helen105281
Senior Guinea Pig
Thought I would give you all an update on Nigel and how he's doing. He came to live with us on 20 February after travelling up from Cornwall by piggy train (thanks again Pebble).
He had been suffering from ongoing respiratory infections and had been on antibiotics (Doxy) for absolutely ages. It was only when we started to investigate with the help of our local vet, rodentologist and a cavy savy vet that he was diagnosed as having a heart condition - an arythmia.
He was given a few kick start doses of diuretic and has been put on Elanapril heart meds and he is thriving. He is also on a low maintenance dose of Diuretic. He is still small but we are starting to see some steady weight gain now and the biggest difference is his personality. He is such a little monkey, always wants attention and whenever he has floortime he waits by the hall cupboard door until we open it so he can go in there and play. Also if I am giving Buzz and Beanbag a fuss, without fail if I turn round Nigel will be hanging out of his hayloft as far as he can reach to get my attention.
He has small sores on his feet and the start of bumblefoot which we are treating with the heart meds and also hibsicrub soak twice daily. That's an event in itself as every time without fail he leaps out of the bowl onto my lap so have started sokaing cotton wool in the solution and wrapping it round his foot.
Most of the pics aren't great as they were taken with my phone:
Playing in the cupboard
After the feet soak, as he soaked himself aswell as me
I really could not imagine our life without him now, it seems like he has been here forever and has definitely found a very special place in my heart.
He had been suffering from ongoing respiratory infections and had been on antibiotics (Doxy) for absolutely ages. It was only when we started to investigate with the help of our local vet, rodentologist and a cavy savy vet that he was diagnosed as having a heart condition - an arythmia.
He was given a few kick start doses of diuretic and has been put on Elanapril heart meds and he is thriving. He is also on a low maintenance dose of Diuretic. He is still small but we are starting to see some steady weight gain now and the biggest difference is his personality. He is such a little monkey, always wants attention and whenever he has floortime he waits by the hall cupboard door until we open it so he can go in there and play. Also if I am giving Buzz and Beanbag a fuss, without fail if I turn round Nigel will be hanging out of his hayloft as far as he can reach to get my attention.
He has small sores on his feet and the start of bumblefoot which we are treating with the heart meds and also hibsicrub soak twice daily. That's an event in itself as every time without fail he leaps out of the bowl onto my lap so have started sokaing cotton wool in the solution and wrapping it round his foot.
Most of the pics aren't great as they were taken with my phone:
Playing in the cupboard
After the feet soak, as he soaked himself aswell as me
I really could not imagine our life without him now, it seems like he has been here forever and has definitely found a very special place in my heart.
