Vet Talwar's Medical thread

[Guinea Pig Papa]

 

[4boipigs]

He is not eating at all today. He nibbled a treat overnight. He came out from hiding when I gave the other boys veggies and he started to look for the veggies. But I didn't give him any. He will not even fight me for his Sherwood Appetite Restore as he usually does. He still happily takes Benebac but that's it.

So, I started to feed him every few hours. Giving metoclopromide, simethicone.

He is bloated, but his tummy is not hard. I didn't feed him any veggies this time to cause it. He's never been totally off food like this.

He is not having noisy breathing this time around, altho he has been coughing immediately after using the nebulizer (not much - a few times).

I do not think the emergency vet would do anything for us, nor I do I feel like we really need to go. I have everything I need to handle stasis/bloatz. Obviously if he gets worse then I might go.

 

[4boipigs]

Er vet feels Talwar is critical so I will hospitalize him and hope insurance doesn’t deny us. If he doesn’t pull thru then we will be pts.

 

[Guinea Pig Papa]

Fingers crossed for little Talwar. All my positive energy is for him and hoping he gets a Christmas miracle.

 

[4boipigs]

While it is sad, I feel a great deal of relief leaving him there. I visited him before I left. He's still lively to an extent, but I was not comfortable with the bloat or how he was refusing everything but benebac. This ER does see exotics, and they had other critters there like a ferret and parrot. The price wasn't all that horrible, for an overnight stay...the oxygen was the expensive part!

 

[Guinea Pig Papa]

I'm just hoping he pulls through. That's what I'll ask for for Christmas.

 

[bpatters]

Fingers crossed that he'll pull through. That's a hard decision at any time, but worse on a holiday, I think.

 

[4boipigs]

Good news! They just woke me up after taking 4mg of melatonin. Eating and breathing is better. But lungs are a little worse (left is the bad side and now right side showing issues). They said he is eating and pooping well. They are worried about some abnormal structure in his chest seen on xrays.

 

[4boipigs]

So I won't get excited yet but here is what they told me last night.

The lungs are bad on the left - we know this. There is some opacity in the right lung, which honestly I don't recall if that resolved. I'd have to ask our vet. The ER does not have the previous rads to compare to.

They found something in his chest and they don't know what it is, and other vets weren't sure. A mass maybe? I will see if they review the rads with me when I pick him up.

Most amazingly, he improved dramatically. Eating on his own, pooping, alert. His breathing rate went from 160 (or was it 180) down to 80. Keep in mind he's on oxygen.

The doctor thinks he needed pain control. Which he was not on.

I feel like we're on borrowed time regardless.

If he does have a mass in his chest, that makes the final choice easier and obvious.

I don't recall if the doctor said he would not need to be hospitalized the whole time - I think I paid for 36 hours. This is not a pretty bill and I don't want to say the price online yet. I hope the insurance covers us!

Honestly, I haven't liked this hospital in the past (with Trishula and Walter) because the doctors we've run into were not exotics doctors or they had too many emergencies and couldn't see us (which is totally understandable, when it is 5am and the 2 doctors are in long surgeries with trauma patients). I was extremely skeptical, but we don't have anywhere else to go. Seeing them treating other critters yesterday and Talwar's improvement gives me hope.

 

[Guinea Pig Papa]

Happy to see a little good news this morning, hoping to see more. You're doing everything you can so far and I hope it bears out for you both.

 

[4boipigs]

I called for an update since they are hella busy due to the holiday. He is eating on his own and pooping. Breathing rate is high still of course. I really want to bring him home but that will be discussed with the dr. I rather follow up with our vet rather than transfer him to the costly vet next door.

 

[4boipigs]

The vet convinced me to leave him at the ER and transfer to the exotics specialist next door tomorrow. He is doing well in regards to eating normal and pooping. We will see what the specialist thinks…if more can be done for his lungs & what is REALLY happening, or if I should enjoy what time we have.

 

[Guinea Pig Papa]

He's in good hands, both in yours and the vet.

 

[4boipigs]

He is at the exotics vet now it seems like there is a neoplasia or abscess concern. I have come to terms with euthanasia but dr feels exploring this issue may give him a chance. Not a LONG chance…I know I would feel relief if he passed…it is sad he is not home but it is nice not having to worry about him. That may sound savage but I am starting to wonder if I am treading into the ‘keeping him alive for me’ territory. I’m screwed if insurance denies me. He is going to get a CT scan soon.

I moved Wally next to Maple Le and Wally doesn’t care that another pig is next to him. I don’t want Maple Leaf to shut down with no neighbor. It seems he thinks Talwar is on the other side of the divider still.

 

[4boipigs]

Talwar survived the CT and is home. He handled all of that much better than Wally could ever dream (got stasis from sedation for xrays). We don't have the consult for the CT back yet, but the thought right now is in his left lung there is: cancer, cyst, or abscess. The doctor encouraged me to continue with the meds and see how he is in a week. Basically, so much fluid in his left lung that it's unable to function properly rn, and he is working off one lung. He is doing okay and eating some on his own, but will still need syringe feeding.

So, still a chance for pts but at least I know what's happening.

 

[Guinea Pig Papa]

I hate that you're in this situation. I know he's in the best hands but it still breaks my heart for him and you.

 

[4boipigs]

He was doing well this morning. He is on meloxicam, cerenia, and we got Emeraid IC. This Emeraid is great!! It is all powder and made to work with feeding tubes, so it doesn’t get stuck in the syringe. He thinks most of the meds are a treat. Gentamycin should be in today. So he is still unwell but it’s great having him home.

Attached is a pic the hospital sent me while he was there on Xmas.

He is now my most expensive pig I think. Hospital and specialist was thousands of dollars. If the insurance approves the claims, my portion will be under $2k after they pay me.

 

[bpatters]

Come on, insurance!!

 

[Guinea Pig Papa]

He was doing well this morning. He is on meloxicam, cerenia, and we got Emeraid IC. This Emeraid is great!! It is all powder and made to work with feeding tubes, so it doesn’t get stuck in the syringe. He thinks most of the meds are a treat. Gentamycin should be in today. So he is still unwell but it’s great having him home.

Attached is a pic the hospital sent me while he was there on Xmas.

He is now my most expensive pig I think. Hospital and specialist was thousands of dollars. If the insurance approves the claims, my portion will be under $2k after they pay me.

He's adorable! I used the Emeraid IC when Sly was going through his dental issues, and he really liked it for awhile. Its great stuff!

 

[ItsaZoo]

I’m hoping he continues to do well. He’s so cute.