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Worried about Athena

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I am so sorry. Its really sad. At least she has a loving owner to take care of her :(
 
I'm so sorry for you. If only something could be done for her :(. At least with your care she will be well looked after and pain free.
 
I am so sorry to hear this :( Athena is a very brave piggy and knows how much you love her. You can't really do much more than you are doing but I hope that she improves. (((hugs))) xx
 
Picked her up and gave her the dose of metacam, going to start the septrin tonight. She's still very subdued and quiet but happily took some basil from me. Put her back in with the piggies and she's just sat in her grassy house so I've put fresh hay, readigrass and some nuggets infront of the house so if she wants some food it's right infront of her.

Vet's asked me to feel her bladder to see if there's any sign of improvement as she starts taking the medication but I don't think I'd be able to tell. As long as she doesn't deteriorate any further then I have to take her back in 3 weeks for a check up as thats when the course of septrin finishes. Just hope she's still with us then :(
 
Ok I'm now a little concerned about the dosage of metacam the vet's prescribed. He's told me to give her 0.5ml once daily ( it's the cat one not the dog ) is this ok? I said that's alot more then I got told last time but he said thats definitely right.

Just want some reassurance thats ok really!
 
It's ok Gems, no problem, the vet is right. The normal range of doses for the cat strength can be 0.3ml - 0.9ml. Dog Metacam is three times the strength of cat Metacam, and the usual dose for dog strength is 0.1ml - 0.3ml.

I'm sorry it's not better news. You mention you won't be able to tell if the bladder wall becomes less inflamed when the meds start, it's obviously easiest if the vet himself shows you and it helps to compare with another pig, but I find that when I gently palpate the bladder, it feels leathery in a pig with cystitis/an inflamed bladder. Improvement would mean a softer, more 'squishy' feeling bladder.
 
We're thinking about you and sending positive vibes, I do hope she proves you wrong and is fighting fit in no time! xx
 
Well I think the metacam is helping, she's alot more perkier tonight when we've come home. She had 2 bits of cucumber, some spinach leaves and pepper whilst on my lap after she had her septrin. She's tucking into hay and is also tucking in to the fresh food we've just put down for the lot of them. I *think* she's also stopped bleeding as well, or if she is still bleeding it's minimal compared to this morning as she was on a white fleece while on my lap and there wasn't a trace of blood.

Do you think it's ok to feed her a bit extra food with her having lost weight?

Yeah never thought about prodding the others bladders to see if I can tell the difference :)) will give it a few days before seeing if I can feel her bladder though, poor things been prodded enough for one day
 
Try to feed her as much as she'll take. I am glad that the metacam is making Athena feel much better in herself.

She couldn't have a more loving home, and she knows it.

BIG HUG
 
wheeks to you and athena from me, misty and millie, i really hope she recovers x
 
Thanks everyone for all the support and help, it's really appreciated.

She's pretty much been eating hay all night and has probably had 35g of food ( steven weighed it ) whilst sat on my lap tonight as well as what she ate along with the others.

Still not sure whether there's anything we can do in the long run but at least she's pain free and still enjoying her food for now
 
I glad to here that Athena is feeling a little better and I'm so happy to hear that she is eating now. Sending more positive vibes your way. x x x

Your such a great piggy mum! :)
 
Got her out to give her her meds this morning and she looked in better condition. Poor thing looked as though she'd been dragged through a hedge backwards yesterday but her coat was getting it's shine back this morning. She pottered about a bit and ate some breakfast but obviously still seems subdued. There was a little bit of dried blood on her bum but she didn't bleed whilst on me so I'm hoping she's not bleeding as much as she was yesterday.

With her losing all this blood do you think I should give her more spinach for the iron content?
 
I am glad that Athena is much better in herself at the moment.

If she loves spinach, why not? But if you are after the iron, you'd do better crushing a bit of a tablet and mixing it with water and syringing that.
 
Thanks wiebke, I wasn't sure whether I could actually use iron tablets for her. I don't know if it'll help or not but I just thought irons lost through blood so maybe I should be trying to help her replace it if that makes sense? She does love spinach and I thought that might be easier on her then trying to syringe anything as she HATES having to have syringes and is the most difficult piggie I've had for having to give medication to.
 
Although the amount will have looked severe yesterday it will have actually been a very small amount...easy for me to say, I know, but thinking of various blood losses in various species...what looks a lot is actually very little when measured and put into perspective of total blood volume.

For anaemia - if it is diagnosed - there is a supplement called Feroglobin which is suitable for piggies: http://www.vitabiotics.com/feroglobin/
I wouldn't give iron tablets myself.

I'd be inclined to avoid spinach as it's very rich in calcium and oxalates; calcium rich foods could irritate her bladder. (In my experience of guineas with cystitis.)
 
Laura-CCC4 said:
Although the amount will have looked severe yesterday it will have actually been a very small amount...easy for me to say, I know, but thinking of various blood losses in various species...what looks a lot is actually very little when measured and put into perspective of total blood volume.

For anaemia - if it is diagnosed - there is a supplement called Feroglobin which is suitable for piggies: http://www.vitabiotics.com/feroglobin/
I wouldn't give iron tablets myself.

I'd be inclined to avoid spinach as it's very rich in calcium and oxalates; calcium rich foods could irritate her bladder. (In my experience of guineas with cystitis.)
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Yeah I know, your probably right, just she was soaked in it and I was covered in it so it did look alot and I just thought something so small can't lose that amount of blood!

They get spinach as part of the ratewatchers diet about twice a week so I'm assuming if I just keep it at that as part of that diet that should be fine?
 
Weighed Athena again tonight and shes 960g so has lost a little bit more weight unfortunately. There was also a blob of thick blood on her back end which I had to clean off for her :(

She had 3 slices of cucumber, a leaf off a sweetcorn and a handful of coriander when she was on my lap. Put her in with the rest and she's had lettuce and is munching on the sweetcorn ( she even wheeked a bit for her tea ) so she's still eating and interested in food so thats a good sign at least
 
Just thought I'd update

Athena seems to be doing much better and her weight is up to 1000g xx>>>

She's still bleeding occassionally but it seems more watered down rather then the thick blood she had been passing. She's much more active as well and is not just hiding away like she was so I think the medication, or at least the metacam, is helping to ease the pain.
 
That's great news that she's more comfortable and her weight is up. Kisses for your special girl. xx>>>
 
Gems said:
Just thought I'd update

Athena seems to be doing much better and her weight is up to 1000g xx>>>

She's still bleeding occassionally but it seems more watered down rather then the thick blood she had been passing. She's much more active as well and is not just hiding away like she was so I think the medication, or at least the metacam, is helping to ease the pain.
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Just read your thread from the start, really glad to hear she's doing better- Hope she stays well :)
 
Hope she gets better soon. I would take her to the vets just for a check up so if there is anything you catch it quick and if not itll put your mind to rest. I know what its like to worry about a little furry friend.
Shes eating thought which is always a good sign
 
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