Severe IC

[weepweeps]

My piggies stone was found by ultrasound. It was so quick and they didn’t have to sedate him. X

 

[Piggies2023]

Would your vet consider doing a conscious xray? If not, how about a non invasive ultrasound to put your mind at rest? x

My vet doesn't do a conscious xray. Ultrasound she's had one before but I had to drop her off at the vet hospital which was stressful for her and pick her up later which I don't want to do to her. She was there for a good 4/5 hours. The practice I go to doesn't have the ultrasound.

If bleeding isn't improving I will have to take her in tomorrow and see what she suggests.

 

[Piggies2023]

Nancy has stopped bleeding. Looked significantly less this morning so didn't take her to the vets. And now none. Worst thing I can do if its a flare is to take her to the vets when we have already tried everything, just adds to her stress. I am hoping it was just a response to the workman that came on Wednesday. But can't say for sure as she had an episode in December and 0 clue why.

She certainly keeps me on my toes

 

[Claire W]

I am sorry that the vet doesn’t offer conscious X-rays or ultrasounds why you wait but I am glad she’s stopped bleeding now x

 

[Wiebke]

Nancy has stopped bleeding. Looked significantly less this morning so didn't take her to the vets. And now none. Worst thing I can do if its a flare is to take her to the vets when we have already tried everything, just adds to her stress. I am hoping it was just a response to the workman that came on Wednesday. But can't say for sure as she had an episode in December and 0 clue why.

She certainly keeps me on my toes

I am glad that it was just a flare.

 

[Piggies2023]

I'm not so sure what is going on with her. Keeping a close eye at the mo. Hard to distinguish IC from other things. I know she already has a thickened uterus and bladder from when we went to the vets in January.

She's currently at the point of do I need to take her for a vet check or not. But vet checks can make IC worse. So debating with myself and taking it day by day to figure it out. And keeping an eye on her weight etc.

 

[Wiebke]

I'm not so sure what is going on with her. Keeping a close eye at the mo. Hard to distinguish IC from other things. I know she already has a thickened uterus and bladder from when we went to the vets in January.

She's currently at the point of do I need to take her for a vet check or not. But vet checks can make IC worse. So debating with myself and taking it day by day to figure it out. And keeping an eye on her weight etc.

Fingers firmly crossed. I am so sorry that daily the struggle continues.

 

[Piggies2023]

Fingers firmly crossed. I am so sorry that daily the struggle continues.

Thank you. I feel she is unpredictable. I wouldn't be surprised if I had to put her down very soon or if it's another 6 month down the road.

She's still very keen on her breakfast. And active. But she's current having very small amounts of blood at times ( only know because of the white bedding). And is a bit smelly & a slightly wet butt. But she can be smelly from IC, and also had a bit of wet butt from it before where we've scanned.. and nothing. And it has then improved again on its own. I will see what she looks like tomorrow morning.

Just can't tell really. She did pretty well August to till end of December. So disappointing we are back to this unpredictability where I am having to constantly judge whether I think a vet trip is in order. It's tiring. Part of me wants it over with because I feel like I'm waiting for the inevitable but I love her and her qualify of life isn't at that point. She's 4.5 years old now. Didn't ever think i would manage to get her this old. Certainly without a very good vet, wouldn't have managed.

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you. I feel she is unpredictable. I wouldn't be surprised if I had to put her down very soon or if it's another 6 month down the road.

She's still very keen on her breakfast. And active. But she's current having very small amounts of blood at times ( only know because of the white bedding). And is a bit smelly & a slightly wet butt. But she can be smelly from IC, and also had a bit of wet butt from it before where we've scanned.. and nothing. And it has then improved again on its own. I will see what she looks like tomorrow morning.

Just can't tell really. She did pretty well August to till end of December. So disappointing we are back to this unpredictability where I am having to constantly judge whether I think a vet trip is in order. It's tiring. Part of me wants it over with because I feel like I'm waiting for the inevitable but I love her and her qualify of life isn't at that point. She's 4.5 years old now. Didn't ever think i would manage to get her this old. Certainly without a very good vet, wouldn't have managed.

HUGS

 

[Piggies2023]

Nancy had significant blood yesterday... in fact looked on the forum and can't find other people posting photos of that amount. Gave her painkillers and as she was comfortable on them eating etc, thought I would see my vet today. I looked at the blood and thought this doesn't look like IC but I wouldn't operate on Nancy with her health issues. So yesterday I thought I would be putting to sleep today...

Today... a very happy Nancy 0 blood... . It was lots of blood in the early hours of yesterday morning and then 0, just stopped altogether. And now she is happier than usual?!

The darker stuff I have in my hand in the photo is a blood clot. There was more than one clot in the pile before I moved it, I had taken the bedding out the cage before i took the photo, it was all one big pile before I disturbed it. And also smeared over her fleece bed

Wondering if it could be peeing out a stone or something else as it doesn't make any sense. 0 blood to none and a happy pig. Great she is happy but feels a bit unusual.

 

[Mrs Tiggy Winkle]

Woah, that looks like quite a lot. I hope someone's along soon who has more idea than I do. And of course I hope that Nancy is and remains healthy.

 

[Piggies2023]

Woah, that looks like quite a lot. I hope someone's along soon who has more idea than I do. And of course I hope that Nancy is and remains healthy.

Thank you. Yes I was very shocked. It was 4am when I heard she was in pain so got up to give her more pain meds and found this...

But now she is saying she's back to being herself and no blood. It's an odd situation

 

[Wiebke]

Nancy had significant blood yesterday... in fact looked on the forum and can't find other people posting photos of that amount. Gave her painkillers and as she was comfortable on them eating etc, thought I would see my vet today. I looked at the blood and thought this doesn't look like IC but I wouldn't operate on Nancy with her health issues. So yesterday I thought I would be putting to sleep today...

Today... a very happy Nancy 0 blood... . It was lots of blood in the early hours of yesterday morning and then 0, just stopped altogether. And now she is happier than usual?!

The darker stuff I have in my hand in the photo is a blood clot. There was more than one clot in the pile before I moved it, I had taken the bedding out the cage before i took the photo, it was all one big pile before I disturbed it. And also smeared over her fleece bed

Wondering if it could be peeing out a stone or something else as it doesn't make any sense. 0 blood to none and a happy pig. Great she is happy but feels a bit unusual.

Wow - no, I haven't come across anything like it, ever. This is not normal.

Something else but IC must be going on. Not sure whether it is coming from the urinary and not rather the reproductive tract? If you have it vet checked, then I would strongly recommend to look at both. I would also email those pictures to your vet.

But glad that she is a lot better again within herself today.

 

[Piggies2023]

Wow - no, I haven't come across anything like it, ever. This is not normal.

Something else but IC must be going on. Not sure whether it is coming from the urinary and not rather the reproductive tract? If you have it vet checked, then I would strongly recommend to look at both. I would also email those pictures to your vet.

But glad that she is a lot better again within herself today.

Thank you. I went for my own medical care this morning as Nancy looked fine today or i would have prioritised her over me. Also expecting a DWP phone call anytime this afternoon. Though having this time when I'm sat at home waiting for phone call is helpful because gives me an idea of quality of life.

Aware it's definitely not normal. Maybe it's cancer. Her sister had uterus cancer.

Problem I have is I don't want to operate on her as i dont feel its best so I'm unsure what I should be doing. So I'm trying to think through what I will do now she's not bleeding. Maybe I ask for a vet appt tomorrow... just if the vet feels something wrong internally then I would need to opt for put to sleep I think even though she looks happy now.

So you've not seen this with peeing out a stone? I was wondering if it was that.

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you. I went for my own medical care this morning as Nancy looked fine today or i would have prioritised her over me. Also expecting a DWP phone call anytime this afternoon. Though having this time when I'm sat at home waiting for phone call is helpful because gives me an idea of quality of life.

Aware it's definitely not normal. Maybe it's cancer. Her sister had uterus cancer.

Problem I have is I don't want to operate on her as i dont feel its best so I'm unsure what I should be doing. So I'm trying to think through what I will do now she's not bleeding. Maybe I ask for a vet appt tomorrow... just if the vet feels something wrong internally then I would need to opt for put to sleep I think even though she looks happy now.

So you've not seen this with peeing out a stone? I was wondering if it was that.

HUGS

It is always so difficult when things are not clear cut. But good that you are thinking about the ethics of the situation and your own stance on them, so you will hopefully not feel paralysed or overwhelmed if you have to make any important decisions.

And no, I haven't seen blood clots like these with a stone being peed out and I can't remember ever seeing such a heap of them, poor girl; especially if there is no large stone around. It must have been so uncomfortable for her to get them out, poor girl!
I would recommend that you keep your options open and don't think too much in specific scenarios. What is found is often rather different to what you expect; but it is what your vet finds that you will have to deal with.

 

[Piggies2023]

HUGS

It is always so difficult when things are not clear cut. But good that you are thinking about the ethics of the situation and your own stance on them, so you will hopefully not feel paralysed or overwhelmed if you have to make any important decisions.

And no, I haven't seen blood clots like these with a stone being peed out and I can't remember ever seeing such a heap of them, poor girl; especially if there is no large stone around.
I would recommend that you keep your options open and don't think too much in specific scenarios. What is found is often rather different to what you expect; but it is what your vet finds that you will have to deal with.

Thank you. It was clear cut to me that if she continued bleeding to be put to sleep.

Now.. I'm just confused! She's running over if she thinks I may have snacks, squeaked for her breakfast on her hind legs.

When I had her sister put to sleep I just knew it was time even though she was eating etc.
While this time I don't know. I think I need to assess today. And if she's not 100% herself then take her to vets and if I have more of a picture of what is wrong I will have a better idea. I don't want to end up in an emergency severe pain scenario if I could have been kinder to her and put her to sleep earlier.

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you. It was clear cut to me that if she continued bleeding to be put to sleep.

Now.. I'm just confused! She's running over if she thinks I may have snacks, squeaked for her breakfast on her hind legs.

When I had her sister put to sleep I just knew it was time even though she was eating etc.
While this time I don't know. I think I need to assess today. And if she's not 100% herself then take her to vets and if I have more of a picture of what is wrong I will have a better idea. I don't want to end up in an emergency severe pain scenario if I could have been kinder to her and put her to sleep earlier.

It's never getting any easier, is it? I totally feel for you.

It can well be that she had these bloody lumps stuck and building up for a while - unfortunately I cannot say where since this is a new one for me, too - you really learn something new on here nearly every day but it doesn't necessarily arrive with the correct answer neatly pinned to the back.

Personally, I would recommend that you wait until the first sign of deterioration and let her enjoy her life for as long as she feels well in herself - and that you try to enjoy that precious time with her as much as you can. Live in the moment, just like a piggy does, as far as she is concerned.
I totally know what you mean since it pretty much mirrors my own practice with my piggies in comparable circumstances. Thankfully, after 14 years or so, my local general vets (especially the head vet I have built up a mutually very respectful relationship with) trust me when I give them a call to say that one mine needs a mercy pts - so far, they have always come to the same conclusion when seeing the piggies on the examination table.

 

[Claire W]

That is a lot of blood and it rather looks like something more than IC yours and Nancys case is so unusual but it’s a good sign that Nancy is appearing well today and that the bleeding has stopped

If she were mine, I’d be opting to have her seen and see if the vet can feel anything internally as I know you’re not keen to xray / ultrasound. If nothing is found on examination, I’d carry on doing what you’re doing. Make memories everyday and treat everyday as her last spoiling her rotten. In my own experience, I’ve always just known when it’s time to have a guinea pig of mine pts and like with Wiebke, the vet has always agreed.

Given the circumstances, it doesn’t sound like Nancy is ready to cross the rainbow bridge yet and you never know, now those clots are out, she may be ok? But show the photos to your vet and see if he has any ideas

(((Hugs))) I am thinking of you and Nancy. He case is definitely not text book x

 

[Piggies2023]

Thank you. She seems happy again today. I will have a further convo with her vet. But I want to see how she is today. Depending on how she is changes what decisions I make. And it's definitely not an emergency right now strangely!

She happier than before this happened

 

[Claire W]

Thank you. She seems happy again today. I will have a further convo with her vet. But I want to see how she is today. Depending on how she is changes what decisions I make. And it's definitely not an emergency right now strangely!

She happier than before this happened

That’s great. It may well be that it was those clots causing the problems all along but how they developed sounds like a mystery x

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you. She seems happy again today. I will have a further convo with her vet. But I want to see how she is today. Depending on how she is changes what decisions I make. And it's definitely not an emergency right now strangely!

She happier than before this happened

It could be the blood clots that have been the problem all the way along but, to be honest, I can't remember ever having come across a case like yours so it is anybody's guess; including which tract they originated from - from the size I would rather think reproductive than digestive but I could be wrong.

But I am glad that she is very happy in herself. They must have bothered her so badly, and getting them out must have been very painful indeed. From the sheer size of the clots, my guess would be rather the reproductive tract than the urinary tract.

 

[Piggies2023]

Off to the vets this morning. She's bled again. Much less than Monday though. She had been doing great until today. She has squeaked once in pain but then seems absolutely fine in terms of 0 weight loss running about etc. But I need a vets opinion at this point. See if she can feel anything and go from there.

Really disappointed. I have had a feeling for quite a while her end is nearing. But then she suddenly was great last few days. But back to that feeling for sure

 

[Wiebke]

HUGS

My thoughts are with you.

 

[Piggies2023]

HUGS

My thoughts are with you.

Thank you

 

[Merab]

Holding you in my heart

 

[Piggies2023]

Back home with some buprecare for the weekend while I think through what I want to do. Vet thinks an ovary/cyst has grown back, she can feel something. She thinks its affecting her uterus causing the blood and pain. That taking out uterus probably wouldn't go well. But she thinks if we remove the ovary (she was doing much better after the last ovary came out). It may work.

I don't know what to do because I've always said no more surgeries thinking she has IC and thinking it would be stone surgery or uterus out. While taking out the ovary, she recovered fine from that last time.

I'm taking the weekend to think about it.

 

[Claire W]

So sorry to hear that Take your time with thinking what to do as whatever you decide will be the right thing for you and Nancy (((hugs))) it’s not easy having to make decisions x

 

[Piggies2023]

So sorry to hear that Take your time with thinking what to do as whatever you decide will be the right thing for you and Nancy (((hugs))) it’s not easy having to make decisions x

Thank you. I wasn't expecting it at all. I've googled ovarian remnant syndrome and it definitely sounds like it could be part of what's going on.

I've had my head set on we haven't got long left and now I'm like oh.. okay. Maybe this will work. But maybe it won't and then ive traumatised her for no reason.

I'm also very tired of this too. It's a hard one. It maybe also difficult to remove when she's already had an op there. And if she can't remove it then I wouldn't want her to come home after that to recover with no improvement.

Part of me wishes she had just had it done already which makes me think I maybe edging towards saying yes.

 

[Claire W]

All the best. You have a lot to consider x

 

[Piggies2023]

Thank you. My time with guinea pigs have involved so many complicated decisions.

I do think she has IC on top just maybe her recent problems arent that and she would be okay. A lot of unknowns