[Gpdd] HEALTH: Hershey's vets

[GARY HESS]

In their defense, their reasoning was logical and they did the best they could for Hershey. All four were exotics specialists and cared a great deal about us. There were four because most of our visits were on an emergency basis, and we got whoever could fit us in. The progression they saw was that she had a UTI and the antibiotics caused stasis, She showed vestibular symptoms while her ears were completely occluded with hard, black exudate (and it did take all day to get the stuff out--four to six flushings just to visualize her ear drums to look for infection). Then, when she showed lateral weakness, they concurred that it was central nervous system in origin. They helped me to keep her going with supportive care in hopes she might heal and her teeth get back in shape (uneven wear starting, due to unlateral weakness), and those final days they gave us were the most precious moments my husband and I ever shared with any pet. She lost all her fear and
 became the most outgoing, appreciative, and affectionate creature I've ever met in spite of all the treatments forced on her. Such a grand piggie! I wish you could've seen her waddle up to Gary (whom, along with most people, she used to fear), stand on her hindlegs with her little forepaws on his arm, and look up into his eyes or play tug of war with  her syringes, her legs braced like a little dog. He found one of those with her teeth marks on it yesterday, and his eyes filled with tears.
They may have misdiagnosed Hershey, but keep in mind that her predecessor, Vrie, lived with her in the same cage for some three years (before I knew any better) and Vrie lived to be over seven years old, even with my unenlightened care. I'm sure the vets took that into account.
So I can see the argument either way as to diagnosis. I wish I could've pursued the E cuniculi avenue earlier, but we already had our hands full putting out fires, and it really did seem to all of us as if we were following the right course, as even mild illness can trigger a far-reaching cascade effect.
Still, I'd like to use Hershey as an example for the course of this illness and how very easy it is to mistake the symptoms for other causes. Feel free to use any part of her story you like, but, please don't indict my vets or me for doing what we thought was right.
I'm hoping to be able to afford a titre for the Bun. Please keep paws crossed that she's definitively free of antibodies so we can eventually move Puff into Hershey's sterilized cage once she's outgrown her present one which just fits on my bedroom dresser. If there's any question, I'm not sure what I'll do just yet. Our living space is only 1000 square feet, and there simply isn't anywhere else to put our little darling once she's grown.
Thank you all for all your support and love,
Joanie