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Not terribly good news on Stella

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paulag

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As some of you may remember I took in a couple of elderly sows a few weeks back and one of them had a lump under her front leg. the vet said it was inoperable and so we agreed to simply keep an eye on her.

When they were out on the lawn over the weekend I noticed she was breathing heavily so she went to the vets yesterday. Depressingly the vet found a smaller lump the other side. Feels like lymph glands to me. He lungs don't sound too bad apparently. She may just have a chest infection, but if there's one thing I've learnt about chest infections in small animals over the years it's never 'just a chest infection'. It's always secondary to something else.

Think she's likely either got secondaries in her lungs or something in the pelvic region pressing up (she is quite round in the middle but elderly sows often get a bit like this).

She's still bright and eating and running around, so we'll treat with antibiotics and go from there.

I knew that this would likely happen when I took them and at least she will get proper care for the time she has left.

Paula
 
Oh no, poor Stella. Hope she responds well to the meds. I'm glad she's with you though as she'll be well looked after and loved. x
 
Poor Stella! You would have hoped that she had a bit more of a good time to enjoy with you! At least, she is in good hands.

Vibes for Stella! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
 
Oh dear sorry to hear about Stella :(
Wishing dear Stella some special loves and wheeeeeeeeeeeks from the girls and I xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Paws crossed meds can do the trick and she's got more time in her lovely forever home xx>>>xx>>>xx>>>
 
Thanks all. I've just syringed some baytril - I'm reasonably good at it these days, but the usually put up a bit of a fight. But Stella, bless her little furry socks, didn't seem to realise until it was too late and she'd just swallowed it. So pleased as I don't want to inflict any distress on her, especially after yesterday's injection. Her breathing is a little better today, which I'd expect.

Paula
 
All the best of luck with Stella, you are doing a great job, happy vibes your way x
 
poor Stella -am sure she's a happier piggy since she came to live with you. Hope she's feeling better very soon x
 
Well she's about the same again. Generally acting perfectly normal, but breathing heavily. We went back to the vets as arranged and saw our more regular vet. She has some fluid on her left lung. The suggestions are an infection around a secondary tumour or a touch of heart failure.

We're going to finish the course of antibiotics plus try some diuretics. I've never used them in guinea pigs before but am aware they can be helpful. Luckily she doesn't seem at all bothered about having meds syringed.

Paula
 
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Sorry to read that your girl is poorly. Have they thought of doing x-rays? I only ask as if these is nothing in the lung region it may wrll be worth using drugs to try and shrink the lumps rather than removal which would be rather big surgery for an older lady. Healing vibes being sent your way :)
 
Hi. Thank-you for your reply.

We're going for a fairly non interventionist approach here as she is a very elderly lady. I know that chemotherapy is a possibility, but the dosing would be difficult and it wouldn't be without side effects. So we've made the decision that we will do supportive therapy while she is well in her self and eating, but no aggressive interventions.

Since having had a small amount of experience in palliative care in people it has changed my outlook on care of my animals. If I have a young animal that has a chance of full recovery then I will try heroic measures - for example we saved a degu with a serious foot infection with an previously untried antibiotic and amputation and I syringe fed him for a fortnight to get his gut stasis sorted after surgery. He is now fully recovered and hopping around like a demon on three feet.

But the best we could hope for with Stella is to extend her life for a few weeks, possibly at the expense of her quality if life. So we will provide care to treat any symptoms while she is still lively and eating, but should she stop eating or appear in pain then I will let her go as gently as possible.

That said I would never criticise someone else for trying with their guinea pig.

Paula
 
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