[Gpdd] [HEALTH] (My piggies and vets)

[Ann Evans]

Dear Sandy,
Thank you for your suggestions regarding my writing style. Expressing 
myself in writing is very difficult for me. You are an accomplished and 
talented writer. I welcome your suggestions and anyone’s constructive 
criticism. We all come from different backgrounds and life experiences. 
I stated that Most Cavy respiratory infections involve fluid in the 
lungs. In my mind it is inconceivable that a vet would not first check 
if there is fluid in the lungs prior to giving Lasix. The same holds 
true regarding hydration levels. However due to the metabolic and fluid 
requirements of cavies and the their tendency to quickly develop ketosis 
if they go without adequate food and water for as little as 24 hours, 10 
ml of lactated Ringer’s solution can make the difference between life 
and death as can one dose of Lasix. In my experience many cavy owners 
and most vets are not aware of this. In no way am I advocating that a 
cavy owner demand any drug or medical intervention that is not based on 
sound medical reasoning. On the other hand I have seen multiple cases of 
vets refusing to give Lasix to a cavy that has fluid in the lungs. The 
excuse most often given is that they have never given Lasix to a cavy 
before. Regardless of the scientific evidence that I present to them 
they still refuse to give the Lasix though they regularly use the same 
drug in cats and dogs. In all of these cases the cavy was only given 
antibiotics. All of the animals either died from the respiratory 
infection or developed congestive heart failure and subsequently died 
from that complication.  At the veterinary practice that I volunteer at, 
I train cavy owners how to spot the signs that their cavy needs Lasix. 
We also recommend that every cavy owner have 2-10 mg tablets of Lasix in 
their cavy first aid kit. In the event that the vet office in closed and 
an emergency vet refuses to give Lasix then our clients have it for that 
emergency.


Cheers,

Ann and the Rescued Piggys of Piggyville, Tampa Florida USA.