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Post by iimalt on May 28, 2015 15:46:32 GMT
The vets still aren't happy enough with her chest to put her through a full dental examination but they did have a good feel around her mouth and an good as look as they could while she wriggled about. They want to look at them further but they want her chest clear first.
She is now on 0.1ml of baytril twice a day and 0.05ml of metronidazole twice a day. She was only on baytril before so hopefully the other helps clear it.
She is a bit up and down still on what she'll eat or how active she is but she has just joined in destroying a platform I was using to separate her and another from my goo with a poorly tail so I guess she isn't feeling too sorry for herself!
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Post by moletteuk on May 28, 2015 20:01:06 GMT
OK. It looks like the metronidazole is a second antibiotic, I've not come across that one.
Just keep a close eye on her and if her breathing doesn't improve or her eating gets worse get on the phone to the vet. You could weigh her every two or three days (at the same time of day) as another way to monitor her.
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Post by iimalt on Jun 9, 2015 22:36:43 GMT
My little lady has taken a turn for the worse today. I was convinced her breathing was getting better. It was quieter and she stopped sneezing all the time.
I've come home from the gym this evening though and she didn't come and greet me like she did this morning. I scooped her out their nest to find her breathing through her mouth and bloated like a little balloon.
I'm so worried for her but I can't do a lot until the morning. She was still eating, only a little, but enough, up until today.
I've tucked her up in the nest and she's quite peaceful snuggled up with an old sock. She's spent most of the last hour curled up in my scarf while I did a big cage clean (dropped a bag of sunflower seeds in their cage, not the best thing I've ever done). She's so content being stroked and snuggled, much less wriggly then normal but she must be feeling terrible. It's going to be a trip to the vet ASAP tomorrow if she makes it through tonight. Hopefully she's at least warm and comfy with her sisters for now.
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Post by deguconvert on Jun 10, 2015 0:27:53 GMT
That doesn't sound good at all! Do let us know how your night goes, as well as the visit to the vet. Will be thinking of you and her.
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Post by iimalt on Jun 10, 2015 7:25:08 GMT
Woke up this morning to find her running round the cage much less bloated then last night. She was full of beans! She's still breathing alternatively through her nose and mouth though, obviously not well at all. I'm trying to get a vet apt. now.
The vets wanted her breathing to get better so they could examine her teeth but I just don't think it's going to happen. Not too sure what more they'll be able to do.
Will keep you updated once I manage to get to the vets.
Thank you for thinking of us
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Post by moletteuk on Jun 10, 2015 11:21:42 GMT
Maybe they can persevere a bit more to get a look in her mouth without anaesthetic, or perhaps they could even try and get an xray without sedation, these things aren't totally impossible. It seems like waiting for improvement isn't really working, so they might need to bite the bullet and take the risk, if there are dental problems, they aren't going to get better by waiting.
There are bronchiodilators that could be worth a try, my degu has tried bricanyl, although without success, there are others (aminophylline, theophylline). If she is really in trouble then steroids could also be an option (prednisone, dexamethasone).
Also be aware that breathing difficulties, antibiotics and bloating can really take a toll, you can get into a vicious cycle, it can be better to give antibiotics as injections to avoid the disturbance to the digestion. It's worth getting some Critical Care or Supreme Recovery.
See if you can get the vet to think out loud with you and talk through options of what might be going on. Emphasise to them the frequency of dental issues in degus.
Good luck!
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Post by iimalt on Jun 10, 2015 21:54:09 GMT
Hello,
Ended up with a sick 3yo (human!) today so I've had to postpone my vet trip until tomorrow, bit of a pain but it just wasn't going to be doable.
Thankfully she's been her usual self all day - she's started to eat really well again too.
I will mention those medications you've spoken about to my vet and also see if they can do their best with checking her teeth. Having to give her antibiotics so often lately has made her ever so tame so hopefully that'll help.
I was so glad to see her happy little face this morning after the worry she gave me last night.
Thank you all for your help and advice and I will keep you all updated.
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Post by moletteuk on Jun 11, 2015 10:15:43 GMT
OK, let us know. This does seem like a strange case with her fluctuating so much.
Hope 3yo is better today.
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Post by iimalt on Jun 15, 2015 10:50:40 GMT
Hello,
Sorry forgot to update the other day. She is back on antibiotics, same as before, for a week and then they want to risk the anaesthetic to check her back teeth and X-ray her chest. Only problem is i don't know if I can afford all this.
She has lost (her name is Boo by the way!) 40 grams in 2 weeks, I can't remember what she weighs now but she is a tiny little frame of what she used to be, she has always been smaller then my other goo's but now she's about half the size.
Putting her under to do all these checks could end her life as well as not doing it, I'm so undecided as to what's best. If money was no object I would probably go for it, but it's not.
She is just over 4yrs old and has had a brilliant life so I don't know whether to just keep her happy and plodding along until the time comes or to put her through all this stuff at the vets with he chance of not a good outcome. She still runs on her wheel, eats and drinks, snuggles and jumps about even though her breathing is bad.
I'm just a bit lost about what's best for her at the moment. I have a couple of days to decide. Any advice, help, or anything is greatly appreciated, thank you x
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Post by moletteuk on Jun 15, 2015 15:42:33 GMT
Have they talked through possibilities and likelihoods of different things with you? I'm a bit puzzled why they keep wanting to wait and do more antibiotics when she is losing weight all the time. Are they hearing signs of infection when they listen to her chest? Is that all they are going on?
With my degu with breathing issues, we did a week of antiobiotics and a week of metacam for their anti-inflammatory property and then went straight to anaesthetic for xrays, inspection and nasal rinse. My degu has never lost weight and seems otherwise fit and healthy so there was minimal risk to the anaesthetic, but on the other hand, there is more urgency and potential benefit to the mouth exam for your girl with her continuing to lose weight.
If you exclude the nasal rinse that had to be sent away to a lab, the total cost for my girl's anaesthetic, 3 xrays, exam etc was about £80. I think you should go ahead with this because it could still be the case that she just needs her teeth trimming, you aren't in a good position to know how to proceed without the exam and proper diagnosis.
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Post by iimalt on Jun 15, 2015 17:02:10 GMT
Hi,
They have listened to her chest and keep saying that she has a RI. They've checked her front teeth but they can't get a look/are never that willing to look at her back teeth.
I've been pushing for her teeth to be checked for a while now so I suppose I should just go for it.
They've given me an estimate of close to £200 for the anaesthetic, x-Ray and possible teeth trim. I wI'll have to discuss paying it in a few goes with them as I can't do that all at once.
I am going to try and up her weight before she has to go in next because she's just so tiny, I want her to have the best chance of waking up happy. I've seen the peanut/oat etc recipe on here to help up weight and have some recovery food too. Any other foods that are good for getting weight on, especially for a goo that is up and down with her eating? Are most baby foods ok for them?
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Post by moletteuk on Jun 15, 2015 19:27:05 GMT
OK. Has the vet recommended whether it's worth checking the teeth? Have they mentioned whether she is responding to the antiobiotics? How is your relationship with the vet, do you trust them?
That does sound a lot for the procedure, I know others on here get anaesthetic and tooth trims for less than £100, I think it's worth asking if they can help you out on the price. I think some places price degus as hamsters and others as rabbit/ guinea, it can make quite a difference.
For weight gain you can try nuts and oil seeds, they are very calorific and well liked. Baby food should be veg flavour only. Does she eat much forage, dry or fresh?
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Post by iimalt on Jun 17, 2015 12:37:45 GMT
They have said her breathing has improved since she started her first round of antibiotics, although it's not 100% it's much better then it was.
They have said they want to check her teeth as her face appears a little swollen.
I will give them a call to discuss payment/price, see what they can do.
I've been hand feeding her nuts/seeds and she is very happy eating baby food. She will also eat a wet mixture of their food pellets, a few oats, recovery food powder and hay mixed in quite happily - she won't let the other two near this until she's finished!
She will eat fresh grass and a bit of hay here as there but she isn't that fussed about much other forage.
Thanks for your help
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Post by moletteuk on Jun 17, 2015 19:40:56 GMT
OK, that's good that her appetite seems good, and at least I'm not saying something completely different to your vet, let us know how you get on.
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Post by iimalt on Jun 18, 2015 20:38:30 GMT
Got my little lady booked in for her x-ray etc tomorrow. She's been eating well today and is very content, her breathing seem's to be steady too, the odd mouth breath now and then but not too bad. Bit worried about her being on her own for hours while she waits around tomorrow, any tips for leaving a lone degu at the vet?
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Post by iimalt on Jun 19, 2015 15:18:22 GMT
She came out breathing through her nose, her eyes looks brighter and she is very happy to be back with her sisters  |
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Post by deguconvert on Jun 19, 2015 15:25:47 GMT
What did they see or find?
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Post by moletteuk on Jun 19, 2015 16:57:05 GMT
Sorry I was a bit slow, I thought it was tomorrow, anyway, glad she came through well. Let us know when you can what they found.
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Post by iimalt on Jun 21, 2015 13:54:17 GMT
Hello, they couldn't see anything that'd be causing her a problem breathing on her X-ray, but her teeth did need trimming and sorting out so they did that for her and she's a lot happier now, she breaths and eats a lot easier.
I think with a supposed RI, all the antibiotics, weight loss and her teeth needing sorting too she just went a bit all over the place with her health. Hopefully we'll stick to good days now and be less like a yoyo!
Shes managing to eat more now too so she should gradually put some weight back on and look like a healthy degu again!
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Post by deguconvert on Jun 21, 2015 18:00:43 GMT
That is great news! I am so happy and relieved that she seems so much more at ease herself, and is eating and breathing easier. WOO HOO!! I hope she has a completely amazing turn around.
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