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Specialist Sundae Update

SpookySundae

New Born Pup
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So, it has been a long wait to get in to see the specialist but I am glad we finally got in to speak to her. We drove quite the distance but it was all worth it as she took her time to really get her background and review all the trips we made to the other vets. The vet looked her over with a fined tooth comb, from head to tail, heart, lungs, eyes, teeth, fecal, blood and urine, joints and finally xray. The exam was almost as long as the drive!
Here are the findings:
Sundae’s eye ulcer was not responding well to the medication prescribed by the other vet, it was healing nicely from the inside out but had a dried scab on the outside. The speacialist changed it to an anti-fungal with a lubricant to soften the scab and encourage it to fall off. The eye itself looks good, so that is good news as we thought she was going to lose it!
Sundae does have a slight head tilt to the left, which is causing a slight uneveness with her incisors. Other than that, her teeth look great, no sharp points or ulcers in the mouth.
She has gained weight since her last visit but still has more to go, her gut is fuller and working well. We are going to continue with CC for the next little while, 3 tablespoons a day. Sundae is eating this out of a bowl so that is good.
Now the big news! Sundae has degenerative bone / joint disease in her jaw, this is the cause of her discomfort and head tilt. She was prescribed Metacam for this, twice a day for a few days so she can gain weight and then once a day for maintenance. We are hoping that she will be able to be weened off and it used as a as needed option, but one step at a time.
This make so much sense as she was so hesitant to eat the hay and pellets but lapped up the critical care and soft fruits and veggies.
It is so nice to see her searching for food and eating with vigore again.

So does anyone have any experience with this? If she needs to be on this for the rest of her life (she is only a year approx) will she be able to live a long life?
 
So, it has been a long wait to get in to see the specialist but I am glad we finally got in to speak to her. We drove quite the distance but it was all worth it as she took her time to really get her background and review all the trips we made to the other vets. The vet looked her over with a fined tooth comb, from head to tail, heart, lungs, eyes, teeth, fecal, blood and urine, joints and finally xray. The exam was almost as long as the drive!
Here are the findings:
Sundae’s eye ulcer was not responding well to the medication prescribed by the other vet, it was healing nicely from the inside out but had a dried scab on the outside. The speacialist changed it to an anti-fungal with a lubricant to soften the scab and encourage it to fall off. The eye itself looks good, so that is good news as we thought she was going to lose it!
Sundae does have a slight head tilt to the left, which is causing a slight uneveness with her incisors. Other than that, her teeth look great, no sharp points or ulcers in the mouth.
She has gained weight since her last visit but still has more to go, her gut is fuller and working well. We are going to continue with CC for the next little while, 3 tablespoons a day. Sundae is eating this out of a bowl so that is good.
Now the big news! Sundae has degenerative bone / joint disease in her jaw, this is the cause of her discomfort and head tilt. She was prescribed Metacam for this, twice a day for a few days so she can gain weight and then once a day for maintenance. We are hoping that she will be able to be weened off and it used as a as needed option, but one step at a time.
This make so much sense as she was so hesitant to eat the hay and pellets but lapped up the critical care and soft fruits and veggies.
It is so nice to see her searching for food and eating with vigore again.

So does anyone have any experience with this? If she needs to be on this for the rest of her life (she is only a year approx) will she be able to live a long life?

Glad that the vet trip was really worth it and that you have good news on Sandy's eye and teeth!

For the jaw issue I am linking in @furryfriends (TEAS) for you. She runs a sanctuary for guinea pigs with chronic dental problems and is best poised to answer your questions in that respect.
If she is too busy, she has given us permission to refer members whose threads we would tag her into for her special knowledge to contact her via her website. The Excellent Adventure Sanctuary – Providing life-enhancing care for Guinea Pigs with extra needs
 
Not even 24 hours after the vet appt and the eye scab has fallen off and the eye looks so much better! Some slight clouding but all in all I am really excited!

Great news!

I would recommend applying plain artifical tear drops/gel from a pharmacy up to 6 time daily to help rehydrate and clear the eye. Always wait at least half an hour after any medical eye drops. The tear fluid can really make a difference, as I have experienced myself when treating eye injuries in the years before and after my vets started including them in the treatment.
 
So glad you got to see the specialist, and little Sundae is on the mend x
 
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