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Post by skipperdoo on Nov 19, 2004 2:20:12 GMT
This is from Max's website: imageevent.com/bizylizy/miscellaneous/puamites ... anyone got any ideas? UPDATE: 7-17-04 An update on Max ... his hair is growing in and he looks so much better now. There is still flakey skin so he still will need a couple more Ivermectin treatments and baths. One thing that was noted during his last photo shoot is that he had a weird way of breathing. I took him ot the vet and he was put on oxygen and then they referred me to the ER vet for overnight oxygen and x-rays. When he was at the ER vet, they said that the oxygen seemed to make him worse so they sent him home. He's currently being treated twice a day with antibiotics and will go back to the vet for oxygen and an x-ray if his breathing worsens. He has no other symptoms such as discharge from his eyes or nose and no sneezing. He was housed on kiln-dried-pine shavings for a week since I had run out of Carefresh. At the moment he seems to be improving (the first vet wasn't sure if he would survive without being on oxygen all night). UPDATE: 7-18-04 Max's x-rays today showed that he has fluid in his lungs and chest area. He was given and injection of furosemide/lasix and sent home with the same ... to be given twice a day. UPDATE: 7-30-04 Max is no longer on the lasix but will continue his antibiotics for two weeks and then have another x-ray taken to see if his lungs are clear. [His next x-ray showed one clear lung and his meds were stopped and he is to be monitored.] UPDATE: 10-31-04 Max started breathing with difficulty again so he was taken to the vet where another x-ray was taken. The diagnois was heart disease and his treatment will include lasix and a bronchodilator.
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Post by Bean on Nov 19, 2004 12:06:57 GMT
Ziggy had a few URIs throughout his life, but he always seemed fit and healthy in between. His final URI (which he didn't make it through) came on so suddenly and was much worse than any of the others he'd had. His breathing was so restricted (he had fluid on his lungs) and he barely had the strength to move. We got him treatment right away, but he was too far gone and barely made it 24 hours from first showing symptoms.
The vet looked at him afterwards and said he'd had a weak heart (most likely from birth and probably a result of inbreeding) which had most likely made him prone to his URIs through his life.
The only thing I can suggest with Max is perhaps trying him on a heart med like Enacard (along with his current treatment if the meds are compatible). If the heart isn't working properly, then it doesn't clear fluid properly from the organs and body, so it might help his body get rif of the fluid from his lungs and chest.
Hope the little chap is okay.
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Post by skipperdoo on Nov 19, 2004 15:03:48 GMT
The lasix is supposedly removing the fluid (and did previously) but I need to check about using enapril.
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Post by Clover on Nov 20, 2004 12:15:53 GMT
Aww all the very best for little Max, I really hope he improves.
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Post by skipperdoo on Nov 20, 2004 21:47:08 GMT
He gets a bit nervous when I discuss the QOL (quality of life) issues with his vets. He perked up a bit but needs a bath (for his skin/former-mite issue) but I'm afraid to give him one in case he gets worse.
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Post by Clover on Nov 21, 2004 8:17:37 GMT
Thats whats so hard isn't it, worrying about their quality of life, as we don't like our pets to suffer. Aww I really hope he improves bless him.
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Post by skipperdoo on Nov 21, 2004 22:01:37 GMT
He's perked up a bit I think, however, I just looked at him and he's bobbing/surges forward slightly when he breathes but he's Perky at the moment and is fluffy because and is solid since he's full of fluid.
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Post by Clover on Nov 22, 2004 6:21:05 GMT
Aww its such a worry My passed piggy Molly had breathing problems, steroids helped her quite alot but I know Max's condition is different.
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Post by skipperdoo on Nov 22, 2004 9:59:05 GMT
He's not doing so swell at the moment ... he's making nosies and is all stretched out. I am on vacation this week and have a check-up for my two older cats tomorrow at 9am. I'll stop by my the exotic's vet later and see if I can have Max put down since the meds aren't helping him and I don't like to see him suffer. She may not do it though since she hasn't been treating him.
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Post by Bean on Nov 22, 2004 17:32:52 GMT
I'm sorry you're having to consider that, but quality of life is so important isn't it. If you've done all you can to help but he's still not picking up then it's the kind and decent thing to do.
I'll keep my fingers crossed he does improve, but if he doesn't then I hope the vet respects your view on what's best for him. I'm thinking of you and little Max.
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Post by skipperdoo on Nov 22, 2004 20:08:19 GMT
We'll see .. I was holding him for a bit and he kept putting his head down to rest but then he kept moving since he was uncomfortable. The last couple of weeks he's been biting at the ceramic food dish ... biting as though he were in pain. To be continued ....
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Post by Clover on Nov 23, 2004 9:59:14 GMT
Aww that is a sign of being in pain isn't it, I'm really keeping my fingers crossed for little Max.
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Post by skipperdoo on Nov 23, 2004 16:18:05 GMT
Yes, it seems that it is a sign of pain. He's back here again and I found out that the disgnosis (by three vets) and treatment (for heart disease) was totally wrong. His chest filled up again because he has pneumonia and they stopped the first meds too soon (he's had four different x-rays so far). Another antibiotic is being used now and I was sent home with Critical Care. If he makes it, he is to have the Baytril for at least two months.
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Post by Bean on Nov 23, 2004 17:15:36 GMT
Blimey, it all sounds rather stressful. It must be really confusing (and hard to accept) that a wrong diagnosis has been given.
I hope his new meds bring rapid improvements.
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Post by skipperdoo on Nov 23, 2004 21:29:43 GMT
Rather interesting to say the least and I'm not saying much about it at the moment since the focus needs to be on his recovery.
However, I will say I can't believe that they had a radiologist come in and read the x-rays and then never get back to me with the results and/or to change the treatment.
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Post by Clover on Nov 24, 2004 7:33:22 GMT
I really hope the long course of antibiotics will help him recover Kathy. Is he eating ok ?
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Post by skipperdoo on Nov 24, 2004 14:37:03 GMT
He's sort of eating. He eats a bit of hay and carrot. I have some Critical Care that I'll try today. I'm also started giving him some of GNC's liquid Vitamin C last night but I don't want to give him too much or he'll end up with puesdo (spelling?) scurvy. Someone on CG suggested giving liquid pediatric Sudafed since it helped with a couple of pigs. I'm going out to get soem of that now. Also, I don't usually give a probiotic (two hours after the antibiotic) with antibiotics but I started him on it since he'll have a long run of antibiotics.
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Post by Bean on Nov 25, 2004 12:13:39 GMT
Hope the Sudafed made his beathing a little easier. Good plan with the probiotics. Whenever one of mine's on antibiotics I make up a mixture with probiotics, vitamin C, brewers yeast and a couple of drops of garlic juice (from Galen's Garden and made for guinea pigs and rabbits) and give that a couple of hours after the antibiotics. It's just a general tonic and they absolutely love it, and run over to take the syringe! I end up having to give it to everyone or squabbles erupt!
Hope you're getting along okay with Max, and that he's moving in the right direction.
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Post by skipperdoo on Nov 25, 2004 16:39:39 GMT
I'm also giving some liquid Vitamin C a couple hours after the antibiotics. Not sure how much to give for the Sudafed so haven't given any yet since I don't want to kill him. Hes drinking water now and moving around a bit so hopefully these meds will help.
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Post by Clover on Nov 28, 2004 9:49:37 GMT
Hows he doing Kathy, I hope the little fella is improving.
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