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Post by Orlaith on Nov 28, 2012 10:28:37 GMT
While stripping the cage of my trio of girls last night I noticed that the towels underneath the fleece had some pink patches on them. I thought that maybe it was juice from the red peppers they had had, and didn't think too much of it.
However, when I was lifting the girls out of their carrier to go back into their clean cage, I noticed those same patches (but wet) on the towel underneath them. Uh oh! So to figure out who it was, I put them individually into a carrier with a white towel until they peed and it was Kima with the funny coloured pee.
I'm a bit worried that it might be blood, although I know it could be a few other things, like a bladder or uterine infection. Kima has some tumours in her abdomen and I know that she will have to go to sleep soon, but while she's still happy and running out for her veg, I don't want to have her pts just yet. I'm bringing her to the vet this afternoon to get checked out.
So, fingers crossed for my Keemie-kins. I really hope it's something treatable because I'm not ready to let her go yet.
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Post by Orlaith on Nov 28, 2012 15:59:54 GMT
Just back from the vet with Kima. It's not good news but it's not as bad as I thought. She has no infection, the vet thinks the blood is a result of the tumours on her ovaries and it's travelling down through her reproductive system.
Our options were to either put her to sleep or start her on pain management, because she's very sore when her abdomen is touched. She's still really bright in herself and she's still the first to come running for her veg in the mornings and evenings, so I think it's too soon for her to go to sleep, so she's on metacam every day for the rest of her life, however long that is.
I hope I'm not being selfish in keeping her, but her eyes are bright, her nose is twitchy and she's still just as alert and inquisitive as ever. If it wasn't for her bald patches on her sides you really wouldn't know there was anything wrong with her at all. I'll have to weigh her more regularly as well to make sure she's still eating enough as she's a naturally skinny pig.
So, fingers crossed for my little Keems.
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Post by cordane on Nov 28, 2012 16:42:17 GMT
You are most definitely not being selfish. I would only put an animal to sleep if their quality of life is so diminished (or they are dangerously aggressive - cows). I'm glad she is.. Feeling better though  |
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Post by Kayleigh on Nov 28, 2012 18:41:01 GMT
Im glad shes doing better. The painkillers should help. Its your decision what you choose to do. If her quality of life is ok then theres no reason to get her pts.
Everyone has different views on how long to treat etc. And we will never know just how much an animal is in pain etc.
If shes keeping weight/condition and isnt in pain id leave her be.
But the mention of giving metacam daily is worrying, the blood in the urine is also a worry as its mother natures way of saying something wrong. Im not sure the long term effects of metacam on pigs as i wont give it for a long period of time.
Kayleigh
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Post by Orlaith on Nov 29, 2012 12:06:11 GMT
Yeah, I'm pretty worried about the blood and the metacam too, but to be honest I don't think it's going to be a long-term thing. I don't think it'll be too long before she lets me know that it's her time. As she is now, she's pretty happy, she comes running for veg and to get rubbed under her chin. She still wheeks really loudly to get my attention at all times of the day. She's so bright that I just couldn't have her pts yet. I would feel like I was taking her last days away from her. The vet has said he'll operate if we ask him, but it's his opinion that the tumours would be too hard to remove (she has a few small ones rather than one big one) and he doesn't think she'd come off the table. He says he'd love to be all heroic and save her, but realistically he doesn't think it can be done. So I guess it's just a waiting game. We'll watch her really closely and if she disimproves at all then she'll have made our decision for us.  |
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Post by lisa21264 on Dec 2, 2012 1:20:49 GMT
I hope Kima has a while yet before she has to be pts. It is always hard when that time comes I know.
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Post by Orlaith on Dec 14, 2012 19:09:32 GMT
Just an update on Kima, she has had no blood in her pee for over a week now. Yay! I also had a talk with the vet about her today and since I can't really notice any change in her with the metacam, he has advised me to take her off it to see if I find her condition gets worse without it. If she gets worse, I can put her back on it, but if it's not making any difference to her then I've to keep her off it as it can put a bit of stress on the kidneys and liver over the long term.
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Post by Orlaith on Dec 20, 2012 10:30:35 GMT
For the last few days Keems has been in good form without the painkillers, but two days ago she developed a rattle in her chest and this morning she has started squeaking when she poos and her poops are quite soft. If it was another pig I would be trying to find a fix for it, but I think this is Kima's way of telling us that her body just isn't working properly anymore. I don't have the car today and the vet is a half hour drive away, so I've given her some painkillers to minimise her suffering and I'll bring her to the vet tomorrow.
It's pretty sucky, but I'm glad it's now and not over Christmas when we'd have to bring her to the emergency vet and have her pts by a stranger. I just can't seem to stop crying. I knew her time was limited but I selfishly want more. But it wouldn't be right to keep her going when she's in pain like that.
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