Feet Maple Leaf's Medical Thread

[4boipigs]

Maple Leaf has been on cisapride and he's STILL bloated. We'll have a follow up with the vet after she returns from vacation. He is 'fine'/normal aside from the bloating. What else could it be? 'Chronic' bloat? I've seen a few threads about it on the UK guinea pig forum. It's very strange BUT at least he seems okay otherwise.

 

[Guinea Pig Papa]

I can't imagine what's going on with the poor little guy. I really hope someone can come up with something to help him. Keep us posted.

 

[4boipigs]

Forgot to update...so we went to the vet a week or so ago. MLeaf is still bloated. We did new xrays and he no longer gassy. His cecum is full and not emptying, which is why he appears bloated. She also did an ultra sound and didn't find any free fluid in his abdomen. She doesn't suspect it is his heart. Our vet's final suggestion was perhaps try a new pellet diet in case it's the food, otherwise she's at a loss and suggested getting a CT done at the exotics-only vet (where we got Talwar's CT done).

Keep in mind he's still normal...aside from that. He still appears to drink a lot of water, however he is the only one with a smaller bottle. Everyone else has a big bottle. So it's harder to compare his habits to the others because his bottle drains faster.

 

[4boipigs]

Maple Leaf is STILL bloated, so we have an appt with the exotics only vet to get a CT or whatever he needs. He's been 100% normal otherwise.

 

[ItsaZoo]

I hope you get some answers about what’s causing the bloat.

 

[4boipigs]

I'll post Maple Leaf's issues for anyone who runs across this in the future with the same issue. I'll update after Monday's appt.

Chronic bloating - he looks like a pregnant female

Weight loss - can feel his spine and hips

I say he eats normal, but honestly I feel like he eats MORE than the other boys and drinks more as well, but his water bottle is also smaller than the others.

Sometimes mushy poop but it resolves in a few days. Not sure if veggies trigger it. Due to this and the bloating, I don't give him veggies often and reduce the amount when he does get them.

Behavior is normal. The usual wheeking when it might be time for treats, eats his veggies, yanks on the grids for food when the others start, argue with his neighbor Walter, etc

I haven't given him Benebac for a couple months so I'll be buying more.

He's approx 3 yrs old.

 

[4boipigs]

We did the CT and they think it could be a liver mass. Waiting for the radiologist report. His bloodwork was normal. He now gets meloxicam, which means 3 of 4 pigs now take it.

 

[Guinea Pig Papa]

We did the CT and they think it could be a liver mass. Waiting for the radiologist report. His bloodwork was normal. He now gets meloxicam, which means 3 of 4 pigs now take it.

Fingers are crossed for Maple Leaf!

 

[4boipigs]

Here he is being weighed at the vet. Depending on the CT results, we may do a test on the mass, have an ultrasound by an internal medicine specialist, or have surgery (that would be far in the future). I just paid $2k for the CT and bloodwork. I don't look forward to more costs, even with pet insurance.

 

[CrosStorm]

Here he is being weighed at the vet. Depending on the CT results, we may do a test on the mass, have an ultrasound by an internal medicine specialist, or have surgery (that would be far in the future). I just paid $2k for the CT and bloodwork. I don't look forward to more costs, even with pet insurance.

View attachment 110978review is here

I hope the CT results are favorable. I understand how exciting it is with many more possible procedures ahead. I wish your pet a speedy recovery

 

[Guinea Pig Papa]

He just looks so unhappy. Wishing for the best for him, and hoping it's nothing major.

 

[4boipigs]

No real news from the CT. There is a mass but can’t tell where it is coming from. Cecal distention and stasis. They want us to meet an internal med vet and do an ultrasound and sample the mass to see what it is.

 

[4boipigs]

No real news from the CT. There is a mass but can’t tell where it is coming from. Cecal distention and stasis. They want us to meet an internal med vet and do an ultrasound and sample the mass to see what it is.

That is to say, they think he could have cecal stasis not GI stasis. Here is the summary from the CT report. The first three are the issues we are seeing the vet for, the rest are just other things the CT found that aren't major.

Marked cecal distention with ingesta is most consistent with cecal stasis
Moderate gastric distention
Right cranioventral quadrant soft tissue mass effect
Mild pulmonary passive atelectasis
Mild right osseous tympanic bulla thickening possibly due to a prior otitis incident
Mild maxillary reserve crown elongation
Mild left ocular mineralization

 

[Guinea Pig Papa]

Can the poor little guy just catch a break?

 

[4boipigs]

Can the poor little guy just catch a break?

My bank account needs a break. Not a single guinea pig has been cheap. Yeah I have pet insurance and they paid me my 70% for the CT...and now they want another $1000 for this specialist they work with, an ultrasound and cytology. Believe me I don't want a credit card bill for the rest of my life. And we don't even know 100% what's wrong or how to fix it yet! That's $3000, not including what we tried at our regular vet.

 

[Guinea Pig Papa]

I feel your pain. you however have spent much more than I have. I WISH pet insurance was available where I am.

I'm just very glad to know that Maple Leaf is in good hands with a parent who will do what he needs. You both need a break.

 

[4boipigs]

Maple Leaf had his ultrasound and the vet believes it is not a mass but more like an area of growing impaction in his cecum. They want me to give fluids at home, cisapride, meloxicam, and lay off veggies for now. So the good news is that it that they no longer suspect an actual mass, but rather our normal vet's original idea that the cecum is 'full' or impacted. So, we need to get all of that junk moving OUT of him. Surgery would be super invasive and the vet says that is a last resort sort of thing, and even then I wouldn't agree to it.

I'm happy with this news TBH, because it's not a 'major' thing yet. It can TURN major if it doesn't improve. It isn't a mass, not cancer, etc, and no surgery needed. I much rather deal with giving all these meds and fluids at home right now than some other diagnosis.

I'll post a picture of his poor shaved tummy later.

 

[Guinea Pig Papa]

Maple Leaf had his ultrasound and the vet believes it is not a mass but more like an area of growing impaction in his cecum. They want me to give fluids at home, cisapride, meloxicam, and lay off veggies for now. So the good news is that it that they no longer suspect an actual mass, but rather our normal vet's original idea that the cecum is 'full' or impacted. So, we need to get all of that junk moving OUT of him. Surgery would be super invasive and the vet says that is a lot resort sort of thing, and even tho I wouldn't agree to it.

I'm happy with this news TBH, because it's not a 'major' thing yet. It can TURN major if it doesn't improve. It isn't a mass, not cancer, etc, and no surgery needed. I much rather deal with giving all these meds and fluids at home right now than some other diagnosis.

I'll post a picture of his poor shaved tummy laterWhile stil

While its still serious, that's much better news than a mass or possible cancer! Really happy to hear that this is treatable!

 

[4boipigs]

Unfortunately, Maple Leaf was very scared at the vet so I didn't torture him with pictures. He was shaking with terror while I was shown how to give sub-q fluids. He looks sad and miserable. He is back home now and decompressing from the stressful event of being taken from home and subjected to a bunch of people who just want to help.

He also has a little red area under his eye that appeared a couple days ago. Nothing the vet was concerned about.

 

[Guinea Pig Papa]

What an adorable little face. Poor little guy, can't even give him treats to placate him. FIngers crossed for a speedy and full recovery.