Alanaf
Junior Guinea Pig
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- Apr 26, 2015
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Emergency Swollen Stomach - Pooping Ok ***urgent**
- Thread starter ishy28
- Start date
- Status
Alanaf
Junior Guinea Pig
- Joined
- Apr 26, 2015
- Messages
- 186
- Reaction score
- 155
- Points
- 255
I'm in the same position with my little lady Scruff at the moment (she had a gut statis and bloat, and yesterday was diagnosed with an ovarian cyst)
We just have to love our little fluff balls and as long as they want to stay with us we will help them do it!
And you've done everything right by them @ishy28 dont think anything to the contrary
We just have to love our little fluff balls and as long as they want to stay with us we will help them do it!
And you've done everything right by them @ishy28 dont think anything to the contrary
Ruby Inferno
Teenage Guinea Pig
I have just caught up on the whole thread. Oh my gosh Ishy, I can't believe how much stress you've had to put up with. Try not to be too hard on yourself, you've done the absolute best you can, please take comfort in the fact your piggies have the best chance they could possible have with Pebble. I know it's not easy to trust someone you've never met before with your beloved piggies, but this isn't the first time Pebble has helped a forum member in need. A few months back, someone's piggies got a severe case of mites because their vet was absolutely rubbish even though the piggies were brought to the vet when the mites weren't as bad (just like your vet), so Pebble stepped in and did something very similar to what she is doing for you. She's a real hero, we need more people like her.
In fact, there has probably been many other occasions where Pebble has saved forum piggies' lives that I haven't read about as I don't regularly visit the Health & Illness section, I'm a bit inexperienced so I can't really offer much advice.
It makes me so angry when a vet knows hardly anything about an animal and doesn't even bother to refer you to a vet that does. In my opinion, all good vets should refer you to a specialist if they aren't very knowledgeable about the animal you have brought in. They shouldn't even be vets if they don't give a crap about the animals. And to charge you that much for such bad service? What a rip-off.
None of this is your fault whatosever, blame the clinic that hired such a terrible vet, it's their fault.
My thoughts are with you. xx
Edit: May I suggest using the site's vet locator (https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/pages/guinea-pig-vet-locator/) to find a cavy-savvy vet for future vet trips? I believe some experienced vets can actually charge less than an inexperienced vet might, as it depends on the clinic, so using one of the vets from the locator could actually save you money (depending on what they charge) even if you are just getting your piggies' nails clipped.
In fact, there has probably been many other occasions where Pebble has saved forum piggies' lives that I haven't read about as I don't regularly visit the Health & Illness section, I'm a bit inexperienced so I can't really offer much advice.
It makes me so angry when a vet knows hardly anything about an animal and doesn't even bother to refer you to a vet that does. In my opinion, all good vets should refer you to a specialist if they aren't very knowledgeable about the animal you have brought in. They shouldn't even be vets if they don't give a crap about the animals. And to charge you that much for such bad service? What a rip-off.
None of this is your fault whatosever, blame the clinic that hired such a terrible vet, it's their fault.
My thoughts are with you. xx
Edit: May I suggest using the site's vet locator (https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/pages/guinea-pig-vet-locator/) to find a cavy-savvy vet for future vet trips? I believe some experienced vets can actually charge less than an inexperienced vet might, as it depends on the clinic, so using one of the vets from the locator could actually save you money (depending on what they charge) even if you are just getting your piggies' nails clipped.
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dotty44
Junior Guinea Pig
I am really pleased that it sounds so much more positive for the boys and also for you too. Its amazing the difference a good vet can make, i am seriously thinking about using a vet recommended by this forum now. The help and support given here is invaluable and i have only joined recently. Fingers and toes crossed for your boys. They are now getting the very best of care. X
Update: I went to see Percy and Piglet last night at the vets.
They were both in an indoor run (Percy has been put on an exercise regime to help get his guts moving)
I observed/cuddled them for 45mins whilst Uncle Hedley dealt with an emergency.
Piglet still sounds a bit hollow but most of the distension in his abdomen has now subsided.
Percy is still very very bloated - but it has only been 48hours since he was started on gut meds so hopefully things should start to happen over the next couple of days.
The good news is that the respiratory sounds have ceased which indicates progress is being made in terms of the relief of the pressure on his diaphragm.
He is still his lively self, ate a few dired nuggets in front of me, and is moving about quite a bit.
Judging by the way he was "nudging" Piglet (and where!) I think Percy was hoping that Piglet would donate some of his caecotrophs (soft poos). Piglet however had other ideas about sharing his beautiful bounty with his best mate!
They were both in an indoor run (Percy has been put on an exercise regime to help get his guts moving)
I observed/cuddled them for 45mins whilst Uncle Hedley dealt with an emergency.
Piglet still sounds a bit hollow but most of the distension in his abdomen has now subsided.
Percy is still very very bloated - but it has only been 48hours since he was started on gut meds so hopefully things should start to happen over the next couple of days.
The good news is that the respiratory sounds have ceased which indicates progress is being made in terms of the relief of the pressure on his diaphragm.
He is still his lively self, ate a few dired nuggets in front of me, and is moving about quite a bit.
Judging by the way he was "nudging" Piglet (and where!) I think Percy was hoping that Piglet would donate some of his caecotrophs (soft poos). Piglet however had other ideas about sharing his beautiful bounty with his best mate!
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Pogwen
Junior Guinea Pig
thanks for the update- loving your turn of phrase! :-)
SAD UPDATE FROM PEBBLE AND ISHY
Yesterday (Friday) Percy's stomach filled up with gas and head vet Uncle Rob removed it with a stomach tube. The gas in his caecum had "moved on" and therefore the distension on his left side had subsided so it was hoped that the gut motility meds were starting to kick in and he might be discharged into my care over the weekend.
Percy continued to be his lively self - Rob reported on friday that he was "scampering" round the cage and clearly felt much better for getting rid of the gas in his stomach.
However Rob was concerned about why the stomach filled with gas - it could either be that Percy was swallowing air for some as yet undiagnosed reason or it could be some type of infection in the stomach generating gas - and he was worried that until we could diagnose and treat the cause, it could happen again. Given Percy's condition we couldn't do certain investigations until we had controlled the bloat and Rob was reluctant to do another invasive intervention to remove more gas because of the risks.
It was clear now that this was no ordinary bloat.
They started him on septrin and separated him from Piglet in order to collect some poos for culture to address the infection angle.
Unfortunately this morning when I rang for an update, the vet nurse reported that Percy's stomach and his caecum had filled with gas again. He was continuing to lose weight despite 3hourly syringe feeds which concerned me so I went in to assess him this evening armed with some dried herbage (dandelion delight). I was informed by Uncle Hedley that Percy had deteriorated 30mins previous to my arrival (i.e. lost his liveliness) and had been given extra pain relief. Despite the fact he was obviously feeling poorly, Percy still came out of his hidey to greet me and wanted to know what I had brought for him. But it was clear, once I offered him his treats, he was now finding it difficult to eat. His breathing was noisy again but it was a different type of sound from when I picked him up last tuesday. This was the first time throughout his illness that I had seen Percy showing signs of pain and "loss of mojo" - he was now finding it painful to breathe. Ironically, his poo output was much better than last tuesday but he had lost 100g in weight since his admission and, for a big pig, his weight at 730g was now concerning.
Uncle Hedley and I therefore had a full and frank discussion about the prognosis for Percy and he then spoke to Ishy.
It is therefore with a heavy heart that I have to report that Percy was helped to Rainbow Bridge this evening. He spent his last hour knowing that he was much loved, snuggled up comfortably in a towel on my lap ( the pain relief had cut in) and his passing was very peaceful..
Piglet has been discharged into my care tonight......and I have agreed with Ishy that if she wants me to give him a permanent home and try to bond him with one of my single boys or one of my soon-to-be-spayed girls then he is welcome here. He has a non-urgent skin condition that needs to be investigated and resolved before he can meet a new friend so is currently in quarantine - albeit he is in the same room as my own pigs so can hear, smell and talk to them.
Finally - I realise this is a distressing thread given the outcome - for forum members but especially for Ishy. I would like to make it very clear at this point that, despite this sad post, the decision to take Percy to my vets on tuesday was the right one at the time for Percy. Given his lively condition at the time, there was a very good chance of a very good outcome. Unfortunately it has become evident this last 24hrs that Percy did not have a "normal" bloat and we will never know what the cause of his illness was.
This has been a very difficult post to write. Please do not post on this thread with "what if's" or questions about the care and treatment that Percy has received over the last 4 days or prior to that.
I'm sure I speak for Ishy, Uncle Hedley (who has been constantly involved with Percy's care every day since tuesday) and myself. We are gutted by this sudden turn of events.
There is a very bright star in the sky tonight.....we all feel priviliged to have been part of Percy's journey. Everyone who met him fell in love and realised just what a very special piggie he was.
My thoughts are with Ishy and her hubby at this time.
x
Yesterday (Friday) Percy's stomach filled up with gas and head vet Uncle Rob removed it with a stomach tube. The gas in his caecum had "moved on" and therefore the distension on his left side had subsided so it was hoped that the gut motility meds were starting to kick in and he might be discharged into my care over the weekend.
Percy continued to be his lively self - Rob reported on friday that he was "scampering" round the cage and clearly felt much better for getting rid of the gas in his stomach.
However Rob was concerned about why the stomach filled with gas - it could either be that Percy was swallowing air for some as yet undiagnosed reason or it could be some type of infection in the stomach generating gas - and he was worried that until we could diagnose and treat the cause, it could happen again. Given Percy's condition we couldn't do certain investigations until we had controlled the bloat and Rob was reluctant to do another invasive intervention to remove more gas because of the risks.
It was clear now that this was no ordinary bloat.
They started him on septrin and separated him from Piglet in order to collect some poos for culture to address the infection angle.
Unfortunately this morning when I rang for an update, the vet nurse reported that Percy's stomach and his caecum had filled with gas again. He was continuing to lose weight despite 3hourly syringe feeds which concerned me so I went in to assess him this evening armed with some dried herbage (dandelion delight). I was informed by Uncle Hedley that Percy had deteriorated 30mins previous to my arrival (i.e. lost his liveliness) and had been given extra pain relief. Despite the fact he was obviously feeling poorly, Percy still came out of his hidey to greet me and wanted to know what I had brought for him. But it was clear, once I offered him his treats, he was now finding it difficult to eat. His breathing was noisy again but it was a different type of sound from when I picked him up last tuesday. This was the first time throughout his illness that I had seen Percy showing signs of pain and "loss of mojo" - he was now finding it painful to breathe. Ironically, his poo output was much better than last tuesday but he had lost 100g in weight since his admission and, for a big pig, his weight at 730g was now concerning.
Uncle Hedley and I therefore had a full and frank discussion about the prognosis for Percy and he then spoke to Ishy.
It is therefore with a heavy heart that I have to report that Percy was helped to Rainbow Bridge this evening. He spent his last hour knowing that he was much loved, snuggled up comfortably in a towel on my lap ( the pain relief had cut in) and his passing was very peaceful..
Piglet has been discharged into my care tonight......and I have agreed with Ishy that if she wants me to give him a permanent home and try to bond him with one of my single boys or one of my soon-to-be-spayed girls then he is welcome here. He has a non-urgent skin condition that needs to be investigated and resolved before he can meet a new friend so is currently in quarantine - albeit he is in the same room as my own pigs so can hear, smell and talk to them.
Finally - I realise this is a distressing thread given the outcome - for forum members but especially for Ishy. I would like to make it very clear at this point that, despite this sad post, the decision to take Percy to my vets on tuesday was the right one at the time for Percy. Given his lively condition at the time, there was a very good chance of a very good outcome. Unfortunately it has become evident this last 24hrs that Percy did not have a "normal" bloat and we will never know what the cause of his illness was.
This has been a very difficult post to write. Please do not post on this thread with "what if's" or questions about the care and treatment that Percy has received over the last 4 days or prior to that.
I'm sure I speak for Ishy, Uncle Hedley (who has been constantly involved with Percy's care every day since tuesday) and myself. We are gutted by this sudden turn of events.
There is a very bright star in the sky tonight.....we all feel priviliged to have been part of Percy's journey. Everyone who met him fell in love and realised just what a very special piggie he was.
My thoughts are with Ishy and her hubby at this time.
x
Alanaf
Junior Guinea Pig
- Joined
- Apr 26, 2015
- Messages
- 186
- Reaction score
- 155
- Points
- 255
I'm so sorry to read about poor Percy
@Pebble you really are a testament to how amazing this forum is, your generosity and kindness has been truly incredible to read over these last few days
@ishy28 i hope you are doing okay, you are a brilliant piggy mum and did everything you could for your boy. I hope that you know we are all thinking of you and sending the greatest digital hugs your way.
I'm sure that Percy felt how loved he was and he can popcorn free with all of our other bright stars up there.
I hope Piglet continues to do well hugs to him as well.
The biggest hugs to all xx
@Pebble you really are a testament to how amazing this forum is, your generosity and kindness has been truly incredible to read over these last few days
@ishy28 i hope you are doing okay, you are a brilliant piggy mum and did everything you could for your boy. I hope that you know we are all thinking of you and sending the greatest digital hugs your way.
I'm sure that Percy felt how loved he was and he can popcorn free with all of our other bright stars up there.
I hope Piglet continues to do well hugs to him as well.
The biggest hugs to all xx
What a sad sad outcome. Ishy, Pebble, Uncle Rob and Uncle Heldey did all they could do for him, and eased him through his journey. Percy was a plucky little trouper, well loved and I'm very sure never to be forgotten. I'm sure Ishy and Pebble have shed many tears, and I must admit I have a few too!
Popcorn free sweet Percy. Watch over Piglet xx
Popcorn free sweet Percy. Watch over Piglet xx
dotty44
Junior Guinea Pig
This is really heart breaking and has upset me so can imagine how ishy is feeling. The bit where percy came out of his hidey to greet pebble tugged my heart, indeed he was very special and clearly a fighter. The right decision has been made but not an easy one. He is no longer suffering and in pain and has been very much loved and will be missed. My thoughts are with you ishy, he is at peace now. X
Kerrie74
Adult Guinea Pig
I feel rather sad myself now. RIP Percy, sorry for your loss 
HUGS TO BOTH OF YOU, @ishy28 and @Pebble
I am ever so sorry that you had to make the heart-breaking decision to let percy go. You went both beyond the usual bounds to try and save Percy's life; it is so sad that it wasn't to be and that his problem turned out to be something more than a normal severe bloat. He was a very loved and well cared for piggy!
All the best for Piglet to recover and find a new mate to be happy with.
I am ever so sorry that you had to make the heart-breaking decision to let percy go. You went both beyond the usual bounds to try and save Percy's life; it is so sad that it wasn't to be and that his problem turned out to be something more than a normal severe bloat. He was a very loved and well cared for piggy!
All the best for Piglet to recover and find a new mate to be happy with.
Marshmallows
Junior Guinea Pig
Ruby Inferno
Teenage Guinea Pig
I'm really sorry for your loss, this really is heartbreaking, he was indeed very special and such a brave little boy. Please try not to beat yourselves up about it though, this means all of you who were involved; Pebble, Ishy, Uncle Hedley, and Nurse Rosie. You are all heroes. I'm sure Percy felt very loved throughout his life, and is currently popcorning happily in the rainbow bridhe.
Lots of hugs!
Lots of hugs!
Chief Guinea Pig
Senior Guinea Pig
I'm so sorry x
Hi Guys,
Just a quick message to thank you all for your kind messages.
And obviously, a huge thank you to Pebble for all she has done and continues to do for Piglet.
It has been incredibly sad these past few days but I know that it would have been 10 times as hard without Pebble's support and your kind messages.
I will write a post in Rainbow Bridge when I feel that I can do my little man justice.
Many thanks,
Ishy x
Just a quick message to thank you all for your kind messages.
And obviously, a huge thank you to Pebble for all she has done and continues to do for Piglet.
It has been incredibly sad these past few days but I know that it would have been 10 times as hard without Pebble's support and your kind messages.
I will write a post in Rainbow Bridge when I feel that I can do my little man justice.
Many thanks,
Ishy x
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