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Post by teemu on Nov 16, 2022 12:10:05 GMT
Pulla's having some sort of a very sudden and very violent respiratory issue. He was fine last night, but today he's begun to have a lot of trouble breathing. There's snot and mucus oozing out of his nose, he's gasping for breath and having moments of panic over it.
I was able to get him a vet visit for today (they didn't have a time available but promised to take him in as an emergency patient). I'm waiting for a car right now, and will take him as soon as possible.
He was totally fine until today. It must be something really acute, possibly caused by lingering issues/compromised immune system from his dental last week. I'm not sure how this will go. He looks really bad right now...
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Post by savvy on Nov 16, 2022 12:35:46 GMT
I'm so sorry teemu. Keep us posted. |
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Post by moletteuk on Nov 16, 2022 16:08:45 GMT
Sending best wishes.
It's probably worth getting some simethicone wind dispersant for if he starts swallowing air, usually baby colic remedy is easily available. The only other thing is a warm steamy atmosphere can sometimes help.
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Post by teemu on Nov 16, 2022 18:23:21 GMT
I'm finally back home. He has an infection and his lungs are raspy. He's been prescribed painkillers and antibiotics. He got better after the initial situation and has not been choking again. I've upped the temperature and made sure that he has a warm heat pad. Can't do much more right now, so I 'll just have to wait and see.
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Post by moletteuk on Nov 16, 2022 19:03:13 GMT
Fingers crossed for him.
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Post by teemu on Nov 16, 2022 19:41:16 GMT
He does look much better than he did in the morning. He's obviously feeling poorly and his breathing is more labored than normal, but he isn't in any acute distress and has not had a choking episode like he did earlier today. He's eating without a hassle, but mostly wants to sit on the heat pad. Mobility is good though, he's moving normally around the cage when he wants to.
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Post by teemu on Nov 16, 2022 19:56:28 GMT
He just got some CC and perked up enough to go eat hay after that. It's a good sign, I think.
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Post by deguconvert on Nov 16, 2022 23:43:28 GMT
That was scary!! I'm glad he is doing better since you have come home! I hope he responds very well to the meds and is soon well again! Sending you and your wife hugs, Teemu.
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Post by savvy on Nov 17, 2022 0:10:43 GMT
Glad to hear he's doing better, hopefully you caught it in time.
Hugs to all. Keep us posted.
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Post by teemu on Nov 17, 2022 12:55:40 GMT
He's more or less the same today, but no severe episodes. He comes to eat his CC by his own volition when offered and does move around the cage, but is obviously low on energy and mostly wants to sleep. I've been keeping the pad heated for him. But no worrying signs as of now, he's sniffling and sneezing a bit but nothing's gotten worse.
I had to force him to take his meds last night since he wasn't feeling hungry and did not want CC (I mix the antibiotics and painkiller in it, and that usually works just fine for him). Really goes to show that he's not well since I could grab him by hand and didn't need to wear a glove to hold him while I put the syringe to him. If I'd ever try that without a glove normally, or for example when I did that when he had had his surgery, I'd get bitten in no time at all. It's really sad how his condition became like this pretty much overnight. I'm certain that he was practically normal two days ago.
He did eat a whole peanut after I gave him his meds last night too, so he's still got plenty of appetite.
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Post by teemu on Nov 18, 2022 12:09:33 GMT
Pulla's not getting any worse for now. I hesitate to make any predictions of the future, but he seems stable at the moment. He's still low on energy and sniffles and sneezes often, but he's moving around, has a good appetite and has not had any dramatic episodes.
I'm not sure if he's drinking enough. Haven't seen him drinking, at least. I've been giving him some extra water with a syringe, but it's a struggle. But if he's eating with a good appetite, you'd think that he'd drink as well if he felt he needed to. He can reach the water bottle just fine. Maybe the CC and the extra water just make him not really want to drink otherwise. Degus come from pretty arid conditions, after all.
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Post by teemu on Nov 18, 2022 23:46:51 GMT
The antibiotics are starting to help it, seems. Just now was the first time I saw him drink from the bottle after the vet visit, and he's been moving a lot more this evening.
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Post by deguconvert on Nov 18, 2022 23:54:09 GMT
I'm so VERY glad to hear this news!!
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Post by teemu on Nov 19, 2022 18:03:25 GMT
Pulla's behaving quite normally today, though he's still loafing around a lot. There's been more sneezing today than before, but I think that's not a bad sign. It might just mean that his airways are becoming less congested and some of the mucus is starting to come loose. Things are looking up!
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Post by moletteuk on Nov 19, 2022 18:38:49 GMT
Phew, that's a relief, I hope his recovery is plain sailing from this point.
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Post by moletteuk on Nov 21, 2022 19:18:24 GMT
How's he doing now?
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Post by deguconvert on Nov 21, 2022 20:13:58 GMT
Ditto!
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Post by teemu on Nov 22, 2022 16:13:04 GMT
Ah, sorry I did not post for a bit. It's been rather hectic with school work. But Pulla's doing very well! He occasionally still sneezes, and I don't think he's feeling 100% yet, but otherwise you'd have a hard time telling that a week ago I was convinced he'd die before reaching the vet! He's acting basically normally and running the wheel again. His antibiotics is to be continued until the weekend, and I'll be sure to gauge his health before actually ending it, but for now he's doing very well. Whatever his illness was, it's fortunately something that the medication obviously kicked very well.
I've noticed that he's been getting some eye boogers. Not sure what that's about. It doesn't bother him, but for the past few days, there's been a bit of crud in his eyes. Seems like it could either be related to the infection, or maybe it's due to the fact that he's spent roughly 75% of his time on a hot heatpad? Maybe his eyes are just a bit dry? For now, I don't think it looks worrisome, but I will of course keep an eye out.
Posso has been quite worried for him. Really, often it feels like Posso is the only degu with any proper manners or sense in the household! She's been checking Pulla over constantly and carefully keeping watch over the cage. When they sleep she's extra alert and often starts calling out. It's so nice to see their dynamics working out. They're the only degus I've had who don't fight over treats or do anything else like that.
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Post by moletteuk on Nov 23, 2022 17:42:25 GMT
Pulla and Posso are so sweet and it's all the more lovely since they are both such unique individuals that had prior difficulties, maybe that's why they value each other so much.
I would think the eye boogers are to do with the infection. My older goos spent lots of time on their heat pads and didn't have any related eye issues.
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Post by teemu on Nov 23, 2022 19:17:05 GMT
We had a real breakthrough today! Pulla was obviously feeling a lot more like himself and a lot feistier. It's really notable how large the difference is, despite how he felt like he was mostly alright yesterday already. Now he's running around really sassy and does not even want to lie down any more. His eye boogers are also gone now and his cheeks are not puffed up any more.
I'm really glad to see him feeling good again.
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