hey guys
back in may 2018, my elderly guinea pig developed a bladder infection. we treated the infection and began a pain management regimen for her arthritis.
unfortunately, while treating the bladder infection, obcy developed urine scalding that became swollen; it looked like bumblefoot to me. i was horrified, because i thought it only happened if you housed them on wire bottom cages. when i took her to her checkup, i asked the vet to look at her front paws. the vet barely seemed concerned and told me, "yeah, that can happen. a UTI allows urine to dribble onto their feet and it can ulcerate like this." i was annoyed, because if she had told me, i would've done all i could to PREVENT urine scald. i would've been doing soaks, applying ointments, anything!!!! secondly, why wasn't she concerned? they were ulcerated and swollen and warm to the touch and she said it was "normal" for pigs who had UTIs.
her feet were horrible. both front paws were ulcerated and very swollen. again, the vet wasn't concerned. i took to the internet and began epsom soaks and applying an ointment to help them heal. they began to heal slowly but surely. scabs fell off, feet began to shrink.
then, her paws flared up again. i've been trying to do the soaks more often, but i feel like i'm at a loss. i change the fleece out every other day to keep the cage dry and clean. i spot clean constantly. i move their hideout frequently to promote movement and to avoid her sitting on her own urine. it feels like a losing battle.
i don't know what to do. surely there's more i can do. my vet is cold, she cares more about mumbling condescending remarks than advice. she snapped at me for using a water bottle instead of a dish for their water. she got onto me because i told her i give them a tiny slice of cucumber once a day as a treat. i haven't given them cucumbers since because i feel like i'm an awful owner. every time i voiced a concern or asked a question, she'd say something rude without looking at me. i feel like the woman can't stand me and it takes all of my energy to remain professional and civil during visits.
i absolutely don't have the money to take obcy to different vets in an attempt to find one who actually cares about animal patients.
i'm so discouraged. all day i've been thinking about putting her to sleep, because i don't know what to do for her and maybe that's the kindest thing i can do. i'm so infuriated with my vet's lack of urgency with treatment, her condescending remarks, her barely making any eye contact with me, her ignoring my questions i ask during visits... i've been calling around different vets asking them if they euthanize guinea pigs, because i do NOT want that woman to be the one to put obcy to sleep.
i'm just overwhelmed at this point. what do i do?
back in may 2018, my elderly guinea pig developed a bladder infection. we treated the infection and began a pain management regimen for her arthritis.
unfortunately, while treating the bladder infection, obcy developed urine scalding that became swollen; it looked like bumblefoot to me. i was horrified, because i thought it only happened if you housed them on wire bottom cages. when i took her to her checkup, i asked the vet to look at her front paws. the vet barely seemed concerned and told me, "yeah, that can happen. a UTI allows urine to dribble onto their feet and it can ulcerate like this." i was annoyed, because if she had told me, i would've done all i could to PREVENT urine scald. i would've been doing soaks, applying ointments, anything!!!! secondly, why wasn't she concerned? they were ulcerated and swollen and warm to the touch and she said it was "normal" for pigs who had UTIs.
her feet were horrible. both front paws were ulcerated and very swollen. again, the vet wasn't concerned. i took to the internet and began epsom soaks and applying an ointment to help them heal. they began to heal slowly but surely. scabs fell off, feet began to shrink.
then, her paws flared up again. i've been trying to do the soaks more often, but i feel like i'm at a loss. i change the fleece out every other day to keep the cage dry and clean. i spot clean constantly. i move their hideout frequently to promote movement and to avoid her sitting on her own urine. it feels like a losing battle.
i don't know what to do. surely there's more i can do. my vet is cold, she cares more about mumbling condescending remarks than advice. she snapped at me for using a water bottle instead of a dish for their water. she got onto me because i told her i give them a tiny slice of cucumber once a day as a treat. i haven't given them cucumbers since because i feel like i'm an awful owner. every time i voiced a concern or asked a question, she'd say something rude without looking at me. i feel like the woman can't stand me and it takes all of my energy to remain professional and civil during visits.
i absolutely don't have the money to take obcy to different vets in an attempt to find one who actually cares about animal patients.
i'm so discouraged. all day i've been thinking about putting her to sleep, because i don't know what to do for her and maybe that's the kindest thing i can do. i'm so infuriated with my vet's lack of urgency with treatment, her condescending remarks, her barely making any eye contact with me, her ignoring my questions i ask during visits... i've been calling around different vets asking them if they euthanize guinea pigs, because i do NOT want that woman to be the one to put obcy to sleep.
i'm just overwhelmed at this point. what do i do?