Sakura - Medical Thread

Post » Fri Oct 21, 2011 3:35 pm

Sakura maintained her weight overnight - yay! She weighed 1183g before morning veggies, so I haven't handfed any Critical Care today (yet).

She ate more pellets than veggies at breakfast, and lots of hay after I cleaned the cage and refilled the hayrack.

I am watching her carefully, and do have some Metacam just in case. She looks much better than she did yesterday.

It has been exactly a week since the surgery. Today's picture:

And one week ago:

The stitches are to be removed on Monday.

Bugs Mom · Post » Fri Oct 21, 2011 3:39 pm

I'm so glad she's becoming her old self again. If I were her I'd be glad to get rid of those stitches ; )

Post » Fri Oct 21, 2011 10:26 pm

Look at all the hair growing back!

She's coming along nicely!

camende · Post » Fri Oct 21, 2011 10:56 pm

Yeah!! She looks so much better today!!

I'm sorry, how old is she? Since Norbie will be having similar surgery (except Norbie's cyst is on her side), I am going to have to re-read the whole thread now.

Post » Fri Oct 21, 2011 10:58 pm

As of tomorrow, Sakura will be 5 years 6 months old.

C Cole-Chakotay · Post » Sat Oct 22, 2011 7:27 pm

That's great Sakura has done so well with the surgery at her age. I'm glad she's doing fine.

slavetofuzzy · Post » Sat Oct 22, 2011 7:55 pm

That site looks so good! Healing so well, hair growing quickly. It does my heart good to know a "senior" pig can come through surgery so well.

Post » Mon Oct 24, 2011 10:31 pm

Today is the tenth day after surgery:

We visited the vet and her stitches were removed - yay! I will post a picture of the incision tomorrow. It looks very much like this picture, minus the blue stitches.

Sakura has been eating more, and, since yesterday, starting to drink from the water bottle again. (She has been avoiding it since the surgery.) Sometimes the way she reacts to the water bottle and her veggies makes me wonder if the antibiotic leaves an odd taste in her mouth.

Her weight has been fluctuating a bit, and I still feel that the antibiotic is probably the cause. She has a few more days of Enrofloxacin though, so I am still monitoring her weight twice a day.

10/13: 1328 (at the vet's office, day before surgery)
10/14: 1241 (after surgery)
10/15: 1224
10/16: 1205
10/17: 1186
10/18: 1213
10/19: 1200
10/20: 1186
10/21: 1188
10/22: 1178
10/23: 1203
10/24: 1193

Talishan · Post » Tue Oct 25, 2011 12:30 am

Well, that means that the cyst weighed 87 grams, or more if they gave her subcue fluids perioperatively, which with the quality of this vet practice I will assume they did.

Therefore she has lost net about 48 g, or a little less than two ounces, which for surgery on a senior pig with Baytril postop is absolutely amazing. Job very well done, to Sakura, you and Dr. Wright.

I'm nearly certain AB's make their mouths taste funny even if they don't outright have serious intolerance issues with whatever AB has been prescribed. I think we've had the water issue with one or two of ours. I know certain ABs do that to me, don't see why they should be any different.

C Cole-Chakotay · Post » Tue Oct 25, 2011 7:21 am

Way to go, Sakura! I'm so happy she's doing well from her surgery. Keep it up, little one!

Sef · Post » Tue Oct 25, 2011 9:09 am

Oh, I was just wondering how she's doing! Yay!

Post » Tue Oct 25, 2011 4:26 pm

The morning after the stitches have been removed:

Weight:
10/25 pm: 1200 g
10/24 am: 1190 g

Dr. Johnson specifically said (via a technician) not to clean the incision site, and to let the scabs fall off in their own time.

I know she is feeling better. She even popcorned last night!

C Cole-Chakotay · Post » Tue Oct 25, 2011 6:36 pm

The incision looks very good to me. I'm glad she felt good enough to popcorn.

Bugs Mom · Post » Tue Oct 25, 2011 9:02 pm

Looks good to me too. Horray for popcorns!

Post » Tue Oct 25, 2011 9:50 pm

Looks wonderful!

slavetofuzzy · Post » Tue Oct 25, 2011 10:53 pm

She looks great. Love to hear she's popcorning!

Talishan · Post » Tue Oct 25, 2011 11:53 pm

Excellent. Carry on. :-)

camende · Post » Wed Oct 26, 2011 12:10 am

I am so glad she is doing better!

Jaycey · Post » Wed Oct 26, 2011 3:38 am

What a good girl you are Sakura, it looks like you're healing well.

I've had two Frankenpigs in my time, Fozzy had stitches in the same place. He wasn't happy with his shaved butt.

Post » Wed Oct 26, 2011 2:15 pm

Sakura is pleased that she does not have to be Frankenpig for Halloween!

We always appreciate the well wishes. :)

Sakura's pellet bowl was nearly empty this morning. Yay!

10/26 am: 1207 g

She is stronger now, so it is trickier to get the medication into her. Also more challenging to get a clear photograph of her incision, since she doesn't want to sit still.