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Post by hpdegus on Mar 23, 2024 11:12:18 GMT
Soooooo, Q is definitely still looking fluffy and like an older degu. HOWEVER, he was on the top level and absolutely destroying the forage pile this morning! He snatched rice puffs from me, too This could be coincidence, but it's been 24 hours since his last dose of pimobendan. Which is generally in their system for about 24 hours. It could be the additional time off the antibiotic. I'll keep monitoring and give a bit of CC this morning. But it was so nice to see him eating solids with no prompting! He hasn't been up and eating when I woke up since probably the 17 or 18th!
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Post by moletteuk on Mar 23, 2024 16:04:16 GMT
Go Q!
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Post by bouncy on Mar 25, 2024 1:51:34 GMT
Brilliant news!
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Post by hpdegus on Mar 25, 2024 2:06:50 GMT
Q is still fluffy and not as active, especially when the pain meds are wearing off. He was up and eating again this morning He also seems to really like dried dandelion greens, so we're adding that to the rotation. He did quite a bit of eating today, which is great! I'm hoping the trend continues, but Q was up slightly in weight yesterday and a bit more today (probably speaking too soon, but we need a win)
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Post by bouncy on Mar 25, 2024 2:08:55 GMT
I'm sure it'll continue Gut flora is very important to degus, so now you're not killing it off with antibiotics, he should pick up
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Post by hpdegus on Mar 25, 2024 2:14:52 GMT
Fingers crossed! And yes, the gut microbiome is so important!
I'll have to figure out the heart medication when I come back, though. I can't be for sure, since I did start syringe feeding on the 20th, but I do think the pimobendan was suppressing his appetite. I read that that was one of the most common side effects, reported in 38% of dogs in one study.
My vet did mention Entyce, which is an appetite stimulant used in dogs. They've been using it with rabbits (and guinea pigs?) with some success, so that might be an option here. I do think he should go back on the heart meds eventually, but not if it prevents him from wanting to eat.
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Post by bouncy on Mar 26, 2024 11:33:22 GMT
Is there any alternative medication? I know with some of mine, if the side effects don't make it worthwhile taking, there's often another option that works, even within the same group of drugs.
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Post by hpdegus on Mar 26, 2024 14:02:59 GMT
I know that there are alternatives, at least for dogs and cats. I don't think there's anything else I this class, but I could be wrong.
I have heard of people successfully titering down pimobendan dose when they saw lack of appetite as a side effect. I'd like to keep this med if possible, especially since it seems to be working so well for Pickett (2.5 years on it with minimal, if any, increase in heart size + no more liquid near lung sounds). I'll chat with the vet tomorrow since they want to see Q when I bring Newt in.
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Post by moletteuk on Mar 26, 2024 16:59:58 GMT
I think I would prioritise getting Q stable with eating/weight and pain meds before you bring back the pimobendan, especially as you have your holiday coming up.
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Post by hpdegus on Mar 26, 2024 17:48:12 GMT
Oh absolutely! Sorry, I phrased that poorly. I'm not planning on changing any of his meds before I come back from my trip. Im happy to listen to the vet's recommendations, but any implementation will wait until I'm back
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Post by moletteuk on Mar 26, 2024 18:36:09 GMT
How is he doing?
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Post by hpdegus on Mar 26, 2024 19:11:17 GMT
Ok? He's a little less fluffy, mostly just the fur from forehead to nose is fluffy. He's definitely more interested in food, but he still eating slowly with teeth grinding. He's also not super active, mainly preferring to lounge on the heat pad or traverse between cage levels. Ive heard him trot on the wheel a few times, but nothing like the quick, more prolonged running he used to do. He's excited to go in the play area and smell around, but he's also not jumping on my hand to do so anymore (though it's right after I've heated the snugglesafe). He had gained a few grams over the past few days, but it looks like it'll be slow going.
So I'm feeling cautiously neutral. I don't feel like things are nearly as desperate as they were even a week ago, which is good. But I'm concerned that his quality of life is decreased. But it could be that he's in recovery, or that both of the pain meds can have sedating effects (especially the tramadol).
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Post by hpdegus on Mar 27, 2024 0:34:10 GMT
He's holding, not gaining weight. But he is much more active during playtime today! And his poop looked much better too.
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Post by moletteuk on Mar 27, 2024 10:48:20 GMT
As long as he's moving in the right direction, that's good. Still frustrating how little we understand about what has been going on. I wonder if the vet can suggest anything to figure things out more.
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Post by hpdegus on Mar 28, 2024 0:29:20 GMT
100%! Yeah, not super happy that we don't have anything definitive. The vet said his heart and lungs sound good, even though he's off the heart meds. We'll keep him off until he's gained more weight back, then maybe try titering them back. I did ask if he could have arthritis in his jaw, she said it was a possibility. He's eaten SO much today And the majority of his poop looks normal! He was pretty active while we were traveling too, climbing onto the wooden house and just bouncing around.
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Post by moletteuk on Mar 28, 2024 16:54:29 GMT
Good to hear his eating and behaviour is still improving. He still looks kinda hunched and fluffy in the photos (google insists I look every day now!), hopefully the good day yesterday will filter through.
Are you feeling more confident about going away? Does your mum feel confident? Could you arrange for the pro sitter to call in a couple of times, or just be available if your mum needs her?
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Post by hpdegus on Mar 28, 2024 18:17:56 GMT
He's still a tiny bit fluffy, mainly on the front of his face. Hah, Google photos is being pushy!! I uploaded one pic, it's not the best. My mom arrived Tuesday night and so it's been a bit busy. He was also pretty active yesterday while in the play area! Sat on his heat pad for a bit, but was running around smelling everything for the most part. He got some speed too!
I'm feeling much better about going away. We're going to be going over everything a few times and I've left ridiculously detailed instructions, including 5 emergency vets that have exotics experience. The pro sitter is more than happy to help out whenever my mom needs it, which is amazing.
Q took meds in food yesterday, which I'm going to keep pushing. Newt will have had 5 days of eye drops, which the vet said should be enough. He'll remain on the orbax, which he ADORES. So everything should hopefully just be meds-on-food, put plate in cages.
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Post by moletteuk on Mar 28, 2024 19:20:10 GMT
I'm relieved for you that things are looking a lot more manageable for your mum Sounds like you have everything in hand. I love Q's attitude, he seems like a positive kind of guy doing the degu equivalent of smelling the roses
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Post by hpdegus on Mar 28, 2024 23:55:30 GMT
Oh yeah, it's such a relief! Hah, that's definitely not how I'd describe him! He's relaxed a ton since he hasn't been feeling good, but he generally smells all the smells while running at top speed! Padfoot is (Tom and George were too) my only degu that I'd say are stop and smell the roses, relaxed goos! Edit: he's up to 180g he's been below that the past two weeks!
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Post by hpdegus on Apr 14, 2024 1:19:25 GMT
Q can't win. 30 hours ago, I got a text from my pet sitter saying that Q had a thread wrapped around his tight ankle. She was able to remove it, but the foot was swollen and red. Vet said it would be ok to monitor and give meloxicam. Watch for coldness, purple, or grey coloration.
I just got home an hour ago.
Well, she said it's looking a bit more swollen today and a bit redder too (~3x his other foot pad, 2x his other toes). But it's not hot or cold, just warm. He's active and she and I have both seen him on multiple levels. He's eating everything in sight and he's putting weight on the foot.
I think I'm going to keep monitoring. He's already on an anti-inflammatory. I did call several ERs near(ish) me and they said it was my call, especially since he's not showing really urgent signs.
Poor babe. He was doing so well before this, according to my sitter. I feel so guilty, I should have removed the fleece, but its been in his cage for 4 years. My poor sitter is also feeling (needlessly) guilty.
Thoughts?
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