Peekaboo's Medical

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GrannyJu1
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Post   » Sat Sep 26, 2015 9:45 pm


:'o( I think I heard Peek "hoot" today, just before I put him back into his cleaned cage. It was either a hoot or raspy breathing. Taking him to the vet Monday. A new one, but she's an owner herself, so she should know a thing or two. His cough still comes and goes, too.

3rd treatment for lice today.
Date, weight and Ivomec dose:
9/11 1281 grms (9/12) 0.065
9/16 1253 grms (9/19)0.06
9/26 1258 grms 0.065

bpatters
And got the T-shirt

Post   » Sat Sep 26, 2015 9:47 pm


How are you giving the Ivomec?

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GrannyJu1
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Post   » Sat Sep 26, 2015 10:33 pm


Behind the ears, using an insulin syringe with the needle broken off.

Forgot: Today he jumped like I'd stabbed him. Checked to make sure there wasn't any of the needle still there to poke him with... Nope. He just hasn't liked me much since I started cleaning his boy parts. And his ears.

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GrannyJu1
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Post   » Mon Sep 28, 2015 9:55 pm


Vet visit 9/28/15 Re: "cough"

Peek was examined by Dr. Nancy Kuehlwein at Animal Health Services, Kelso, WA

Lungs and heart sounded clear so I asked for x-rays, which also showed them clear. She seems open to, and knowledgeable of. heart disease in guinea pigs, which I was glad to hear. However, she did learn 2 other things, neither of which explains his annual April-front-right-leg-limp.

X-ray showed some definite osteoarthritis in both hips, and dang it; I think she also said something about his right rear leg. Watching too many vet shows, though; might be remembering them. She gave me a bottle of Metacam for future use. 0.72 cc once daily IF eating and drinking normally (he weighed 1.2k there). “Ang Metacam 0.5 mg 15 ml” (1 bottle – dang stuff is expensive!! $55.50)

The other thing the x-rays showed was bloat. Not a really bad case of it, but it’s there nonetheless. (I couldn’t make heads or tails of them so I had to have everything pointed out to me, but she said she would have someone email me copies tomorrow.) They do look kind of similar to some other x-rays of bloated pigs I’ve looked at lately. The “coughing” I hear might very well be him trying to belch some of the air back out, especially since the one time I observed him cough, right afterwards I saw him kind of heave – whole body lurching forward half a dozen times after the noise of the “cough”. She thinks he might be: A) eating too rapidly due to the other pigs; or B) since it also happens when he’s NOT eating, it’s possible he may be trying to belch, and what I thought was a cough, is actually air coming from his stomach, not his lungs or throat.

Recommendations for the bloat: Acupuncture by a specialist in Portland she could refer me to (her first thought), then when I added heat, massage, vibration, she agreed. (I’m pretty sure she knows she’s dealing with someone who has a dangerous amount of knowledge: just enough to get into trouble! :o}) Crap! I forgot to ask how often! Suggestions? Another question - Is it possible for him to have had mild bloat all of his life? He's been a dry-crumbly-poo producer since I got him.

I’m to feed him separately so he doesn’t feel he has to rush (great – separate all 3 of them at feeding time!); avoid all the “wet” foods: cucumber, tomato, peppers. I think she means for me to feed him only veggies high in fiber; she suggested broccoli stems, not the florets, though… (Hmmm, looks like I start eating broccoli again.) I thought broccoli is part of the cabbage family and could *cause* gas. She approved lettuce, parsley or cilantro, and carrot. I can’t remember what she said about spinach, but since it’s “dry” it’s probably ok. I seem to recall an issue about calcium in spinach so I changed that from daily to once-in-a-while-treat. (I have noticed a definite decrease in deposits on the fleece, that’s for sure!) I guess I’ll put it back on as a once-or-twice-a-week item. I’ll try again to get them to eat celery for another change of pace. For now, I’ll stick with a raisin once or twice a week, as a fruit item. And look for other "safe" veggies we might have locally.

He’s to go back for re-check in 1 month, sooner if he gets worse. I’ve probably forgotten some things said, but I can’t help that. If I remember more, I’ll add it to the book. And now, it’s back to the research...

bpatters
And got the T-shirt

Post   » Mon Sep 28, 2015 10:22 pm


As Talishan often says, mumble, mumble.

I don't know that I'd add broccoli to his diet. If (IF) he has bloat, I wouldn't want to add broccoli to his mix of vegetables. And you're right about the calcium in spinach. I don't feed it at all. And incidentally, celery is pretty high in calcium.

My own view is that I'd continue to feed the "wet" veggies, particularly if he's had dry poop. I'd maybe cut back on them a little bit, but I wouldn't cut them out.

I also don't think much of the recommendation for acupuncture for bloat. In fact, it's fairly common for vets who aren't guinea pig savvy to diagnose the normal stomach/intestinal contents as bloat. (You do realize Kuehlwein isn't a certified exotic vet?) I think you're on the right track with the massage, but there are other things that will help. Talishan is the expert here, and I'll let her weigh in on the drugs that may help.

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Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Mon Sep 28, 2015 11:12 pm


I think of what you are describing as mild gas vs. bloat. I think of bloat as excessive, serious gas. I would swap out the raisin for blueberries. Just a couple here and there. They are not excessively sugary.

Perhaps someone else can comment on the metacam. It is sometimes possible to get a prescription you fill online or elsewhere. Looking around, it seems one can get it less expensively but sometimes you need a drug "now".

I wouldn't go for acupuncture either.

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GrannyJu1
Supporter in '21

Post   » Tue Sep 29, 2015 1:20 pm


First, I think you're right. She might have said "gas" and I heard "bloat". I do remember her mentioning "several small pockets", which is why I now think she might have said gas. I should have the x-rays in the next day or two, and you can see them for yourselves.

bpatters: She might not be a certified exotics vet, but she is familiar with heart disease in pigs. After some of what's been discussed here on GL, I think *that* impressed me. If she's NOT very experienced with guinea pigs, she has a monstrously big ego and the most confidence possible for a fake. I'll know more when we actually have time to really talk in depth (her manner and way of talking does make me feel easy about taking my pigs to her, at least for a while). Yesterday was apparently a "Free Dental Exam" day or week or something, and just as we arrived at mid-afternoon, the waiting room exploded and left behind masses of dental exam clients.

As for the acupuncture, I've seen several members post about it, and some have said it worked for them. *shrug* Whatever, I'm only going down that particular road if everything else fails - the specialist is in Portland and we'll not be driving down there again soon unless dragged kicking and screaming all the way. I can do the massage, I have the heating pad and a vibrating pillow, simethicone (sp?), etc.

Diet: Glad to know I don't have to eat broccoli again. I only like it raw and drowned in Ranch Dressing - kinda defeats the purpose of eating it, right? ;o) Blueberries probably won't happen, Lynx. Since they can only have fruit once or twice a week, that equals 5 - 10 blueberries a week. They haven't eaten them when I've given them before. I do freeze blueberries, but pigs won't eat them that way, either. I'll keep trying, though. I guess they shouldn't have grapes either, then, huh? Raisins = dried grapes. Damn. We just don't eat a lot of fruits and veggies. Comes from growing up in Alaska where it was too expensive to buy many fresh things, and weather too lousy to grow them. I will continue to feed the 3 the "wet" things daily; Peek will get them once or twice a week, like the fruit (and poor Fuzz not at all).

Metacam: The only things I've seen from Peek that are open to interpretation as pain symptoms are an even larger lack of pleasure at being picked up and his lack of much movement. Appetite is normal; poops are as normal as they've ever been; I think he has been drinking more water since VeBee joined the cage in June, but can't swear to that. Should I only give the Metacam if he's limping in some manner? or the above "normal"s change? Vet said to only give him the metacam if he WAS eating and drinking normally, though. ?? And does the Metacam need to be refridgerated? Opened, unopened, or both?

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Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Wed Sep 30, 2015 1:46 pm


Does the bottle say anything about storage? Maybe call the vet?

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GrannyJu1
Supporter in '21

Post   » Thu Oct 01, 2015 1:08 am


I googled it: doesn't need refrigerated.

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GrannyJu1
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Post   » Sat Oct 03, 2015 11:38 am


Peek's x-rays showing heart and lungs normal; gas/bloat & arthritis in hips as present:
Image

Image

Image
Lynx, I'd appreciate it if you'd make these permanent. Thanks.

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Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Sat Oct 03, 2015 2:49 pm


It won't let me download them without a yahoo account! Has something changed? Would you like to send them by email as an attachment? (send largest size/original)

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GrannyJu1
Supporter in '21

Post   » Sat Oct 03, 2015 4:25 pm


I emailed all 3 to you. They are all in original format (vet's original), I've not made any changes except for the name.

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