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Post by bloblover on Jun 29, 2007 0:40:37 GMT
 Hi...You might be wondering why I've been a bit quiet the past few days....Well, I've been really busy, as I was on night duty at work... Anyway, Charlie and Dale were ok yesterday am, but at 10pm last night, I was in the kitchen, and heard Dale squeaking. At first, I thought he was just playing, but when I went over to his cage, he was lying on his side crying in pain...I got such a fright !! I picked him up, and he was wincing with pain, and it was then I realised that he'd had messy poops ( not diarrhoea, though )... His little face was so miserable, and his whole body was tense, so we tried to get our vet, Eamonn. Unfortunately, Eamonn was out of Dublin, so we had to take Dale to the emergency pet hospital. We saw one of Eamonn's friends, who is also very good with cavies. She did some xrays etc, that showed a lot of gas in the bowels, but fortunately nothing else sinister..Also, his temp is normal.. She also gave him a microlax enema, and injection...Fortunately, he is not dehydrated, but is just lying miserably in his cage...The hospital offered to keep him overnight, but I have just brought him home, and we've put his cage in our bedroom, so we can keep an eye on him...Eamonn will be in this morning, so I will take Dale straight to him at 9am...I'm so very worried...I love Dale....Hope he will be ok...Please say a prayer for him....I'll post again later when Eamonn has seen him...Irene
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Post by rayfay on Jun 29, 2007 4:05:32 GMT
Poor Dale! I'm sure that Eamonn will be able to fix him up! Sending hugs and kisses!
Rachel xx
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Post by bloblover on Jun 29, 2007 8:21:41 GMT
Thanks Rachel ! Have just spkoen to vet nurse, so will be going down to Eamonn at 10.30am. Dale is still crying out, and seems so uncomfortable...I'm so worried....
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Post by Dawn - Admin on Jun 29, 2007 8:55:07 GMT
Oh Irene I am so sorry to hear Dale isn't well, doesn't things always happen when they vet isn't available too I am sure Eamonn will be able to treat him properly. I am praying he will be ok for you. Keep us posted wont you? Dawn |
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Post by bloblover on Jun 29, 2007 12:25:39 GMT
Thanks Dawn...I just got back from Eamonn a while ago..He says Dale has severe colic. He gave Dale a big dose of liquid paraffin, and while we were there, Dale pooped a few times. Normal looking poops, but with a bit of fresh blood. Eamonn says the blood is probably from a bit of trauma from the microlax the hospital vet gave Dale last night. The xrays show a lot of gas in Dale's abdomen, but no evidence of a blockage as such. We are wondering if it is from cabbage he ate the other day. It was from a left-ver salad, and I have an awful feeling that there was salad dressing on it ! Another possible cause, is that against my wishes, my son, Patrick put some "cotton wool" type bedding in Dale's pigloo 2 days ago. The petshop told Pat it was safe, but Eamonn says its a DEFINITE NO-NO!! Maybe Dale ate some of it...Pat feels awful now, and is blaming himself for making his piggy sick, although Eamonn said he should not feel bad. Eamonn is mad with the petstore for not having their facts right !
Anyway, Eamonn says that fortunately Dale is not dehydrated, as yet...weighs 2kg, so a big piggy...But he's not eating or drinking...So, we've been advised to give Dale a little syringe of water orally every hour - about 1-2mls, which fortunately he's taking from me..he also prescribed Baytril 5% 0.2mls twice daily.
I really hope he'll be ok...I love my piggies so much, and I hate to see Dale crying in pain...Eamonn has said we must ring him any time to day if there's a deterioration...So glad he's our vet...
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Dawn - Admin
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Post by Dawn - Admin on Jun 29, 2007 13:05:57 GMT
Do you feed your piggies pellet food Irene? If so crush some of them up and mix with water. This will keep him going until he is eating again. I hope dale will be ok. I am sure he will be with your excellent care and your brilliant vets help.
Keep us posted wont you?
Dawn
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Post by gpmum2 on Jun 29, 2007 14:18:30 GMT
Fingers crossed Dale is feeling a better when the Baytril kicks in. It must be awful hearing him cry. Sending hugs
Karen
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Post by lovemyguineas on Jun 29, 2007 14:58:33 GMT
Awwww poor Dale, thinking of you all Irene, hope he's better soon
Sar xx
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Post by ilovenickle on Jun 29, 2007 15:03:46 GMT
Awww, I'm sorry about poor Dale's illness. It's so hard when your baby's in pain..
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Post by rayfay on Jun 29, 2007 16:18:42 GMT
Poor little boy. I'm glad he pooed a bit at the vet's though. Keep us posted.
Sending more hugs and kisses!
Rachel xxxxxxxx
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Post by Niki on Jun 29, 2007 17:34:42 GMT
Aww Irene, Poor Dale Sending him big get well wishes & gentle hugs Niki x |
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Post by charlotte on Jun 29, 2007 17:41:28 GMT
Scary. My piggie Coffee didn't eat or drink just before she died. I'll keep my fingers crossed for Dale.
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Post by Dawn - Admin on Jun 29, 2007 21:10:33 GMT
Yes me too come on Dale you have got to get better. We are rooting for you.
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Post by bloblover on Jun 29, 2007 22:42:22 GMT
Thanks so much everyone !! Your support means so much...Pat (my son) has been so touched by all the messages, cos Dale is actually his piggy...
We had Dale back at Eamonn's earlier tonight...He hadn't eaten for me, but did take water from a syringe, so he hasn't dehydrated. had been very tense and in pain all day..Eamonn said it is really bad colic, but again the xrays show no obstructions. he said he would not hesitate to operate if necessary, but he feels Dale is fighting...While we were at the surgery, Dale did a few normal poops, and this time without blood...In the past hour, we have seen Dale eating a bit of hay, but no drinking of his own accord...he is also doing more normal poops. But he still seems so uncomfortable, and is not moving around much...
I will put him in my room again tonight, so we can keep a close watch on him, and eamonn syas I must ring him first thing in the morning....Please keep on praying, and holding thumbs for him... It's always hard to see an animal suffer..I just feel so helpless, and wish I could do more...Only consolation is, that when we left to come home, Eamonn assured us that he felt Dale was a bit better than early this morning
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Post by Dawn - Admin on Jun 29, 2007 22:54:34 GMT
Have you tried feeding him Irene, because if he is not eating this can be fatal. He must have food of he will die. Crush up some pellets with water and syringe that or ask you vet for some science Recovery which you can get in 20g sachets. He really needs to eat.
Once a piggy stops eating it is down hill all the way, sorry to sound so negative but it really is a matter of life and death.
Dawn
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Post by bloblover on Jun 29, 2007 23:15:52 GMT
Yes Dawn, you are right...Eamonn also warned me about this...We have tried syringe feeding, but Dale just spits the food out. All he seems to want to eat is hay...I will keep trying...Am going to keep trying at intervals during the night...
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Post by Dawn - Admin on Jun 29, 2007 23:22:34 GMT
Yes Dawn, you are right...Eamonn also warned me about this...We have tried syringe feeding, but Dale just spits the food out. All he seems to want to eat is hay...I will keep trying...Am going to keep trying at intervals during the night... You need to try and put it to the side of his mouth quite far in but not too much that he chokes. He can't spit it out if you dit correctly. |
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Post by Niki on Jun 30, 2007 0:03:01 GMT
Irene you can try Metatone Tonic, available at Chemists. It stimulates the appetite. You give it at 0.5ml for 7 days then 0.3ml for 7 days. I gave it to Lottie & Wilbur when they stopped eating & both took their syringed food  It may be worth a try because as Dawn's said it can be fatal when piggies don't eat - the gut has to keep moving. Come on Dale love - find your appetite!! Thinking about you Irene & Pat Niki x |
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Post by bloblover on Jun 30, 2007 12:12:55 GMT
Thanks SO much evryone...It means so much to know you all care so much !
DAWN : Dale has nibbled on some of his grains himself, so I'm holding thumbs...But when I spoke to Eamonn this morning, he also stressed that I get a slightly larger syringe. and keep trying the mashed grains mixture. Dale also is drinking a bit of water from his bottle by himself. When I gave him his Baytril this am, he really tried to fight me off, but I managed to get it in...Probably a good sign..
NIKKI : Thanks so much for the advice about metatone tonic. I will get some and try that...as I type, Pat has given Dale a piece of Romaine lettuce (Dale's favourite), and he's gobbling away..
He's doing normal poops, and they aren't blood-stained, so hopefully he's on the mend. He is still very sluggish, and not moving around much though..Doesn't appear to have any pain now. Also, his eyes are very bright..
Eamonn seems happy that he is making progress, but says I must keep a close watch on him...He gave me a useful tip. He put Dale's ear against his lips, to feel the amount of heat coming off. Eamonn says that although it may look strange, it's a useful way of checking a cavy's temp, if you don't have a thermometer. Their ears give off a lot of heat if the temp is raised. Dale's temp has been normal. Thank God!
Will keep you posted as to how things go today...Hope my baby gets better...Thanks again for ALL the encouraging messages !!....Irene xx
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Post by Dawn - Admin on Jun 30, 2007 12:41:13 GMT
Oh that's a good sign then, I am sure with your expert care he will be back to his usual self very soon Dawn |
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Post by rayfay on Jun 30, 2007 17:01:33 GMT
It sounds like he's doing much better I'm glad he's starting to eat on his own now. Are you still syringing him water? Thanks to you for sharing that tip on piggie tempreatures! Sending hugs Rachel xxx |
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Post by lovemyguineas on Jun 30, 2007 19:54:25 GMT
Awwww, bless come on Dale get better soon xxxxx
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Post by bloblover on Jun 30, 2007 20:01:08 GMT
Hi Rachel...Dale seems ok, but still very quiet, which is not like him..We scrubbed out his and Charlie's cages, bathed both of them, and clipped nails...When Dale went back in his cage , he wheeked a bit, so I gave him lettuce and a small piece of carrot.He ate the
lettuce, but left the carrot. He has been nibbling on his dry food and hay, but I haven't noticed him drinking water, so we've been syringing water into his mouth, which he gulps down. He seems to have urinated, but no poops since this morning...he is not in pain, and is moving around a bit, but I'm still so worried about him....
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Post by Dawn - Admin on Jun 30, 2007 21:11:29 GMT
Oh poor Dale, come on Dale start eating your veggies.
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Post by bloblover on Jul 1, 2007 10:54:13 GMT
Hi all....Am still very worried...Dale has really lost weight...He looks dull this morning, although moving around...He is passing water, and is doing poos, although they are smaller than usual...He doesn't drink unless we syringe him water, but the strange thing is that he gobbles up all the lettuce we give him....Won't eat anything else though..Refuses his dry food, but eating bits of hay...Just climbs up on his piggy hammock and lies there looking miserable...Really fights us when we give him his Baytril - seems to know that its meds, and he's had enough of it ! He also seems tense when we pick him up...this is all so unlike him...maybe he is slowly getting better...I hope you don't all think I'm a neurotic piggy owner 1, but I've only ever had one other sick piggy, and I was so heartbroken when we lost him.....Dale is only a year old, and is so special...Eamonn is only back in Dublin tomorrow morning...Am wondering whether to try and wait for then, and keep syringe feeding..We could take Dale back to the pet emergency clinic, but then it means a different vet etc....I just wish I had one of you experienced "piggy people" around to help me....
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Post by Dawn - Admin on Jul 1, 2007 13:04:11 GMT
Oh dear I am so sorry to hear this I really though he was starting to get better. I really hope he pulls through for you and you can't do more that you are doing.
Dawn
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Post by charlotte on Jul 1, 2007 15:53:52 GMT
Aww, come on Dale get better.
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Post by bloblover on Jul 1, 2007 20:00:08 GMT
Its been such an up and down day....Dale seems to have perked up a bit tonight. He ate slices of cucumber, and all the bits of lettuce we've given him. Started scratching around in his dry food dish, but not sure if he actually ate anything. he's taken loads of water from a syringe, so we are just willing him to get better...Charlie has been looking at Dale all day, as they usually look at each other through the bars of their cages, and "rumble" at each other...Charlie can't understand why his buddy is so quiet....Come on Dale - everyone is willing you better, little friend
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Post by Dawn - Admin on Jul 1, 2007 21:37:00 GMT
Well that is encouraging I just hope he starts getting back to his usual self very soon. Come on Dale you can do it.
Dawn
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Post by bloblover on Jul 1, 2007 21:50:32 GMT
Thanks Dawn...Just hope he gets better...We are doing all we can
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