Sagan's Medical Thread
Hi everyone,
Sagan saw a not so cavy savvy vet today (but she did her best). Our vet was there but busy...but she did check him out when they brought him out back. They couldn't find anything wrong. I had them give him fluids and we are going back tomorrow for a full body xray. I declined blood work for now but we may change our minds if it continues to be a mystery. He is eating lettuce like a champ, but nothing else. We are continuing CC but he is quite the resistant little guy. Thanks for your continued positive thoughts for him. Will update when we know more.
Sagan saw a not so cavy savvy vet today (but she did her best). Our vet was there but busy...but she did check him out when they brought him out back. They couldn't find anything wrong. I had them give him fluids and we are going back tomorrow for a full body xray. I declined blood work for now but we may change our minds if it continues to be a mystery. He is eating lettuce like a champ, but nothing else. We are continuing CC but he is quite the resistant little guy. Thanks for your continued positive thoughts for him. Will update when we know more.
Sagan had his x-rays. I have posted the images below. He has two stones that are symmetrical so the vet believes they are in the ureters. A urine sample confirmed excess calcium. He appears to have failing kidneys. We are giving him fluids, pain meds (Buprenex) to see if he improves. He is still peeing and hasn't lost any more weight. He is still willingly eating lettuce and often green pepper and carrots...but we are force feeding CC.
The vet says we have no options if this doesn't help. She suggests euthanizing if he doesn't improve within 48 hours because he believes he won't improve from anything else. Please, someone tell us there are other options for treatment. He just made happy noises when he got back to his cage mate, and seeing him still able to eat and still strong is so hard for me to believe he is at the point of euthanizing.
The vet says we have no options if this doesn't help. She suggests euthanizing if he doesn't improve within 48 hours because he believes he won't improve from anything else. Please, someone tell us there are other options for treatment. He just made happy noises when he got back to his cage mate, and seeing him still able to eat and still strong is so hard for me to believe he is at the point of euthanizing.
His Buprenex is 0.3mg/ml 1 ml vials....0.15mls every 12 hours. Does this sound right? Also, if this gives a sedative effect, won't it appear that he isn't doing better regardless?
- Sef
- I dissent.
Here is that photo I was trying to find:
Zachary started out with a couple of small stones in one ureter, and it quickly progressed to multiple stones in both (as seen above) and acute kidney failure. The problem with ureters is that they are so narrow, and surgery is incredibly tricky.
I think there are a couple of people here whose guinea pigs had ureteral stones and the owners opted for surgery, but I honestly can't remember the outcome being very good. You might do a search, though. One (might have been ElvisTCB?) had a vet who *I think* was able to flush a small stone from the ureter into the bladder via the kidney. Sagan's stones look pretty large to me, though.
A lot would also depend on the skill level of the vet, too.
Darn. I really wish I had something more encouraging to offer you.
Zachary started out with a couple of small stones in one ureter, and it quickly progressed to multiple stones in both (as seen above) and acute kidney failure. The problem with ureters is that they are so narrow, and surgery is incredibly tricky.
I think there are a couple of people here whose guinea pigs had ureteral stones and the owners opted for surgery, but I honestly can't remember the outcome being very good. You might do a search, though. One (might have been ElvisTCB?) had a vet who *I think* was able to flush a small stone from the ureter into the bladder via the kidney. Sagan's stones look pretty large to me, though.
A lot would also depend on the skill level of the vet, too.
Darn. I really wish I had something more encouraging to offer you.
Thanks for your responses. Sagan is now congested and trembling now and then. Could this be something not related to kidneys?
Neither noted heart concerns...I hope they would if they had them. We went through lots of issues with our first pig with them...he was a heart pig.
Sagan's congestion went away after we stopped force feeding him last. We could hear it when he made his sounds and a few other times...then he sneezed or coughed loudly twice and seems ok now. His eyes are much brighter since being back in his cage.
Sagan's congestion went away after we stopped force feeding him last. We could hear it when he made his sounds and a few other times...then he sneezed or coughed loudly twice and seems ok now. His eyes are much brighter since being back in his cage.
That's what I'm hoping. I was definitely panicked when I heard it initially.
Since the stones are in both ureters, the vet mentioned being concerned that Sagan wasn't able to urinate. He did twice while we were at the vet--no blood and no signs of pain. How will we know if he has lost the ability to urinate other than separating him from his cage mate? Would he show a clear indication of change in pain level? I know he wouldn't survive long after losing this ability. I just don't want him to be suffering, but want to buy as much time with him as I can.
Since the stones are in both ureters, the vet mentioned being concerned that Sagan wasn't able to urinate. He did twice while we were at the vet--no blood and no signs of pain. How will we know if he has lost the ability to urinate other than separating him from his cage mate? Would he show a clear indication of change in pain level? I know he wouldn't survive long after losing this ability. I just don't want him to be suffering, but want to buy as much time with him as I can.