Violet's medical thread
Not that I can feel compared to the rest of the area, though the throat area is all pretty warm anyway so I may misjudge.
Sounds like CL is pretty contagious and can be a long-term illness. Is there any point in separating her from the other pigs now that they've already presumably been plenty exposed? If so, is using another grid sufficient or do I need to go full-on different cage, wash hands, change clothes etc?
Sounds like CL is pretty contagious and can be a long-term illness. Is there any point in separating her from the other pigs now that they've already presumably been plenty exposed? If so, is using another grid sufficient or do I need to go full-on different cage, wash hands, change clothes etc?
Doc said it is almost certainly an abscess. He said he used to treat them by lancing and draining as he felt that total removal was excessive, until he had a case where there were some complications that the total removal would have prevented so that's what we're planning on with Violet. Her lumpectomy is scheduled for tomorrow, she's just gotten started on chloramphenicol and rimadyl today which she will be on after the surgery as well, no food after 9pm tonight, etc. He'll be using radiosurgery equipment, it's expected that we'll be able to take the sutures out after 2 weeks. He didn't mention CL by name but he said that it is contagious, so looks like I'll be separating them. Gotta separate them for recovery anyway.
This is my first time caring for a pet having surgery and I'm scared I'm gonna mess something up D:
also, holy cow this is gonna drain my vet fund, good thing I just got a job this week! Hopefully my other two pigs don't get it =n=;;;;;
This is my first time caring for a pet having surgery and I'm scared I'm gonna mess something up D:
also, holy cow this is gonna drain my vet fund, good thing I just got a job this week! Hopefully my other two pigs don't get it =n=;;;;;
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- And got the T-shirt
Ack! No food after 9 pm? What is he thinking?
The problem with eating before surgery is because if the patient vomits, the vomitus can be aspirated into the lungs with resultant pneumonia. But guinea pigs can't vomit, so there's no need to withhold food.
Is the VET the one who told you withhold food, or someone on his staff? We've had several cases where persons have been told not to feed a guinea pig because the staff was following the small animal protocol, not the herbivore protocol.
If it were me, I'd be back on the phone asking about that. I'd be willing to stop feeding a couple of hours before surgery, but no more than that.
Guinea pigs that don't eat get painful, sometimes fatal stomach ulcers -- their stomachs produce acid all the time, and they have to have food moving through their guts to deal with that acid.
The problem with eating before surgery is because if the patient vomits, the vomitus can be aspirated into the lungs with resultant pneumonia. But guinea pigs can't vomit, so there's no need to withhold food.
Is the VET the one who told you withhold food, or someone on his staff? We've had several cases where persons have been told not to feed a guinea pig because the staff was following the small animal protocol, not the herbivore protocol.
If it were me, I'd be back on the phone asking about that. I'd be willing to stop feeding a couple of hours before surgery, but no more than that.
Guinea pigs that don't eat get painful, sometimes fatal stomach ulcers -- their stomachs produce acid all the time, and they have to have food moving through their guts to deal with that acid.
Ahhhhhhh I'm so glad you mentioned that because I had the same thought but figured I was just overthinking it. It was in a confirmation text that they sent after the appointment, I'll definitely call and ask for clarification on that because the vet didn't say anything about stopping food at the appointment. For what it's worth, the text did say water after 9pm was ok. I'll call right now though.
Okay, so one of the vet techs answered and said no food or water after midnight instead of 9pm. I'm scheduled to drop her off at 8:45am tomorrow.
...thoughts?
(edit: now I'm furiously Googling it, this book here https://books.google.com/books?id=2NuoB ... ry&f=false sounds pretty convincing to me as far as not withholding food, at least for that length of time. I'm considering going partway and just doing 3 or 4 hours before with no food or water. Would that be stupid? The reason the tech gave me is because they didn't want the animal to throw up or choke on her saliva- wouldn't there be saliva in the mouth anyway- so... I dunno how much I trust them. I'm also really wary of disregarding medical advice though. Cause I'm not a vet, and neither is the Internet. But aaahhhhhh I don't know what to do)
...thoughts?
(edit: now I'm furiously Googling it, this book here https://books.google.com/books?id=2NuoB ... ry&f=false sounds pretty convincing to me as far as not withholding food, at least for that length of time. I'm considering going partway and just doing 3 or 4 hours before with no food or water. Would that be stupid? The reason the tech gave me is because they didn't want the animal to throw up or choke on her saliva- wouldn't there be saliva in the mouth anyway- so... I dunno how much I trust them. I'm also really wary of disregarding medical advice though. Cause I'm not a vet, and neither is the Internet. But aaahhhhhh I don't know what to do)
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- And got the T-shirt
They'll probably give something to reduce the amount of saliva.
You'll have to do what you think best, but I'd feed up until about a couple of hours before the surgery (NOT the drop-off time). I wouldn't overload the stomach with a lot of veggies, but I'd certainly give hay, and maybe a little wet lettuce for the hydration.
You might point out to the vet tech that guinea pigs can't throw up, and that they need a pre-op protocol for guinea pigs (and any other herbivores that need it) that takes that into account. I'd also tell the vet that the tech is giving out incorrect information.
You'll have to do what you think best, but I'd feed up until about a couple of hours before the surgery (NOT the drop-off time). I wouldn't overload the stomach with a lot of veggies, but I'd certainly give hay, and maybe a little wet lettuce for the hydration.
You might point out to the vet tech that guinea pigs can't throw up, and that they need a pre-op protocol for guinea pigs (and any other herbivores that need it) that takes that into account. I'd also tell the vet that the tech is giving out incorrect information.
- GrannyJu1
- Supporter in '21
I'm with bpatters on this as well. When my girl was spayed last summer, they told me the same thing as you were told: midnight/water ok. I'd already "memorized" what's written here on surgeries, pre- as well as post-. I live at least a couple of hours away from the surgeon, so I just took food and water away when we left the house. No complications or complaints from vet.
When my boys were spayed almost 2 years ago, THAT vet said food and water were ok (we live about 45 minutes away from her), and once again no complaints or complications. Personally, I'd trust bpatters before I'd trust a vet tech, regardless. Perhaps if the vet told me face to face...
When my boys were spayed almost 2 years ago, THAT vet said food and water were ok (we live about 45 minutes away from her), and once again no complaints or complications. Personally, I'd trust bpatters before I'd trust a vet tech, regardless. Perhaps if the vet told me face to face...
- Lynx
- Celebrate!!!
www.guinealynx.info/.html
www.guinealynx.info/.html
Interesting link, Zaphy! I am posting a short part here:
Laboratory Animal Anaesthesia by Paul Flecknell
Pre-Anaesthetic Fasting
"...Pre-anaesthetic fasting of rabbits and small rodents is unnecessary since vomiting during induction does not occur in these species. Problems may occasionally be seen with guinea pigs since they may retain food in their pharynx after being anaesthetized...It is also important to note that rabbits and guinea pigs are particularly susceptible to gastrointestinal disturbances following surgery. This can lead to serious consequences as it can predispose to the development of enterotoxaemia. For this reason the author almost never withholds food from these species. An exception is if gastrointestinal tract surgery is to be undertaken and a reduction in the volume of gut contents is required...."
www.guinealynx.info/.html
Interesting link, Zaphy! I am posting a short part here:
Laboratory Animal Anaesthesia by Paul Flecknell
Pre-Anaesthetic Fasting
"...Pre-anaesthetic fasting of rabbits and small rodents is unnecessary since vomiting during induction does not occur in these species. Problems may occasionally be seen with guinea pigs since they may retain food in their pharynx after being anaesthetized...It is also important to note that rabbits and guinea pigs are particularly susceptible to gastrointestinal disturbances following surgery. This can lead to serious consequences as it can predispose to the development of enterotoxaemia. For this reason the author almost never withholds food from these species. An exception is if gastrointestinal tract surgery is to be undertaken and a reduction in the volume of gut contents is required...."