• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

Worried about Athena

Status
Not open for further replies.
Gems

Gems

Adult Guinea Pig
Joined
Jun 7, 2009
Messages
1,462
Reaction score
2
Points
410
Location
Chester le Street
I came home tonight and Athena seems very subdued. She just sat there and let me pick her up, wasn't wheeking for her tea ( though she did come down from the top level to have some food ) and when I got her out and weighed her she only weighs 985g compared to 1055g on Sunday. I could see she's lost weight and seemed weak. I fear this may be the end for her 8...
 
I hope she'll be ok. My pigs are sending good healthy vibes and hopes she feels better.
 
She's just been sat in one of the houses all night :( I've had her out for cuddles and she gave me piggie kisses. Going to see how she is in the morning and if there's no improvement make an appointment at the vets and see if I can get her seen tomorrow. Though I'm not sure how much they'll be able to do for her 8...

She's such a special loving piggie, I'll be heartbroken if this is the end for her. I know she's been poorly for almost a year now but she seemed to be doing fine :(
 
Thanks everyone for the good vibes. She's actually come down and started munching on dry food so you never know it might be having an effect.

She's still very lethargic though, poor baby, wish there was a way of them telling us what's wrong
 
Sending my vibes to poor Athena!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
 
I've just put a whole sweetcorn in for them as it's one of Athenas favourites ( yes I'm spoiling her with me being worried ) and she's tucking into that and having tugs of war with it along with the others so definitely isn't off her food and seems to have perked up a bit. The weight loss is a concern though, I'm wondering whether she's starting to get a bit of pain now and maybe needs some metacam for pain relief now. Will weigh her daily to keep an eye on her weight and ring the vet in the morning. Trying not to get too optimistic ( though of course I want her to be fine ) just incase.
 
Good that you;ve picked up on the weight loss.....

Put her on a white towel and check for discoloured urine in case of cystitis or stones....make sure vet has good feel when you take her in to check for bladder/urethral stones

Monitor her food intake (what exactly is she eating and is she finding it diffcult to eat eg large leafy greens) to check for dental problems

Check her coat and ears for mites/wax

Get vet to listen to her chest and maybe even take X ray to check for heart and fluid in/around lung issues

PIggie not eating = piggie in pain - but is could be caused a number of sources - dental/stones/mites/breathing problems - so best you take her to a cavy savvy vet to give her a thorough MOT

x
 
985g is still a good fighting weight for a piggie so you have spotted the problem early enough such that if an accurate diagnosis and treatment are forthcoming she has every chance of making a full recovery.

You just need to get her to a cavy savvy vet.


x
 
she has stones and has had them for almost a year now but up until now has been fine, we changed her diet, got her hydrangea root tincture etc so have been trying to monitor it.

This morning she seems to have taken a turn for the worse. Shes down to 966g so has somehow lost almost 20g overnight and was sitting hunched up. Vets phone lines opens at 8.30 so going to ring them as soon as they're open
 
Had her out and she's bleeding loads, I don't think they're going to be able to do anything for her 8...8...
 
Oh you poor thing! What a shame after the hope you were beginning to feel last night.

Sad news indeed, big hugs to you and your piggy.

suzy x
 
I'm so sorry Gemma, how sad for you that she's taken such a turn for the worse. I hope the vets can shed some light on what is happening, I will hold out some hope for you and Athena that something can be done quickly to help.

Big hugs to you and Athena. xx
 
Took her to the vets this morning and he said her bladder feels extremely thick. He was trying to expel what was in it and this horrid, thick blood just kept coming out with what looked like fleshy bits that he thought might be the lining of her bladder. They're going to do an xray to try to pinpoint what it is but I don't think there's much they're going to be able to do for her. They're going to give us septrin and metacam but I think all we're going to be able to do is manage the pain and keep her as comfortable as possible, if she continues to deteriorate this quickly then I fear we may only have her for a few more days 8...
 
I really hope there is something they can do. I feel so sorry for both of you and wishing her a full recovery. Hope she pulls through ok.
 
I'm sorry things still look so tough Gems.

I would wonder...I don't know much about it myself but it's a thought that occurred...could it be the reproductive system that's the problem here? I know the vet pressed her bladder and the blood came out but your description of the blood sounds suspicious of something from the uterus, for example. Pyometra (uterine infection) maybe. Just a thought if the vet doesn't come up with anything himself. xx
 
I've just looked up pyometra on guinea lynx and it does sound as though it could be what Athena has. She's still alert and eating etc and wasn't squealing or anything when he was squeezing her to try to expel the stuff ( she was actually sat licking my hand! )

I don't know whether to ring the vets to ask them whether they think it could be that? Or would something like that show up on the x-ray in any case?
 
I feel it's worth phoning, Gems - it's worth putting the idea to the vet to consider, he can have time to think it over and examine Athena with this in mind as well, as pyometra needs quick treatment.
 
Pyometra occured to me too. It might show up on an X-ray, but I don't know if it definitely would.
 
Well the vets just rang, she's had the x-ray and there's definitely no stones at all but her bladders extremely thickened so he thinks the most likely cause is a form of cancer :(

I asked whether it could be pyometra but he said that her uterus is fine and it's definitely the bladder that is the problem. So all we can do now is manage the pain with metacam, get her on a course of septrin and try to keep her weight stabilised. He did say there's the possibility she's had an extremely bad reaction to an infection but I think that cancer is the most likely cause and she's too weak to survive any type of operation ( I insisted the x-ray be done without any form of anesthetic ) though I don't think they could see any tumor as such to remove in any case, just this thickened bladder
 
I'm so sorry it's not better news for your lovely girl. Hopefully the medication will make her comfortable. Sending you both some more hugs. x
 
I'm so sorry :( I'm sure she's getting the best of care and will be a happy pig anyway with you.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top