[Gpdd] GPDD (MISC) (My GP, Rufie was dehydrated)

[warmbreath at comcast.net]

Dear Ellen,  Whee are glad to hear there is a reduction in the bladder stones. Whee also know that it is very difficult to get a vet to do everything our little collective has come up with. Whee aren't vets, and there is a little wiggle room for differences of opinion, although Ann is very closely associated and I dont know about the others. Most of us have just had pigs for a long time and have belonged here along time and had the opportunity to learn allot that way, to research, to have an intelligent discussion with the vets, and as whee all know not even our people docs have the skills or bedside manner or even the personality to have that intelligent talk with their patients/customers. Whee expect that a vet will discuss and say why and discuss alternatives even if they are dead set in their ways. Whee should be able at the least to come away with enough info to look things up, and to make some judgments about whether the vet is competent or not.

A good sign is that they use the isoflurethane by mask, and were careful to look for more stones from different angles and to be concerned about his fitness for surgery.

So after all that, where are we with Rufie?  On the rabbit group I attended for a couple years most of the owners were taught to give sub-Q fluids at home, maybe they will teach you as hydration is critical. Other wise you may have to have a couple trips for hydration a week until he is well out of the woods. What I am getting from your message is that he may not need any surgery at all, but he still feels ill and is not getting enough food or fluids. Is this his status now?Along with the UTI?

When you said you were getting bits and pieces, I take that to mean you were having a hard time taking notes or the vet was going to fast or talking to technical or talking to someone else in the room. You do have a right to understand everything they do and what they believe is Rufie's condition and prognosis. Ask them to repeat or to slow down, or let you make a note or even ask them to define a word or phrase, they should be happy to do this, you are right, you are paying them, he's your pig and you love him dearly. If you dont get it while you are there, when you get home make some notes about your questions and call back and ask for them to speak to you at a convenient time. Ask right out, "What do you think is wrong with him  right now, What is his outlook, what should I do to increase his chance". The last question should always be "Can you think of anything else I should know or do, have I forgotten to ask you anything, what's your gut feeling". I do this with my doc too.  In the extreme I will get their eye contact, and say look!, this may just be a guinea pig but I love him deeply and his health and happiness are very special to me, please help me do the very best for him, I love him. This  works!


So is the situation now that he as 2 meds, Baytril and metacam?  And does this mean right now they believe he has a UTI. Why do they think he's not eating?
I dont know what rescue Remedy is, perhaps you could explain. Since he has the UTI and needs fluids, I would get 100% cranberry juice, unsweetened, you may have to get it in the health food section, its expensive at 100%, so freeze it in an ice cube tray and just thaw one at a time, it will stay fresher, and avoid contamination this way. Some people on this list recommend a herb Shilgtong, read the article on stone piggies that's listed at the beginning of every digest. I have not had a piggy with stones or UTI and I have no experience with Shillington, but some here swear by it.

I am attaching the link to the rabbit article by Dana Kremples, PhD who has written the best article known on stasis, and with Rufie feeling bad, eating and drinking too little he is in danger of slipping into stasis.  The articles includes the comforting steps you can do at home and can help him from slipping into stasis at all, at this point maybe it's all he needs along with the fluids and pain relief. The basic treatment, besides syringing food, is prevention of gas build up with infant gas drops, (GAS-X) or  simethecone, gentle massage of the belly, elevating the rear, and gentle warmth to the belly, but read this entire article, and note at the top is a link for a Vet level discussion you can take to the vet. I dont mean to add more work, but stasis can come along just because a piggy is in too much pain to eat and drink enough and that is what adds  immeasurable to the danger and misery of stasis, so these steps can save his life, and it can give him time to rest up and get his feet back under him so to speak, I hope it helps you both.  Note this was written for rabbits, but it tracks pretty well to piggies
http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/ileus.html

Dont worry about us getting upset, we are part of your team and so you should feel free to use us your way, just be sure to give us as much info as you can get. At the same time you are educating us all as to what to do if this happens to out piggy, GPDD works both ways. Whee care for you both and want Rufie up around real soon, especially so he can go on our pirate adventure.   I hope this is helpful, calming, and gives you confidence, that is my intent, to help you and Rufie and add to our knowledge base as a group, and I hope desperately that these goals are met. And to reiterate the sub-Q's sound like the key now according to what you wrote, and pain relief.  Love and kisses, Sandy and Sammy