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Maddie

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Niki

Niki

Senior Guinea Pig
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My Maddie is 5yrs old & lives alone tho' previously lived with Toddie (neutered in Feb). She has "blown up" slightly once before but returned to normal & still acted, ate and drank as normal. About 2wks ago she had a UTI ab& was slightly swollen again but this cleared up after baytril.
Last night whilst eating her veggies i couldn't fail to notice how swollen she was & rushed her to the vets, my worst fear was that she may be pregnant but it seemed highly unlikely. She had gained 5oz in 2wks & then gained 54g overnight.

Here are pics of her, she's down in size from last night (200g) but still swollen & is having problems breathing & is clicking like a ticking clock when she breathes in.

MaddieVets31869.jpg


MaddieVets21869.jpg

Apologies for the quality of the pics, they're off my mobile (she's on vets table)

Any ideas?
I'm not trying to make people look stupid but i'm trying to show that certain illnesses have similar symptoms & how the importance of acting quickly & getting the RIGHT veterinary advice can make all the difference.

Last night i didn't see an exotics vet - it was a case of seeing who was on as i needed something for her. It was a waste of time & money as she was totally wrong & the meds given could have made Maddie worse or............. :(

Today i did see one of the exotics vets & now have more of an idea as to what is wrong with her.
 
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OMG Niki when i found out thru Debbie my heart just went out to you xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Knowing you i'm sure you've gone over what she's eaten etc..........
Niki what do they think love?
I see she's on meds we all are sending MEGA HEAPS of loves, wheeeeeeeeeeks, tweeeeeeets, and wooooooofs to help our special girl Mads get thru this xx>>>xx>>>xx>>>xx>>>xx>>>

COME ON MADDIE

Velvet and Onyx send you heaps of mini kisses xoxoxoxoxoxo
 
Oh poor Maddie (((hugs))) Get yourself well Maddie I want to have a cuddle with you when I come over next!

Whats wrong with her Niki? Would be interesting to know as Elora went like this as well and we just thought she was a tubby miss. Perhaps thought should be given to huge weigh gains as well as weight loss.

Thinking of you both, give her a love from me.

x
 
It's so easy to only think of huge weight losses as something to worry about, and when they gain a lot we just think all is going very well. When you told me she had gained a lot of weight, my first thought was oh, she's really picked up from being unwell the other week and I was so pleased. Who could ever have thought the gain was sinister.
 
?/ Yes Debbie me too.........why this sudden gain?
Paws all crossed my darling whee hope our little darling friend Maddie responds to the drugs a.s.a.p. xx>>>xx>>>xx>>>xx>>>xx>>>xx>>>xx>>>
 
I will take you thru' MY diagnosis of her. When she first looked bloated about 4/5wks ago i thought "OMG she's pregnant" eventho' there was no way she could've been.

About 2/3wks ago she started with a UTI, just a small amount of blood could be seen but no straining or wheeking on urination but she was a little "squishy" to feel.

Baytril sorted the UTI but caused her mega bowel trouble & she had severe diarrhoea & again swelled up slightly. Follow up app with the vet: No more baytril & the gripe water i'd given her should sort her out - it did, she went back down in size. She was in the shed at this time & back to the old Maddie, wheeking for her veggies & acting normally.

I brought her in Sunday to be a mate for Magoo & she was still the same Maddie until she was eating veggies last night - she was HUGE again i thought pregnant, then bloat then i heard her clicking so now i've got her with a URI.

The vet last night thought bloat & gave her metacam & metaclop but coudln't feel an obstruction & Maddie is pooping altho' they are much smaller than they were & are slightly "sticky." Her inner eyelids (mainly bottom) are also up & are a milky white colour.

Today the exotics vet said what i thought it's not bloat as she's not tight, she feels like a water-filled balloon & doesn't cry when you palpate her tum & she was eating as normal. At around 1am she was chomping dandelion leaves ( thinking diuretic). Thanks Debbie :)
He patted one side & could feel "the wave of fluid" at her other side. She's literally drowning inside :(
He said there are 2 poss causes 1. heart condition. 2. Liver infection.
Her heart has a regular beat & he couldn't hear a murmur so he's treating her with frusemide (5mg twice daily) for the fluid, this can be increased & septrin (0.4ml) twice daily incase her liver is infected & due to her intolerance of baytril.
He said her inner eyelids are a sign of dehydration & so i'm syringing her water & am relieved she's lost 200g overnight, normally i'd be frantic at this weigh loss.

The importance of acting quickly & getting the right advice is paramount. I am guilty of "home treating" ie the gripe water but i was wrong as was the vet last night.
My Mads is nowhere near well, she has a long way to go but i'm hoping once the meds kick in she will start to feel better. She's not got age on her side but in the 2.5yrs i've had her she's not ailed a thing bar mites & i am hopeful her fiesty attitude will aid her recovery :)
 
Oh bless her! I did think Heart problem or Kindney as that is what I suspected happened to Elora.

You never give liver problems a thought really, fingers crossed for her! She's a lovely girl and in safe hand bless her!

Keep us posted! x
 
I think this really highlights the importance of getting proper veterinary advice for your sick animal. So many conditiions mimic another and hopefully your quick actions Niki, will mean that Mads is soon back to her normal, fiesty self. Home treating could have had dire consequences.

I am so glad you have shared this with us, and well done for acting so fast!
 
I just want to add: Her breathing is prominant low down in her abdomen (about where her back legs are), she goes right in & right out & it's when she breathes in that she "clicks" - this is pressure on her diagphragm caused by the fluid :(

Thank you all for your wishes for her - i can't lose her. She is my old lady & the last of my trio. Lottie & Albie will have to wait a little longer for her, i NEED her here :)
 
furryfriends said:
I think this really highlights the importance of getting proper veterinary advice for your sick animal. So many conditiions mimic another and hopefully your quick actions Niki, will mean that Mads is soon back to her normal, fiesty self. Home treating could have had dire consequences.

I am so glad you have shared this with us, and well done for acting so fast!
Click to expand...

Couldn't it just Debbie. In a lot of instances it's fine - there are lots of experienced members on here who offer great advice but everyone should seek the advice of a professional if symptoms worsen or the pig doesn't get better.
For me this also highlights the importance of finding a piggy-savvy vet & they are out there, i myself have changed vets (as you know) as my previous one was crap. I am grateful to Linda (susiechin) for her recommendation of Holly House. If i were still with my old vets i doubt Maddie would be here now :)
 
My update for Maddie is in Rainbow Bridge. However, i would like to thank everyone for their comments especially to AP for his advice & for taking time to chat to me this evening - Thanks AP! :)
 
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