[Gpdd] HEALTH: Flower Update

[Anneli Cochrane]

I went ahead with the surgery yesterday to spay Flower because of her
ovarian cysts. The surgery was successful, and she woke up fine, but we
still have some challenges ahead. The main issue right now is getting food
and water down her. She munched on some hay after surgery, so that was a
good sign and also ate some parsley yesterday and this morning. I started
critical care mixed with non-flavored pedialyte yesterday but she is
fighting me a lot on that. I do not believe she is eating pellets or water
on her own yet, but it has not even been 24 hrs. yet so I am hoping she
will start to come around here soon. So we will see how the next 48 hrs.
play out. The vet said she should not need any more pain meds then what she
had yesterday, but that I should call and get some if she is acting like
she needs it. She had isoflurane anesthesia, Lidocaine, and some
anti-anxiety drug yesterday. For her surgery, the vet said they did a new
procedure which is supposed to be less invasive. They take each ovary and
most of the uterus out (but not all because that would involve a third
incision and she didn't need it) through each flank. So they open one flank
and take it out, then flip her over and do the other side. Therefore she
has no stitches she can pull out herself since it is not underneath her;
it's called the bilateral flank approach or something like that and it is
supposed to be more successful in guinea pigs. The vet had to take a needle
and draw a bunch of fluid out of one of Flower's ovaries before she could
even take it out. The uterus was enlarged but not really bad and otherwise
healthy. However, her hormones were so messed up that she had actually been
producing milk this whole time! So we will see...hoping for the best! She's
a strong pig, but we all know how critical that food and water thing is.
However, about 6 stalks of parsley were eaten this morning with no problem
so I am encouraged by that.

Anneli