Whimsy
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Post by Whimsy on Dec 3, 2016 16:29:02 GMT
I'm actually worried about taking him to the vet, because I'm afraid she might say I should put him to sleep :-( I know I have to trust the expert, but it's a hard thing to hear, so that's why I'm hesitant. He's down to 710 grams this morning, so no matter how much he eats, he keeps losing weight. I might give the vet a call. She is usually super busy, so it's hard to get an appointment, but we will see. I'm trying to figure out in my own head if he has a good life. I mean, a huge lump on your neck, constantly hungry, skin and bones. I don't know, which is probably why that phone call is so hard to make. :-(
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Whimsy
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Posts: 400
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Post by Whimsy on Dec 1, 2016 14:44:08 GMT
Yes, I can see that it happens when holding them. Melvin does that too. But like right now, he was sitting with me, started teeth chattering, so I put him down and then he just stands there and bites my sleeve. Sometimes I'm really confused by his language..haha. Anyway, he has started the teeth chattering when he is in his snuggle bag on the couch, so he can just go pee if he wants to. Maybe it is because he's uncomfortable. I mean, it can't feel great to have a huge lump on your neck.
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Whimsy
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Posts: 400
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Post by Whimsy on Nov 29, 2016 23:44:11 GMT
Update on Melvin. He has lost more weight and is down to about 730g now. He was even lighter one day. He still eats and his behavior is pretty much the same as last time I posted. He sleeps quite a lot and often it's a heavy kind of sleep. He has had some really soft poo too, but that's not really anything new. The only new thing I have noticed is his teeth chattering. He does it a lot now - quite often when he is in his snuggle bag, so it's not like he's annoyied with me holding him or something. I thought I read somewhere that it can mean he is in pain, but I don't know if that's true.
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Whimsy
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Posts: 400
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Post by Whimsy on Nov 5, 2016 18:53:14 GMT
Great pictures and cute little guys ❤️
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Whimsy
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Posts: 400
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Post by Whimsy on Oct 19, 2016 23:22:19 GMT
Melvin is still eating fairly well, but he sleeps almost all the time now. I'm worried about him. I've been feeding him some oats with his CC and he eats it out of a bowl, so that's good. His weight still fluctuates, but he has gained a few grams again. The sleeping though....is that a sign of something?
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Whimsy
Bronze Member
Posts: 400
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Post by Whimsy on Oct 18, 2016 23:55:07 GMT
I hope your little hammy is doing ok. Even though this isn't a hamster forum, I would love to know how she's doing.
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Whimsy
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Posts: 400
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Post by Whimsy on Oct 18, 2016 4:04:01 GMT
I have bought Kaytee all the time I've had my piggies. I'm in Canada too btw. You really have to look at the hay when you buy it, because the quality is not always the same from bag to bag. Sometimes it seems like a lot of small pieces, sometimes it's not that green etc. it's a little cheaper than Oxbow.
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Whimsy
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Posts: 400
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Post by Whimsy on Oct 18, 2016 3:59:49 GMT
Wow, that's like a piggie mansion. I can't wait to see yours when you're done. Sorry, I can't help you with the wood selection, because I really don't know anything about it.
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Whimsy
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Posts: 400
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Post by Whimsy on Oct 18, 2016 3:55:34 GMT
Such cute piggies. It looks like they got a great home with you :-)
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Whimsy
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Posts: 400
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Post by Whimsy on Oct 12, 2016 21:33:41 GMT
I appreciate it. I don't think Melvin is in pain, so I'll keep feeding him and loving him and just see how it goes. It might sound crazy, but I often tell him to let me know if he is suffering and I hope that I will understand his message when and if it comes. I'll keep you posted on what happens :-)
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Whimsy
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Posts: 400
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Post by Whimsy on Oct 12, 2016 13:34:57 GMT
I think the way he acts is the same as it's been for a long time. He doesn't seem any different, so that's good, but this morning he was 755g!! That's very very skinny :-( The lump is really big again and I'm wondering if it will burst again soon. It doesn't seem to be bothering him as in it's in the way of him moving and stuff, but obviously something is going on in his body - whether it's the lump or something else or a combination, who knows. I want so badly to help him, but I don't know what to do. I left a bowl with a little bit of oats and CC overnight and he ate it. At this point, I'm just happy that he's still eating, but I will say that I'm very worried and really afraid that I won't have him much longer. The question is, if I'm the one having to make the dreadful decision or he will pass away here or get so bad that I have no choice. It breaks my heart.
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Whimsy
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Posts: 400
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Post by Whimsy on Oct 12, 2016 0:05:08 GMT
He's not loving the oats, but he does eat a little bit if I mix it with critical care and baby food. When is skinny too skinny? I mean, most people say if an animal is still eating it's doing ok, but I wonder if that's true. He keeps losing weight and at some point doesn't it start to do damage to his organs etc. if he is that skinny? I'm just kind of trying to prepare myself, because it's not good if it continues like this.
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Whimsy
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Posts: 400
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Post by Whimsy on Oct 10, 2016 15:35:59 GMT
I have eased back on stuff like cucumbers, because of his poo, but he does get other veggies and lettuce. How do I feed him oats?
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Whimsy
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Posts: 400
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Post by Whimsy on Oct 10, 2016 4:28:47 GMT
I think it's be a few weeks since the cyst/lump burst for the second time and it's already as big as it was before. Last time it happened, the lump got really really small and after a few days of not feeling well, Melvin bounced back and actually perked up, gained weight etc. This time I'm really struggling with his weight. He eats and eats, but he is losing weight now. He was only 775 grams this morning (he was almost 1200 at his best??). He is so skinny, but as I've said before, he still eats, he is fairly active (maybe not like when he was younger or when I had Mila too). He has had some really soft poo this last week, but what can I do? I want him to eat, so I give him all the stuff he likes. He does eat hay and pellets too. I just thought I would give you an update. He looks pretty good, but when you touch him, you can really feel how skinny he is. I feel bad for him. Poor little guy :-( <3
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Whimsy
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Posts: 400
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Post by Whimsy on Sept 27, 2016 16:37:31 GMT
I took Melvin outside again yesterday since the weather was really nice. We had some rain a couple of days ago, so I figured it was safe. I found this tiny little stuffed animal at a garage sale on the weekend and it looks so much like Melvin (opposite colors), that I had to have it. Melvin was too busy eating grass, so didn't want to pose with his new friend :-)
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Whimsy
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Posts: 400
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Post by Whimsy on Sept 21, 2016 0:43:53 GMT
Thank you!! I was having a bad moment when I wrote it. I was looking at him all skinny in his little snuggle bag and I just thought he looked so weak. Later I checked on him in his cage and he was eating hay, so you're right, we have bad days and good days and I must trust that I will know if it's time to say goodbye to the little fella :-(
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Whimsy
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Posts: 400
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Post by Whimsy on Sept 20, 2016 21:10:29 GMT
Sometimes I look at him and I think he isn't doing well. I mean he doesn't look as good as he did back when he was healthy, because he is very skinny, he steps in his own poo and things like that. Other times I feel like he is doing ok. Sometimes I kind of wish he would just pass away in his sleep or something, because I'm so afraid of "keeping him alive" if he's not feeling well. It's so hard to know and I just want to do what's best for him. I feel like this whole thing is just going round and round in circles. I've been here before and was in doubt, now I'm back. Back then he perked up again, so maybe he will do the same this time. I know you've all given me advice before and I really appreciate it. I just feel so torn right now and so sad. I love that little guy and just want to do what is best for him. He still loves his food, so I will keep monitoring him and take it from there.
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Whimsy
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Posts: 400
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Post by Whimsy on Sept 20, 2016 0:13:30 GMT
I will see if I can find alfalfa pellets here and give it a try. Last time when the cyst burst it ended up being really small (smaller than a pea) once the liquids disappeared, but this time it's quite a bit bigger. I don't know what that means, but he doesn't seem to suffer as much afterwards as last time, so maybe that's a good sign. I agree, more vets specializing in guinea pigs would be nice. I'm happy with the vet I have, but she's very busy and it's hard to get an appointment. I do feel that there's some guessing going on, because I haven't really gotten any certain answers to what's happening with him, which is why I'm hesitant to take him back unless I think he is in pain.
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Whimsy
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Post by Whimsy on Sept 18, 2016 4:50:05 GMT
I read some of the guinea Lynx post, but they sound more like the abscess is on the skin and not completely underneath like Melvin's. I don't know how to explain it, but it's just kind of a round lump floating around under his skin. You can move it a little but, but as it gets bigger that's hard to do (not that you want to. I'm just trying to explain what it's like). There's nothing to heal or clean because it never actually breaks the skin.
Regarding the food, I can give it a try. He's not currently on any meds, so that can't be the cause of soft poo. Since he is so skinny, I have pretty much allowed him to eat whatever he wants and he loves cucumber, but maybe it's too much. It's just hard when you want him to eat and you want him to have all the stuff he likes, but maybe it's just too much watery stuff. He does eat fennel and different kinds of squash too + other veggies of course. I'll try the fennel in the morning maybe.
This whole thing is such a mystery. I wish I knew what it was, but maybe I'll talk to the vet about some pain meds. I don't know if he's in pain, but maybe I just don't understand the signs he's showing. Wouldn't it be nice to speak guinea? :-)
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Whimsy
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Posts: 400
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Post by Whimsy on Sept 16, 2016 21:50:01 GMT
I worry about it too. Where does all the fluid go inside his body? I've had his teeth checked every time he's been to the vet and they are fine. He eats fine too, but I give him CC because he is so skinny and has a really hard time gaining or sometimes even maintaining his weight. He eats his veggies and some hay and pellets, so I don't think the teeth are the problem. The breathing has been pretty good lately. I wonder if the cyst put some pressure on his wind pipe and that caused it. After it burst last time, it reappeared, but in a slightly different spot, so maybe that helped. I will see how he is when the fluids are completely gone again. Other than soft poos and the lump, he really seems pretty good. He has been like this for so long now though, that sometimes it's hard to remember exactly how he was before. I don't know if that makes sense. You just kind of get used to it.
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