Fuzzbutt's Medical

[Talishan]

She'll likely be fine. But you're on her s**t list. ;-)

One of the nicest things about cavies is that because they're strict herbivores, there's far, far less crud in their droppings than there is in other animals like cats. They eat their droppings, and I'm confident we've, uh, ingested a few by accident at our house. :-/

Far, far fewer nasties in them than in the output of carnivores or omnivores.

[Lynx]

I did not feel the styptic pencil I got helped.

It is always disconcerting to cut nails too short! Hopefully it will heal fine.

[GrannyJu1]

I didn't care for the styptic pencils when I used them on my dog, that's why I use the powder. It works a little better than the pencil or even flour. We just dip the whole foot several times. :o)

Talishan, I know I'm on her list and deservedly so. Will have to give her extra GOOD attention for a while. She bled so much, we probably could have gotten 10 good blood tests. :'o( Poor baby. Guess my eyes are still not ready for that close work. I kept missing when I tried to just get the tip, and then over-corrected by a very wide margin. (cringe)

[Talishan]

My vet uses the powder. Cornstarch works too, a little better than flour.

If you're concerned about infection, you can always dip the foot in a very mild solution of Hibiclens and warm water. The problem with that is that the warm water increases circulation and makes it bleed more until it stops. :-/ It's a tradeoff.

[GrannyJu1]

I've added some foods to Fuzz's diet because I was worried about it. She's pretty much getting what the others do and so far, I'm not real worried about what's it's doing to her. I've seen a few clumps of soft but well-formed poops; a few stains on the pads I change out every 2 days; and a little smellier areas in the cage. Until I see a real problem with her output, I'll maintain the diet additions.

Starting today, I will also increase her Vit. C intake to double the usual dose. Dr. Widener thinks none of the guinea pigs are getting enough, so along with the double tabs or liquid, I'll increase the amount of bell pepper she's getting, since I really don't want to go the kale/cabbage route. Besides, since she does have arthritis and can't tolerate metacam, the extra Vit. C might help with her pain level.

[GrannyJu1]

Poor Fuzz, can't seem to get a break. I think she's broken off part of one of her upper front teeth. Lighting was pretty bad at the time I looked, and I keep forgetting to check again. Will turn on all the lights today when I weigh her. Speaking of which: she definitely has not lost any weight, so I'm not super worried. Also why I'm not 100% sure part of the tooth is missing; but when comparing the two front teeth, one seemed a lot longer than the other. She did seem to have a problem taking a carrot out of my hand a couple of days ago which is what got my attention. Plan to call our vet and see if they have a recommendation for a dental vet somewhere within a reasonable distance.

[Lynx]

I hope you can find one! Especially if you note she starts to lose weight. Hopefully it will grow out quickly.

[Riahrae]

Poor fuzz :( I hope you can find one!

[GrannyJu1]

Fuzzbutt 2016 Weight

[GrannyJu1]

Fuzzbutt used to weight as much as Scatter, in the 1250 - 1300 gram range. I used to joke that it was a contest for biggest piggy. She's now down to the 1100 - 1150 gram range. Should I start force feeding her Critical Care? She's eating just as much veggies as ever, but might not be eating as much pellets or hay.

[Lynx]

Any possibility of tooth problems?

I would be tempted to hand feed if you continue to see weight loss.

[GrannyJu1]

Thanks, Lynx. I've been thinking I should take them both to the vet, I just haven't got the guts. Three of the last 4 visits have ended in almost immediate death. I know I can't blame myself or the vet, but they're going to start cringing when I make appointments and again when they see me walk through the door and recognize me. I know for one, Fuzz has gone through losses right along beside me.

I just need to stop making excuses and take them in, right? ;o)

[daisymay]

I would get a dental X-ray just to make sure her teeth are fine. Hoping she starts to improve soon and little Peekaboo too!

[GrannyJu1]

Fuzz is still having the digestive issues. Since she lost first Scatter, then VeBee, she's lost a lot of weight. I know she's probably NOT still depressed (it's been a couple of months),but she's definitely quieter than she was with Scatter. Dr. K has put her on Buprenorphine twice a day - 0.15 mgs each dose. This has perked her up a bit so she now wheeks for food and/or attention.

However, the digestive problems still persist inspite of her diet. I've tried her with only lettuce; lettuce with various other veggies. She still produces well formed poops, but they are super moist, to the point of staining all the pads. I've had to resort to using a prewash stain remover in order to get them clean. Until a few weeks ago I never had to. This is what I find every morning:

Fuzz's stains #2 Dec 2017

Fuzz's stains #1 Dec 2017

Anyone have any suggestions? Should I take her completely off veggies? Pellets and hay have stayed the same brand - KMS.

[Lynx]

Are things really smelly? Any chance these are cecal feces (smelly and a slightly different consistency) that she is not eating or is having trouble eating? I think urine could soften up the poops too and they might be more likely to slightly dissolve. How about some extra B vitamins?

[bpatters]

How old is she? Older pigs can have trouble bending to get the cecal poops.

[GrannyJu1]

Fuzz just turned 4 on Dec. 3.

Urine was my thought too, but if that's the case, she's urinating every time she poops, so I don't think that's it. SHE can be a little smelly sometimes, but not often, and the poops don't seem particularly smelly either. These poops are soft enough that they both track them around, and some times when I scoop a fresh one, it sticks to the scooper or smears the fleece. They aren't different colored so I don't think they are cecal.

Thank you both for your help.

[GrannyJu1]

We took Fuzz to the vet yesterday to confirm my suspicion of her having the fungal infection the other 2 have. Confirmed. So she will also receive Gentizol on the couple of spots she has. She was also treated with Revolution.

On to food. I fed them only lettuce for a week and her poops seems to firm up. I added bell pepper and for one night she was fine. The next night (after also receiving bell pepper), she was back to soft, mushy, smelly poops. They are so moist she is staining her pads badly, causing me to use prewash spray in order to keep them clean.

In order to keep her feet clean I have to give her foot soaks almost every day.

Suggestions? Can she live a healthy diet with only lettuce? She gets a Vit C tab daily. I've tried the digestive tablets, and while she likes them, they don't seem to make a difference in her "output". She also gets unlimited KMS timothy hay and KMS pellets (not unlimited, but she/they don't eat all that I put out, so it might as well be unlimited pellets, and no, I don't put out more than the recommended).

[bpatters]

How much vitamin C is she getting? It can cause loose poop problems all by itself.

[GrannyJu1]

Hmm, yes that could be a problem. She cleans up the left over pellets from the babies. I'll keep a closer watch from now on, and pull out what they don't eat ASAP.