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Just caught up with this thread - sorry to read about Winston. I have had piggies that have had bladder or kidney stones and it is a distinctive squeaking pain noise when they wee. Blood is sometimes in the wee also.

I am really pleased that Winston is still with you. If he is eating, although selectively, just give him what he likes and as much as he likes.

I agree with the comments of others above .... if a piggy is still eating then it is worth holding out. Obviously if Winston appears to be in pain which he can't handle, then you may need to consider your options.

Fingers crossed for Winston xx
 
Just wondering, if even now, it would be worth giving him soft water. Although kidney stones seem to be fairly common in rabbit and pigs we have never suffered it but we are in a soft water area. Many people talk about the veg given but I do wonder if the water may play a bigger factor.
 
Winston is still here. He came running to the bars of his cage when he heard me chopping veggies in the kitchen this morning and hoovered down some lettuce and grass. He is still weeing and pooing but isn't moving around as much, pretty much just sitting. He is definitely still interested in food but not much else. I don't think he will be here much longer, today he definitely seems worse. I weighed him and he is just over 660g :(

I was thinking maybe water could be playing a part in the problems my pigs have. Bournemouth is a hard water area so I think I am going to invest in a water filter. We took Billy to the vets about 6 months ago because he was crying when weeing (he still does this) but the vet couldn't diagnose a problem even with an x-ray and numerous visits. His urine is becoming more and more sludgey looking though so there is definitely something not right. He has always been a good drinker though.
 
I live in a hard water area and I give my pets either filtered water or bottled water.
 
I live in a hard water area and I give my pets either filtered water or bottled water. I did a test one day I put one bowl of tap water, one of filtered and one of bottled to see which they would choose and they all went for the bottled first then the filtered, the tap water was untouched to me that says it all for our water!
 
Modwyn said:
I live in a hard water area and I give my pets either filtered water or bottled water. I did a test one day I put one bowl of tap water, one of filtered and one of bottled to see which they would choose and they all went for the bottled first then the filtered, the tap water was untouched to me that says it all for our water!
Click to expand...

Does it matter what sort of bottled water you go through? I think maybe we'll do this, or get a filter. This is a really good point I never thought of before.

Maybe try veggies with less calcium in too, even though they do need a bit, I think a higher level of calcium can cause stones, or make them worse? I'm sure alcesterpigs may say if this is true or not :)p:)p:)p:)p
 
I just use the same bottled water as I use for myself and if the water isn't smelling or tasting to bad out of the tap the filtered.

I'm sure some will say it doesn't do any good either way but I go with their preferance.
 
I am glad that Winston is still there, but I know from my own experiences how hard it is to stand by and not be able to do much for him!

Your love and care do mean a lot to him, though!
 
it's taken me about 30 mins to read this thread!

Last January, our Bertie was diagnosed with a lump on his kidney. He was booked in for surgery but had an allegic reaction to the anesthetic so we decided to abndon the op and manage his condition rather than try to cure it. He'd laready had 3 general anestheatics for various other issues and did't want to put him through more. Every now and again, he'd lose his apetite and had to be hand-fed.

Thanks to the vital advice I got from AP and Laura-CCC4 especially, he lived another 5 months during which he was more alert and vivacious than the previous 4 years. He had, however, developed a drinking problem (:))).

In the end, he passed away at home. That day only was it obvious that there was no more fight left in him. As I was trying to call the vets' surgery, he died peacefully in his daddy's arms.

All of this to say that YOU will know when HE's ready. Good luck and treasure the last days you are given with him, however many there may be.
 
I, too, remember sweet Bertie. He was the first pig I'd come across as having the same condition I lost my first pig to, almost 2 years ago. Back when Charlie was diagnosed (June 2007), I did not find a single other pig with such a tumour, despite searching on various forums and asking questions, asking if anyone know of another pig with the problem.
I do wonder if I had found someone whose pig had been through the same, if I'd have felt much more supported. I was a regular poster on other forums (I didn't join here until months after I lost Charlie) and of course their support was important and helpful to me, but sometimes you want to find someone whose pig has had the same problem.

Audrey, I can't believe your Bertie has been gone since May. I don't know where the time has gone...

mittenpie, I really hope Winston has a comfortable night. Will check here first thing for any news. xx
 
I don't know if this is relevant to guinea pigs, but I am trying to be helpful, if he has renal failure, vitamin B12 injections could help. We have 3 cats in chronic renal failure and alongside some meds to reduce phosphate absorbtion, some to reduce kidney degeneration and they will eventually end up on fortekor, I am looking at B12 injections. An effct of renal failure can be anaemia, caused by loss of B12 through the excess urination, the injection helps top up the vitamin and thus helps with the aneamia. Having spoken to my vet, at one point this was the only treatment for cats in CRF, I have also heard it is helpful in rabbits.
 
The little guy is hanging in there! He weighs a mere 645g this morning so half his original body weight which is quite shocking really, he was a little porky pig! But he was climbing the bars for snacks this morning and is looking very bright eyed - I think yesterday was just an off day.

He seems to have a problem with his mouth though, could it be that his teeth are causing him problems where he hasn't been eating as much as he used to? He manages fine to eat things when they're cut up small but a chunk of carrot seems to cause problems. I've made his pellets slightly soggy so that he doesn't have to crunch them. So sweet coming in and seeing that he has been tucking in with smushed up food all over his little face!

He was given a B12 injection at the last vets visit but the vet didn't suggest doing any more for him as the prognosis wasn't good.

It's just really infuriating in a way that this little pig still seems full of life and energy, it would be easier to take if he acted ill. I am very glad I didn't take him to the vets to be PTS, I think having this time with him knowing that he is not going to be here for very much longer has made it a little easier to accept.
 
He could have tooth trouble with his molars due to not grinding them down enough.

I am glad however that he is still there and alert!
 
Hello everyone,

Just got home from work and greeted by Winston and Billy as normal - bless them both! Winston definitely has something wrong with his teeth. When trying to chew carrot bits keep falling out and he picks up his nuggets but then drops them all over the place. He is still nibbling hay but obviously not enough to keep his teeth in check?

Is there anything I can do to help keep his mouth comfortable?
 
Hi there,
I noticed my Poppy pig did this not long after we got her. We took her to a rodentologist who examined her teeth without anaesthetic and at no charge to immediately see that her front teeth were at different lengths. She files them on a regular basis so Poppy has no problem eating independantly :) Do you have a rodentologist nearby to you? If you are not sure maybe telephone Vedra at the Cambridgeshire Cavy Trust who can tell you :)
 
Sorry as i haven't got any piggies yet i can't help but just wanted to say its great that he seems a bit better. I hope he continues to improve and the teeth sitaution gets sorted out.
 
I'm sure a rodentologist (or a very good vet who does dental work without anesthetic) could help, it should be a quick enough job and will help make Winston's time easier. I was very worried when my Charlie developed slanted incisors, as I was concerned about how the condition could be treated given his poor physical condition (by that time, 10 days before his death, he was struggling with bumblefoot and the kidney tumour was taking up around three quarters of his abdomen). But he was wrapped up while he had the teeth trimmed and filed, and that was that.
 
"Is there anything I can do to help keep his mouth comfortable?"

He needs treatment to resolve this problem. Other than that there is very little that you can do for him that will be worthwhile or effective.
 
Does anyone know of a good guinea pig vet in Bournemouth/Dorset area?

My current vet is OK but I know he would use anesthetic to do anything dental. He used gas on Winston to take the x-rays when I requested he didn't...I didn't find out until afterwards which I was a bit annoyed about...
 
Well the little guy is still here! Winston is my hero!

He is eating fine and drinking and his weight is remaining pretty low but constant, at 640g.

We put him on a hot water bottle last night in the cage and it was so sweet to see him properly snuggle down and close his eyes - he's not seemed very relaxed for ages.

For now things seem to be stable... :)
 
Wonderful news, I am glad he still has a good quality of life despite his condition...let's hope he can cope just as well for some time yet. Big hugs to you, Winston and Billy! xx
 
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