My poor Charlie !

[bloblover]

Well.... Now its my Charlie-boy who's not well....

I first noticed what looked like a small scab, on Charlie's right hip, about 2 wks ago. There were no signs of inflammation or infection, and Charlie appeared to be ok, not in pain or anything.
I've been keeping a close watch on it, and it has doubled in size in the past 3days !! Still no redness etc, but quite a big lump in the soft tissues....
Then, for the first time today, he seemed a bit miserable, and off-colour.... Although he is eating as well as usual...
So....Off to Eamonn (our vet ) I went this pm....
Eamonn says its quite a fast growing tumour in the skin !!
I have to bring Charlie to the surgery on Monday morning at 9am, and Eamonn will operate and remove the tumour.... He says he might do a biopsy as well...
I love all 3 of my piggies, but Charlie really has a special place in my heart, cos he helped me through my illness, and also through a dark time in my life, a few yrs back....
Sorry about this long post, but please pray that my special boy will be, ok...
Irene.

[luvcats22]

aww irene i an so sorry, i hope charlie feels better soon, both of you are in my prayers xxxx

[Dawn - Admin]

Oh poor Charlie I am so sorry to hear this sad news. I hope he will be feeling much better very soon Irene. I am thinking of you both.

[pigmad]

im sorry to hear about charlie, got my fingers crossed everything goes ok

[Niki]

Thinking about you & of course Charlie Irene

Niki x

[delukem]

Sorry to hear about ~Charlie, hope everything well for him. Keep posting as we would love to hear more about him

[bloblover]

Thank you all for your very kind thoughts... I will keep you posted on how things go....Charlie is very subdued, although eating and drinking ok.... Just snuggles down and wants to be cuddled all the time... so I'm trying to give him all the time I can. I owe it to him, cos he's always there for me when I'm not well, or in need of cheering up !

[Dawn - Admin]

Oh Irene I hope he is feeling much better very soon. I know if love could cure him he will be right as rain in no time. I know you love him very much he is a very lucky piggy

[celia]

heeling vibes sent your way for charlie . I really hope all goes well for you both x

[fitnessgal]

Hugz Charlie and an internet piece of lettuce with some hay sent your way. That's healthier for him than a bouqet of flowers Hope you're popping around happily in your cage soon!!

[bloblover]

Thankyou ALL for your very kind wishes for Charlie !....

I am just in the door from the vet surgery. Eamonn removed the tumour - was much larger than we thought, but confined to the skin. He has sent the tumour to be analyzed, but feels that it's not malignant...Charlie has 4 stitches,which have to be removed next week on Thurs..
Charlie got through the surgery ok, but has to be kept warm tonight, as he's still very dopey. I have warmed a "beddy bear" in the microwave, and wrapped it in a towel, so he's snug and warm, lying on top of it. It's only just warm, so don't worry. Not too hot that it would harm him !
He has eaten a few pieces of lettuce for me, and bits of cucumber and lettuce.... Has done a huge wee too,..
Unfortunately, I have to go to work soon. ( I'm on night duty tonight and tomorrow night ) , but the kids willbe keepinga close watch on my precious baby... I really hope he'sgoing to be ok.... I just can't stop worrying.... He doesn't seem to be in pain, but I hope he's not hiding his feelings... Will update you all again tomorrow morning.
Irene.

[Dawn - Admin]

Oh Irene, so glad Charlie came through the op ok I am sure he will be his old self very soon. Get well soon Charlie

You will let us know the results of the tesat when you get it back wont you Irene?

[gpmum2]

Glad things are going well at the moment, I hope he now makes a speedy recovery from his op.

[xxlunaxx]

Hi Irene,
Im so sorry to hear about poor little Charlie, only saw your post now. im glad he came through the surgery okay and i will pray that he makes a full recovery.I hope you are okay My girls send their love to charlie and you xxxx

[celia]

glas to hear he is ok after his op :-)

[dobbylecavy]

Get well soon Charlie!

[jessegee]

Oh poor Charlie, I really hope he feels better soon, I bet he loved the heated teddy, what a good idea, they do just want to be warm and sleep after ops eh? ( Me too lol!)

jessegee

[aimeeshannon]

Sorry to here Charlie's ill. I hope he gets well soon I'd love to have a heated teddy like him lol!

Aimee
xxx

[bloblover]

Charlie and I have been so touched by all your kind thoughts and messages !! I really couldn't concentrate at work last night, and ended up telling most of my patients about Charlie !
The kids minded him really well last night. He's quite perky this morning, wobbling around and even managed a wheek or two. He has been eating, and importantly there is a wee patch and a good number of poops. All good signs !
I am aware though , that he's quite sore, as he winces when being picked up,no matter how gentle I am...But I'm so relieved to see him looking better.. I know you must have thought me really crazy and over-protective, but I was SO worried last night.... I guess I won't really relax until he's completely himself, and I hear the result of the analysis.
I must say that the microwave "beddy bear" has worked really well, and Charlie loves it ! he hasn'teven wee'don it !
I am just concerned about his woundand stitches. Really hope he doesn't start trying to pick at them. With a dog or cat, one can get a "bonnet" they can wear, which prevents them chewing at their sutures,but this is not possible with a cavy... Do any of you have any tips, apart from just doing my utmost to distract him as much as possible?
I am exhausted after my busy day yesterday, and shift last night, soamon my way to bed. Patrick (my son) is on "Charlie duty" until I wake up this pm. I will update you all again then.
Charlie sends special little whiskery kisses and says a big thankyou for all your love and concern for him...xxxx

[blossom1]

Im so so pleased that Charlie seems to be on the mend. Poor Irene, it is so horrible when one of your babies is ill, you just wish they could tell you where it hurts and make it all better. You are the best piggy Mummy a piggy could want! xxx

[bloblover]

Thanks for those kind words, Jules....
Just a quick update again before I go to work tonight :
Charlie has had a fairly good day,although the wound is clearly bothering him. Probably sore and itchy too. I have had a good look at the wound, and there are in fact 9 sutures ! I couldn't see that properly yesterday, because I hadn't wanted to handle Charlie more than was necessary. I don't see any signs of inflammation or oozing.
He's eating well, and poops abound. Only thing that worries me a bit, is that his pee is orangey-looking. We are syringing him extra water to try and flush his kidneys . I thought maybe, like a human patient , his urine is probably concentrated, and he may also be excreting some of the meds they would have given him yesterday. I rang Eamonn ( our vet ), and he said to keep an eye on it, but he felt too that its just after-effects, as Charlie seems to be doing ok otherwise. I will be keeping a close watch though, and obviously if his pee gets pinkyish etc, I will contact Eamonn again. I am lucky to have such a caring vet. I can ring him any time,and he's always friendly and helpful, but then his passion is rodents !
Irene. xx

[Dawn - Admin]

It's great that you have such a good vet Irene, I am sure Charlie will be feeling better soon once he starts to heal. Keep up the good work all of you, Charlie is very lucky to have such caring owners ;D

[luvcats22]

hugs to charlie, irene, i would be exactly the same if it were one of mine. hope he gets well soon. ((((hugs to you too)))

[cutefluffycow]

Oh Irene iv just read about Charlie. Poor little sole. sounds like he is doing really well though and so he should with sutch a lovie mummy like yourself. will keep my fingers crossed that everything is fine.

[fitnessgal]

Yay Charlie, it's progress. Hugz, from Easter, Otter, and Sparkles

[bloblover]

Hi everyone...- Charlie is getting perkier every day. This morning he's been up, running around in his cage, and wheeking for his veg. However, he seems to get tired quickly, and soon returns to his little fleece bed, and curls up for a sleep with his teddy. I had him out on my lap for a long time last night, and he loved that, although his stitiches seem very uncomfortable. He has to have them in until next Thurs.
His wee is looking clearer, so it seems we were right about it being concentrated after the op.
I was concerned, and would have been more so, if it was pinkish-looking, cos then it might have been an indication of bleeding.
Not sure if I told you all this, but Charlie has an undescended testicle on one side, and our vet , Eamonn , told me that as a result of this, Charlie may be more prone to getting cancerous tumours. He wasn't 100% certain about this, but said that in his experience, thats what happens with dogs, cats and even rabbits. What's interesting, is, that the cut on Charlie, is almost from his right testicle to up over his right hip! This grew in just over 2 weeks ! So you can see why I'm so anxious to get the result of the analysis. Eamonn has to get this from the lab at the big vet hospital in Dublin.
In the meantime, lots of whiskery kisses to ALL of you, from Charlie.( and me !...lol...)
Irene. xx

[Dawn - Admin]

I am glad Charlie is perking up that must be a huge releif for you Irene

[bloblover]

**** UPDATE ON CHARLIE*****
Well, Charlie had his stitches removed yesterday. The wound is very clean, and healing well. Charlie is very perky, and running around and his cheerful self again. Thankyou all so much for your concern and prayers for him.
Eamonn was off yesterday, so his locum vet ( whois also very good ) attended to Charlie. She said Eamonn had a short report on file, that Charlie's tumour was NOT malignant - YAY !, but that he must be closely watched for any recurrences etc.
He had to have a shot of Ivermectin ( just as a precaution ),as he's scratched himself raw on a small patch on his side, which looks a bit suspicious. I will keep a close watch on that too..
But otherwise, my lovely boy is again his cheeky self !
Just out of interest, I asked about Charlie'sundescended testicle on the "Ask a vet-online" website. A cavy expert of some 28yrs, repled to my query. he said that in allofhis years of practise,he's never actually seen a cavy with this problem. It's actually quite rare.So Charlie is a celebrity !....LOL !! He agress with my vet, Eamonn, that this could pre-dispose Charlie to cancerous tumours, so its good to be aware and keep an eye on this.
Whiskery kisses from your friend, Charlie....
Irene.xx

[Dawn - Admin]

Oh I am so glad Charlie is well again Irene It's such a relief isn't it knowing the tumor wasn't malignant

[luvcats22]

yay great news irene, glad hes on the mend now and brill that the tumor wasnt anything cancerous. kisses to charlie xx