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Oliver - Tumour Removed But Now Kidney Failure

lauraboara

lauraboara

Adult Guinea Pig
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Hi. Haven't posted on here for ages so feel a bit cheeky to ask for support but have had a lonely week battling with a poorly post op piggie so wanted to see if any thoughts out there.
Quick history - Oliver = 5 year old rescue boar, ginger, smooth haired, very well until now, lives with another laid back boy - no issues there.1.1kg pre op, going down to under 1kg now.
A few weeks ago I felt a round marble sized lump in the relaxed skin under the chin /dew lap area.
You couldn't see it other than ruffled hair, only feel it and it felt quite hard.
Tried an experimental course of ABs in case the lump would respond but no.
Tried needle biopsy - came back inconclusive (which in my experience is usually bad news)
So after big debate, decided to have it removed which was done just over a week ago.
Op went fine but lump looked pretty weird and had calcified areas in it which some tumours can have. The lab test have come back and yes it was a cancerous tumour of the thyroid gland. :(
Post op, Oliver should be getting better with each day but he just isnt. Lots of fluid, syringe feeding, tempting with favourite treats etc but appetite has just crashed. Indications are that his kidneys are failing. I have been a bit bombarded with information but from what I can gather. thyroid tumours can be linked to other organs failing including kidneys and heart? is that right?
Feeling so sad that he was well in himself prior to op and now he is so ill and miserable - but I didn't have a lot of choice when the needle biopsy failed. So I don't think he is going to have long left and I won't prolong things (working with my vet) but any vibes for Oliver would be appreciated.
 
BIG HUGS

It is so heart-breaking and totally gutting when you have battled through a major problem only to have an even more devastating issue rear its head and pounce. :( :( :(

Try to see every extra day with Oliver as a special gift and use the time to give him all your love. The one (and only) good thing about knowing that you are coming close to the end is that you have the opportunity to do and say everything to want and need to say and do. Love transcends time; you can pack a lifetime's worth into a surprisingly short moment. Don't concentrate on what you haven't got, but what you still have and treasure that!

This is how I cope with knowing when one of mine has a terminal issue and is running out of time; I have learned this during the three long years that my dad battled terminal cancer and was close to dying several times.

It is a very bittersweet time because you start the grieving process the moment you realise that death is coming, not the moment you actually lose your piggy. Getting the bad news is in my experience the worst moment, apart from the loss itself.
But the time left can be as bitter or as sweet as you choose to make it; you can still laugh and have fun together! You can still kiss and enjoy the little joys of life and some special treats with Oliver.
The more you concentrate on what you can do, the easier it is going to be to let him go later on. The pain of the loss is never less; but you won't have these feelings of guilt and failure as much because you know in your heart that you have done your very best while could. ;)
 
I'm so sorry Laura, I wish I had answers for you. I think Wiebke is right be with him us much as you can. You know when it is time, & you will deal with it.
Sending lots of healing vibes Olivers way. My thoughts are with you Laura.
 
Thanks Wiebke and Tiamolly - very kind words. yes he is sitting next to me as I type and we are trying to have special bits in between the medical stuff and syringe feeds which he isn't very keen on. As you say, I think the joy of getting him through a tricky op has then been crushed by this kidney issue emerging / accelerated by op and that has been hard to accept.
 
Please don’t beat yourself up.
You did what was the best for Oliver given what you knew.
There was no way you could possibly have known that his kidneys had also been affected.
@Wiebke ’s advice is spot on.
Treasure Oliver, create memories and enjoy all the time you have with him
 
So sorry to read this Laura. I don't know anything about thyroid diseases in guinea pigs but I know the thyroid is one of the endocrine glands in humans.
It is soul destroying when guinea pigs don't improve after an operation. You begin to ask all sorts of questions. But you did the best thing a cancerous tumour would have only caused suffering. The kidney problem could not have been foreseen.
To encourage him to eat to build up his strength have you tried soaking pellets in water just enough water to soften them (not to make into a mulch). Marlow eats soggy pellets when he wont eat the dried ones.
I agree with everyone about taking things day by day and enjoy being with Oliver as much as possible. Take care my thoughts are with you. Val x.
 
Thanks for your support :)
He is actually looking brighter today and eating a bit more himself - just taking each day as it comes. Blood test next week to see how kidney function is going. Phosphate levels were normal which apparently is positive for him having a little more time
 
All paws crossed here for little Oliver, great to hear he is brighter today :luv: xx
 
You may find that if he is in the very early stages of kidney failure then stress on the kidneys make it temporarily worse. Anaesthetic is a bad one for that.
 
I'm sorry Oliver is unwell,treasure every day.take photos of the memories you will cherish.ive Carlton on borrowed time.he was diagnosed with leukemia in Feb 2017.he has more lumps appearing,but i take each day as a special day,Carlton does not seem aware and is always happy with his 3 wives.he is a confident mischevious piggie,he jumped out of the hutch and proceeded to eat the lush grass he found !
the thyroid controls calcium and pottasium ,and metabolic rates,so kidney failure could be transient if he needs thyroid hormone replacement ! look after yourself Laura and i am sending positive thoughts to both you and oliver .:hug:
 
Hi Laura. So very sorry that Oliver is poorly. I have 2 pigs here that have had thyroid tumours removed in the past month. Both have done well (one being an elderly boar). So l guess l have been lucky by all accounts. Here's hoping Oliver rallies. I suspect it is an anaesthetic reaction so may well pass. Sending healing vibes your way x
 
pig in the city said:
Hi Laura. So very sorry that Oliver is poorly. I have 2 pigs here that have had thyroid tumours removed in the past month. Both have done well (one being an elderly boar). So l guess l have been lucky by all accounts. Here's hoping Oliver rallies. I suspect it is an anaesthetic reaction so may well pass. Sending healing vibes your way x
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I think he is listening to you B as he got up for his breakfast today :). Slow going but definitely brighter and more hungry today.
 
No advice, just wanted to send you lots of love x
 
Aw Laura, I'm sorry to hear about Oliver but he sounds like he's rallying. Perhaps it was just a side effect of the operation which caused him to go downhill initially rather than his kidney's. I don't come on here often but don't be scared to post when things are tough. Everyone on here, is here for the same reason they all have furries they care about!

Healing wheeks to your boy!
 
flintstones said:
Aw Laura, I'm sorry to hear about Oliver but he sounds like he's rallying. Perhaps it was just a side effect of the operation which caused him to go downhill initially rather than his kidney's. I don't come on here often but don't be scared to post when things are tough. Everyone on here, is here for the same reason they all have furries they care about!

Healing wheeks to your boy!
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Thanks @flintstones - lovely to hear from you. Hope all is good with you. And yes, only people like you who have looked after poorly piggies know quite what a roller coaster you go on.
I hoping it was a temporary thing. He was so rough on about day 5 post op though. Am delaying repeat blood test for a couple of days to get him a bit stronger but there are signs of improvement like better poos and eating more hay (when he doesn't think I am watching of course ;) )
 
Swissgreys said:
How is he doing now Laura?
Hopefully he is continuing to perk up a little and enjoying all the fuss and attention.
We should set up a late night syringe feeding support group and call ourselves the 'Critical Carers'!
Sending lots of healing vibes your way.
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Yes @Swissgreys I am up for Critical carers group! I usually start last feeds at 10pm at the mo - Theo first (he has a feed every evening, long term thing) and then Oliver. I have camomile tea (wild I know) and they share some when cool. Ruby might like it - you never know!
 
lauraboara said:
Thanks @flintstones - lovely to hear from you. Hope all is good with you. And yes, only people like you who have looked after poorly piggies know quite what a roller coaster you go on.
I hoping it was a temporary thing. He was so rough on about day 5 post op though. Am delaying repeat blood test for a couple of days to get him a bit stronger but there are signs of improvement like better poos and eating more hay (when he doesn't think I am watching of course ;) )
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Poorly pig's what are they :coat:, I've got a piggy going in for bloods tomorrow so I can definitely empathise. I hope things continue to improve, definitely sounds like he's back on track. :)
 
Aww healing vibes to Oliver, his cancerous tumour has been removed & this may have been causing repercussions throughout his body to go awry for a bit, hopefully he'll be back to rights soon.

if it's any consolation i had a guinea with kidney failure & she did really well for ages, she would drink loads (&pee loads) but it wasn't until her second kidney was at a very low efficiency/failure level did she become unwell, when she did deteriorated very fast - but she was probably making the most of being totally spoilt for about 18months prior to this.
hopefully Oliver will be like my Turbo & have a good quality of life for ages, before he shows any ill effects.

Big hug for you too

xx
 
Quick update on Oliver. He was doing pretty well - holding weight at 900g with only one big syringe feed a day. But then this week has been a bit of a disaster. I had to go on a training course for a day (don't they know I have guinea pigs?) and in that time, despite care from family, he managed to go completely downhill and lost more weight very quickly. Had to go into vet to be observed for a bit as he was weak and wobbly and I thought I was losing him. But he is a fighter and is still with us, back to 5 feeds a day (groan) and lots of encouragement to eat grass and herbs etc. Back on septrin as there was blood in his urine. Looking bit better today - he might manage a little time on the lawn this evening.
 
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