Steroid Side-effects?

[7squeakers.]

Maya, my Lymphoma piggie, has been on steroid tablets for 6 days now. She has one crushed tablet per day. The good news is that the bleeding seems to have stopped. The bad news is that she still squeaks in pain when urinating and has a lot of trouble getting anything out.
Droppings are very small, tear shaped and often stuck together, wee is clear but only in very small amounts and passed quite often. She is still eating, though did not eat ALL of her veg this morning. Is this the beginning of the end, or a side effect of the steroids? Should I take her off the tablets? Tried to phone my Vet for an answer but they were closed. Perhaps I'll take her down again on Monday. Help appreciated. Thank you.

 

[flintstones]

My Pebbles did get a UTI when she was on Steroids. It might be worth considering antibiotics too.

I know Pebbles did slow down on her eating before passing, it was literally the night before.

 

[Wiebke]

I am tagging @sport_billy for you, whose lymphoma piggy was also on steroids.

 

[7squeakers.]

Thank you @flintstones . Maya's bleeding had started before we found out about the Lymphoma, so I always assumed it was part and parcel. If she's still here on Monday, I will talk to my Vet about antibiotics. It is so distressing, hearing her squeak in pain when she wees. I hope we can make her more comfortable, even if it's just for a week or two.

 

[7squeakers.]

Thank you @Wiebke.

 

[gizzy]

Hi , l know nothing about steroids other than they they supress inflamation, and they "can" have a lot of unwanted side efects !
also it can take a wile for them to reach there theraputic usfullness in the systim , for this reason , personaly l would not take Maya
off them befor speeking to your vet first

 

[7squeakers.]

Thanks @gizzy. Yes, I have read that steroids suppress the immune system and about the possible side effects such as diarrhoea . But they seem to be having the opposite effect on Maya!

 

[gizzy]

Sorry l couldent be more help , l hope Maya is comfortable
perhaps phone the P.D.S.A in your area , thay usualy have vets on duty 24/7

 

[helen105281]

If you were to take her off them you need to do a tapered withdrawal and not just stop them. That's what we did with Phoebe even though she was only on them for a short time. My OH knows only too well how awful you can feel when you come off steroids too quickly (the hospital's fault). He was on the same ones as Phoebe.

 

[Freela]

Did they attribute the bloody urine to lymphoma? I'm wondering if she has a UTI as well and the steroid, being that they can impact the immune system, are contributing to the UTI. She may need an antibiotic at the same time. Steroids shouldnt' just be stopped, they should be tapered off, so I would speak to the vet before discontinuing anything. I'm not sure how similar the side effects are in guinea pigs to humans, but I know they can cause a lot of side effects in humans. One of my hedgehogs was on a steroid injection for a neurological disorder, but we didn't really see any side effects with him (other than the effectiveness decreased over time.)

 

[7squeakers.]

Thank you, everyone, for your replies.
Maya is still on the steroids. Symptoms same as before. She ate ALL of her breakfast this morning, though, so is perhaps feeling a bit better. Currently burrowing about in her hay box at present! I gave her a bath this morning as her bum was wet and stinky. Will try to get her to the Vet's tomorrow and ask them about antibiotics.

 

[flintstones]

Good news that Maya is feeling a bit brighter. Let us know how she gets on tomorrow. X

 

[gizzy]

Thanks for the update, if you get to the vets , let us know how you get on at the vets

 

[7squeakers.]

Steroids update; Maya is sill on her steroids at the moment. I am giving her one every other day to taper them off. I only have six left. She is still eating quite well, ate almost all her veg and greens this morning, and has had some hay and pellets, plus had a bit of a gnaw on her grass hut. She is still finding it painful to wee, but her poops at least have more shape than before, although are still very small. I did not take her to the Vets on Monday as I was ill myself. We have an appointment tomorrow morning.