Steve's teeth?

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Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Thu Jan 19, 2006 10:33 pm


Arthritis? Bone loss?

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RavenShade
Thanks for the Memories

Post   » Thu Jan 19, 2006 10:36 pm


He's shiney, but not a satin. We had a satin when I was a kid and her hair was almost luminecent.

I will ask about the xray and arthritis.

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RavenShade
Thanks for the Memories

Post   » Wed Jan 25, 2006 3:24 pm


This should really be "Steve's Teeth and other woes".

Anyway, our current most pressing problem is his kidney function.

I said:

I'm playing phone tag with the vet about Steve's urinalysis. He thinks Steve's kidneys are failing. What should I ask about?

snowflakey

Oh no! Here is my Snowflake's thread when he was feeling poorly, and I believe there are some comments there, and perhaps some links to other threads.

The things that come to mind are subq's, pepcid/tagamet, beets and something else that pinta mentions.

I am so sorry.

My reply:

You're making me very nervous.

He's eating well when I seperate him, and I gave him some extra water (and a little OJ, his fav treat) to try to help things along because, frankly, I needed to get back to work and he has the bladder of a camel or something.

Would this affect the results?

snowflakey

I don't know. Somewhere I read a long thread about urine specific gravity and came away not really feeling like I understood it. What exactly makes the vet feel it is kidneys? Blood work? Urinalysis?

brandilynn

Polycitra?

My answer to Snowflakey:

Both. Steve gets his blood checked before sedation for his tooth trims and that's when the vet first said, "Hmmmm." Since vet had given him a sub-q, he asked me to get a sample a few days later, which I did. The results of which I'm waiting to hear, because the voice mail just said he was concerned.

I'll have to look up Polycitra. Doesn't ring a bell.

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snowflakey
E's Moriarity

Post   » Wed Jan 25, 2006 4:48 pm


Polycitra I think is for stones/sludge.

I think pinta maintains kidney pigs with frequent subq's (sort of like dialysis?) and some meds to help boost appetite and balance enzymes or something like that.

I don't know what ails my Snowflake, but the motility drugs seem to do the trick.

Brandilynn
Who's your Branni?

Post   » Wed Jan 25, 2006 4:53 pm


Hmmm.. you might be right - there is some kind of gel stuff.. I do not remember the name of it, OH Alternagel - aluminum hydroxide is what I was misremembering.

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RavenShade
Thanks for the Memories

Post   » Wed Jan 25, 2006 5:06 pm


I was reading up on home sub-qs. I'll ask him about that.

I have to run and play taxi. Vet hasn't called yet. If I don't hear from him at home, I'll try again tomorrow.

Steve's sample was very pale. I wonder if this is significant.

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melcvt00

Post   » Wed Jan 25, 2006 6:45 pm


Pale urine usually means its not concentrated, which CAN mean that the kidneys are having trouble.

One of my pigs drinks a ton of water. Always has. Her urine looks pretty pale because of it. Keep water from her for a couple hours, and the concentration goes up, meaning her kidneys are working.

I would consider keeping water from Steve for a couple hours before an appointment, then have the specific gravity (concentration) checked. If it goes up from what you took in the last time, then his kidneys are working. If it doesn't go up, then his kidneys could be starting to fail.

Bloodwork would be the next thing to do. A BUN/Creatinine would check those two kidney enzymes. A phosphorus level needs checked, too, because animals in kidney failure can't get rid of the phosphorus like they're supposed to. Brandilynn is right - aluminum hydroxide would need to be given for an elevated phosphorus. It's actually available OTC as an antacid liquid.

Depending on the bloodwork, SQ fluids would be a good idea. So would checking for a bladder infection fairly often, since kidney animals are more prone to them.

pinta

Post   » Wed Jan 25, 2006 8:27 pm


Beets are good(unlimited) - greens and root, raw, pureed so they can be syringed. Daily subcues. Do search on Dominic to get the brand name of the gel stuff - can't find my bottle at the moment.

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RavenShade
Thanks for the Memories

Post   » Wed Jan 25, 2006 8:58 pm


He had bloodwork recently. His creatinine level was what made the vet suspicious initially. I will ask about the other results.

How does one know a ripe beet? I never eat them.

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snowflakey
E's Moriarity

Post   » Wed Jan 25, 2006 9:25 pm


Beets are like carrots. They just are. Be aware that you'll get darker pee and poop from the beets, but pigs love them.

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RavenShade
Thanks for the Memories

Post   » Thu Jan 26, 2006 5:02 pm


I go to the vet tomorrow to learn to sub-q. Steve's blood will be rechecked in a few weeks. BUN was also reported as "a little high". It was suggested that I watch his calcium intake.

Vet seems pessimistic.

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RavenShade
Thanks for the Memories

Post   » Fri Jan 27, 2006 7:53 pm


They taught me how to do them tonight, with the butterfly needles and all that.

Steve shrieked and shrieked and twitched and jumped. It was horrible. Is it supposed to be like that? Is there a trick to making it better for him?

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