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Pigglywink's Rachel
Brief synopsis (for further details, please read Pigglywink's been sick thread):
Treated nine weeks ago for mite infestation. Revolution (topical treatment) applied at vet's office. Follow up with anti-fungal treatment (suspected ringworm infection) for one week. Infestation located on lower back, anti-fungal gel applied once daily. Weight at this time was 1.01 kg.
Treated four weeks ago for a foot infection, chloramphenicol, 0.3 mL orally twice a day. Presented with anorexia prior to treatment, cause unknown. Weight at this time was 0.88 kg.
At this time, I inquired as to some crystals that seemed to be forming around her left eye. I was told that it was probably due to the pain from her foot inhibiting her self grooming.
Antibiotic treatment discontinued after five days, on advice of veterinary. X-ray was taken at this time, showing that there was no movement of food through the GI tract. No stools produced for 24 hours.
At time that x-ray was taken, her left eye was noticeably inflamed, inquired and was told that I should be more concerned with getting her gut moving.
Anorexia continued through antibiotic treatment to present, feeding supplemented by syringe feeding, three to four times daily, minimum three mL pellet based food, most taken was 10 mL. Fluid intake very minimal, supplemented by syringing of water five to six times daily, minimum 5 mL, most taken was 20 mL.
Taken to second vet (lost faith in the first one) one week ago regarding her eye, which was weeping, very red, and sunken quite deeply. Scraping was taken, was told that it was probably a self-limiting problem, but vet suggested Polysporin eye drops to prevent secondary bacterial infection. Same night (approximately four hours later), noted substantial discharge of foul smelling pus from eye. Squeezed around ear area towards eye. Produced approximately 10 mL of pus. Rinsed eye with sterile water after squeezing out as much pus as possible, applied eye drops. This treatment is being repeated three times per day, continuing to present. At this time she had diarrhea, wet and sticky, although not completely liquid. Weight at this time was 0.76 kg.
Contacted third vet four days ago regarding her eye. Was prescribed BNP antibiotic eye ointment, to be applied in place of Polysporin eye drops. Spoke to vet regarding continuing problems eating. Was told that there appeared to be some problems with the teeth, however it was inadvisable to proceed with treatment at this time, due to general poor health. Stools at this time were small, but normal in texture and appearance. Weight at this time was 0.74 kg.
Voluntary eating of food begun two days ago, approximately 20 mL of food, 50 mL of water taken yesterday. Eye seems to need to be squeezed out approximately once per day (no pus produced on other occasions), is no longer as sunken, and not as inflamed, but still definitely infected. Weight increased to 0.76 kg.
Noted today, after having changed out her cage, and provided her with a towel in her sleeping area last night, that her urine was reddish in colour, and that there was a thick residue left after it dried. Stools are small and hard. Concerned about dehydration, provided her with water via syringe. After four mL, she turned to back away from the syringe and I heard a sloshing sound coming from her stomach. Also eating much less (no more than 3 mL per feeding), and not eating voluntarily again.
Concerned about potential use of antibiotics, due to her continuing poor condition. Also, having problems finding a vet who will treat her. General consensus among the vets is that she should be put to sleep.
Was active yesterday, today has reverted to hiding in the corner of her cage, curled inwards into a ball.
Questions:
Should she be put back onto antibiotics, and, if so, what type?
If treated with antibiotics, in order to prevent a recurrence of the gut disturbance, she will need probiotics. Options available to me are (a) acidopholus, (b) lactobacillus/bifidobacterium mix meant for humans, or (c) probiotic treatment meant for cats or dogs (both are available).
Should the vet refuse to treat her, what alternative options are available. I have the chloramphenicol, but I don't know if the bad reaction was due to the fact that she didn't tolerate the drug, or that I was unaware that I needed to be giving her a probiotic supplement at that time.
Due to the difficulty with eating (her front bottom incisors appear very long, and her top incisors appear to be canted to the left), at what point would she be able to have that fixed?
Finally, should all treatment options fail, and her condition continue to deteriorate, should I allow nature to take its course, or would it be kinder to consider euthanasia? While I'm not willing to give up as long as there's hope, I also don't want her to suffer, and these infections seem to be running all the way through her body. She doesn't seem to be in pain, so I'm not willing to consider it at this point, but should she be in chronic pain at a later time, is it something to be considered?
Treated nine weeks ago for mite infestation. Revolution (topical treatment) applied at vet's office. Follow up with anti-fungal treatment (suspected ringworm infection) for one week. Infestation located on lower back, anti-fungal gel applied once daily. Weight at this time was 1.01 kg.
Treated four weeks ago for a foot infection, chloramphenicol, 0.3 mL orally twice a day. Presented with anorexia prior to treatment, cause unknown. Weight at this time was 0.88 kg.
At this time, I inquired as to some crystals that seemed to be forming around her left eye. I was told that it was probably due to the pain from her foot inhibiting her self grooming.
Antibiotic treatment discontinued after five days, on advice of veterinary. X-ray was taken at this time, showing that there was no movement of food through the GI tract. No stools produced for 24 hours.
At time that x-ray was taken, her left eye was noticeably inflamed, inquired and was told that I should be more concerned with getting her gut moving.
Anorexia continued through antibiotic treatment to present, feeding supplemented by syringe feeding, three to four times daily, minimum three mL pellet based food, most taken was 10 mL. Fluid intake very minimal, supplemented by syringing of water five to six times daily, minimum 5 mL, most taken was 20 mL.
Taken to second vet (lost faith in the first one) one week ago regarding her eye, which was weeping, very red, and sunken quite deeply. Scraping was taken, was told that it was probably a self-limiting problem, but vet suggested Polysporin eye drops to prevent secondary bacterial infection. Same night (approximately four hours later), noted substantial discharge of foul smelling pus from eye. Squeezed around ear area towards eye. Produced approximately 10 mL of pus. Rinsed eye with sterile water after squeezing out as much pus as possible, applied eye drops. This treatment is being repeated three times per day, continuing to present. At this time she had diarrhea, wet and sticky, although not completely liquid. Weight at this time was 0.76 kg.
Contacted third vet four days ago regarding her eye. Was prescribed BNP antibiotic eye ointment, to be applied in place of Polysporin eye drops. Spoke to vet regarding continuing problems eating. Was told that there appeared to be some problems with the teeth, however it was inadvisable to proceed with treatment at this time, due to general poor health. Stools at this time were small, but normal in texture and appearance. Weight at this time was 0.74 kg.
Voluntary eating of food begun two days ago, approximately 20 mL of food, 50 mL of water taken yesterday. Eye seems to need to be squeezed out approximately once per day (no pus produced on other occasions), is no longer as sunken, and not as inflamed, but still definitely infected. Weight increased to 0.76 kg.
Noted today, after having changed out her cage, and provided her with a towel in her sleeping area last night, that her urine was reddish in colour, and that there was a thick residue left after it dried. Stools are small and hard. Concerned about dehydration, provided her with water via syringe. After four mL, she turned to back away from the syringe and I heard a sloshing sound coming from her stomach. Also eating much less (no more than 3 mL per feeding), and not eating voluntarily again.
Concerned about potential use of antibiotics, due to her continuing poor condition. Also, having problems finding a vet who will treat her. General consensus among the vets is that she should be put to sleep.
Was active yesterday, today has reverted to hiding in the corner of her cage, curled inwards into a ball.
Questions:
Should she be put back onto antibiotics, and, if so, what type?
If treated with antibiotics, in order to prevent a recurrence of the gut disturbance, she will need probiotics. Options available to me are (a) acidopholus, (b) lactobacillus/bifidobacterium mix meant for humans, or (c) probiotic treatment meant for cats or dogs (both are available).
Should the vet refuse to treat her, what alternative options are available. I have the chloramphenicol, but I don't know if the bad reaction was due to the fact that she didn't tolerate the drug, or that I was unaware that I needed to be giving her a probiotic supplement at that time.
Due to the difficulty with eating (her front bottom incisors appear very long, and her top incisors appear to be canted to the left), at what point would she be able to have that fixed?
Finally, should all treatment options fail, and her condition continue to deteriorate, should I allow nature to take its course, or would it be kinder to consider euthanasia? While I'm not willing to give up as long as there's hope, I also don't want her to suffer, and these infections seem to be running all the way through her body. She doesn't seem to be in pain, so I'm not willing to consider it at this point, but should she be in chronic pain at a later time, is it something to be considered?
