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Operation tomorrow

  • Thread starter Thread starter BigTigPig
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BigTigPig

Hi everyone,

Sorry for the many threads about Tigger I wish I didn't need to post them.

Tigger is having her operation tomorrow to remove her bladder stone. I am very scared. She seems ok in herself however we took her back to our old vet yesterday and he gave her an ivomej (sorry that's what it says on the receipt) injection and ever since she has been sleepy unless there's something to be interested in i.e. vegetables. Is this normal, vet did say it might make her sleepy but not sure how long for.

Also she has been put on critical care to build her up before the operation and loves to eat that but doesn't seem as interested in anything else. Could this be because the critical care is filling her up?

Also are there any other tips that anyone can give to help her get through tomorrow?

Thanks
 
My Minx has been through two bladder stone ops in 2006/2007.

After the op, Minx was sleeping a lot and not very interested in food at first. I just kept her as comfy and quiet as she wanted. She was a bit better with every day. Don't worry, if the poo isn't normal at first - between the meds and not eating lots. It will normalise once she starts eating again.

It took about two to three days for her churned-up belly to settle. After that she was perking up quickly and the wound was healing with astonising speed.

Make sure that your girl has something to eat before you take her to the vets, as she won't be very hungry afterwards. Guinea pigs can't vomit and therefore do not need to have an empty belly when operated on.

I continued to give her cranberry juice and as much water as she would take by syringe, in order to help flush out bacteria and prevent infections. You can give up to 40-50ml a day.

This was Minx' first bladder stone. There are different types, and they can be even bigger. Just to give you an idea!
IMG_1796_edited-2.jpg


Sending you and Tigger all my best wishes - I know how awful the suspension during the op is. Please feel free to come on here while you are waiting if you need somebody to "hold your hand". I found that it makes it a lot easier!
 
Sounds like it should read Ivomec - although unless she has a mite problem, I can't think why the vet would want to treat Tigger with the drug.

Good luck for the op.
 
Sorry it was vetergesic she was given, I picked up the wrong receipt. They have had mites and lice in the past so that would be what the ivomec was for.

Sorry, am 37 weeks pregnant, haven't slept for weeks and have no idea what I'm doing at the moment :red
 
These things always happen at the worst of times...

BIG HUG
 
I really feel for you, these things happen at the most tricky of times. I d wish you lots of luck for both your impending arrival and also for Tigger.
My mum had to drive me to the vets at 39 weeks pregnant with twins...she did not thank me for that!

Vetergesic is not the ideal drug for the reason I suspect it was given; if it was used for pain relief, Rimadyl or Metacam would have been safer options. It could explain why she has been so drowsy though.
 
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Thanks. The advantage of being in my condition is that I don't have to go to work and therefore can take her to the vets at the drop of a hat.

She is on metacam as well which she absolutely loves. And her peeing has improved slightly. Sure she still needs the op though as she was scanned yesterday and one large stone was still visible.
 
Unforunately, once you've got a stone, you have to operate, as the stone will constantly irritate the walls of the bladder and can get VERY painful - enough to put a piggy off food. There is also the danger that the stone gets stuck in the urethra.

At least you can be there for Tigger; she'll appreciate that!
 
Well the little madam has now decided that she doesn't like her critical care after all but has just eaten a dandelion and munched on some grass.

Is there anything in particular that I should make sure we leave the vets with tomorrow night? Things she should be prescribed etc
 
Either have Critical care or probiotics at home to counter the antibiotic she'll be given. It doesn't hurt to have some pain killer at home, anyway. She'll be getting a painkilling injection during the op that should last a day.
 
Well I just dropped Tigger off at the vets. Am now sat here twiddling my thumbs :-(

God I hope I made the right choice for her
 
AWW Bless you! From reading your post it sounds like the ONLY choice for her.

I hope the time goes quickly for you honey and she's home before you know it.
 
Unfortunately, it is the only choice! With a bladder stone, you are between a rock and a hard stone - literally!

Thinking of you and keeping an eye on your thread!

BIG HUG
The waiting and not knowing is always the worst!
 
Just had a call from the vets. Tigger has come round from her operation and is doing well.
 
YAY That's excellent news.

When can you go get her?
 
Fingers crossed she does well when she's home and settled. I am so pleased the surgery itself has gone well. :)
 
Hope Tigger is all ok after her op! It's horrible waiting for them to have something done - I cried all over a male colleague when one of our pigs went in - poor guy didn't know what had hit him!

I'm sure she'll feel much more relaxed when she's in her own home again.
 
I am glad that Tigger has made it though the operation. What a big relief for you, and I'm sure you will be so happy to have her back home again!

I wish her a good and speedy recovery with all the love and good care she'll be getting from you!

Wiebke
 
Thanks all. I fetched Tigger and she seems as well as can be expected. She just ate some tomato and some hay. She also ate most of her veggies that I left for her while she was at the vet this afternoon. She just needs to drink. Any tips on doing this while she has a big wound on her underside, I don't want to overstress it?

(They removed 4 stones - the biggest being the size of a baked bean. There's no way she would have been able to pass that.)
 
It's worth offering her water in a syringe if she doesn't seem to be taking from the bottle due to not wanting to move around. She might be happy to do this lying in the cage. Just be careful that she doesn't get lazy and ignore the water bottle! Alternatively you can offer her the end of the bottle by holding it up to her - again, make sure that she doesn't get lazy!

If she's eating veggies then she'll be getting some water in but it's important that she still gets her liquids as well. Use a measured syringe if needed and make a note of what she is drinking in case you need to pass info to the vet..

If she's eating already then that's really good news!
 
Good grief those are sizeable stones and 4 of them! Poor baby, no wonder she's been so poorly.

Hope she gets well soon. I would offer it in a syringe but can you hold her or not to do it that way? Maybe just hold it to her mouth while she's in the cage or put a little bowl in for her?
 
Great to hear she is eating well already, that is an encouraging sign. Are you leaving the veggies wet after you have rinsed/washed them? That can help with water intake, although it's not as effective as actually drinking water.
 
Well we took her up to bed with us last night and she spent the night in her nest with her fleece. Heard her munching several times during the night and was woken this morning to the sound of her chewing her bowl demanding to be fed! She's eating little and often and although not her usual self is definitely interested if something is worth being interested in!

She seems quieter than usual but she had more vetergesic yesterday and that took a good 24 hours to get out of her system last time.

Have been struggling with the water intake for a while with her now. Since she lost her front teeth (which have now grown back) she has had a major aversion to the water bottle. I've been leaving the veggies wet and syringing her as much as possible but don't want to fight with her too much in case it damages her wound.
 
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