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Maisie - Weight Loss

Janey

Janey

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For anyone who has been following Maisie's various issues, the latest one has been her losing weight. She's been to the vets today and has had a thorough examination. Vet has ruled out teeth and gut, but thinks it could be hyperthyroidism, as Maisie was quite reactive in that area and the vet thinks her thyroid gland is a little swollen. So I've come away with some new thyroid medication to try for 2 weeks. I'm still syringe feeding her today and tomorrow, whilst the drug gets into her system, and then I'll stop that and see what her weight does. If we have 3 consecutive days of weight loss, or if she drops below 800g (she's currently 854g today) then I'll need to step in with the syringe feeding again. It could go 2 ways - if it isn't hyperthyroidism, she could put a lot of weight on, and if it is then we're aiming to see her at 900g in 2 weeks.

She seems well enough in herself, still has a good appetite and takes the CC without fuss, tucks into her hay and even her pellets sometimes (though not so often since we've been having CC) - she is also drinking fine and behaviour hasn't changed at all.
 
Fingers crossed! I'm peering hard for the light at the end of the tunnel :tu:
 
Janey said:
For anyone who has been following Maisie's various issues, the latest one has been her losing weight. She's been to the vets today and has had a thorough examination. Vet has ruled out teeth and gut, but thinks it could be hyperthyroidism, as Maisie was quite reactive in that area and the vet thinks her thyroid gland is a little swollen. So I've come away with some new thyroid medication to try for 2 weeks. I'm still syringe feeding her today and tomorrow, whilst the drug gets into her system, and then I'll stop that and see what her weight does. If we have 3 consecutive days of weight loss, or if she drops below 800g (she's currently 854g today) then I'll need to step in with the syringe feeding again. It could go 2 ways - if it isn't hyperthyroidism, she could put a lot of weight on, and if it is then we're aiming to see her at 900g in 2 weeks.

She seems well enough in herself, still has a good appetite and takes the CC without fuss, tucks into her hay and even her pellets sometimes (though not so often since we've been having CC) - she is also drinking fine and behaviour hasn't changed at all.
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Hope the medication helps her. Xx
 
Janey said:
Did you have success with it? How did your piggy respond?
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Initially Sweetpea gained weight, rather slowly, but it was going on. Suddenly she lost again and the next day it was down even more. I took her back to Simon and we decided to up the dose to 0.15ml twice a day. However, she was found in her forever sleep a couple of days later.

Sweetpea was tested for hyperthyroidism and her T4 level was 68, which is on the high side. However, by giving Thyronorm, it could be that we sent her hypothyroid, so therefore weight gain was to be expected. Maybe the initial weight gain masked another issue that was going on, which eventually caught up with her. There seems to be so little known about hyperthyroidism in guinea pigs.

@Abi_nurse is probably the best person to advise you.
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
Initially Sweetpea gained weight, rather slowly, but it was going on. Suddenly she lost again and the next day it was down even more. I took her back to Simon and we decided to up the dose to 0.15ml twice a day. However, she was found in her forever sleep a couple of days later.

Sweetpea was tested for hyperthyroidism and her T4 level was 68, which is on the high side. However, by giving Thyronorm, it could be that we sent her hypothyroid, so therefore weight gain was to be expected. Maybe the initial weight gain masked another issue that was going on, which eventually caught up with her. There seems to be so little known about hyperthyroidism in guinea pigs.

@Abi_nurse is probably the best person to advise you.
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I’m sorry to hear that Sweetpea didn’t make it but thanks for your reply.

My vet did mention the possibility of a large weight gain if it wasn’t hyperthyroidism which makes sense. I’m just hoping that we have a solution. Her other issues I think we’ll just have to live with - this is by far the most crucial to sort.
 
Sadly hyperthyroidism is proving both difficult to diagnose and treat. I think this may be due to guinea pigs being very good at having other illnesses which can compound Thyroid levels in the blood and potentially hinder medical treatment. My only 100% success so far treating thyroid issues has been surgical removal or radioactive iodine. More research needs to be done, which I would love to, but sadly two things holding this back, one is lack of enough piggies to look at and two finances, certainly can't afford medical things to look into it.

Sorry for your loss.
 
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Well today’s the first day of weighing her since I stopped syringe feeding her and I’m expecting a drop in weight. She didn’t seem her usual self yesterday and wasn’t munching her hay like normal... Roll on lunchtime when it’s weigh time.
 
My experience is with thyroid cancer causing weight loss. I have never had a piggy treated for hyperthyroidism.
Fingers crossed for her x
 
What a surprise. She’s has dropped in weight but only by 6g! I was expecting it to be much more than that. Maybe we’re on to something here.
 
How are you doing @Janey ? I know how stressful it is when piggies are losing weight and the cause seems to be unknown. I really have my fingers crossed for you and Maisie! :hug:

My Jon Snow has just started on his decline in weight again, sigh. He was doing great but he's back to his lowest weight. I've just sent off a poop sample for testing again and then we'll be off to the vets with him.

They do love to stress us out don't they?!
 
Sorry to hear Jon Snow is worrying you again. They certainly like to keep us on our toes. Hope the poop sample shows up a cause and you get get on and treat it.

We’re on day 4 of the Thyronorm and I’m cautiously hopeful. I was expecting her to have lost 20-30g to be honest, but 6g is a real bonus.
 
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