"Often cavy livers do look large (as well as adrenals and kidneys)."
You have no idea of how comforting this information is. Thank you!
Ginny had her appointment today. She has been doing well at home, started eating all her favorite foods again, drinking, playing. She ate KM's hay in the carrier all the way to the vet's office (I could hear her munching). Dr. Funk even noticed how cheery she was.
I decided to get the blood panel done this time, and after we get the results back, I'll decide the rest. Dr. Funk sends out guinea pig blood work to a lab. He said their in-house equipment wasn't calibrated for guinea pigs, and the lab can get much more information from a small amount of blood than his office can.
They used Isoflurane to sedate her.
Dr. Funk will call me when the results come in. He also mentioned that he does not have the complete, written radiology report yet. I asked him to call me with that information too.
I left a copy of Ginny's weight chart with the doctor. The office staff admired Ginny's unique coloring and sent me home with a bag of Critical Care.
Ginny's Medical Thread
-
Tracis
- Let Sleeping Pigs Lie
Ginny is doing well, happy and playful.
Dr. Funk called today with the blood test results. He's not sure what's going on.
Her liver enzymes are elevated. He said Ginny's AST level was 384.
Her white blood count was lower than normal, and sometimes that happens with cancer.
Ginny's glucose level was the most surprising thing, according to him. Her reading was 519.
He's not sure if the liver problem is causing the raised blood sugar, or the other way around. He's going to do some more research. He also mentioned that he hasn't worked with diabetes in a guinea pig before.
He was not able to do a urine test on Thursday (she urinated right all over the towel right before they sedated her, I guess).
He gave us a prescription for Baytril, in case there is some infection going on.
Dr. Funk called today with the blood test results. He's not sure what's going on.
Her liver enzymes are elevated. He said Ginny's AST level was 384.
Her white blood count was lower than normal, and sometimes that happens with cancer.
Ginny's glucose level was the most surprising thing, according to him. Her reading was 519.
He's not sure if the liver problem is causing the raised blood sugar, or the other way around. He's going to do some more research. He also mentioned that he hasn't worked with diabetes in a guinea pig before.
He was not able to do a urine test on Thursday (she urinated right all over the towel right before they sedated her, I guess).
He gave us a prescription for Baytril, in case there is some infection going on.
-
Mum
- I GAVE, dammit!
But it's not uncommon as you'll see if you do a search on this board. Pinta, for one, has dealt with it. There are meds to treat it - sounds as if you need to get them started asap?He also mentioned that he hasn't worked with diabetes in a guinea pig before.
That glucose level is sky high!
I may be wrong, but I thought the AST level could be raised by anorexia?
-
Tracis
- Let Sleeping Pigs Lie
Ginny does seem to be feeling pretty good (which I'm very happy about). To look at her, you wouldn't know what was going on inside.
Mum, the impression I got from the doctor is that he was going to do some research and figure out what we need to do next. He didn't prescribe anything besides the Baytril.
I may have heard this incorrectly, but I think he mentioned something about an abormally functioning liver affecting the pancreas in dogs and cats? It was something else he wanted to look into.
Mum, the impression I got from the doctor is that he was going to do some research and figure out what we need to do next. He didn't prescribe anything besides the Baytril.
I may have heard this incorrectly, but I think he mentioned something about an abormally functioning liver affecting the pancreas in dogs and cats? It was something else he wanted to look into.
-
Tracis
- Let Sleeping Pigs Lie
A lengthy update -
Ginny has been doing well!
In February, I followed a GL link ( https://www.guinealynx.info/links.html#diabetes ) and read about dietary changes for diabetic pigs. Happily, Ginny was not on a terrible diet to start with, but I stopped feeding her fruit, decreased the greens, and absolutely no carrots. I started really pushing the hay.
During this time, she stopped eating twice. Once was my fault; I fed her an inch-sized cube of apple. I'm not sure what the cause was for the second, but started handfeeding her immediately both times. Ginny was not impressed with my Critical Care recipes.
Her weight actually reached 1193g (2 lbs, 10 oz) last week, but usually she hovers in the 1160g - 1180g range. There have been no dramatic weight losses since February. I still weigh her daily.
The cataract in her left eye has remained the same, according to my visual inspections. She still has some vision in that eye. I still cannot see a cataract in her right eye, although the vet said there was one.
She is lively and friendly, and enjoys her meal and floor times. She is not on any medications at this time. I'd like to take her back to the vet in the fall, and see if her bloodwork has improved.
Ginny has been doing well!
In February, I followed a GL link ( https://www.guinealynx.info/links.html#diabetes ) and read about dietary changes for diabetic pigs. Happily, Ginny was not on a terrible diet to start with, but I stopped feeding her fruit, decreased the greens, and absolutely no carrots. I started really pushing the hay.
During this time, she stopped eating twice. Once was my fault; I fed her an inch-sized cube of apple. I'm not sure what the cause was for the second, but started handfeeding her immediately both times. Ginny was not impressed with my Critical Care recipes.
Her weight actually reached 1193g (2 lbs, 10 oz) last week, but usually she hovers in the 1160g - 1180g range. There have been no dramatic weight losses since February. I still weigh her daily.
The cataract in her left eye has remained the same, according to my visual inspections. She still has some vision in that eye. I still cannot see a cataract in her right eye, although the vet said there was one.
She is lively and friendly, and enjoys her meal and floor times. She is not on any medications at this time. I'd like to take her back to the vet in the fall, and see if her bloodwork has improved.
-
Tracis
- Let Sleeping Pigs Lie
Ginny's "rooster tail" has grown back. She shed it over a year ago, during a visit to the vet. I never expected to see it again, after it didn't grow back right away. I hope this is a sign of continued good health.
Her feet are multi-colored, so her toenails always tend to look long.
Her feet are multi-colored, so her toenails always tend to look long.
-
cutemomomi
- Obey My Authority
Ginny always looks so lovely Tracis.
SO glad to hear her healthy and cheerful updates. :)
SO glad to hear her healthy and cheerful updates. :)
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