It has been a total rollercoaster few weeks, particularly with Fudge.
She started with horrendous diarrohea, stomach cramps and gassyness and it was a nightmare to get under control. It was diagnosed as an inflamatory gut issue, and she had to visit the vet daily for subcut fluids and metacam injections until we got it under control.. Slippery elm bark powder helped the inflamation and firmed up stools, whilst zantac in a very small dose soothed the gas and cramps. She was needing syringe fed and it was really touch and go.
We got that undercontrol not long before she had another flare up.. And we had to repeat it all again.
Fast forward 3 weeks, and her breathing starts becoming extremely fast. Being in heart failure, fudge usually has a slight laboured effort to her breathing due to a small volume of fluid which is kept in check with heart meds and diuretics. But this was quite shallow, and very fast. The vet said her chest was clear, and she'd consult the more specialist vet and get back to me the next day. That night, fudges breathing became noisy. I gave her extra frusemide and started her on septrin incase she had a URI- she wouldnt have managed a car journey to the OOH vet. The mext morning her chest was xrayed- no fluid. So it was either a URI, or her heart is struggling causing the quick breathing. Her colour has remained good, which has kept things slightly more positive. I stopped syringe feeding at this point and let her eat mashed up burgess off a spoon- her breathing was too rapid to be syringing liquids. There was also alot of gas in her tummy, so i was advised to up the zantac.
She seemed to do okay.. Sleeping alot but was comfortable. Then that night (last night).. I got her out flr her last heart meds at 1am.. And she was horrifically bloated. Never seen anything like it! Stomach had no give in it when palpated and it was even impeding her movement. I gave her pro-kinetics, gripe water and massaged her tummy as well a using the electric tooth.. It was horrific as she was sore but i knew it needed done.. It took until 9am before things started moving again. She is still on the pro-kinetics but have managed to stop the gripe water. She is now pooing regularly and her stomach is massively softer and more comfortable. She has been on hay only today to give her stomach time to recover, and she is eating it very well and maintaining her weight.
She is still breathing heavily, but she is still nice and pink so is oxygenating well, her coat isnt fluffed up and she is happily messing up her hay. She is also drinking well.
Shes seeing the vet tomorrow at 3.15pm.. I'm hoping her chest is still clear and that the antibs will do the trick. Failing that, her heart may be needing a higher dose of fortekor than shes been getting. Shes by no means out of the woods (not that she ever is) and i have broke down many times.. Yesterday i was just a mess. I love her dearly.. And she was literally cleaning up my tears and nuzzling me as if to tell me she was okay.. She has her little spark back, which has made me alot happier. She dles have alot going on, and at 7.5 years old, i will only keep trying as long as she wants to fight. If she doesnt- i wont be forcing her to continue. She is the strongest animal i've ever had the pleasure of knowing..
Crunchie is 3 weeks into her hay poke injury.. The eye ulcer is not worse, but it isnt better. The eye now has a white segment, almost resembling a cataract. The vet has been checking the eye regularly, and she is still on both lubrithal and isathal, as well as extra metacam. Its unclear as yet if this will ever heal.. As is if she still has sight in the eye. She is maintaining her weight and eating well on the higher metacam dose.
On a positive note.. My two babies are thriving! rowan has gained 300g in a month.. She was extremely underweight. She is on pregnancy watch purely due to the weight gain and the unknown background.. She was dumped in a basin with the words "my kid doesnt want it"! She was with the adoption place 1 week prior to me getting her.. So we still have a week or 2 or so to go before shes out of pregnanct watch.. But she seems to be growing in height and length as apposed to width.. So i highly doubt she is pregnant. She will now be around 14-20 weeks, i will never know for sure, but she now weighs 650g and is absolutely thriving! Popcorns every waking minute.. She is loving life.
Poppet is now just turned 8 months old- and is a hefty 1000g! She isnt fat, she is a big girl with a lovely shiney coat. She has also come such a long way.. She used to be completely terrified, and was very skinny at 400g when she came here - not to mention the ringworm. She is much more relaxed with being handled, and is loving being alpha piggy. She is very much like my late mallow, who taught her the ropes as she grew.
Before-
Now!-
Not long had my lunch/dinner (its midnight!) and after not getting to bed at all since friday night.. I am very eagerly awaiting fudges last meds at 1am so i can sleep!
She started with horrendous diarrohea, stomach cramps and gassyness and it was a nightmare to get under control. It was diagnosed as an inflamatory gut issue, and she had to visit the vet daily for subcut fluids and metacam injections until we got it under control.. Slippery elm bark powder helped the inflamation and firmed up stools, whilst zantac in a very small dose soothed the gas and cramps. She was needing syringe fed and it was really touch and go.
We got that undercontrol not long before she had another flare up.. And we had to repeat it all again.
Fast forward 3 weeks, and her breathing starts becoming extremely fast. Being in heart failure, fudge usually has a slight laboured effort to her breathing due to a small volume of fluid which is kept in check with heart meds and diuretics. But this was quite shallow, and very fast. The vet said her chest was clear, and she'd consult the more specialist vet and get back to me the next day. That night, fudges breathing became noisy. I gave her extra frusemide and started her on septrin incase she had a URI- she wouldnt have managed a car journey to the OOH vet. The mext morning her chest was xrayed- no fluid. So it was either a URI, or her heart is struggling causing the quick breathing. Her colour has remained good, which has kept things slightly more positive. I stopped syringe feeding at this point and let her eat mashed up burgess off a spoon- her breathing was too rapid to be syringing liquids. There was also alot of gas in her tummy, so i was advised to up the zantac.
She seemed to do okay.. Sleeping alot but was comfortable. Then that night (last night).. I got her out flr her last heart meds at 1am.. And she was horrifically bloated. Never seen anything like it! Stomach had no give in it when palpated and it was even impeding her movement. I gave her pro-kinetics, gripe water and massaged her tummy as well a using the electric tooth.. It was horrific as she was sore but i knew it needed done.. It took until 9am before things started moving again. She is still on the pro-kinetics but have managed to stop the gripe water. She is now pooing regularly and her stomach is massively softer and more comfortable. She has been on hay only today to give her stomach time to recover, and she is eating it very well and maintaining her weight.
She is still breathing heavily, but she is still nice and pink so is oxygenating well, her coat isnt fluffed up and she is happily messing up her hay. She is also drinking well.
Shes seeing the vet tomorrow at 3.15pm.. I'm hoping her chest is still clear and that the antibs will do the trick. Failing that, her heart may be needing a higher dose of fortekor than shes been getting. Shes by no means out of the woods (not that she ever is) and i have broke down many times.. Yesterday i was just a mess. I love her dearly.. And she was literally cleaning up my tears and nuzzling me as if to tell me she was okay.. She has her little spark back, which has made me alot happier. She dles have alot going on, and at 7.5 years old, i will only keep trying as long as she wants to fight. If she doesnt- i wont be forcing her to continue. She is the strongest animal i've ever had the pleasure of knowing..
Crunchie is 3 weeks into her hay poke injury.. The eye ulcer is not worse, but it isnt better. The eye now has a white segment, almost resembling a cataract. The vet has been checking the eye regularly, and she is still on both lubrithal and isathal, as well as extra metacam. Its unclear as yet if this will ever heal.. As is if she still has sight in the eye. She is maintaining her weight and eating well on the higher metacam dose.
On a positive note.. My two babies are thriving! rowan has gained 300g in a month.. She was extremely underweight. She is on pregnancy watch purely due to the weight gain and the unknown background.. She was dumped in a basin with the words "my kid doesnt want it"! She was with the adoption place 1 week prior to me getting her.. So we still have a week or 2 or so to go before shes out of pregnanct watch.. But she seems to be growing in height and length as apposed to width.. So i highly doubt she is pregnant. She will now be around 14-20 weeks, i will never know for sure, but she now weighs 650g and is absolutely thriving! Popcorns every waking minute.. She is loving life.
Poppet is now just turned 8 months old- and is a hefty 1000g! She isnt fat, she is a big girl with a lovely shiney coat. She has also come such a long way.. She used to be completely terrified, and was very skinny at 400g when she came here - not to mention the ringworm. She is much more relaxed with being handled, and is loving being alpha piggy. She is very much like my late mallow, who taught her the ropes as she grew.
Before-
Now!-
Not long had my lunch/dinner (its midnight!) and after not getting to bed at all since friday night.. I am very eagerly awaiting fudges last meds at 1am so i can sleep!
:like: your dedication to your piggies is inspirational & i admire you for that. 
come on girls, give your mum a break & have a lovely healthy phase... 
