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Post by hpdegus on Mar 9, 2024 14:51:07 GMT
Trying to decide if I should take him to the emergency vet. He's running on the wheel a bit, but he's rejecting his favorite treats.
I can call to see if the ER near me has exotics vets that would help. There's one close by that had specialists on hand when Tom needed to be put to sleep.
Edit: talked to one of the techs at my normal vet. They advised giving a few hours for the gabapentin to work. If he still won't eat, seems lethargic, or otherwise declines, they advise heading to the ER.
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Post by moletteuk on Mar 9, 2024 15:59:00 GMT
I can't help thinking the most obvious explanation for weight loss/refusing food and wetness and pain on face is a dental issue, or something going on in mouth.
I think it's a good call to try to find out if there is an exotics vet at the ER.
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Post by hpdegus on Mar 9, 2024 16:02:11 GMT
I agree, Molette. Pretty positive that's what's going on. I regret not pushing more at the vet last week, but she did check with a scope.
There's a vet about an hour away that will take him. It's MSPCA Angell, which I believe has been used by others here on the forum? They seem to be really well regarded and do have specialists on hand.
He's currently eating a bit though, so maybe I should hold off and see how he does? I don't know if it's better to wait and take him to his normal vet, or go to the ER in the next day or so. I just really don't know.
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Post by moletteuk on Mar 9, 2024 19:00:13 GMT
Take him if you think they will do something. Would they be prepared to sedate and do dental work at ER appointment? Can you take the strain until Tuesday? If not, just take him now.
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Post by hpdegus on Mar 9, 2024 21:04:54 GMT
He's back getting triaged right now.
I decided to take him in since he started shivering super hard, almost like he's tensing all his muscles. It wasn't all the time, but happened when he wasn't distracted.
And I don't think I can keep getting food into him until Tuesday, unless the gabapentin starts kicking in even more.
But of course, as soon as we got in the car, he was running around and wanting rice puffs...
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Post by hpdegus on Mar 9, 2024 21:36:03 GMT
And what could be more typically degu than him 'cleaning himself' in the waiting room! Glad I covered the cage with a towel!
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Post by hpdegus on Mar 9, 2024 22:35:46 GMT
Vets didn't see any teeth issues at all. Nor did they hear any issues with his heart.
The only thing they had concerns about was slight barbering of his tail. But that's been a thing for at least 1.5-2 years.
They're going to send me home with an additional pain med, try to see if adding on another modality helps.
So I don't know anymore. Maybe trying to introduce him to Pickett is causing too much stress? I don't know. But he was picking up food and dropping it. And his cheek fur was all crusted down like he was drooling. All that and refusing food. But he did pick up with pain meds, so something is clearly causing an issue.
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Post by bouncy on Mar 9, 2024 23:14:23 GMT
A possible mouth infection? At least he's responding well to pain meds ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png)
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Post by hpdegus on Mar 9, 2024 23:17:02 GMT
Maybe? They didn't see anything wrong with his mouth at all though.
I wonder if his tail really is an issue?
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Post by bouncy on Mar 9, 2024 23:25:07 GMT
Not sure. Mind, my original three all lost tail fur and paint brush as they got older.
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Post by hpdegus on Mar 9, 2024 23:27:39 GMT
All of his brothers did that too, haha!
He does have a bit of bone showing at the end though, which I can see how that could be an issue.
They also said to stop using the pimobendan. I don't know if I should wait until my appt with my usual vet? I should probably try to get x-rays then anyway.
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Post by hpdegus on Mar 10, 2024 17:40:01 GMT
Currently cuddled up on a snugglesafe. photos.app.goo.gl/RLVGtKSoRr4JuNgA7I think one of the meds might be causing GI distress or another side effect. He's still doing the tense-every-muscle-in-your-body thing periodically, though I haven't seen it since he's been on the heating pad. The specialist at the ER kept him on the metacam and gabapentin, but also added tramadol. Tom used to have issues with metacam, so I might not give his next dose. They did say that would be the one they would drop, if it came down to it. Lots of teeth grinding still.
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Post by moletteuk on Mar 10, 2024 18:49:32 GMT
Is the parted fur on the cheek where the wet spot was?
I would probably drop the metacam, I recall it causing issues in a couple of your boys, I think, he should have plenty of pain relief with gabapentin and tramadol, metacam will hardly make a dent compared to both of those.
It's up to you with the pimobendan. I would try to keep him on it since it's your regular vet that you need to keep a good relationship with, but if you think that is what tipped him into not eating then stop it. It's getting quite complicated with 4 (I think) new drugs.
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Post by hpdegus on Mar 10, 2024 18:56:42 GMT
Yep, exactly there and going lower to his mouth/chin.
Yeah, I've decided to drop the metacam. I wish I hadn't given it this morning, but can't do anything about that now.
It is complicated. I'm going to keep him on it until I see my usual vet, I want to see if she hears the sound again. I know that gallops can be heard sometimes in healthy people, too. There has to be something going on here, I don't think it's just him getting older. Just realized it could be his roots? I'm not sure what the symptoms for that are.
I've moved his cage away from the pups and put up a barrier, just in case stress is causing an issue. He's always so eager to run around in the play area after they've been in it though. But maybe he's too focused on smelling them, could be hyper vigilant?
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Post by bouncy on Mar 11, 2024 2:54:36 GMT
With roots, you'll see things like pawing/wet mouth, watery eyes, dropping food.
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Post by hpdegus on Mar 11, 2024 13:28:22 GMT
Other than a single rice puff, he wouldn't eat anything this morning.
I gave gabapentin this morning, didn't force the heart meds or tramadol, though. He was honestly a bit of a zombie on the tramadol last night, so I'm unsure if the dose is too high for him.
He was moving around, going between levels and looking at his forage (but not eating). He was splayed out on the heating pad when I left this morning.
I have an appointment tomorrow morning for him. Definitely going to ask for an x-ray. Hoping this is something fixable!
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Post by moletteuk on Mar 11, 2024 15:26:18 GMT
I think x-ray is a good plan.
Gabapentin can make you zombified too, especially when you start taking it, I would imagine he would be very spaced out on gabapentin and tramadol.
Have you been able to syringe any CC into him?
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Post by hpdegus on Mar 11, 2024 15:33:19 GMT
Ah, I forgot that gabapentin can do that as well. He didn't seem quite as spacey this morning, so I'll see how's he doing tonight.
I didn't force him this morning. I was going to last night, but he started eating baby oatmeal and forage before I started. I'll most likely start forcing the issue if he hasn't/won't eat tonight. He's hard enough to get just meds into, but the last thing I want is him starving.
He perked up yesterday and the day before after getting gabapentin, I'm hoping that happened after I left for work this morning.
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Post by hpdegus on Mar 11, 2024 22:02:21 GMT
Seems to be feel at least a bit better this evening! He was chewing on a compressed hay stick when I walked in. Took several rice puffs and is now going through a forage mixture. The softened pellets I gave him look disturbed but I'm not sure if he ate any.
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Post by moletteuk on Mar 12, 2024 10:01:54 GMT
Good. Hope it goes well at vets today.
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