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Poorly Gizmo - lump in neck

Marmazelle

Marmazelle

New Born Pup
Joined
Jan 17, 2017
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Hi all,

I'll try to keep this brief. My little Gizmo has had recurring bladder problems since last August (hunched when toileting/weight loss due to pain/occasional blood). He had an X-ray when this first began which revealed no sludge or stones. We tend to give him metacam/sulfatrim to get him through each acute episode although I am suspecting that it could be IC.

With every episode he seems to lose more weight and then struggle to put it back on. His weight is currently hovering around 700g (down from 1.1kg when this started).
He is currently having a quite a bad episode with a bit more blood than usual, but we've nursed him through this about half a dozen times now and feel confident we know how to help him through.

Last night while giving him a bit of syringe feeding, we noticed a grape sized lump in the middle of his throat (like an adam's apple). I got a vet appointment this morning although unfortunately the most cavy savvy staff weren't around. The vet I saw reckons it is an abcess (it's quite hard, mobile under the skin and has appeared suddenly?). She examined the area and there are no external wounds. I was advised to start on sulfratrim (I'd just been treating with metacam for his bladder so far).

The vet said to call tomorrow if it grows in size suddenly, otherwise to call with an update on Monday. If no change she'll try to take a sample of the lump next week.

Does anyone have any experiences to share? I have a horrible feeling he will need an operation which will be too risky given how underweight he is.
 
Aw, what a horrible shock for you. Hope this abscess can be sorted out, sending healing vibes to him poor Gizmo x
 
Marmazelle said:
Hi all,

I'll try to keep this brief. My little Gizmo has had recurring bladder problems since last August (hunched when toileting/weight loss due to pain/occasional blood). He had an X-ray when this first began which revealed no sludge or stones. We tend to give him metacam/sulfatrim to get him through each acute episode although I am suspecting that it could be IC.

With every episode he seems to lose more weight and then struggle to put it back on. His weight is currently hovering around 700g (down from 1.1kg when this started).
He is currently having a quite a bad episode with a bit more blood than usual, but we've nursed him through this about half a dozen times now and feel confident we know how to help him through.

Last night while giving him a bit of syringe feeding, we noticed a grape sized lump in the middle of his throat (like an adam's apple). I got a vet appointment this morning although unfortunately the most cavy savvy staff weren't around. The vet I saw reckons it is an abcess (it's quite hard, mobile under the skin and has appeared suddenly?). She examined the area and there are no external wounds. I was advised to start on sulfratrim (I'd just been treating with metacam for his bladder so far).

The vet said to call tomorrow if it grows in size suddenly, otherwise to call with an update on Monday. If no change she'll try to take a sample of the lump next week.

Does anyone have any experiences to share? I have a horrible feeling he will need an operation which will be too risky given how underweight he is.
Click to expand...

All the best! The lump is down to your vet's judgment as it could be a number of things.

If it is any consolation to you, I have been through an emergency spay at 700g just months after a bladder stone op and a massive bladder stone op with a piggy that was about as as borderline as they come at 540g by the time she could be operated after the weekend - 2 weeks later she was back up to 700g again.

Please top your boy up with plain porridge oats or mushed up pellets if you have weight worries but he is still eating. Step in with syringe feeding top up (as much as he willing to eat voluntarily) if he keeps losing weight.
 
Thanks for your messages! That does give me hope that a small piggy can pull through from surgery.

I may ask for a call back from the practice owner on Monday, as he was so brilliant with Gizmo last summer and other vets I've seen speak highly of his guinea knowledge.

I will try porridge oats! We've been topping him up with pellet mash for a few weeks to try and help him gain weight but whereas before he would take it through the bars of his cage (so easy!) he's been less willing recently. He does have a good appetite which can only be a positive.

I'll post any further developments to this thread, thanks again!
 
I'm sad to say we lost our special little pig yesterday. After he perked up in the morning I checked on him at lunchtime to find him lethargic and cold. He was still eating so we rushed to the vet and got him some hydration and warmed him up to keep him comfortable. He passed away peacefully on our laps yesterday evening.

I suspect there was something more sinister behind his symptoms and his body couldn't fight anymore.

Will post a proper tribute to the rainbow bridge thread when I'm ready to go through all the pictures.
 
I’m so sorry you have lost your little chap, he will have known how much you loved him
Sleep tight Gizmo x
 
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