[Gpdd] HEALTH: Hershey's vets

[warmbreath at comcast.net]

Dear Joanie,  I actually made a typo when I suggested a titre test for the 
bun. but I got it right at the bottom of the article. Your bun has no 
symptoms so a titre is not meaningful  I would just watch for the symptoms I 
listed for you before.  I they occur then treat although its possible that 
your bun is a carrier, ask your vet if that's possible, take the bun for a 
check up. Keep in mind that if the bun gets some other  illness it could 
cause the e.c. to "wake up". so she could get the symptoms' then, which, 
just like our little Hershey, could confuse the issue.  Keep in mind that 
buns live longer than piggies on average, 9 to even 14 years, even with 
dormant e.c. It's just when some disease or condition occurs that weakens 
the immune system do they become active, one such compromiser is old age but 
your bun isn't there yet.

Actually I have continued to research Hershey's records and back further she 
had the ovarian cysts. Were they treated and if so how, if not they could 
cause her eventual death by them selves. So those may have played a role 2 
ways. They may have gotten worse and even become cancerous, and or/ they may 
have been what started on the cascade of events you correctly identify. In 
fact, her weakened condition is what allowed the e.c. to wake up, as I am 
almost positive she did have e.c.  it just wasn't the first disease, it was 
part of the cascade.I think we can even see that episode were she wouldn't 
come out from the back of her cage as a symptom, it may have been warmer 
back there which helps a hurting tummy, then the stasis. You see how an 
entire history is helpful.

Now that you finally say your vets are exotics vets I am evermore puzzled 
over their activities. Where I take exception is that they kept treating all 
the little fires but never treated the big one. She had one or more diseases 
that could kill her, the stasis was a symptom so were the stiff legs, ear 
gunk, neurological symptoms, low appetite etc. etc. etc.

1. Ovarian cysts
2. Ear infection or e.c.  both never treated, the ear flushes are to 
visualize ear drums, which is not a definitive test for ear infection, it 
could have been and inner ear infection, middle ear, it could have broken 
into the outer ear, but you never told us what was in the ear gunk, either 
junk from ear infection, or mite excrement (mites have a tendency to pop up 
when piggy is sick too) or ear wax. You don't say exactly which and still it 
wouldn't tell us if an inner or middle ear infection was present

They said e.c. is rare in pigs, and so it is, we think,(see earlier posts) 
but yours had all the chances for exposure, everyone of the classic symptoms 
of e.c. and the antibiotic would have treated both ear infection and e.c. 
and since you were giving her flagyl you could have given her instead a 
proper e.c. drug, Panacur isn't expensive.  But who knows maybe cancer from 
the cysts was the real killer. If only you had done a necropsy we could 
really learn something.  I know you spent a fortune in a day when fortunes 
are uncommon, but that could only help us know for sure (not even 100%) 
which of the disease were really active and e.c., if present would have 
shown cysts in her brain.

So I understand everything you wrote and I dont disagree with most, I know 
your heart was in the right place but the worst possible, and underlying 
causes weren't treated, only the hundred little things the diseases caused 
by the big gun diseases were treated, but the big guns kept blasting away. 
So you made her more comfortable, but without attempting a cure, her death 
was inevitable  And I am so unhappy with myself that I wasn't able to 
motivate the treating of those diseases. I am mourning my failure and her 
death as I know you are. So I am very empathetic

May I ask what was the cause of death for your earlier two pigs, not trying 
to further indict you or make you more miserable.  In your message about 
them you referred to your ineptitude. Now you have a new pig and your old 
bun and my main goal is to help you become effective advocates for your 
pets. You are very brave with this post, and I am proud of you for it, but 
it seems like you are reaching out when you describe yourself unflatteringly 
. Let's change your self perception by arming you to become an effective 
advocate for you pets, spend your dollars wisely, and learn more about their 
care and disease. I hope you will join etherbun and stay with us every day. 
When there is a link given here follow it. keep a list of posts that 
facilitate your learning in an email folder or print them and organize them. 
We are going to lose pets, we are going to make our own mistakes, I wrote 
you privately that I thought I had made mistakes with Manny the Boar's care 
when he died last summer. The only thing we can do is try to learn, keep 
reaching out, one foot in front of the other, but not mechanically, design 
our own and your pets future, same as would do for your kids.

I too am grieving for Hershey and many of my tears have been for you as 
well. let's just go forward, our pets need us.  Sandy


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "GARY HESS" <joanhess4 at sbcglobal.net>
To: <gpdd at gpdd.org>
Sent: Tuesday, September 29, 2009 12:00 PM
Subject: [Gpdd] HEALTH: Hershey's vets


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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



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