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Smudge's weight loss

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vickie

vickie

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I first noticed Smudge was passing blood in his urine 2 months ago - you can read the original thread here :http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?p=1006768#post1006768

The vet thought it would either be stones or a UTI. No stones showed on the scan so he was treated for a UTI, firstly with Baytril, then as this didn't completely clear it up he was treated with Septrin. Thankfully this seemed to stop the blood loss and all seemed to be ok until I noticed his weight dropping. His weight before his illness was around 1.5kg. I weighed him today and he is 968g, last Wednesday (18th) he was 1043g.

This is really worrying and I am at a loss as to what may be wrong with him - I think he's going to need to see a specialist vet this time.

Smudge seems well in himself, he's eating and drinking and I've never heard him wheek when he urinates. The only thing that is unusual is that he spends a lot of time sitting in his tunnel, sitting in his own mess. He doesn't appear to be lethargic and will trundle around the cage now and again but I often find him sitting in the same place. The bedding beneath him will be sodden so I have to change it frequently so he's comfortable.

Any ideas what might be wrong this time? Maybe stones didn't show up on the scan? Could it be a side-effect of Septrin?
 
How is his appetite and drinking.

I had sudden unexplained weight loss with my Bette, she had diabetes which is also linked with UTI's.
 
His appetite is fine, he seems to be drinking a little more than normal though. Looking at how quickly the bedding gets soaked he is probably urinating more too.

I hadn't considered diabetes - I will have to ask for a blood test. The vet said she tried to take his blood last time but couldn't get any...
 
vickie said:
His appetite is fine, he seems to be drinking a little more than normal though. Looking at how quickly the bedding gets soaked he is probably urinating more too.

I hadn't considered diabetes - I will have to ask for a blood test. The vet said she tried to take his blood last time but couldn't get any...
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A urine test must be done first to check Glucose levels, followed straight away by a blood test. Which can be done by a prick behind the ear, if both are positive then you can assume he has diabetes.

Bette's thread is on here 'Concerned about Bette', if you want a very long read. From what I understand the body copes very well up to a point and then it shuts down which is what happened to Bette. Although I did help her on her way in the end!

Good Luck. xx
 
I'm really sorry to hear about Bette, I've read some of your posts about her and she sounded like a very special and well loved piggy, bless her.

I searched for the 'Concerned about Bette' thread but couldn't find it. Would you mind posting a link for it please?
 
We must have posted at the same time! Thanks for the link!
 
Hope Smudge gets well soon, I know how hard it is to see your little ones poorly :...:0
Bette's story is so poignant, I was in tears reading it 8...
 
Really sorry to hear about the weight loss for Smudge, as soon as i saw the heading i thought about dear Bette :(
I hope that reading her thread might help your vets too :)
If you can catch diabetes early and are able to control it with diet then the piggie has a great chance..... my girl Velvet was diagnosed with diabetes nearly a year ago.

Healing vibes for Smudge XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX xoxoxoxo
 
The specialist vet has x-rayed Smudge and has found lots of stones in one of his kidneys and in his ureters. This is the worst possible news for us as poor Billy had the same problem and passed away last year. That was extremely traumatic for him and us and we are keen not to have a repeat of his terrible decline which still haunts us.

The vet doesn't think that Smudge is a good candidate for surgery and there is no guarantee the stones won't come back. I am relieved that he doesn't want to operate as I feel that Billy suffered more due to having two procedures which did nothing to help him, they only helped him on his way.

So what to do next? Well, we're going to pick him up in a couple of hours and can have another chat with the vet then. He said we should be able to get some more time with him by giving him Metacam, Septrin (to prevent the stones from becoming infected), syringe feeding him (which we're rubbish at) and making his food and water more palatable.

Another major worry is that we have a holiday booked next month for a week. My mum is staying over to feed and look after the pets but there is no way she will be able to medicate and syringe feed Smudge. Me and my OH have difficulty doing it together. One has to hold whilst the other administers!

So many questions and what ifs? Two piggies with stones, what are we doing wrong?
 
oh gosh, how very sad. You arent doing anything wrong love, unfortunately these poor little mites seem to be prone to these things.

:( so sad. Maybe someone knowledgeable will be able to look after your piggy for you whilst you are away?

Sending massive comforting vibes for Smudge, and a huge huggle for you x>>
 
vickie said:
Two piggies with stones, what are we doing wrong?
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what type of water do they get? it has to be the one with maximum 4% calcium: Dutchy Royal Deeside or Deeside Mineral Water - pretty much the same thing (one's expensive in a glass bottle, the other one is in large plastic bottle), both very low in calcium.
 
They've been on tap water so I guess this hasn't helped. They are now on filtered water but it's too little too late for Smudge.

We've been getting up at 5 before work to give him his meds and feed, another load of syringe feeding at 5pm and a third batch plus meds again at 10pm. We're halfway through tonights syringe feeding and have had to give him a break. It might just be me being negative but he doesn't seem to be taking it so well tonight. We've popped him back in his cage and he's gone straight to his little cabin where he's started squeaking in pain when straining to poo or wee. I've not heard him do this until now and he's also lifting himself as though it hurts to go. It's bringing back awful memories of Billiam.

He has been eating ok on his own but we've just given him an extra treat of veggies and he's not interested at all. I really hope he's not starting to give up.
 
He's the same again this morning. He looks interested in food when we first put it in his cage but it's as though he can't manage it. Even grass that he happily wolfed down yesterday was a struggle this morning. He picked at it and then retreated back to his cabin.

Giving the syringe feed is getting harder. We were feeding him with tears in our eyes this morning. I'm keeping everything crossed that he pulls through but I really don't know if it's fair to keep him like this.

The specialist vet is on holiday next week which is just our luck!

Please send vibes for our little Smudge.
 
Our beautiful Smudge was put to sleep this evening. He was visibly worse than yesterday, he had stopped eating on his own and despite syringe feeding water and feed he wasn't passing anything at all. He deteriorated in front of our eyes this evening which helped us to make the decision to let him go. I couldn't bear to see him suffering.

I will post a tribute to him later, right now I can't get my head round the fact he's not with us anymore.
 
Hi Debbie, thanks for your lovely email - it was a comfort to read. I hadn't realised that you were on here too until today. I am sure we may get to meet one day, we must have almost crossed paths tonight!

Thanks again for your support xx
 
vickie said:
Hi Debbie, thanks for your lovely email - it was a comfort to read. I hadn't realised that you were on here too until today. I am sure we may get to meet one day, we must have almost crossed paths tonight!

Thanks again for your support xx
Click to expand...

You really must call by and meet the piggies, bunnies and Priya the cat next time you are over this way.

I hope Smudge's cage mate will be okay.
 
I'm really sorry to hear that Smudge got so much worse, i'd been following his thread and willing him to be ok :(
I will do a reply to your RB thread when you put one up.... but i'd still like to send you all HUGE HUGS and lots of wheeeeeeeeeeky loves for Smudge's friend XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
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RIP Smudge 8...8...8...
 
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