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Post by yasmin on Jan 26, 2015 20:42:28 GMT
Back from the vet. As far as Lilac's cyst goes, he advised that I buy a herbal skin tag remover (I think it is called Thuja) from the drug store. He says it may shrink the cyst and is non-toxic if she licks it.
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Post by moletteuk on Jan 27, 2015 10:53:48 GMT
Never heard of that. According to internet search Thuja is some kind of preparation from a type of white cedar tree.
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Post by saddlers on Jan 27, 2015 12:34:07 GMT
A new one for me too, glad she is okay
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Post by yasmin on Jan 30, 2015 17:03:28 GMT
Looked for Thuja skin tag remover at the local pharmacy. Couldn't find it so I went to an herbal store. They only had it as an essential oil but warned that it would need to be diluted because at full strength it can act as a powerful neurotoxin. Yikes! So unless I find it as a formulated preparation, I'm not going to try it. Vet said I could also use a skin tag remover prepared for dogs. Might try that if the cyst begins to bother her.
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Post by moletteuk on Jan 30, 2015 21:33:19 GMT
It must be all about the concentration, but without some information about how much might be safe but still have some effect, it's difficult to think it's worth the risk until the cyst is bothering her. A quick search brought up a pet specific cream using thuja www.viovet.co.uk/Farm_and_Yard_Remedies_Thuja_Cream/c8567/ and an article on how dangerous it is to horses www.horsebackridingworldwide.com/thuja-trees/This is a complete guess based on some experience of using essential oils on myself - I would maybe dilute one drop of thuja into a teaspoon of something quickly absorbed like olive oil, and then dab on a tiny amount. You could dilute it even more and see if you could still smell it in a particular dilution. You would probably want to look into it a bit more closely first, anyway. The whole fact that it comes from cedar strikes a warning note for me.
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Post by deguconvert on Jan 30, 2015 22:58:26 GMT
Yeah, I don't like that if comes from Cedar either. I think there is the real potential to cause a respiratory issue.
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Post by yasmin on Feb 2, 2015 0:50:44 GMT
I appreciate your replies and good advice. I will hold off on the Thuja. If Lilac starts being bothered by the cyst, I will ask the vet about the skin tag remover for dogs that I can get from them – and then research that.
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Post by yasmin on Mar 10, 2015 15:23:33 GMT
Friday, March 13th, marks the one-year anniversary of when Lilac began having breathing issues, eventually being diagnosed with molars growing up into her nasal cavities. One year. Poor girl has been living with difficult breathing and regular doses of Metacam for a year now. And now she also has cysts, is losing fur here and there, and often has bits of dried up orangey/brown stuff coming out of her nose. Though I have been trying my best to help her eat by picking out bits of food that are the right shape for her, she has lost alot of weight; even her tail looks skinnier (if that is even possible). However, she is still running her wheel and cuddling with her daughters – still active and engaged. My home girl is a true trooper. Each day is a blessing.
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Post by deguconvert on Mar 10, 2015 16:18:17 GMT
This must make you ache to see her struggle so with her health, to still be so active and zestful for life and all she loves, and yet showing such distressing signs of decline. I have also been there with one of our elderly males, and it is so hard. I am glad she continues to hang on so well, but my heart aches for you.
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Post by moletteuk on Mar 11, 2015 9:58:14 GMT
I can't put it better than DC, so ditto ^
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Post by yasmin on Mar 11, 2015 15:44:28 GMT
This must make you ache to see her struggle so with her health, to still be so active and zestful for life and all she loves, and yet showing such distressing signs of decline. I have also been there with one of our elderly males, and it is so hard. I am glad she continues to hang on so well, but my heart aches for you. Sigh... yes it does. But each moment I have with her is so precious that all of the emotional stress etc. is so worth it. I so love that girl.
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Post by animalmadchloe on Mar 11, 2015 17:16:44 GMT
I'm dreading the day when my boys are old I can't watch animals suffering or just getting old I'm rubbish with that stuff
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Post by moletteuk on Mar 11, 2015 19:16:39 GMT
I know, I feel the same, my girls are 4 and a half and I dread them getting old and having problems. I take my hat off to you, Yasmin, for the amount you cope with and the way you deal with it such grace.
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Post by animalmadchloe on Mar 14, 2015 23:25:19 GMT
Even photos of ageing degus makes me feel sad
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Post by yasmin on Apr 7, 2015 18:09:54 GMT
Noticed on Sunday that Lilac was having some swelling along her bottom jaw. Then on Monday, she began to bleed. Will be taking her to the vet tomorrow morning (soonest appointment I could get with Dr. Auger). Quite worried. So afraid that it might be caused by her molars. Or might just be a spur - however, she is at very high risk of not surviving anesthesia because of her breathing issues. She is still active and eating. I have to do something for her; so hope there is something I can do.
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Post by animalmadchloe on Apr 7, 2015 21:05:15 GMT
Noticed on Sunday that Lilac was having some swelling along her bottom jaw. Then on Monday, she began to bleed. Will be taking her to the vet tomorrow morning (soonest appointment I could get with Dr. Auger). Quite worried. So afraid that it might be caused by her molars. Or might just be a spur - however, she is at very high risk of not surviving anesthesia because of her breathing issues. She is still active and eating. I have to do something for her; so hope there is something I can do. Oh no I hope everything goes well at the vets xx
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Post by moletteuk on Apr 8, 2015 10:58:19 GMT
Good luck, I'll be thinking of you and Lilac x
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Post by yasmin on Apr 8, 2015 16:20:57 GMT
Back from the vet – relieved. Lilac had an abscess probably caused by the molars growing downward past her jaw. Fortunately, the abscess ruptured by itself and the pus has drained out. It has scabbed over and is healing nicely. She has been prescribed Baytril twice a day for two weeks and this time it is flavored with Verbena. (This is the flavor that years ago my degu Azure was given. Azure was okay with it and, back then, Lilac loved it so much that she would push Azure out of the way and then drink it right from the syringe.) Just gave it to her now – first put the syringe through the bars of the cage and Lilac put her teeth around it and I got some in that way. And the rest I put on puffed rice and she gobbled it all down.
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Post by deguconvert on Apr 8, 2015 16:41:22 GMT
What a relief!! Sounds like she is still favorable to the flavoring of the antibiotic too, LOL!
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Post by yasmin on Aug 31, 2015 21:19:17 GMT
Just an update on Lilac.
On Thursday night, she was bleeding from her nose and mouth. The vet had warned me that this would eventually happen when the molar root growing into her nasal cavity breaks through. The next day I made an appointment to bring her in to the vet on Tuesday – most likely she'd be put down then – but she did very well over the weekend. No more bleeding and she is still active and eating. So I cancelled the appointment. I know that when she goes in I will likely be advised to put her down – though she looks perfectly well on one side of her face, the other side is becoming a bit ghastly (eye is sunken, skin on side of mouth withdrawing, etc.) But she still sits on the wheel, is active and has a very healthy appetite.
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