Gracie - Very Sore Eye
It's definitely a possibility! To be honest, it's the first thing that occurred to me, but because of Rosie's more delicate conditions, we're a bit worried about doing anything that causes her stress.
Despite everything, Rosie has maintained her top pig status, but I doubt a younger pig would be willing to take that as read! There is also Purdie who is blind and has no concept of normal guinea pig manners - the others got used to this over time, and are very tolerant of her now.
The trials of having geriatric piggies :S
Despite everything, Rosie has maintained her top pig status, but I doubt a younger pig would be willing to take that as read! There is also Purdie who is blind and has no concept of normal guinea pig manners - the others got used to this over time, and are very tolerant of her now.
The trials of having geriatric piggies :S
We found a lump in Gracie's dewlap yesterday evening, quite difficult to find further down her throat. Being paranoid in the wake of losing our other pigs I decided to take her to the vets today rather than wait and see if it was growing any.
It's about pea sized, unconnected to skin or muscle, and doesn't seem to bother her at all when I palpate it. I'm not sure if it's brand new or always been there as it's really well hidden.
The vet showed me that she has one equal sized on the other side, and that they were her thyroid glands, perhaps slightly swollen but not too much. Gracie of course is completely unimpressed that I took her to the vets to have her thyroids confirmed...
Anyway, before I hang my head in paranoid shame, is it fine that her thyroid glands are a little swollen? Her behaviour, eating, drinking, poop, pee, weight etc are all completely normal, and she is not living fairly happily with Foster and Tahini with minimal arguments.
It's about pea sized, unconnected to skin or muscle, and doesn't seem to bother her at all when I palpate it. I'm not sure if it's brand new or always been there as it's really well hidden.
The vet showed me that she has one equal sized on the other side, and that they were her thyroid glands, perhaps slightly swollen but not too much. Gracie of course is completely unimpressed that I took her to the vets to have her thyroids confirmed...
Anyway, before I hang my head in paranoid shame, is it fine that her thyroid glands are a little swollen? Her behaviour, eating, drinking, poop, pee, weight etc are all completely normal, and she is not living fairly happily with Foster and Tahini with minimal arguments.
I can find them pretty easily now I know where they are, but I've been monitoring them both and the left one is now definitely bigger than the right one (about twice the size).
However, her behaviour hasn't changed except that she is a little tired (though that could be because Tahini is in heat and has been bugging her a lot), and her appetite and drinking and everything are the same.
Obviously she isn't a candidate for surgery but I think we'll have to get this lump checked out :/
However, her behaviour hasn't changed except that she is a little tired (though that could be because Tahini is in heat and has been bugging her a lot), and her appetite and drinking and everything are the same.
Obviously she isn't a candidate for surgery but I think we'll have to get this lump checked out :/
We helped Gracie to her rest at the vets. She had a tumour on her thyroid gland that was really aggressive and grew even further over night to a huge size.. Yesterday morning she was fine, by this afternoon she could no longer swallow food or drink, or lift her head up. She wanted to be well but her body failed her, and it came on too fast to stop it. At our first vet visit today they took a sample to send to the lab, but after taking her home she just went even further downhill. I was terrified that without eating she would suffer, and by the time we took her in she could no longer move at all. If I could have tried anything I would have but I knew from knowing her that she was ready, and it is so very unfair :(
Before this she was so healthy and young for her age. We're both totally devestated.
Sleep well sweetheart x
Before this she was so healthy and young for her age. We're both totally devestated.
Sleep well sweetheart x