not.
Rainbow bridge isn't open yet for Gertrude <3 Thanks for any help.
