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Rusty's Not Well

Thinking of you both, come on rusty you can do this 💪
Is there any rescues that do boarding near you? I know they would syringe if you needed it but I really hope he's doing much better very soon! I always said if I needed to go away I would board any poorly piggies or piggies on meds with a rescue, as while family would take care of the pets I'd want someone experienced for anyone on medicine/ needing extra support.

Sending hugs and healing wheeks! 💞
 
I think it would be to stressful for him to be taken anywhere else, just the return trip to the vets set him back. I will give him until the end of the week when he is supposed to come off his meds and see how he is. To be honest if he's still in so much pain and not eating by the end of next week I would question if it's right to put him through any more.
 
piggieminder said:
We've had a little break through. Syringe feeding has been a huge fight, I've been feeding Science Selective, it's what he had at the vets and the one I usually use and had some in the first aid box. Today I found some Burgess Duo care in the cupboard from when I was feeding Spike and Peanut in December. I'd tried it because it's a lot cheaper than the others but still has all the extra good bits that nuggets don't have. He can't get enough, he's reaching for the syringe rather than fighting it. :yahoo: Just the drinking and hay to go!
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Fingers firmly crossed!
 
piggieminder said:
I think it would be to stressful for him to be taken anywhere else, just the return trip to the vets set him back. I will give him until the end of the week when he is supposed to come off his meds and see how he is. To be honest if he's still in so much pain and not eating by the end of next week I would question if it's right to put him through any more.
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Oh bless him, that makes sense, marshmallow is the same with vet trips I couldn't put her into boarding I don't think, sending lots of love and speedy recovery wishes 💞
 
piggieminder said:
Rusty's been munching in the hay pile on and off all morning, I think we have progress. :yahoo: Just the water bottle problem to sort now hopefully.
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Offer a water bowl too, but there is a lot of water in syringe food, so don't get too obsessed about it. Rusty will know what he needs!
 
I tried a bowl. We think he stopped drinking from the bottles about 6 weeks ago, I didn't worry thinking he was getting enough water from veg and grass but then he got the stone. I know from my own stone history that you need to drink well to flush the minerals out (I need 4 litres a day from food and drink (don't manage it though)). I really don't want him to get another stone so I am feeling a bit worried if he wont drink. I am going to start cutting back on syringe feeds if he continues to eat hay, hopefully that will make him thirsty.
 
piggieminder said:
I tried a bowl. We think he stopped drinking from the bottles about 6 weeks ago, I didn't worry thinking he was getting enough water from veg and grass but then he got the stone. I know from my own stone history that you need to drink well to flush the minerals out (I need 4 litres a day from food and drink (don't manage it though)). I really don't want him to get another stone so I am feeling a bit worried if he wont drink. I am going to start cutting back on syringe feeds if he continues to eat hay, hopefully that will make him thirsty.
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Have you tried different types of bottles? I have piggies who drink lots and others who barely touch the water. Simon prescribes Bendroflumethiazide to piggies who have recurring bladder stones and it does seem to really help. I am guessing as it's a diuretic it helps keep the system flushed through, and also stimulates thirst.
 
He's got 3 types I don't know why he suddenly went off them, Rusty used to drink a lot something put him off. I have mentioned Bendroflumethiazide to the vet before, she and her boss were both horrified. It's so hard trying to suggest new thinking to vets, I tried 4 new ones back in the summer, ended up with losing Spike and being referred back to my old vets who are considered the best guinea pig vets in the area. People are referred to them from all over the country, wish I could get to Simon and Kim but that's not possible. Hopefully at the end of the week when Rusty's off the Septrin he will get back to normal, he hates the taste I'm surprised he doesn't want to wash it away.
 
piggieminder said:
He's got 3 types I don't know why he suddenly went off them, Rusty used to drink a lot something put him off. I have mentioned Bendroflumethiazide to the vet before, she and her boss were both horrified. It's so hard trying to suggest new thinking to vets, I tried 4 new ones back in the summer, ended up with losing Spike and being referred back to my old vets who are considered the best guinea pig vets in the area. People are referred to them from all over the country, wish I could get to Simon and Kim but that's not possible. Hopefully at the end of the week when Rusty's off the Septrin he will get back to normal, he hates the taste I'm surprised he doesn't want to wash it away.
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Is he on Septrin or Sulfatrim? I always thought the Septrin didn't smell too bad (well the paediatric version doesn't, although the adult one smells of aniseed), but Sulfatrim has a real chemical smell to it! Ewww!
 
piggieminder said:
So relieved he's just had a long drink from a bottle, whatever phobia he had he seems to be overcoming. Talk about the little things in life making you happy! Who'd have believed it a few years ago how central to my life the drinking habbits of a ginea pig would become. :yahoo:
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Come on Rusty, water is nice and very good for healthy wees! X
 
I was actually holding my breath as I spotted there had been an update on this thread. Things at last sound like they are coming back into balance for Rusty. Well done @piggieminder x
 
He's not drinking much still but he's eating loads of hay and very slowly gaining weight. I've stopped syringe feeding altogether but still weighing daily to make sure he is going the right way. He's got slight urine scold on his back feet, he's got vet bed in the cage and in all the beds so the silly boy has decided he prefers to sleep in the hay which he makes wet. I'm changing the hay 2 or 3 times a day and bathing his feet in a mild antisceptic solution. He finishes the antibiotic today and I am gradually reducing the metacam over the next couple of days. Fingers crossed he goes on alright and doesn't have any more stones.
 
Jess keeps doing the same so got slightly red feet herself at the moment, changing bedding twice a day so no more problems! :doh:
Fingers, toes and everything else crossed for you and Rusty! Hope he drinks more and copes well with less meds, definitely a mega brave lad! x
 
Rusty has put on 100g in the last 2 weeks and is looking much happier at last. I did put him back on the Metacam as he started squeaky weeing again after I took him off, he needed another week to heal completely, when I did stop it the second time I did it by reducing the dose over 4 days. His urine scald on his feet has healed after 2 weeks of 2 x daily washing, drying and sleeping on vetbed. I am starting to relax a bit. I really hope this is it and he doesn't get another stone, he reacted so badly to the operation I don't think I could put him through another one. Thank you so much everyone for your support over this difficult time.
 
piggieminder said:
Rusty has put on 100g in the last 2 weeks and is looking much happier at last. I did put him back on the Metacam as he started squeaky weeing again after I took him off, he needed another week to heal completely, when I did stop it the second time I did it by reducing the dose over 4 days. His urine scald on his feet has healed after 2 weeks of 2 x daily washing, drying and sleeping on vetbed. I am starting to relax a bit. I really hope this is it and he doesn't get another stone, he reacted so badly to the operation I don't think I could put him through another one. Thank you so much everyone for your support over this difficult time.
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So glad to hear Rusty is feeling better, we were all very worried for him! X
 
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