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Please help

Puddles1999

Puddles1999

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Jun 4, 2019
Messages
341
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175
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365
Location
Carbondale, Illinois
I’m sorry I’ve posted a thread kind of about this about milk thistle. The last week, my last remaining girl randomly puffed up and had soft poops. Took her to er and found nothing out. She’s been on metoclopromide and meloxicam. Her diarrhea got worse and I seen metoclopromide could make poops worse.

I took her to a vet yesterday and did an X-ray and showed a lot of fluid in her abdomen. Did an ultrasound and said there was a mass on her liver. Gave me some furosemide to try to get rid of the fluid in her abdomen. She just had her third dose and I don’t notice too much of a difference. I gave her the third dose 9 hours after the last one since the vet told me I can do 8-12 hours.

Her poops seem to be hardening up. I took her dose from .4 to .2 and that seemed to of helped. The vet said the liver was causing soft poops but it seems to be getting better.

She’s still on metaclopromide and meloxicam and now furosemide. Looking for milk thistle for her.

I’m just so torn and upset. She seems to be having such a. Hard time walking. She stumbles, her legs kinda give out sometimes. Yet she’s still eating hay, still drinking water, begging for critical care. She loves her meloxicam and metoclopromide. Yet I’m so hurt seeing her having such a hard time moving around sometimes.

She also sits really puffy and hunched so I know she’s uncomfortable which is why I’m trying to get the fluid out. I don’t know what to do. She still has her personality, she still eats, loves to beg. I’m so lost and upset. I just lost my other two in January and my heart feels crushed.

Anyone please give any advice if you have any. Just any support. I am not doing okay unfortunately and I need other people that understand.
 
Hi. I don’t have any experience of liver problems. Sorry. Did the vet say why she’s having trouble walking? It sounds like you are doing all you can at the moment until the medication kicks in. It’s awful watching them when they are poorly. You feel so helpless. I hope she’s a little better each day.

I don’t know about Milk Thistle either.

Sorry I’ve not been much help. But I’m sending you a hug too. 🤗
 
weepweeps said:
Hi. I don’t have any experience of liver problems. Sorry. Did the vet say why she’s having trouble walking? It sounds like you are doing all you can at the moment until the medication kicks in. It’s awful watching them when they are poorly. You feel so helpless. I hope she’s a little better each day.

I don’t know about Milk Thistle either.

Sorry I’ve not been much help. But I’m sending you a hug too. 🤗
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No I don’t recall her saying anything about it actually. I kinda put it to her abdomen being so full of fluid. I am so anxious and sad. I’m trying to remain composed but it is so hard. She still eats and drinks and shows so much life yet looks so hard to get around now. Plus her poops have started to firm up as well so that’s good. I just want her to be okay and want what is best for her.

Thank you. I need all the support I can get. I’m really struggling 🙁❤️
 
It’s a great sign her poops are firming up. Hopefully when she’s less bloated she’ll feel so much better. It so positive that she’s eating and drinking too. 👍🏻

Hang in there you are doing a great job. ❤️
 
Hi there I'm not an expert far from it as I'm quite a new guinea parent but we lost a guinea baby in December and a month ago another had to have quite a big operation so I know what it's like kind of seeing them when you think they're unhappy. It can seem to take a while for medication to help so keep doing what you are,. She sounds like an angel having her medications off you willingly I have to coax, bribe etc Cookie to have his.
I would perhaos book a follow up appointment at the vets early next week if there is no change and if they're open today phone and ask them how quickly you should see an improvement. I'm sure someone much more knowledgeable will be in touch soon in the meantime we send hugs and remember your little one knows she is loved you're doing a fantastic job 🌈
 
It sounds like you're doing everything right for and she has the will to live. I'm afraid I have no advice just to say keep going.❤️
 
Sending hugs, I know it’s so difficult and sad when you see a beloved piggie struggling. You are doing all you can, hang in there give these meds some time to work. I hope you see an improvement soon :hug: I have heard that Milk Thistle is a support for liver in humans but I would have no idea if this would help her, discussing this with your vet might be the best option
 
CTWC said:
Hi there I'm not an expert far from it as I'm quite a new guinea parent but we lost a guinea baby in December and a month ago another had to have quite a big operation so I know what it's like kind of seeing them when you think they're unhappy. It can seem to take a while for medication to help so keep doing what you are,. She sounds like an angel having her medications off you willingly I have to coax, bribe etc Cookie to have his.
I would perhaos book a follow up appointment at the vets early next week if there is no change and if they're open today phone and ask them how quickly you should see an improvement. I'm sure someone much more knowledgeable will be in touch soon in the meantime we send hugs and remember your little one knows she is loved you're doing a fantastic job 🌈
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I’m sorry to hear about the loss of your baby in December. It is so hard when we lose them. I’m really hoping the furosemide starts helping more soon. I just want her to feel okay. She definitely doesn’t like the furosemide but enjoys the metoclopromide & meloxicam.

She has a drop off appointment Monday morning at our regular vet. Couldn’t get in an person appointment for a month. :/ I did message her and expressed my concerns since she isn’t getting around well but I’m going to bring a blanket for her to be on.

Thank you for the supportive words. It really helps in times like these. I wish nothing but the best for your guineas & hope they are happy and healthy ❤️
 
fluffysal said:
It sounds like you're doing everything right for and she has the will to live. I'm afraid I have no advice just to say keep
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Bill & Ted said:
Sending hugs, I know it’s so difficult and sad when you see a beloved piggie struggling. You are doing all you can, hang in there give these meds some time to work. I hope you see an improvement soon :hug: I have heard that Milk Thistle is a support for liver in humans but I would have no idea if this would help her, discussing this with your vet might be the best option
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It really is. It’s crazy how fast things go downhill too. Over a week ago, she was doing just fine. It’s so hard seeing her like this and just wanting what’s best for her. I’m really hoping the furosemide starts working and gets the fluid out for her.

I’ve been trying to find milk thistle but was told at the vet I needed a certain ingredient but can’t find ones with that and the ones that do have it have ingredients that aren’t good for her. 🙁 someone on the forum recommended one they had used that didn’t have that ingredient but I may still try it.

Thank you for the support. It really helps hearing from people that understand the struggle and situation. ❤️ I wish these things didn’t happen with them. It’s so hard on us owners and especially not knowing what to do and what’s best
 
CTWC said:
Morning how are you both? 🌈Not sure I saw your little ones name in the post? X
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Good morning.☀️ We’re still the same today. Still trucking through the days though :) I wake up through the night to give her other dosage of furosemide and then a few hours later for her meloxicam and metoclopromide. Sometimes it feels hard to be positive but certainly trying my best. She still stumbles around sometimes but it really doesn’t stop her from doing anything. She has this favorite toy of hers she chews on. She’s still a squeaky little thing too. Her name is Penelope ❤️ she is my last baby after the other two passed not that long ago. I’ve always had such a great bond with her
 
Penelope good morning 💕
It's good that she is still doing what she wants to all be it a little slower I thought the photo today looked slightly less angry as you said 6 days is a short time period for such a serious wound don't get pressured into anything at the vets she is your baby and you know Penelope the best x💕
 
Hi update everyone.
We are back home and I had her see our regular vet. Here is the news from our regular vet.

-Did NOT see a mass on the liver
-had some sludge in her bladder
-liver was bright on the ultrasound
-possible heart murmur.
-no neurological symptoms(came back clear)
-she did still have a bit of fluid in her abdomen.
-Thicker Cardiac valves. She did say as they get older the valves can get thicker.
-said she was leaning to the left a little bit? Also noticed her front legs seemed a little weaker hence her stumbling sometimes which is what I’ve noticed. She said it could be from weaker muscle mass if I remember her correctly.

She said to continue the meloxicam and furosemide for the fluid and inflammation. She is reluctant to put her on heart meds if she is not having a heart problem. I did ask her to listen to see if she could hear a heart murmur again to be more certain. I was going to make an appointment in a week to see how her heart looks and hears then and possibly putting her on heart meds then. I don’t know what ti think. I’m glad to hear she didn’t see a mass on her liver. Just confused and don’t know where to go from here

She did say liver congestion can be caused from the cardiac valves becoming thicker(heart issues) I believe so I’m not sure.
 
CTWC said:
Morning my word how worrying how is she doing this morning? 💐
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She is still dragging her legs. :(

She is eating critical care so that’s a positive to see her still wanting to eat.
She was wet when I got her home from the vets from I don’t know what. They said they gave her fluids but she shouldn’t have been that wet. I dried her off and warmed her up as best as I could.

Here’s a video of how she’s getting around

Link- February 26, 2024
 
So she is moving them just not in a usual way, did she have anaesthetic or sedation of any kind at the appointment? 🤔
 
Yes good news that she is eating monitor this and her fluids closely and regular weight checks if you're not doing them. When you say she was wet where was this? All over her? 🤔
 
CTWC said:
So she is moving them just not in a usual way, did she have anaesthetic or sedation of any kind at the appointment? 🤔
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She isn’t moving them too well. They sometimes drag behind her but she still can kinda walk sometimes but not really.

No she did not. Not as far as I’m aware she did not. I don’t know why she came back wet either. Poor baby is having such a hard time moving around. I probably will be up all night with her
 
CTWC said:
Yes good news that she is eating monitor this and her fluids closely and regular weight checks if you're not doing them. When you say she was wet where was this? All over her? 🤔
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she was wet on her back side near her spine for some reason. They said they gave her fluids and she had an ultrasound but there’s no reason why she should be wet. I noticed she was wet when we got her home from the vet
 
CTWC said:
I know that feeling being up all night what we do for love eh? I wonder if the wet was gel from the ultrasound maybe?
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Possibly but I don’t think it should be all the way up her side since it was her belly and she was pretty wet on that one side. She was also really cold, as her ears felt pretty cold.

I’ve been up for a long time and am so tired but I dont know how she’s going to get around since her back end seems so wobbly and her legs not working right
 
No she shouldn't have been left wet by them poor baby, not sure where you have her but perhaps you could try and nap by her house if her food and water is close to her so you know she can get to it but know it's not easy when you're so worried 💕
 
CTWC said:
No she shouldn't have been left wet by them poor baby, not sure where you have her but perhaps you could try and nap by her house if her food and water is close to her so you know she can get to it but know it's not easy when you're so worried 💕
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I am sleeping by her cage tonight to check on her through the night ❤️

It is crazy how fast things change. She was fine a few hours ago and then this happens. I just feel so bad for her, my little baby.

She’s in her cuddle sack now. I moved everything right next to each other so she has a corner with everything. Looks like she’s dreaming right now? Her ears are twitching and her nose
 
She was squeaking this morning for some critical care and she’s been drinking some water and eating hay. She’s still in the same spot kind of. She’s moved a bit to get to her water but she’s stayed in her little area.

I started thinking about it and earlier in my thread I mentioned her being wobbly and her not walking the best. Sometimes falling over more frequently and sometimes having a hard time moving her back legs. Now we’re to where she can’t really move them much at all. She can still move her back legs just wobbly and a little weak with them. Could arthritis cause this In a matter of a week-2 weeks? the vet said she had minor arthritis but I always suspected it was a bit worse than what the vet said cause sometimes she’d fall if she stepped off onto an uneven surface or something.

The weird thing is, the problem walking is when the issue started coming up with the soft poops, puffed up. Then being diagnosed with fluid in her abdomen. The vet yesterday said she didn’t have much fluid in her abdomen due to the furosemide she thought. I don’t know :(

She also did say that it looks like she’s lost muscle mass? That seems really fast to lose muscle mass. Her spine is much bonier now but she isn’t losing weight. I don’t understand how that’d happen so quickly.

Thank you for checking on her ❤️
 
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