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Post by bazookagoof on Aug 5, 2023 0:28:42 GMT
I'm giving Stilgar his new meds, but he isn't as thrilled about the new stuff as he is about his painkillers, which he never has a problem with. We'll see what happens as the days progress.
As of this writing, he's chewing on the wicker ball that's been hanging in his cage for ages. That's good, I like to see him keeping himself amused with the toys I give him.
Zeke is back to his usual amount of water consumption- that is, not much at all. I guess it's just an occasional random thing.
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Post by Bean on Aug 6, 2023 7:17:29 GMT
Aside from Bertie, the pigs of mine that have had Rimadyl (anti-inflammatory pain killer) have all come and taken it willingly - quite the opposite with anitibiotics. I hope that they're doing their thing anyway, and it's good to hear Stilgar's still taking an interest in what's going on around him. Good news about Zeke too.
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Post by 3piggles on Aug 6, 2023 13:38:34 GMT
I not only haven't had trouble getting pigs to take the painkillers, the other pigs try to get in on it None of them want to take the antibiotics, especially Baytril. I also really don't like Baytril because it is SO strong. Too many pet deaths related to Baytril. Bactrim isn't as much of a problem getting the pigs to take it willingly. That's great news, and if he doesn't drink that much, he must be getting the liquid he needs from his veggies.
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Post by bazookagoof on Aug 10, 2023 11:48:55 GMT
I bought a bag of millet for the guys so they could try something new- it looks like a waste of money. They both recoiled from my offerings!
It seems Zeke is picky about treats that come from a bag. Stilgar eats everything, but Zeke gives everything an experimental sniff and refuses everything except these Vitamin C crackers I give them lately.
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Post by bazookagoof on Aug 10, 2023 21:03:35 GMT
Update on Stilgar- I took him to the vet, and they strongly recommended surgery for what turned out to be an abscess. (That swelling in his nose.) I had to leave him there, as I don't have time to bring him back in the morning. They said they would not charge me for keeping him overnight, as he's not being hospitalized, only boarded. A boarding charge would only be about $55, but as this is going to cost me about $850, I'll save every dollar I can.
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Post by 3piggles on Aug 11, 2023 22:33:52 GMT
All digits crossed for Stilgar <3 Vet bills are crippling, and there's no way around them. If you really trust this doctor to do the right thing, it's worth it. I've spent as much just to have my pigs die because the doctor didn't really know guinea pigs very well Perhaps take the treats out of the bag and air them for a while before serving them. If you haven't tossed the millet, yet, give that a try. The treats can take on a 'bagged' smell Zeke may not like. Airing might get rid of the smell.
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Post by bazookagoof on Aug 12, 2023 0:01:49 GMT
I already tossed the millet, unfortunately. Or rather, it all went into the composter. So it didn't go to total waste. The vet I go to is the only one in the area now. My previous vet left the practice last year since business for cavys had gone down. There is another veterinary facility in the area, but I took Murphy there once and the issue is that no appointments can be made; you simply have to show up and wait. Murphy had to wait about three hours by himself when my wife dropped him off. I'm not comfortable with such an arrangement. I haven't checked there in years, but it's possible things have changed. Stilgar has regular treatments now, so no reason to change that. Anyway, he's back and they said everything went well. He has more meds, and right now is rather quiescent, given his experience today. He's sitting by his water bottle and has hay within reach if he needs it. I will give him more meds tomorrow morning. One of the nurses called him "Stiggler" again.
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Post by Bean on Aug 12, 2023 8:13:00 GMT
Maybe it'll catch on, I'm sure he won't mind an extra nickname!
I'm sorry to hear it turned out to be an abscess, but glad the surgery went well. Where was the abscess? I was wondering it it was related to his teeth issues. Hope he bounces back from it all soon, and that his appetite picks up.
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Post by 3piggles on Aug 12, 2023 18:00:33 GMT
I hope "Stiggler" is a-ok after his visit <3
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Post by bazookagoof on Aug 12, 2023 21:50:15 GMT
I'm sorry to hear it turned out to be an abscess, but glad the surgery went well. Where was the abscess? I was wondering it it was related to his teeth issues. Hope he bounces back from it all soon, and that his appetite picks up. It was in his nose- I'd noticed a swelling a week ago, or so, and mentioned it during his previous visit. They gave him antibiotics, but they didn't seem to help much. Today he's not eating his carrots, but that's normal for a few days, since he's had teeth trimmed down. He IS eating his hay, and of course the pellets. He also does want his lettuce, and he will gnaw at the bars for a snack like a cracker. They shaved away the fur on his face for the surgery, so he looks a bit odd. If I post any pics in the next few weeks, they'll be slightly older ones.
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Post by Bean on Aug 13, 2023 7:39:13 GMT
That's good he's eating his hay, and that they did the dental work at the same time. Hopefully he'll be on the up very soon.
I've got some photos of older pigs who had surgery around their face and they do look very odd after, but I've always been surprised at how quickly they get back to normal. On one pig, the lump had been so large, her eye was pulled down a bit to join the skin together after surgery which made her look very different, but even that righted itself.
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Post by 3piggles on Aug 13, 2023 22:48:31 GMT
Eating normally after surgery or teeth filing just takes time, as long as he's eating enough to keep the food moving out the other end, he'll get there <3 No making fun of him for his shaved nose
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Post by bazookagoof on Aug 19, 2023 0:00:46 GMT
Stilgar isn't eating his veggies. He eats his hay and pellets, but hasn't eaten lettuce or carrots in a week. I took him to the vet for a checkup and mentioned it and they said he's fine.
He also sometimes doesn't eat the little crackers I give him. I have another checkup scheduled on Thursday.
I'm worried, but he's at least eating the essentials. The snacks are always just icing on the cake. He does take a bite when I offer them, but seems to change his mind after a halfhearted chew.
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Post by 3piggles on Aug 19, 2023 19:56:42 GMT
Don't worry. Sometimes they go off the treats. Sometimes we have to give them different treats to find out what they like, now. As long as he's eating the pellets and hay, he's getting the staple diet he needs. The other things would obviously round out that diet, but he's not going to die without them.
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Post by bazookagoof on Aug 20, 2023 0:10:44 GMT
Today he ate his lettuce- he may have eaten his carrot, too- but I'm not positive. I gave him more lettuce later, but he didn't eat much. I was worried earlier as he spent most of the day in one spot, sleeping. But as of now he's been all over his cage and gently gnawing the bars for something to eat.
I gave him a little donut (not a donut, but looks like one) and he's eating that.
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Post by Bean on Aug 21, 2023 8:20:24 GMT
I'm sorry Stilgar's not quite back to his usual self yet. Even though recovery can take a bit of time, of course we want to see them getting back to their usual ways and looking totally happy and healthy. It's good that he's eating his hay and that the vet's happy with him - fingers crossed for the check up on Thursday.
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Post by 3piggles on Aug 21, 2023 19:40:40 GMT
Sounds as if he's feeling better. Going to the vet, even without having any procedures, takes a lot out of them. They have to retreat and regroup I hope he keeps getting better and better <3
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Post by bazookagoof on Aug 21, 2023 23:23:34 GMT
I did realize that they increased the dosage for the painkiller, which meant I haven't been giving him quite enough lately. I could kick myself for not checking the bottle, but I didn't see anything on the vet's instructions. Anyway, he's still not eating his carrots but is eating his lettuce.
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Post by Bean on Aug 22, 2023 7:09:16 GMT
You've have a lot to do to look after him and administer meds, I'm not surprised you missed the dose change if you were told it explicitly. I hope you can see it helping to keep him comfortable.
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Post by 3piggles on Aug 23, 2023 19:40:21 GMT
I've misread the dose and under-administered the meds. It's part of being human. We're trying to hard to fit all the needs of a sick pig into our regular daily lives, worrying about them and probably not sleeping as well as we could. We miss things. You found the error and are giving the right amount. That's what matters
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