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Post by bazookagoof on Nov 6, 2015 3:16:52 GMT
Give the Bene-bac as long as he's taking the antibiotic. If he's eating the pellets, he probably doesn't need the Critical Care. Taking the Critical Care off the veggies may entice him to eat more veggies, but you really want him eating 80% hay and 20% pellets. The veggies are just a way to get him liquid if he can't move much, or get the Bene-bac and Critical Care into him. I'm glad he's doing better, but the falling over still concerns me. I had to chuckle over the 3 a.m. WHEEK!, lol Today wasn't any different- he ignores his lettuce/cucumbers, nibbles disconsolately at his carrot, but still eats tomatoes. No hay, but drinks more water. He only fell once, and that was because I was moving his cage for a cleaning. I stopped all extra supplements (we ran out of medicine anyway) just to see if he'd get back to normal. Actually, I'm still sprinkling a few drops of Vitamin C on the lettuce leaves for both piggies, (Oscar doesn't mind) so I'm hoping he'll eat them again. His good eye was giving me that suspicious look again! Let's see if he keeps up his middle-of-the-night wheek routine tonight.
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Post by jolovespiggies on Nov 6, 2015 20:09:35 GMT
It sounds as if he is getting there slowly love, everything crossed. Yes please let us know if there is a repeat of the alarm call.
Hugs JO xx
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Post by 3piggles on Nov 6, 2015 21:12:22 GMT
I'll continue to keep all digits crossed for him to make a full recovery
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Post by bazookagoof on Nov 10, 2015 3:47:05 GMT
Just a little update- although Deo is slowly improving, he's lost a little weight, so the vet has him back on Baytril, and somehow I have to get him to take his Vitamin C. He's ignoring all vegetables (except when he was at the vet's- then he put on a show of being robust and chowed down on all the lettuce in the little carrier I brought him in!) but I think he's slowly starting to eat small amounts of hay again. He also doesn't whine when he's picked up, so the pain must be gone for the most part. The vet suggested to put him in the carrier for feeding time, or at least try to put him elsewhere for eating- perhaps Deo's a little ill at ease where he is when it's feeding time. We'll try to work out a pattern of some sort. He also is going to go back to baby food just to put on some weight. Oscar, of course, is his usual bouncy self.
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Post by 3piggles on Nov 10, 2015 19:17:23 GMT
I'm glad he's improving, even if slowly, and I agree with the vet. Put him in the carrier, take him away from his normal place, and give him at least the amount of time he would have in the carrier going to the vet. There may be something in that cage that's bothering him. What is the bedding like in the cage versus in the carrier? Is he alone in the carrier, or does Oscar go with him? If he's alone, it might be worth removing Oscar from the cage for a little while, and feeding Deo in the cage. That will tell you if it's the cage/carrier, or Oscars presence that's bothering him.
I'm glad he's back on the meds, as it doesn't sound as if he's eating enough to keep his immune system healthy, and to fight off infections or illnesses. As usual, best of luck!
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Post by jolovespiggies on Nov 10, 2015 20:11:19 GMT
I to am so glad he is getting better Bazookagoof love even if it is a slow process. It sounds as if he is in the best hands and I am sure he will be fine. The other little chap sounds as right as rain I am pleased to hear. Lots of loving vibes on their way.
Hugs JO xx
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Post by bazookagoof on Nov 12, 2015 3:23:55 GMT
This is probably getting tiresome, so I'll leave one last update for now: Deo was eating hay, now he's stopped again. He has no interest in his veggies; he'll prod them with his nose and then amble off.
He is still eating pellets and drinking water. He's even taken to going into his pigloo again.
Isolating him doesn't seem to work. He's always in a cage of his own away from Oscar, but putting him elsewhere has little effect. In any case, he's the dominant pig between the two.
I might stop into Petco and see if there's some other pellets or food of some kind I can get for him. He simply won't eat any more fresh vegetables, which makes it difficult to give him Vitamin C. (I could sprinkle it on his hay, but he's not really eating that either!)
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Post by Bean on Nov 12, 2015 9:08:29 GMT
It's not getting tiresome at all so please do keep us updated - we feel your frustration at the lack of progress, but are very much with you in willing the little chap back to full health. It's good he's eating pellets - lots of energy and nutrients there. And also good news that he seems to be more comfortable when you get him out. It's just not sounding like anything I've heard of before so I can't really think of any other things that you're doing. If you haven't already, I think posting about Deo's situation over at Guinea Lynx might be helpful - they have a lot of members who are very knowledgeable/ experienced on a wide range of (often obscure) health issues in guinea pigs, so someone there may be able to shine some light on the situation or give you some new ideas to try.
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Post by 3piggles on Nov 12, 2015 15:19:51 GMT
The updates are definitely not getting old, nor is our concern for Deo. The two best foods(nutrition and fiber) are Oxbow Cavy Cuisine and KMSHayloft.com guinea pig pellets. Deo will get the most nutrition and fiber for what he eats. While he really needs the hay, he doesn't need the veggies. Perhaps just sprinkling the Critical Care on the pellets, and see if he'll eat some that way. Same with the Bene-bac. It's supposed to go on the veggies, but if he won't eat the veggies, give it to him any way you can.
How are his poos. They really give the factual account of an animals health. The beans should be 1/4-1/3 inch long, firm but not hard, and a darkish brown. Too small means not enough food is passing through his system. Too soft(comes out squishy) means he's getting too much liquid. Dry and crumbly means not enough liquid, etc. Take poo samples to the vet when you take him in, especially if he tends to act really differently at the vets than he does at home.
I wish I had a guaranteed solution for you, but I don't. You've changed to a hard surface under foot in the cage, as he walked better at the vets on the table, than he did at him in the cage. You've giving him the meds, the probiotics, had his teeth checked so you know that's not why he's not eating. If he's getting the Bene-bac and still not eating, there's not much more you can do to settle his digestive system so he wants to eat again. That's why I suggest just putting some Bene-bac in the pellets, try it on a small batch so you don't waste too much if he won't eat it. He needs to get his system processing food again, and not wanting the veggies could mean they upset his innards.
Best of luck, and please don't hesitate to post. All digits crossed for Deo to get better.
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Post by jolovespiggies on Nov 12, 2015 18:45:29 GMT
You certainly aren't being tiresome honey, that is what we are here for that it is the purpose of this forum. We are your friends and want the little chap to get better as quickly as possible. Lots of loving vibes are on their way.
Hugs JO xx
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Post by bazookagoof on Nov 13, 2015 3:41:26 GMT
Thanks for the well-wishes, everyone. I'll keep at it. Deo is still taking his medicine, and I started to administer Vitamin C in a syringe, somewhat diluted with water. Tonight he did eat part of a tomato, so perhaps his taste for veggies comes and goes. I did sprinkle Vitamin C on his pellets, but he's leaving some of them uneaten, so I'm using the syringe. As far as his droppings go, a few weeks ago he was leaving huge mounds congealed together, but recently he's leaving small bean-shaped droppings. So, he's probably not getting enough food. But his disposition is getting better. He's moving around more, and he played tug-of-war with the tomato I gave him (I let him win eventually) and he's back to giving me the suspicious eye again. He fell over once when he miscalculated a lunge for his pellets I was pouring into his bowl, but he's okay- it's good to see more improvement. One tiny change in Oscar- His water consumption dropped drastically over the past year, but I just got him another water bottle and he drank half of it today. (I had three bottles I was rotating between the two piggies; Deo was the heavier drinker lately so he got his bottles changed more frequently, but I knew Oscar should have bottles rotated anyway even if he didn't drink much, so I bought the new bottle and installed it today!) I ran out of Bene-bac, but I can get some more tomorrow to sprinkle on his pellets. We'll see if that helps. (3Piggles, thanks again for the advice!)
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Post by 3piggles on Nov 13, 2015 14:09:24 GMT
The mounds of poos all stuck together is what I call poo masses, as the individual poos are obvious, but not individual. I've had that from sick pigs on meds, not from all sick pigs on meds, so no idea why some do it and don't. I can only figure it's the combination of amount of roughage versus amount of liquid. Whatever the cause, it's not how the poos should be, so the small but individual and shaped are a sign of improvement. Now to get the poos bigger I'm really glad he's making even small improvements. Hang in there
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Post by jolovespiggies on Nov 13, 2015 19:35:31 GMT
You are more than welcome love, I just wish we could do more.
Hugs JO xx
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Post by bazookagoof on Nov 15, 2015 18:19:51 GMT
Ladies-
It is with a heavy heart I have to post this: Deo passed away last night. I woke up and went to give them their morning snacks, when I found him lying on his side, already stiff. My daughter and I buried him in the backyard next to a little tree. His pain is all behind him now.
It's just a punch in the heart that he couldn't beat whatever was ailing him. You try to nurse a friend through their sickness, and it all ends up being for nothing. I think Oscar is a little freaked out- we cleaned his cage and afterwards he went inside his pigloo and hasn't come out to eat. He can see that Deo's cage is already gone.
I do want to thank everyone for their well-wishes; I do appreciate it.
I still have a few pictures I'd like to share (before his illness) but I'll post them later- I'm not doing too well at the moment.
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Post by jolovespiggies on Nov 15, 2015 20:46:30 GMT
I am so very sorry darling to hear this but as you say, he is pain free now and running with friends at Rainbow Bridge. It is so hard for we piggy parents to handle the death of a little one, we are still really upset about Mr Darcy so we know what you are going through. I am sending lots of loves and cuddles sweetie, in the hope that they help at least a little.
Hugs Jo xx
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Whimsy
Bronze Member
Posts: 400
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Post by Whimsy on Nov 16, 2015 2:27:42 GMT
I was just looking through your post and all the amazing pictures. I'm so sorry for your loss. You did everything you could for Deo.
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Post by bazookagoof on Nov 16, 2015 3:27:25 GMT
I was just looking through your post and all the amazing pictures. I'm so sorry for your loss. You did everything you could for Deo. Welcome back to the board- I'm just sorry you've come back when many of us are losing/have lost our little ones. Tends to cast a pallor over things. I'm glad you enjoyed the pics, though. I have a few more of the two of them scattered in these other threads: wheekers.proboards.com/thread/16967/guinea-pigs-getwheekers.proboards.com/thread/16969/cavy-observationsI will post a few more nice ones of Deo in his memory soon, just not yet... Jo, thanks again for your support.
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Post by Bean on Nov 16, 2015 9:45:18 GMT
Oh no, I'm really sorry to read this bazookagoof, what rubbish news. We all know how hard you've fought for Deo to get better and I'm sorry that it wasn't possible in the end. I always find the losses that I've fought hard to prevent harder initially than the ones that happen more naturally and peacefully.
Hope it's not too long before you can think of Deo and start remembering his glory days rather than the sadness of his illness. It's a hard switch to make though. Hope your daughter is okay too.
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Post by bongosfriend on Nov 16, 2015 15:59:30 GMT
I'm so sorry.
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Post by jolovespiggies on Nov 16, 2015 20:18:24 GMT
You are more than welcome Bazookagoof love, we all know what you are going through. Thanks you for sharing the pics, they are beautiful, two really adorable piggies.
Hugs JO xx
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