my little one had surgery today:(

[baby girls]

Hello everyone...
Well we took our little angel to the vet today and she went under surgery and had the lump removed from under her chin. Poor little thing has stitches from under her chin to her stomach...the vet is sending away the samples which take three days before we get the results...but she thought it may be an abscess...guess we will find out in 3 days...she is on antibiotics and pain relief and I have had her lay on my lap bundled up in a towel for most of tonight. I even managed to get the day off work tomorrow to watch over her. I have a couple of questions I was hoping someone could answer for us please...
Firstly, the towel she was bundled up in tonight was white, and when I put her back in her freshly made up home (away from the other piggies but next to their cage) I noticed she had being weeping a little...is this normal? How much before I should be really concerned? I am too scared and fragile to lift her up and examine her right now as she must be so tender the poor thing 8...
Secondly, our vet told us she was overweight...she is supposed to be .8 or something and she is 1.3kg...how do we control her eating without having to keep her food bowl out of her room? Should I be worried about this? I always thought she was a healthy size piggi...a little on the heavy side but thought that was in her genes...
Thirdly, the antibiotics the vet prescribed to her is called chlor palm susp 250mg and it is to be taken every 12 hours for 7 days...is this a good antibiotic? we injected it into her mouth and she was quite hesitant but we just slowly kept at it until she had finished it all. Is there some good pro-biotic that someone could recommend to us so we can put some goodness back in her system and would we do this while she is on antibiotics of after her course?

The vet told us she completely removed her lymph node as it was so deep and en capsuled...is this going to affect her health? I dont have much faith in our vet to be completely honest, and looking for anyone who can give us some advice on if we did the right thing or not as I'm starting to wonder if there would have being a way for her to remove it without such aggressive surgery...this is breaking my heart. Can anyone help us please?

 

[baby girls]

Hello everyone...
Well we took our little angel to the vet today and she went under surgery and had the lump removed from under her chin. Poor little thing has stitches from under her chin to her stomach...the vet is sending away the samples which take three days before we get the results...but she thought it may be an abscess...guess we will find out in 3 days...she is on antibiotics and pain relief and I have had her lay on my lap bundled up in a towel for most of tonight. I even managed to get the day off work tomorrow to watch over her. I have a couple of questions I was hoping someone could answer for us please...
Firstly, the towel she was bundled up in tonight was white, and when I put her back in her freshly made up home (away from the other piggies but next to their cage) I noticed she had being weeping a little...is this normal? How much before I should be really concerned? I am too scared and fragile to lift her up and examine her right now as she must be so tender the poor thing 8...
Secondly, our vet told us she was overweight...she is supposed to be .8 or something and she is 1.3kg...how do we control her eating without having to keep her food bowl out of her room? Should I be worried about this? I always thought she was a healthy size piggi...a little on the heavy side but thought that was in her genes...
Thirdly, the antibiotics the vet prescribed to her is called chlor palm susp 250mg and it is to be taken every 12 hours for 7 days...is this a good antibiotic? we injected it into her mouth and she was quite hesitant but we just slowly kept at it until she had finished it all. Is there some good pro-biotic that someone could recommend to us so we can put some goodness back in her system and would we do this while she is on antibiotics of after her course?

The vet told us she completely removed her lymph node as it was so deep and en capsuled...is this going to affect her health? I dont have much faith in our vet to be completely honest, and looking for anyone who can give us some advice on if we did the right thing or not as I'm starting to wonder if there would have being a way for her to remove it without such aggressive surgery...this is breaking my heart. Can anyone help us please?

sorry a few more things our vet never explained to us...and I was to upset to remember to ask...how do we keep her from cleaning around the affected area or should this be encouraged? Is it common for guinea pigs to want to rip there stitches out? they are disolvable stitches and would hate for her to remove them by accident...we are also going to keep her close to our other piggies but in her own separate room and will change her bedding daily to keep it clean and prevent infection...is there anything else we could be doing? Btw, this was a very expensive surgery...in total it cost us $500...so now we are considering getting pet insurance...does anyone have this here in Canada and can they tell us how we can go about getting pet insurance as we have 5 guinea pigs and getting a dog shortly. Thanks in advance and sorry for all the questions
love willow, Jasmine, Caramel, Blondie and Frazel

 

[baby girls]

here are some picture of our beautiful little

 

[Glynis]

OMG that poor little girl that is quite some surgery!
You can make a little body suit...... out of an old sock..... i know this has been discussed before. I'm sure someone will advise and i'll try to find some more info for you.
From past experiences yes the wound can leak .... but if you're at all concerned i'd be on the phone to your vets.
I've not heard of that drug before but i did a quick search on GuineaLynx they do have a list of meds that piggies shouldn't have, it's NOT on that from what i can see.
I'll try to message another friend (from on here) i have in Canada who maybe able to suggest a probiotic for you.

Get her to eat some mushed up pellets and extra water. Keep offering little bits of hay, be best not to have her on hay in case any irritates or gets into her wound. She'd be best on fleece/baby blankets for awhile.
They're usually quite groggy for awhile after anaes so she'll be out of sorts for maybe a day.....just from what i've found before.

I'll also ask Christina about insurances for you too.

BIG HUGS FOR YOU XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

HEALING LOVING VIBES XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

 

[Glynis]

this is what one of our girls did to protect her little one who had mange and fungal....... but it's the principal.
I know one of our lovely experienced people will advise you more.

 

[AndreaJane]

I'm sure someone will be along to advise you soon.
On the issue of weight I would say that each pig is different, it really does depend on their build. I couldn't really see her whole body in your pictures. One of my girls is 1100g and she's underweight for her frame at the moment, the vet agreed when she felt how bony her hips were etc She dropped from 1250g when she got ovarian cysts so we keep a very close eye on her to make sure she doesn't lose anymore. They're all different, you need to look at her overall body shape and build, not just weight alone.


I hope she recovers from the surgery in double quick time. x

Btw: The best way to make sure they don't get too porky is to reduce the dry nuggets.

 

[baby girls]

this is what one of our girls did to protect her little one who had mange and fungal....... but it's the principal.
I know one of our lovely experienced people will advise you more.

oh wow thank you soooooo much! What an amazing idea! I will go out today and buy her some nice fluffy socks. I really appreciate this thank you again x

 

[baby girls]

I'm sure someone will be along to advise you soon.
On the issue of weight I would say that each pig is different, it really does depend on their build. I couldn't really see her whole body in your pictures. One of my girls is 1100g and she's underweight for her frame at the moment, the vet agreed when she felt how bony her hips were etc She dropped from 1250g when she got ovarian cysts so we keep a very close eye on her to make sure she doesn't lose anymore. They're all different, you need to look at her overall body shape and build, not just weight alone.


I hope she recovers from the surgery in double quick time. x

Btw: The best way to make sure they don't get too porky is to reduce the dry nuggets.

\Thanks for your great advice....much appreciated xx

 

[baby girls]

update

Just thought I would let you all know how she is doing today...Slept on the couch all night next to her and didnt hear a peak...woke up this morning and she started purring when I took her blanket away from the cage and petted her...she looks much healthier...I held her water bottle up to her and for about 5 minutes she sat there drinking water...then she started to eat her hay and move around her room...she also went to the end of her room next to our other guinea pigs and started looking out the edge of the cage for her family...awww so happy and relieved that she is doing so well after such aggressive surgery, thanks for your advice with the socks and how to prepare her food...I will get some socks for her today and mash her pellets up in water for her. If anyone could anser my question on Pet insurance please that would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks and love to all piggis out there xx

 

[baby girls]

I'm sure someone will be along to advise you soon.
On the issue of weight I would say that each pig is different, it really does depend on their build. I couldn't really see her whole body in your pictures. One of my girls is 1100g and she's underweight for her frame at the moment, the vet agreed when she felt how bony her hips were etc She dropped from 1250g when she got ovarian cysts so we keep a very close eye on her to make sure she doesn't lose anymore. They're all different, you need to look at her overall body shape and build, not just weight alone.


I hope she recovers from the surgery in double quick time. x

Btw: The best way to make sure they don't get too porky is to reduce the dry nuggets.

Hi AndreaJane....I will upload some more pis for you with a better view of her body...please note these were taken about 1 month ago now. Many thanks xx

 

[Glynis]

SOrry i haven't heard about the pet insurance as yet....
That is GREAT news that she is drinking and eating x)
One of the girls i've message one of her piggies is on the same meds as your little one.
Re her size gosh piggies are different just like us! I was told my girls were overweight, now i love my vet but this time i've ignored and gone my own way :x I keep my girls on a strict diet (cause of health reasons) but they're just bigger than their mum and their other two siblings!

Thanks for sharing the pigtures x)

 

[PottyForPiggies]

I know weights are a difficult thing to work out! My girl is about 740g but she's very slimline, it suits her, and eats plenty!
Hope to hear some more good news, and very glad to hear that she is eating well

 

[AndreaJane]

She looks okay to me, maybe a bit of a round bottom in the one shot but that might just be the camera angle but I wouldn't want her to gain anymore.
I weigh mine every week, it's easier to keep track of any major fluctuations that way.
When Yoshi ( r.i.p )started gaining weight rapidly but wasn't eating much I knew something was wrong, turned out to be an underactive thyroid.

Just make sure they've got plenty of fresh hay, about cupful of fresh veggies a day ( for each piggie, I split mine into three servings a day, but everyone's different) and don't give them too many nuggets. ( mine have roughly about a dessertspoon each - slightly more for the boys because they're bottomless pits that cannot be filled, but then in my experience all boys are like that, hooman and piggie! @) ) that should be enough to keep them at healthy weights.

 

[baby girls]

She looks okay to me, maybe a bit of a round bottom in the one shot but that might just be the camera angle but I wouldn't want her to gain anymore.
I weigh mine every week, it's easier to keep track of any major fluctuations that way.
When Yoshi ( r.i.p )started gaining weight rapidly but wasn't eating much I knew something was wrong, turned out to be an underactive thyroid.

Just make sure they've got plenty of fresh hay, about cupful of fresh veggies a day ( for each piggie, I split mine into three servings a day, but everyone's different) and don't give them too many nuggets. ( mine have roughly about a dessertspoon each - slightly more for the boys because they're bottomless pits that cannot be filled, but then in my experience all boys are like that, hooman and piggie! @) ) that should be enough to keep them at healthy weights.

Oh wow only a desertful of nuggets per day? I have being SERIOUSLY overfeeding them all if thats the case thank you for the very helpful information...and no it wasnt the camera angle...she has a round bottom lol...she is our little black girl after all and all dark skins have big bottoms LOL...please, not being racist...I only wish mine was as ample as hers lol

 

[baby girls]

update

our little black beauty is doing fabulously! Only thing is it takes me FOREVER to give her her medication! We use a syringe and I have even tried hand feeding her on my finger, but she knows when its time now and gets very restless...does anyone have any suggestions we could try for making sure she gets all her antibiotics? I'm worried that most of it now is ending up on her whiskers and not in her mouth! such a brave little girl and I have all the patience in the world with her...but even that seems to be failing me right now. She is more alert each day and still shoves my have off her head when I stroke her...(she has always done that, not her favourite spot to be touched) but while feeding her the meds, placing a couple of fingers on her head seems to be the only way we can keep her still long enough for me to find her mouth. We give her plenty of rests in between doses and she purrs as if she is laughing at us during these rests! She is so naughty! lol:{

 

[Toffeewoffee]

My boy was like this, i would spit it out, i ended up having to cradle him like a baby or get OH to hold him and get it in whilst he was tilted back.

 

[AndreaJane]

She looks okay to me, maybe a bit of a round bottom in the one shot but that might just be the camera angle but I wouldn't want her to gain anymore.
I weigh mine every week, it's easier to keep track of any major fluctuations that way.
When Yoshi ( r.i.p )started gaining weight rapidly but wasn't eating much I knew something was wrong, turned out to be an underactive thyroid.

Just make sure they've got plenty of fresh hay, about cupful of fresh veggies a day ( for each piggie, I split mine into three servings a day, but everyone's different) and don't give them too many nuggets. ( mine have roughly about a dessertspoon each - slightly more for the boys because they're bottomless pits that cannot be filled, but then in my experience all boys are like that, hooman and piggie! @) ) that should be enough to keep them at healthy weights.

Actually, looking at their bowls I'd say it's more like a tablespoonful of nuggets per piggie each day, so maybe you're not overfeeding them as much as you thought. How much do you give them?

 

[baby girls]

Actually, looking at their bowls I'd say it's more like a tablespoonful of nuggets per piggie each day, so maybe you're not overfeeding them as much as you thought. How much do you give them?

To be honest I am filling up there bowl until it is overflowing incase they cant be bothered standing up and reaching down (for my older piggis) at least 2 times a day...Some days I get home from work and the bowl is about a quater full so i top it up again every night after work and up to three times a day on the weekends. I didnt realise the nuggets were fatting, for some reason I thought it was there hay....which again, is constantly being filled up! I cant even open the fridge door (as they live out in our living room near the kitchen) without them squeeking at me...so they are always getting fresh treats throughout the day alongside there usual morning salad which consists of red and orange capsicums, broccoli, carrots, cherry tomatoes, cucumber celery, apple and thyme...on occasion they get pineapple (which they love) but no more than once a week as I know there is so much sugar in pineapple...I will control the food bowl for now on. I had absolutely no idea this was the cause, thank you for your helpful advice!

 

[AndreaJane]

Piggies can never have too much hay. I'm sure they'd agree...." More hay Mummy! It hasn't reached the top of our house yet!"

 

[baby girls]

Piggies can never have too much hay. I'm sure they'd agree...." More hay Mummy! It hasn't reached the top of our house yet!"

hahhahahahah could not agree more lol

 

[Bunsby]

I LOVE the photos you have of your luvs! Thank you for sharing them.

 

[baby girls]

I LOVE the photos you have of your luvs! Thank you for sharing them.

aww your welcome feel free to post some on here of your babies! I would love to see them x

 

[Glynis]

our little black beauty is doing fabulously! Only thing is it takes me FOREVER to give her her medication! We use a syringe and I have even tried hand feeding her on my finger, but she knows when its time now and gets very restless...does anyone have any suggestions we could try for making sure she gets all her antibiotics? I'm worried that most of it now is ending up on her whiskers and not in her mouth! such a brave little girl and I have all the patience in the world with her...but even that seems to be failing me right now. She is more alert each day and still shoves my have off her head when I stroke her...(she has always done that, not her favourite spot to be touched) but while feeding her the meds, placing a couple of fingers on her head seems to be the only way we can keep her still long enough for me to find her mouth. We give her plenty of rests in between doses and she purrs as if she is laughing at us during these rests! She is so naughty! lol:{

You could try wrapping her in a small towel (aka burrito style) and then pop the syringe into her mouth and squeeze out the meds. Continue to talk quietly to her, try not to stress as i'm sure this passes on to them. I also found having a little treat to have afterwards helped. You can also pop the tip of the syringe into a piece of fav fruit after you've sucked up the meds. I also pop the syringe into the side of their mouth.
I bought my girls up to know a syringe from a very early age, they now just think syringes are for juicey (very watered down cranberry or plain water) so if they need meds they take it pretty easily for me.
Piggies do tend to nudge your hand away when you stroke their head and they don't want you too
Keep up the great work XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

still no update on the insurance either.

As for her weight as long as she's not struggling to run around etc.. i personally would never put a piggie on a diet to loose weight.
She seems to be eating well and yes as AndreaJane said just ease off on the nuggets.

 

[baby girls]

You could try wrapping her in a small towel (aka burrito style) and then pop the syringe into her mouth and squeeze out the meds. Continue to talk quietly to her, try not to stress as i'm sure this passes on to them. I also found having a little treat to have afterwards helped. You can also pop the tip of the syringe into a piece of fav fruit after you've sucked up the meds. I also pop the syringe into the side of their mouth.
I bought my girls up to know a syringe from a very early age, they now just think syringes are for juicey (very watered down cranberry or plain water) so if they need meds they take it pretty easily for me.
Piggies do tend to nudge your hand away when you stroke their head and they don't want you too
Keep up the great work XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

still no update on the insurance either.

As for her weight as long as she's not struggling to run around etc.. i personally would never put a piggie on a diet to loose weight.
She seems to be eating well and yes as AndreaJane said just ease off on the nuggets.

aw thanks for the great advice with putting the syringe in her favourite fruit! I am going to try that for her doses tomorrow! Muchly appreciated and for all your advice! You have being amazing! Thank you xxxxxxxx

 

[Glynis]

TGPF is an amazing forum x)

 

[baby girls]

TGPF is an amazing forum x)

I agree! x

 

[baby girls]

Hello everyone! I have some SUPER news...we are just SOOOO happy!
After a lot of resisting and head throwing...Willow now lets us feed her the medication through a syringe! My husband holds her gently on her back legs and he carefully supports her chest and head in his hands while he holds her upright into his stomach...he then holds her mouth steady while I feed her the meds...We have discovered that while her head is back and she is licking her lips to get all the meds off, I just keep squeezing the syringe into her mouth instead of giving her breaks in between, and she now lets us! She is eating her entire dose of the antibiotics now and in under 2 minutes! IT TOOK ME WELL OVER AN HOUR BEFORE and I was lucky if she got any! I am soooo proud of my little black beauty! Today is my last day off before work...I am going to have a mummy daughter day with my girls...expect lots of photos to come!

oh and yesterday she seemed so well that I put her in her clean playpen with her sisters and all of them came to greet her, sniff her and rub there heads against hers...it looked like they were all saying how sorry they were that she went through that and that they missed her...in there own piggy way. It was the sweetest thing and brought tears to mummys eyes!