Candy - weightloss

User avatar
Mum
I GAVE, dammit!

Post   » Fri Jan 19, 2007 1:47 am


Thanks, Pinta.

I'll see how she does the rest of this week.

One plus is that her fur is soft and in good condition, and her eyes look bright (for an older pig). She's alert and friendly, and I think she feels ok.

I hope I'll see some small weight gain soon.

Fweeprluvr

Post   » Sat Jan 20, 2007 7:23 pm


I'm with most everyone else, just sit back and watch and weigh repeatedly. Could be the stress of everything, and it isn't that much of a weight loss.

(LOL Talishan re: the chant)

User avatar
Mum
I GAVE, dammit!

Post   » Mon Jan 22, 2007 1:10 pm


Candy has continued to bounce around in weight within an ounce or so (not more).

She drinks a ton of water, so I decided to check her blood glucose this morning as I had to cut her toenails anyway - I figured it was cheaper to buy a diabetic blood testing kit for $20 than to have blood drawn by the vet. It came out at 115, so at least I can rule out diabetes.

She's perkier than most of my heart pigs were without lotensin - not that she popcorns at all - she just seems pretty alert and doesn't sleep soundly. Of course I'd need an xray to get a better idea.

I'm hoping this week will see a small weight increase!

User avatar
rshevin

Post   » Mon Jan 22, 2007 1:57 pm


I hope she gains weight too!

I never thought of doing blood glucose myself from a toenail overclip. I did do a urine stick on Smudgie because I had some test strips left over from a project at work. That isn't the most accurate way to test of course. I may just have to invest in a small meter. I'd like to test myself on occasion too because well, I'm just nerdy like that.

Not every pig popcorns. I think I've seen Piggy try only once in nearly 2 years. Maybe it's his weight but he's otherwise active and I have no other cause to suspect heart issues.

Send Miss Candy a kiss and tastey snack from me.

User avatar
Mum
I GAVE, dammit!

Post   » Mon Jan 22, 2007 2:04 pm


Just so you know, it was a regular toenail clip - I just knew that because her nails were pretty long that it was unlikely she'd had regular nail clippings. They always seem to bleed a little then!

The meter I got needs a very tiny sample - and it has the capillary action, so it's very easy to do.

User avatar
rshevin

Post   » Mon Jan 22, 2007 2:20 pm


I see what you mean. My definition of an "overclip" would be any time blood was drawn during trimming, even just a small drop but I suppose the real definition is clipping far enough up for a sufficent draw for a true analysis.

User avatar
Mum
I GAVE, dammit!

Post   » Tue Jan 23, 2007 3:05 pm


I took Candy in for a checkup today.

In the initial checkup:

heart sounded even but very fast
obviously out of condition
slightly runny eyes attributed to general poor condition
urine sample showed no protein in the urine

I asked for an xray (I just couldn't help myself!):

heart ok
lungs - doughnut shape and some small whisps
clump of small stones, probably in the bladder.

There was some slight confusion about these stones: my vet said they are probably in the bladder, however if this is the case then the bladder has been pushed off to one side, since this isn't the bladder's expected location.

She's going to start bactrim for any lung infection and any possible bacteria from the stones. Surgery isn't an option for this fragile girl. The vet also wants her on lasix to help clear the fluid from the lungs. It's good that she drinks a ton of water - this will help flush any bladder stones out.

With any luck she'll pass this clump of stones and a properly balanced diet will minimize any chances of them reforming (keep your fingers crossed).

Interestingly enough, from the xray the vet doesn't think she's a really old pig - maybe 4 years old.

User avatar
sus4rabbitsnpigs

Post   » Tue Jan 23, 2007 3:07 pm


That's odd. Good luck.

User avatar
rshevin

Post   » Tue Jan 23, 2007 4:41 pm


Best wishes to Candy.

Talishan
You can quote me

Post   » Tue Jan 23, 2007 4:48 pm


Well, you should get an x-ray since you own the machine. ;-)

Hopefully she will pass the stones and as you mention, not reform them on a good diet and with good care. IMO 4 years of poor care = maybe 6 1/2 or 7 years 'effective' age, and the reverse as well. A well-cared-for 6 year old can be in 4 years' shape.

What does the doughnut shape and wisps in the lungs indicate?

User avatar
Mum
I GAVE, dammit!

Post   » Tue Jan 23, 2007 5:02 pm


The vet was a little vague on the lung findings but initially suggested just lasix to clear them out. I thought an a/b might be useful, and then we decided to definitely add bactrim because of the stones also.

With any luck the lung issues will go away. Of course you know what I'm thinking there :-p

I forgot to add that the Ph of her urine was 8. I'm not finding the norms for this but will keep looking.

My 5+ year old Goldie looks in much better shape than Candy - in fact you'd never know Goldie is that old!

User avatar
rshevin

Post   » Tue Jan 23, 2007 6:34 pm


I wonder if she lived with a smoker. Whisps for some reason don't remind me of pneumonia but it's been a long time since my imaging class. I'll see if I can find my old radiology teaching files websites and flip through some human lung pictures.

Edit: The whisps were bright correct?

Post Reply