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Post by 3piggles on Mar 30, 2015 15:18:37 GMT
I've spent my morning researching everything I could find about ruptured ovarian cysts, ovarian cysts, tumors, etc. I also looked at the pictures I took when my girls had round after round of UTIs. That blood had a dark center, thinning toward the edges, even when mixed with urine. This blood is pinkish and has no dark center. I scheduled the spay for Thursday, and have asked hubby to work from home both Thursday and Friday, as my back is not recovering as fast as I would like. I couldn't carry her in the carrier today, so don't want to risk not being able to do it Thursday.
I feel like crying, I'm so worried that I'll lose my otherwise healthy, happy guinea girl. It's just me being an overly protective piggy parent. I do this with all surgeries. The doctor, who has only done one spay, though successfully, said she is confident she can perform the surgery. Also, unlike the last surgeries, this animal hospital keeps the pigs until they are confident there are no possible problems. I lost my Momma, when the clinic insisted on sending her home with all the gear to give her the subQ fluids, despite me saying my hands wouldn't do it. Momma died, possibly because I couldn't give her the fluids. The surgical doctor is going to call me before the surgery, so I get to discuss any concerns with her. Now for the waiting!
UPDATE: The surgery vet called, and we had a really good talk. She went into all the possible problems and issues she could find when she does the surgery, and she was very knowledgeable. I think she's only done one spay, because there are very few piggies in New Hampshire, and most people have them put to sleep rather than spending hundreds on surgery. Hubby is working from home Thursday and Friday, so if my back isn't enough better, he can carry the carrier and get it buckled into the seatbelt. The vet said she would call when Momo was out of surgery, and let me know how the surgery went. Just a lot of waiting, until I get my little girl home.
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Post by Bean on Mar 31, 2015 8:34:49 GMT
It sounds like you and your vet have both done your research and know this is what needs to be done to help Momo, but I'm sorry you have all this worry ahead. Your vet sounds great and like she's taken the time to reassure you. Momo will be in great hands, but I know it's impossible to switch the worry button off. With Momo being otherwise healthy, she's in a much better position to cope with this surgery than if you waited until she got ill so that's a massive positive in your favour. And with the blood appearing as well as the other symptoms, waiting was no longer a good option.
I'm glad that they keep the piggies in until they are eating etc so you don't have to worry about history repeating itself. It's awful that they sent Momma home instructing you to give treatments you were up front about not being confident delivering. When we find great care, we wish we could go back in time and get it for our past pets too, to see if it would have changed things, but all we can do is learn from our experience and share it with others to save anyone else going through the same thing.
I will certainly keep everything crossed that I can humanly cross on Thursday. I'm so glad hub can work from home to support you with the logistics of getting her to the vet and back too. Just wish there was something we could do to make the day a little easier while you wait for news, but we'll be here if you need a shoulder to lean on.
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Post by 3piggles on Mar 31, 2015 18:15:46 GMT
You put it so well, Bean. I wish the pets I've lost to negligent vets could have a chance with a good vet. As much as I'd like to blame that same vet for the death of our dog, Sunshine, Sunshine was already way older than setter/retriever crosses were supposed to get, at 18 years old, so I think that was more about timing than negligence. But the same vet who sent Momma home, was the one who didn't tell me to bring Dakota back once the Baytril was done, for a follow up. Sadly, the vet there, Dr. Dutton, is considered to be the best exotics vet in the state. Yes, he got a lot of fame being the vet to the lioness and elephant that used to live in that town, and for treating tigers and other exotics in zoos, but he's cavalier about pets. Maybe not enough fame After talking with her, I feel this vet is competent. If I lose Momo, I'll know it wasn't from negligence. I'm keeping all of my crossable body parts crossed, too. Thanks For now, I'm just giving her a lot of attention, and extra parsley, which she's really enjoying
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Post by Bean on Apr 1, 2015 14:48:11 GMT
I'm sure she is, and that she'll make sure you keep up the same super high standard of service when she gets home after her op - possibly even getting some extra treats out of you! These pigs know how to work us!
It's sad when a vet you know isn't great seems to have the reputation as the best for certain kinds of animals. Attitude is such a massive part of it and just speaking to someone who you know is willing to take new ideas or different perspectives into consideration really makes you feel confident the best possible outcome for your situation will be reached. Your vet sounds great and I'm glad you get to go into this feeling your precious lady is in safe hands.
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Post by 3piggles on Apr 1, 2015 20:36:48 GMT
I agree. I don't mind a know it all vet who actually knows it all, and is dedicated to the animals. Sadly, that best exotics vet in the state doctor seems a bit cold with the animals. Maybe he would do better with a lion or tiger?
I bought some white fleece. It's in the wash now. Cut in half, it should give me plenty of coverage of her existing fleece, when she gets back from her op. It's new, so really soft, and being white, I can see if she has any bleeding. Been a while since I bought new fleece. There are some great, new patterns. My fleece is fine, but it's never very soft, anymore.
She goes in for surgery between 7:45 and 8:45 tomorrow morning. I'm packing her overnight bag with the moose from her cage, a hay cake and some pellets. She'll have her fleece in the carrier, and I'll give her one of the cuddle cups. She should be happy with that, as she usually sleeps out in the hay or on the fleece.
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Post by Bean on Apr 2, 2015 8:47:17 GMT
I know you're a few hours behind us, but I'm thinking of you here. Lots of luck to Momo for her operation today - I will be rooting for everything to go smoothly and look forward to an update telling me she's home safe and sound, resting after her surgery. I hope the waiting isn't too stressful for you today, and just lots and lots of good vibes coming Momo's way, I really hope it all goes well. xxx
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Post by 3piggles on Apr 2, 2015 16:23:43 GMT
Thank you, Bean She's in surgery. They will call when she's out, and let me know how it went. I'm to call around 4 p.m. to see if she can come home today, but the tech didn't think she would. They like to give the morning injection of antibiotic and pain med, before sending the pigs home to get oral meds. She has her cuddle cup, a hay cake, her bowl of pellets and her carrier with all her snuggly fleece inside. She got lots of snuggles from hubby and me, before she left with the tech, and got to spend her presurgery time in her carrier. I have her new, white hospital fleece all washed and ready to put in her cage, so I will do that after lunch. I'm just keeping busy, and keeping my mind off worrying. Hubby went with me. He was very impressed with the whole clinic, the tech and vet. He said he had a good feeling about them, which was reassuring. I will post an update, as soon as I have one UPDATE: Momo is out of surgery and recovering. The vet said she is an older pig, so all the vets who've seen her have said that. One ovary was the size of a marble, the other the size of a large marble. She had a number of large cysts, which the vet removed without breaking. She also had a uterin infection that showed signs of being chronic, and may have been why she couldn't get along with Mia. Too late to undo that, but I hope she has enough more time to enjoy being problem free for a while She's staying overnight at the vets, getting subQ fluids, antibiotics and staying on the warming pad, until her body temp is back to normal. I'm to call after 9:30 tomorrow morning, for a release time. I'll have her new, white fleece in her cage and ready for her
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Post by Bean on Apr 3, 2015 14:24:51 GMT
Great news that the surgery went well and it sounds like you all definitely made the right decision about the spay all those problems being found. Everything's still crossed here for momo, hope she had a good night and that you can get her home for some tlc very soon. X
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Post by 3piggles on Apr 3, 2015 17:09:55 GMT
She is eating the fruits and veggies I give her, but not moving too much, yet. Her poos look great, so I will let her eat what she wants until she's ready to have the hay and pellets. I've given her Belgian Endive and a piece of apple, so she's getting enough liquid. She's on Baytril for a week. Stitches are internal and will dissolve on their own, so she doesn't have to go back. She's only shaved in a small area of her tummy, unlike my Harlequin, whose whole rear end was shaved. The surgical procedure has definitely improved. The doctor listed her weight at 1 pound 9 ounced, and her age at 5 year 7 months. All three of the vets at the clinic said she was older than Mia and Morty. I'm very impressed with the doctors and with Momo, for getting her through all of this. My baby girl is home
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Post by 3piggles on Apr 3, 2015 18:09:21 GMT
She had come a little way out of her hidey box, but this is her first trip to the other end of her condo. It's 7.6 feet, so I know she's doing better
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Post by jolovespiggies on Apr 3, 2015 18:41:02 GMT
Oh bless you both, I am so glad that the surgery went well love and I am sending lots of loving healing vibes. Lots of love to you too hun, you have really been through it.
Hugs Jo xx
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Post by Bean on Apr 3, 2015 19:39:00 GMT
Excellent news - so glad momo is back with you and eating and pooping. All great signs. Sounds like the vets have done an excellent job and now she's with you, you know you can do the very best for her to help her recovery. I'm sure it will be a while before you breathe out but I'm so happy that everything's looking so positive. With momo moving around a bit more now, it's all looking promising and everything will remain crossed for that to continue. Thanks for the update, it's great to hear such a positive report. X
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Post by cookie72 on Apr 4, 2015 0:27:39 GMT
I'm really glad to hear the great news that the surgery went well and she's back home recovering. What a huge relief you must feel now. Glad you found a great piggy vet too...I know that was a big worry.
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Post by rocky on Apr 4, 2015 11:26:20 GMT
I'm glad to see things are looking up for Momo.
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Post by jolovespiggies on Apr 4, 2015 19:21:58 GMT
Top up vibes are on their way love.
Hugs Jo xx
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Post by 3piggles on Apr 4, 2015 20:54:04 GMT
I called the vet for some pain meds for her, and got those today. She's able to move, but she prefers to stay hunched in a corner or cuddle cup. I gave her one dose, and it seemed to help. I'll give her a taste tonight, before I put them to bed, then start tomorrow morning with the every 12 hours schedule. Hubby also bought some MIO fruit flavoring drops for water. www.makeitmio.com/I put some of the grape syrup in a small jar, and will add that to the Baytril in the syringe. I'm hoping it will help her take the Baytril, as she's really fighting it. I tasted the MIO on my finger, and it is POTENT!, so hopefully it will help. Since it's grape, if nothing else, I'll have a purple-faced guinea girl I've just been watching her closely, giving her a lot of parsley, and making sure she knows she's loved. UPDATE: I have a purple-faced pig She fought just to fight being forced to take the meds, but she settled down right away afterward, and had a big snuggle with me. No trying to get the taste of the Baytril out of her mouth, and no sulking and being all angry with me. I wish I could get this syrup in clear, but I'll have to wait until she's better, and wipe her chin and cheek The pain med made a big difference in her demeanor, I'm happy to say
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Post by Bean on Apr 6, 2015 10:07:06 GMT
Such great news that she is still eating and poooping and that the pain meds are making her move around more. It's such major surgery, it sounds like she's doing extremely well.
I had a right palaver coming on here while we were away to check how Momo was doing. Realised I didn't know my password for the forum. After a few failed attempts to guess it, I chose to reset it. Then realised my account uses a different email address to the one I thought and I also couldn't remember my password to that email address...! After a few failed attempts to guess that password, it locked me out from even guessing! By the time I'd got back in, the password resetting link had expired so I had to start over haha! Got here eventually though and was glad to hear how well Momo was doing. Quite weird viewing the forum on a little screen, but makes more sense of the mobile settings (you can select what it shows up) so might tighten that up at some point.
Anyway, really pleased to hear this positive news. Keep up the excellent work nursing Momo back to health!
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Post by jolovespiggies on Apr 6, 2015 18:48:53 GMT
It is great love to knowing she is getting better, I am sending lots of love. Passwords etc are the devil aren't they Bean hun, it sounds as if you had a right old todo?
Hugs Jo xx
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Post by 3piggles on Apr 6, 2015 19:44:47 GMT
She's playing with her plush moosey friend. She rarely bothers with him, but today, she was really playing with him a lot. I think she's feeling better. She fought the meds this morning, but every morning gets a bit easier. It should be really easy by the time I'm finished with the meds I haven't checked out her nipples, to see if they've gone back to normal, as I don't want to handled her any more than I have to, until she heals. She's been through a lot.
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Post by Bean on Apr 7, 2015 8:48:10 GMT
Aww I bet that was lovely to see - she's doing so well! Is the wound looking good? My vet had me check the boys' neuter wounds every day for any sign of swelling, redness, heat or pus so that any minor problem could be nipped in the bud. I wonder too, how wonder how long it will take her nipples to go back to normal with her hormones dropping off, but like you say, it's no a priority as that was just a sign of the real problems going on and those problems have been fixed. I bet you're so proud of Momo, she's done brilliantly!
Jo, I'm just a plonker! Should have thought of it before I left really, but at least it'll be easier next time!
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