Abbey's Medical Thread
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Delaine
- Supporter in '14
I am going to get another opinion on Abbey's eye condition on Tuesday. My friend goes to a different exotic vet in the area so I am going to see what she has to say.
I am really concerned Abbey may have an elongated root. If an X-ray does show this is the problem what should I expect? One of the teeth under that eye does have a small concave area, but that is the only thing the vet could see that was not normal with the teeth.
I looked at the information on elongated roots but there wasn't anything on what could be done. I have read that the offending tooth could be ground down. Is pulling that tooth an option? And if so what will happen to the rest of the teeth once it is gone?
Abbey gets limited pellets, leafy greens and piles of hay. I have added 2 more water bottles to their cage which now total 4. I bring in fresh 2nd cut Timothy hay when it is baled in the fall and also a 1st cut just to give them a little more stem to grind. I have 300 lbs. of hay stored for 2 guinea pigs for the winter and Abbey eats it all day long. I am not sure what more I can do.
How about Vitamin C and tooth problems? Is there any connection between the two?
I am really concerned Abbey may have an elongated root. If an X-ray does show this is the problem what should I expect? One of the teeth under that eye does have a small concave area, but that is the only thing the vet could see that was not normal with the teeth.
I looked at the information on elongated roots but there wasn't anything on what could be done. I have read that the offending tooth could be ground down. Is pulling that tooth an option? And if so what will happen to the rest of the teeth once it is gone?
Abbey gets limited pellets, leafy greens and piles of hay. I have added 2 more water bottles to their cage which now total 4. I bring in fresh 2nd cut Timothy hay when it is baled in the fall and also a 1st cut just to give them a little more stem to grind. I have 300 lbs. of hay stored for 2 guinea pigs for the winter and Abbey eats it all day long. I am not sure what more I can do.
How about Vitamin C and tooth problems? Is there any connection between the two?
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Delaine
- Supporter in '14
I first noticed Abby's sebaceous cyst when I was holding her for the vet August 30, 2012 so she has had it for almost 2 years.
It has grown over the past two years and I feel it is time to have it removed. It sometimes leaks sebum and Zoe is starting to lick it. I booked her in for surgery June 10th.
This will be my first guinea pig surgery so I know I will need some advice. I have some time to prepare and will read everything on post-op care, etc. I have a very good exotic vet and trust her completely.
My first question is regarding blood work before surgery. Is it necessary? I have heard from other members that is difficult to take blood from a guinea pig.
I usually take both girls when I go to the vet, but I will have to leave Abbey for the whole day so I think it is better to leave Zoe at home. I am about 45 minutes from the vet and I plan to come home after I drop her off. What do other members do when they have to leave their piggy at the vet?
I am already getting a little anxious about this surgery and would appreciate any support and advice.
It has grown over the past two years and I feel it is time to have it removed. It sometimes leaks sebum and Zoe is starting to lick it. I booked her in for surgery June 10th.
This will be my first guinea pig surgery so I know I will need some advice. I have some time to prepare and will read everything on post-op care, etc. I have a very good exotic vet and trust her completely.
My first question is regarding blood work before surgery. Is it necessary? I have heard from other members that is difficult to take blood from a guinea pig.
I usually take both girls when I go to the vet, but I will have to leave Abbey for the whole day so I think it is better to leave Zoe at home. I am about 45 minutes from the vet and I plan to come home after I drop her off. What do other members do when they have to leave their piggy at the vet?
I am already getting a little anxious about this surgery and would appreciate any support and advice.
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Delaine
- Supporter in '14
Abbey is only 3 years old and in very good health. The quote the vet gave me was for $436.00 which included $95.00 for blood work.
My friend has had surgery done on two of her guinea pigs, one for a spay and another for a growth in the ear. Both were done by Abbey's vet. I left a message for her to call me back to see if blood work was done before the two surgeries.
My friend has had surgery done on two of her guinea pigs, one for a spay and another for a growth in the ear. Both were done by Abbey's vet. I left a message for her to call me back to see if blood work was done before the two surgeries.
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Delaine
- Supporter in '14
Thanks for the info Lynx and bpatters. I told the receptionist when she called with the quote that I didn't think it was necessary. I will have to wait and see what her vet says.
About fasting. When I thought I had to have Abbey sedated for an ultrasound I was told she would have to fast for 4 hours. She wasn't sedated so it wasn't an issue.
For this surgery I was told no fasting at all and she can eat right up until surgery time. I think my friend had to fast her guinea pigs for a couple of hours.
The recommendations for fasting seem to change and that part is a bit confusing.
About fasting. When I thought I had to have Abbey sedated for an ultrasound I was told she would have to fast for 4 hours. She wasn't sedated so it wasn't an issue.
For this surgery I was told no fasting at all and she can eat right up until surgery time. I think my friend had to fast her guinea pigs for a couple of hours.
The recommendations for fasting seem to change and that part is a bit confusing.
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Talishan
- You can quote me
My vets usually say take pellets away about 12 hours preop. Leave hay in the cage. Put the piggie in a carrier **without** hay for the trip to the vet, and bring a bag of hay (and greens) for postop feeding.
Here's the problem: guinea pigs have a pouch well down in their throats that can collect material and can conceivably cause aspiration. Pinta lost a pig this way. It's very rare but it does happen. Food in the mouth is swabbed out pre-anaesthesia, but no swab will reach this little pouch area.
The flip side of the coin is that guinea pigs need a consistent stream of fiber going through their systems. You do NOT repeat NOT want to fast a guinea pig pre-anaesthesia the way you fast a dog, cat, or human. So the truth is somewhere in the middle.
This -- "I think my friend had to fast her guinea pigs for a couple of hours" -- is in my opinion the safest way to go.
Preop bloodwork is standard for dogs. Guinea pigs don't need it unless there is a strong, standalone reason for it. Any vet that tells me they want to do a standard preop blood workup on a guinea pig is telling me that their practice protocol (probably encouraged, if not set, by their attorneys) comes before the health and safety of my pig. Nope. In that case, we look for another vet for the surgery.
Here's the problem: guinea pigs have a pouch well down in their throats that can collect material and can conceivably cause aspiration. Pinta lost a pig this way. It's very rare but it does happen. Food in the mouth is swabbed out pre-anaesthesia, but no swab will reach this little pouch area.
The flip side of the coin is that guinea pigs need a consistent stream of fiber going through their systems. You do NOT repeat NOT want to fast a guinea pig pre-anaesthesia the way you fast a dog, cat, or human. So the truth is somewhere in the middle.
This -- "I think my friend had to fast her guinea pigs for a couple of hours" -- is in my opinion the safest way to go.
Preop bloodwork is standard for dogs. Guinea pigs don't need it unless there is a strong, standalone reason for it. Any vet that tells me they want to do a standard preop blood workup on a guinea pig is telling me that their practice protocol (probably encouraged, if not set, by their attorneys) comes before the health and safety of my pig. Nope. In that case, we look for another vet for the surgery.
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Delaine
- Supporter in '14
Talishan
This information is very helpful and it all makes sense. Thank you.
I have 3 weeks to gather all the information I can and hopefully be totally prepared to take good care of Abbey after her surgery.
I am going to mention the pouch to my vet. I know she has done many surgeries on rabbits and seems to be very knowledgeable about guinea pigs. She is very open to suggestions from her clients and willing to learn from our experiences.
This information is very helpful and it all makes sense. Thank you.
I have 3 weeks to gather all the information I can and hopefully be totally prepared to take good care of Abbey after her surgery.
I am going to mention the pouch to my vet. I know she has done many surgeries on rabbits and seems to be very knowledgeable about guinea pigs. She is very open to suggestions from her clients and willing to learn from our experiences.
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Delaine
- Supporter in '14
Abbey still has the issue with her eye. It hasn't changed since last September and doesn't bother her.
Her vet feels it is a blocked tear duct. So while she is out for her surgery should I ask her vet to try and clear the tear duct? I am a little concerned about doing this. At our last visit her vet said it can be tricky because the ducts and sinuses are fairly delicate and there is a chance they could rupture during the flushing.
I am inclined to not take a chance. The only time I notice a problem is when she cleans and the eye fills with fluid. It just doesn't drain by the proper channels. So far there is no irritation or issues from the moisture. I have to thank her sister Zoe for that. She licks it and keeps it clean. Also I clean it with sterilized water and a soft cloth if Zoe hasn't dealt with it.
Her vet feels it is a blocked tear duct. So while she is out for her surgery should I ask her vet to try and clear the tear duct? I am a little concerned about doing this. At our last visit her vet said it can be tricky because the ducts and sinuses are fairly delicate and there is a chance they could rupture during the flushing.
I am inclined to not take a chance. The only time I notice a problem is when she cleans and the eye fills with fluid. It just doesn't drain by the proper channels. So far there is no irritation or issues from the moisture. I have to thank her sister Zoe for that. She licks it and keeps it clean. Also I clean it with sterilized water and a soft cloth if Zoe hasn't dealt with it.
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bpatters
- And got the T-shirt
I wouldn't want anything surgically done to a blocked tear duct. They're tiny channels, and I can't imagine how they would unblock one with an instrument.
You might try VERY VERY gently massaging under the eye on a daily basis, and see if that clears it up. Several people have had success with that.
You might try VERY VERY gently massaging under the eye on a daily basis, and see if that clears it up. Several people have had success with that.
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