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Post by yasmin on Sept 22, 2015 21:31:36 GMT
Thanks moletteuk. I truly appreciate having this forum and its members – you are all great support. Also, it is a relief to hear that mouth injuries will heal up quite quickly – I need that hope. Sean is very uncooperative – even the vet has to sedate him to have a look in his mouth; I am so hoping that he progresses in what he is able/willing to eat because I really don't know how I'll be able to force feed him. (Hmmm, when our very docile cat Ditto had to be forcefed – he had a severe bout of acute pancreatitis – the vet surgically put a tube through his neck into his throat and all we had to do was stick a syringe to the end of that and squirt food into him that way four times a day. Doubt they'd do that for a degu, eh?)
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Post by deguconvert on Sept 23, 2015 0:00:22 GMT
I don't know if this suggestion is worth making, but would some seed/nut oil be helpful to deliver some calories to him? Like peanut, or sesame, or almond oil that you could put tiny amounts into his mouth with the syringe? I'm just thinking that it would be calorie dense, yet totally easier to swallow, but you would have to like only put a drop into the front of his mouth, and introduce it just a drop at a time. You really wouldn't want to push it in forcefully for fear of oil getting introduced into the lungs.
What do you think?
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Post by deguconvert on Sept 23, 2015 15:08:25 GMT
How is Sean doing today?
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Post by animalmadchloe on Sept 23, 2015 15:40:32 GMT
He will.come.around eventually some times big al won't eat the day after having anesthetic guess he feels rotten same as we would gave you tried a piece of something very tempting like shreddies or peanuts?
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Post by yasmin on Sept 24, 2015 8:28:47 GMT
He will eat a sunflower seed or two (so far, up to four in a sitting). And yesterday, he ate two clover flowers as well. He is still losing weight but at least there's hope.
The oil is an interesting suggestion, deguconvert, but I have not tried it yet – Sean is not an easy one to give a syringe of anything to. We are getting the meds into him though, thank goodness, and thanks to my husband who has a steady firm hand.
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Post by deguconvert on Sept 24, 2015 14:36:16 GMT
I even wondered if he would lick it off a finger tip . . . and if so, you could have a small amount in a spoon and just dip your finger in and let him lick. That is if he can lick, considering the painful state of his poor tongue.
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Post by yasmin on Sept 24, 2015 19:31:00 GMT
I don't think he can lick. He has taken a turn for the worse today. He can't even eat sunflower seeds. He managed to eat some spray millet but that's about it. Poor boy wants to eat – he picks up pellets, clover, sunflower seeds but then just drops them.  Despite the painkiller, he is in a great deal of pain and discomfort; both his eyes are closed most of the time. I have stayed home from work today so I can go to him every half an hour and tempt him to eat something. |
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Post by moletteuk on Sept 24, 2015 19:47:23 GMT
How about some mashed food but dry enough that he can pick up a little chunk with his hand, put it in his mouth and virtually just swallow whole? I'm thinking the back of the tongue and beyond should be working OK if he can get food far enough into his mouth and ready to swallow without needing too much movement.
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Post by yasmin on Sept 25, 2015 1:53:22 GMT
I just tried that. He refuses to eat anything now.  We will be giving him the Metacam and Baytril soon. I will see if he will eat when the painkiller kicks in. |
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Post by Bexi87 on Sept 25, 2015 7:03:08 GMT
Poor Sean  I hope he starts feeling better very soon and is able to eat. Fingers crossed for you Yasmin |
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Post by moletteuk on Sept 25, 2015 10:01:30 GMT
I think at this point I'd be tempted to take him back to the vets so they can syringe some food and water into him and have a little check what is happening with his tongue. Do they do vet nurse appointments?
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Post by yasmin on Sept 25, 2015 18:13:15 GMT
They don't do vet nurse appointments as far as I know. (I have called them several times the past couple of days and they never offered help with feeding him.) However, I just called (again) and tomorrow is one of the very rare Saturdays that my vet is actually working – so I now have a 9 am appointment.
I agree – Sean's tongue needs to be looked at again because he has gone from eating sunflower seeds and drinking water on Monday to not eating or drinking anything today. And he is looking worse and worse each day – eyes closed, lots of wetness around his face and chin and chest. I tried giving him Critical Care but he struggles so much to resist it and it ends up all over him and everywhere except in his mouth.
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Post by yasmin on Sept 26, 2015 17:08:55 GMT
We took Sean to the vet this morning. He had a swelling under his tongue that was pushing it up against the roof of his mouth. Hence, the not being able to take medications, eat, swallow, etc. We had to make a decision whether to let him go on another couple of days with the slim hope that eventually the tongue might recover and he would be able to eat again; that or put him down. Because he has been suffering so much and the chance of a recovery was extremely slim (he might starve to death before the swelling goes down, his tongue may be dying off completely, he might have scarring that too would render his tongue useless), we said goodbye to him. Dearest Sean, rest in peace. Azure, Lilac, and your children San and Chuugi will be there to greet you and you can live as a family together again. |
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Post by Bexi87 on Sept 26, 2015 19:07:35 GMT
Oh Yasmin, what a horrible few days you have had. I'm so sorry for the loss of Sean |
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Post by yasmin on Sept 26, 2015 19:17:28 GMT
Thank you. It's been very difficult.
I am fortunate to have a very supportive husband, an amazing and compassionate veterinarian, and this forum and its members.
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Post by moletteuk on Sept 26, 2015 21:46:06 GMT
I'm so sorry (For what it's worth, I think you've done the right thing) Rest peacefully Sean x |
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Post by bouncy on Sept 26, 2015 22:52:23 GMT
It's always hard to say goodbye, but you know he's no longer suffering. Hugs x
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Post by Kins on Sept 28, 2015 9:44:39 GMT
So sorry Yasmin, you've had a 5hitty time haven't you You've done your best and what is best for your goos, that's all anyone can do. Sounds like your dear departed goos will be causing trouble over at rainbow bridge  |
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Post by animalmadchloe on Sept 30, 2015 18:56:17 GMT
We took Sean to the vet this morning. He had a swelling under his tongue that was pushing it up against the roof of his mouth. Hence, the not being able to take medications, eat, swallow, etc. We had to make a decision whether to let him go on another couple of days with the slim hope that eventually the tongue might recover and he would be able to eat again; that or put him down. Because he has been suffering so much and the chance of a recovery was extremely slim (he might starve to death before the swelling goes down, his tongue may be dying off completely, he might have scarring that too would render his tongue useless), we said goodbye to him. Dearest Sean, rest in peace. Azure, Lilac, and your children San and Chuugi will be there to greet you and you can live as a family together again. Oh hun I'm so sorry ita not been a good few weeks for you but at least there all together now pain free and happy big hugs xxxxxx |
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Post by yasmin on Oct 1, 2015 19:01:57 GMT
Thank you all for your kind words.
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Despite the painkiller, he is in a great deal of pain and discomfort; both his eyes are closed most of the time. I have stayed home from work today so I can go to him every half an hour and tempt him to eat something. 
We will be giving him the Metacam and Baytril soon. I will see if he will eat when the painkiller kicks in.
I hope he starts feeling better very soon and is able to eat.
