Kiyoshi - ill again :(

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NoCableisSafe

Post   » Sun Jul 29, 2007 5:05 pm


Help me out here; why is this happening to his ear:

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If you can't see the edge of his earflap has begun to turn slightly black, it started as a dull brown but it's darkening. Is this related to not eating - am I doing something wrong?

Also, the small red sore that was his foot has exploded:

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and so this post isn't completely depressing of his growing complcations, here's a picture from just before he was ill

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Brandilynn
Who's your Branni?

Post   » Sun Jul 29, 2007 5:22 pm


People with diabetes sometimes have problems with lack of circulation and outermost extremities becoming necrotic (like that ear might be)

That foot makes me think bumblefoot and heart issues.

I am so sorry he is such a mystery illness boy. I wish yall luck and love.

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NoCableisSafe

Post   » Sun Jul 29, 2007 6:05 pm


Brandilynn - I was hoping that no one would say "bumblefoot", I was hoping more for something like "Aw, that's just poo!" from what I've read Bumblefoot can be difficult to treat and awkward.

If the blackening is necrotic skin what could cause that in a guinea pig? Could the heart issues be related?

For some reason I have episodes of House(md) going on and on in my head trying to fit the "something's changed!" into what has already happened to him...

I've been sitting thinking for a while, too.

I noticed that Ki's hay had thorns in it, mainly because one jagged me when I was sifting through it the other day. Could a thorn/jaggy bit have been eaten by Kiyoshi and caused him to not eat which caused him to become all of the other symptoms: dehydrated, impacted, crusty-eyed, ill, foot sore --> necrotic with bumblefoot (developing?)

I'm planning another vet visit, probably to a different vet, for this week. The vet(s) in question are cavy specialists, one is the Ryan and Calder suggested by Webs who has pointed me in the direction of one in Cumbernaul closer to home.

On the other side, he's becoming less interested in food -- even rare treats. While he's also still energetic.

So far, sources of his illnesses have been:

Problem with the teeth or jaw (possible even though his teeth have been checked under sedation - no X-ray was performed)
UTI (unlikely, no symptoms except annorexia)
URI (unlikely, I think, but only from listening to his chest. No proof)
Kidney failure (suggested in e-mail by Ryan&Calder vet)
Heart issues (suggested by Brandilynn) ?
Infection (must be resistent to Baytril)
Bloat or blockage (unlikely - no swelling or hollow sounds and food and water passes through fine)

Any contest or additions?
Please - I really need help, I'm starting to lose that forward drive to keep him going since he doesn't seem to want to.

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NoCableisSafe

Post   » Sun Jul 29, 2007 6:09 pm


Oh! ALSO, when Kiyoshi was younger he had a fall where he knocked his front teeth out (bottom ones) and also jarred his back. Could this fall have perhaps developed into something more which we can see now?

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Webs
Cavies 'n Cobwebs

Post   » Sun Jul 29, 2007 6:24 pm


Try and get an xray when you see the new vet as it could help with heart issues and arthritis and a full urine test may help rule things out.

I'd check the sticky on arthritis too, that's where we were heading before it got too late.

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NoCableisSafe

Post   » Sun Jul 29, 2007 6:42 pm


Webs, if it was arthritis would he not have begun to show an improvement when he was on pain medication?

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Webs
Cavies 'n Cobwebs

Post   » Sun Jul 29, 2007 7:00 pm


I don't know enough about them to know, to be honest. We were trying that with Sparky before it got too late but it didn't seem to be making any difference. Perhaps we were too late or there were other issues on the go with her too.

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rshevin

Post   » Sun Jul 29, 2007 7:06 pm


Heart issues and diabetes are all I can think of.

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Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Sun Jul 29, 2007 10:22 pm


If you had an injury from something he ate, there would likely be an infection with a bad smell. You haven't mentioned the smell of infection.

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Mum
I GAVE, dammit!

Post   » Sun Jul 29, 2007 11:07 pm


The ear and foot together scream heart to me.

Get an xray done, and if you have a willing vet put him on a trial of lotensin even if the vet concludes the xray is normal.

Ditto on checking for diabetes also.

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Webs
Cavies 'n Cobwebs

Post   » Mon Jul 30, 2007 7:27 am


If your vet is not willing to discuss the heart issue meds then get a hold of Trick on GL. She has a vet in Scotland who put her own pig on heart meds.

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NoCableisSafe

Post   » Mon Jul 30, 2007 10:01 am


Trick is in an LJ community with me, she's sent me an e-mail before so I will definatly get directly in touch with her now about the vet.

Mum - In consideration with the other symptoms I've shown: not eating, lethargic (or likes to be comfortable and snuggly, I don't know if it's him being lethargic or comfortable), and interest in food but incapability or lack of want to eat it -- do they fit in with the heart pig symptoms?

I'll be in touch with the vet tomorrow and if they'll do an X-ray on him, it may be done this week -- how long can a heart pig hold out? The vet I'm contacting isn't my original vet.

I read the arthritis sticky, webs, and things do fit - bumblefoot could be from sore joints and him sitting odd but then I need a reason for his ears turning black -- unless he has poor circulation from not moving... or from a bad heart..

Lynx - your right. He does smell but he has been passing gas a lot and the smell comes and goes in intensity depending on what his back end is doing - his mouth usually stinks when he's being fed, not before...

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