[Gpdd] [MISC] Laps

[Heather Eickmeyer]

Hi Laps Members,

I'm sorry for leaving you in the dark for so long.  I've been ignoring the
LAPS blog for quite some time now.  Both of my piggies had some major health
problems in the spring (Seussy had cancer and Hamlet had a stone.)  They had
operations within weeks of each other.  Honestly, it scared me and I
promised myself that I would spend less time on the computer and more time
with my babies.  My pigs have a terrific (grand understatement) vet and I
don't think either would be around if it wasn't for her.  Seussy is 7 years
and 3 months old.  I think that qualifies him as a SCAMPS member.   In the
spring, he was diagnosed with cancer.  The vet wasn't able to remove it
all.  Some of it was located behind a major neck vein and as a result was
given a very grim prognosis.  With much prayer and help from God, I honestly
believe he was healed.  Everything looked on the up and up until the past
month.  He was having problems breathing and I was sure the cancer was
back.  I was wrong but the news still wasn't good.  The vet diagnosed him
with a heart problem.  Fluid is building up in his heart.  Really bad news,
I know.   He's on medicine every twelve hours and luckily is having more
good days than bad now.  So that's very good.  I think he likes all of the
extra attention.  It could be all of the snacks that I give him as bribes to
take his medicine.  Hamlet is doing well.  He had a bladder stone removed
but I'm terrified he will get yet another stone.  You know how these stone
piggies are prone to recurrences.  He's 5 years and 2 months and that's not
young for a piggy either.  He also goes to the vet every month for a teeth
trim.  One of his bottom teeth refuses to grow so he has to have all of his
front teeth trimmed.  He is a real trooper about it.  He's used to getting
his snack chopped up into tiny bites and being hand fed.  Strangely he can
eat hay and Cavy Cuisine just fine. But if anything happened to Seussy, I'm
afraid he would die of a broken heart.  Hamlet adores Seussy.  And then
there is my dog who we adopted as a special needs pup a year a half ago.
She's not operating at a full lung capacity because of an illness she had
before we adopted her.  While we finally seem to have that problem under
control, she's now having unexplained allergies.  We have to rub ointment on
her belly everyday.  We've already cut out wheat, corn, beef and chicken
from her diet.  So she's on a special diet and she goes to the vet a lot!!
Our next step is to take her to a vet dermatologist - I didn't even know
they existed.   So that's the jist of my story and the reason I've been
ignoring the LAPS blog.  I didn't really want to burden you with all of my
problems but I felt you needed to understand.   I hope I didn't depress
anyone but writing this.  The good news is all of my animal babies are happy
at the moment and my vet is a gift from heaven.  So I'm thankful.  But I
want you all to know that I didn't leave you guys hanging for no reason.  I
know how all of your piggies are very special so let me know what I need to
update on the blog (http://cavies-laps.blogspot.com/).  I'll try to update
what I can in the coming week.  It may not be as detailed as it once was.
I may disappear again but don't take it personally please.  I'm just
focusing on my own family.

Heather