[Gpdd] [MISC] Re:just saying hello / news from Piggyville

[Ann Evans]

Hello Cindy, Ethan, and Eddie,

I did not get your post but I did see Penny's reply to it. When I went 
into the archives I realized I have missed a lot of posts. So how are 
you and Ethan and Eddie?

The only exciting thing that has happened at Piggyville in March is that 
two weeks ago Lady Dowton Abby our elderly ginger abby received an 
injection of 1000 units of Human Chorionic Gonadotropic hormone, HCG. 
You may be aware that it is often used to treat ovarian cysts since it 
promotes ovulation. However, it is also used in both humans and cavies 
to prevent wasting syndrome which is weigh loss due to illness or age. 
In this case the purpose of the drug is to improve her quality of life. 
Being elderly she was spending a lot of time sleeping and had age 
related weight loss. Since the injection she has been acting like a 
youngster again. She is full of vitality, eating more, her coat is 
shinning and she is very happy. She has not gained any weight but more 
importantly she has not lost anymore weight. She weighs 800 grams. Most 
adult guinea pigs can not survive if they weigh less than 600 grams. I 
do not have any illusions that the drug will increase her life span 
since none of us know how long we will live. Certainly the drug has 
improved her quality of life. It brings tears to my eyes to see her so 
active and interested in life.

I volunteer as a consulting rodentologist to Drs. Danielson and Saleh 
D.V.M. of Ehrlich Animal Hospital Tampa, Florida.

Cheers,

Ann and the Rescued Piggys of Piggyville, Tampa Florida USA