Gizmo's medical thread

[Presuppose]

So I found out Gizmo has diabetes and I cannot afford to pay for the exams testings and insulin costs. I have to give him up. This is why I didn't have pets for the longest time. :sad: I feel so bad, I doubt anyone would want to take him and if the shelters here don't want him, they'd most likely euthanize him. I am hearbroken.

 

[Presuppose]

Re: It's as if he died =/

Unless he doesn't have diabetes? Maybe I'm just freaking out for no reason? He seemed to be drinking more water than before. He's at the water bottle more. So I looked it up and that him drinking more water is early signs? Any help? He's not making any hooting noises anymore, he did for like 1 night. So I doubt its heart problems.

 

[Amalee]

Re: It's as if he died =/

It's probably not a good idea to diagnose a guinea pig yourself, especially based off of just increased water intake. Has it been especially dry, or hot in your area? He may just be more comfortable in his habitat so he's drinking more, or feeling better after recovering from a previous illness? If you are worried about it, have a vet check him out specifically for diabetes. Good luck. Edit: Just realized you said you can't pay for the exam. In that case, it's still not a good idea to jump to conclusions. Watch him closely to see how many symptoms he's showing.

 

[Presuppose]

Re: It's as if he died =/

Ok. But before I take him to the vet I want to be sure there are some signs. Would be a bit foolish to bring a healthy guinea pig there Any ideas on what early diabetes would be? Normal eyes vs beginning cataracts? He has red eyes so maybe I thought his eyes had cataracts. I was looking at guinea pigs with black eyes and must've confused them. >.< Sorry for the scare...

 

[Amalee]

Re: It's as if he died =/

I've personally had no experience with diabetes in guinea pigs, but I've found these:
http://patriciasimon.shawwebspace.ca/pages/view/guinea_pigs_with_diabetes_-_gene/
http://patriciasimon.shawwebspace.ca/pages/view/hazel_and_ginger_-_diabetes_trea/

Cataracts should be visible even on guinea pigs with red eyes. As you can see, injuries and other diseases are still visible:


Also, how much is your guinea pig drinking? I've heard of guinea pigs drinking anywhere from 6oz to 10oz of water a day, depending on additional water in their diet, which is a range that seems healthy and normal from what I've read.

 

[bpatters]

Re: It's as if he died =/

It takes a vet to diagnose diabetes. And while excessive water intake is one sign of it, it doesn't always mean that. I have one pig that goes on water binges and drinks almost constantly, but she's not diabetic.

This forum is in memory of pigs who have passed away. I'm moving this thread to Medical and Veterinary.

 

[Presuppose]

Re: It's as if he died =/

It takes a vet to diagnose diabetes. And while excessive water intake is one sign of it, it doesn't always mean that. I have one pig that goes on water binges and drinks almost constantly, but she's not diabetic.

This forum is in memory of pigs who have passed away. I'm moving this thread to Medical and Veterinary.

Ty. Ok well he's not eating less....Gonna check his bottom. One sec.

 

[Presuppose]

Re: It's as if he died =/

It's not necessarily wet. Ok I think I just got real worried as a new piggie owner and freaked out. I just wanted what's best for him if I couldn't afford to keep him anymore. HE'S SEEMS FINE! Yay!

Not that I can't afford to keep him. Just if he had diabetes. :S But doesn't look like it anymore.

 

[porkchophamster]

Re: It's as if he died =/

It's not necessarily wet. Ok I think I just got real worried as a new piggie owner and freaked out. I just wanted what's best for him if I couldn't afford to keep him anymore. HE'S SEEMS FINE! Yay!

Not that I can't afford to keep him. Just if he had diabetes. :S But doesn't look like it anymore.

I'm confused. First, you were sure he had diabetes and now you think he's fine? But he hasn't been to a vet? If you suspect something is off about him you need to get him to a vet. There is nothing wrong with being proactive and taking a healthy pig to the vet to get checked out if you think something may be wrong.

 

[Presuppose]

Re: It's as if he died =/

I'm confused. First, you were sure he had diabetes and now you think he's fine? But he hasn't been to a vet? If you suspect something is off about him you need to get him to a vet. There is nothing wrong with being proactive and taking a healthy pig to the vet to get checked out if you think something may be wrong.

I was wondering why he drank more water. He didn't drink like A LOT. But now that I think about it I heard him thumping really loud on the ball...thought he was really thirsty but there isn't much of significant difference. Giz was probably playing with the ball on the bottle?

 

[Presuppose]

Re: It's as if he died =/

I've personally had no experience with diabetes in guinea pigs, but I've found these:
http://patriciasimon.shawwebspace.ca/pages/view/guinea_pigs_with_diabetes_-_gene/
http://patriciasimon.shawwebspace.ca/pages/view/hazel_and_ginger_-_diabetes_trea/

Cataracts should be visible even on guinea pigs with red eyes. As you can see, injuries and other diseases are still visible:
View attachment 62536

Also, how much is your guinea pig drinking? I've heard of guinea pigs drinking anywhere from 6oz to 10oz of water a day, depending on additional water in their diet, which is a range that seems healthy and normal from what I've read.

he drinks about an ounce?

 

[bpatters]

Re: It's as if he died =/

Just so you know, that picture of an eye with a growth on it is not a cataract. That looks much more like osseous choristoma.

 

[Amalee]

Re: It's as if he died =/

Just so you know, that picture of an eye with a growth on it is not a cataract. That looks much more like osseous choristoma.

It's a swollen ulcer. Just an example for @Presuppose that any problems or injuries are just as obvious on red eyes as they are on black.

 

[ClemmyOddieIndy]

Re: It's as if he died =/

Ok. But before I take him to the vet I want to be sure there are some signs. Would be a bit foolish to bring a healthy guinea pig there Any ideas on what early diabetes would be? Normal eyes vs beginning cataracts? He has red eyes so maybe I thought his eyes had cataracts. I was looking at guinea pigs with black eyes and must've confused them. >.< Sorry for the scare...

I don't think it's foolish to take a healthy pig to the vet, if you suspect they are not healthy. Guinea pigs are pray animals, and so they hide illness very well. You'll learn you animal, and you'll get to the point you can tell there is something wrong. But, until that point if you suspect something I think a vet visit is the smart thing to do.

I would recommend starting a vet fund. Your pig will eventually get sick, they all do at some point.

 

[foggycreekcavy]

I changed the name of the thread. This will be your thread to post all Gizmo's medical information.

 

[Princess_Piggie]

[MENTION=27350]ClemmyOddieIndy[/MENTION] is absolutely right. I'm on a fixed income, so every 'payday' I put away the base cost of a check up, as well as the money for a taxi for an emergency. It means that regardless of the issue, the girls can always get to a vet. You should find a vet who accepts post-payment, as in will treat and then give you 'X' amount of time to pay, or set up a payment plan. Mine only expects the cost of a check up, then any medicine, surgery etc can be paid off in weekly/fortnightly instalments that you can afford.

It's important to have something in place in case your guinea pig gets sick or injured. Guinea pigs can be injured by their own hay, they get it in their eye and it gets stuck, or scratches, that needs immediate vet treatment to prevent sight loss/damage. You have to prepare for the unexpected when you take on a pet.

 

[Presuppose]

It's not like I refuse to take him to the vet. Just about a little more than a week ago I took him to the vet and spent 200 dollars on his strep infection. I do take him, if I feel there is something wrong. But since normal guinea pigs drink 6 to 10 oz of water, and mine drinks probably and ounce or less. I no longer feel there's anything wrong with him. I haven't been able to sleep in days and I finally had to force down a sleeping pill to get some sleep. I most likely just freaked out because he started to drink a bit more water.

 

[Presuppose]

Re: It's as if he died =/

I don't think it's foolish to take a healthy pig to the vet, if you suspect they are not healthy. Guinea pigs are pray animals, and so they hide illness very well. You'll learn you animal, and you'll get to the point you can tell there is something wrong. But, until that point if you suspect something I think a vet visit is the smart thing to do.

I would recommend starting a vet fund. Your pig will eventually get sick, they all do at some point.

I just freaked out because he was drinking just a bit more water. But he can be quite the skittish pig. Way more than Truffles. He would freeze for the longest time when he senses danger. So I think after a month of having him maybe he's not as scared anymore. And now that I've stopped forcing meds down his throat for strep, I think he's not that afraid anymore.

 

[ClemmyOddieIndy]

Re: It's as if he died =/

I just freaked out because he was drinking just a bit more water. But he can be quite the skittish pig. Way more than Truffles. He would freeze for the longest time when he senses danger. So I think after a month of having him maybe he's not as scared anymore. And now that I've stopped forcing meds down his throat for strep, I think he's not that afraid anymore.

That's good that he is okay this time. I guess the point I was trying to make is, are you ready for him to get sick again? You said you couldn't afford him if he had diabetes. If not, start saving because eventually you will have big medical bills. Since my guinea pig has been ill (since March 2013), I've spent over $4,000 on her health. This included getting two additional jobs to afford her medical bills, I've been set back a year graduating with my masters degree because of this. But, my job as her owner is to ensure she has everything she needs.

 

[Presuppose]

If he gets Uri or something short term that's fine