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Post by hpdegus on Jun 26, 2023 0:04:13 GMT
Just ordered the plus version from Amazon, should be here in two days! I have some benebac powder on hand and gave the first dose of that. I would think that would help if the antibiotics messed up his gut microbiome.
I have an appointment to take Q (his brother) to the vet on the 3rd, may ask if the vet has suggestions. It could just be age and genetics, with nothing to be done but support him as much as possible. He may be small, but he's the happiest little guy!
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Post by bouncy on Jun 26, 2023 9:50:03 GMT
He's a little sweetie!
I can't see any harm in supplementing his normal food, just be careful he doesn't choose to eat it instead of regular.
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Post by hpdegus on Jun 26, 2023 23:54:02 GMT
That he is! He begs treats off of anyone who visits--no one can resist him!
Yeah, that's my concern. Especially if it means he doesn't grind down his teeth.
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Post by bouncy on Jun 27, 2023 12:13:11 GMT
I must be honest, Spidey, Sausage, and Scaredy all looked like they were chewing their mouthfuls of cc, not just drinking it down.
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Post by hpdegus on Jun 30, 2023 19:17:01 GMT
True! And I definitely hear chewing noises when he eats it. I'm just worried because this is the longest he's ever been on supplemental feeding + the only time he's needed dental work. Hoping that the dental work was actually due to him hating one of the bags of hay, not the supplemental feeding.
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Post by bouncy on Jun 30, 2023 20:04:57 GMT
It could be any number of reasons and, the chances are you won't know!
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Post by hpdegus on Aug 12, 2023 0:48:21 GMT
Tom started dropping weight again last month, so I took him in for a dental just over two weeks ago. He started losing his balance the night before as well, turned out he also had an ear infection, poor babe. He did very well during the dental work! And it was with the surgery tech who absolutely adores him, which was nice.
Unfortunately I just can't get him to gain weight. He's happy and running around, but the supplemental feedings are only enough for him to hold his weight (and who knows for how long). I'm hoping that time off the antibiotics will help, but I'm not holding out much hope. He really doesn't have any weight left to lose. I'm feeling really down about this and not being able to help him. He's happy though and that honestly the most important thing.
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Post by moletteuk on Aug 12, 2023 11:14:41 GMT
I'm sorry you are feeling down about this, it does sound very frustating, but please don't think you aren't succeeding in helping him - if he is maintaining weight rather than still losing weight then you are helping him. In any case I know you are doing your best and that's all you can do. I'm glad the dental went well and hope the ear infection fully clears up and he does better off the antibiotics.
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Post by hpdegus on Aug 13, 2023 0:08:43 GMT
Thanks Molette, I appreciate it.
It seems like he may be dropping weight again. I'm going to start adding pro-biotics into his supplemental feeds, hoping it will help.
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Post by hpdegus on Aug 14, 2023 0:00:29 GMT
He's losing weight again. I'm not sure what to do. I can add more feedings (I only do once a day). I can try calling the vet to see if we can start another antibiotic? I'm not sure if I'm still seeing signs of an ear infection or not.
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Post by moletteuk on Aug 14, 2023 9:05:41 GMT
I think call the vet, only they can advise on the ear infection, I guess they may want to see Tom again to see how the ear is.
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Post by hpdegus on Aug 14, 2023 13:39:24 GMT
Vet said I can start another antibiotic I have in stock (sulfatrim), hoping this helps. I'll set up another appt if no change (or worse) in the next few days.
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Post by bouncy on Aug 17, 2023 0:54:34 GMT
Don't be afraid to offer more feeds. I used to give any of mine on recovery food perhaps three times a day.
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Post by hpdegus on Aug 17, 2023 1:22:07 GMT
Thanks, Bouncy!
I've moved to twice a day, may up that more, but I'm not sure yet. He is maintaining weight now, so that's something! I hope it really is the ear infection and that the sulfatrim will help.
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Post by hpdegus on Sept 4, 2023 0:27:44 GMT
Quick update and thanks: Thank you so much, Bouncy, for the suggestion of increasing feeds. I'm not sure if it was the additional antibiotics or the feeds, but Tom's actually gained weight Before starting the additional supplemental feeds, he was ending the day around 125g. He just weighed in at 143g! No idea how long this will last, but I'm so happy for him.
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Post by moletteuk on Sept 4, 2023 18:12:47 GMT
Wow, amazing, what a turnaround!
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Post by bouncy on Sept 6, 2023 11:08:48 GMT
That's fantastic! You can offer feeds as many times as you like whilst you're trying to increase his weight. It'll do him good! After all, they're grazers!
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Post by hpdegus on Sept 11, 2023 11:44:07 GMT
Tom started showing signs of dental issues Saturday (not eating as much, needing coaxing to eat more). My vets soonest appt is on the 26th, which is 2 weeks away. I'll call again to see if they have a cancelation, but I'm kind of worried. I'm away the 22nd-25th and I don't want to leave if he's having (hopefully treatable) problems.
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Post by hpdegus on Oct 13, 2023 13:21:38 GMT
Tom is not doing well.
He had a dental on Sept 14th, then again this Tuesday. Not a great sign. And then I screwed up. I've been syringing his meds (gabapentin, metacam, and sulfatrim) and thought he was eating more than he actually is. He had diarrhea all yesterday though it seems like it's hopefully slowed today.
He was doing pretty well on Wednesday, but he doesn't look good today. I stopped everything but the gabapentin last night and gave probiotics this morning. I've been able to syringe feed close to 20mL of watery CC over the past 12 hours, hoping that helps. He does seem to really want to eat it, but nothing solid.
I feel so guilty. And I'm in a wedding 2+ hours away tomorrow, rehearsal dinner tonight. My sitter said she's happy to syringe feed, but I feel so bad for poor Tom.
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Post by moletteuk on Oct 13, 2023 18:17:58 GMT
Oh dear. What was the second dental for, did they find something else? Are you thinking the sulfatrim and/or metacam have upset his stomach and possibly caused the diarrhoea? It's coming back to me, he tends to lose weight with metacam, doesn't he? So the combo might have caused the diarrhoea?
Could you skip the rehearsal dinner tonight, if that would help? If the sitter is good, then leave it to her and try not to worry. You always do your best for Tom, and all your goos, try not to feel guilty.
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