|
Post by bouncy on Apr 24, 2024 9:21:15 GMT
Poor little dude!
Sorry I've not been on for a few days. I admit I'm surprised about the surgery, but I'm not a vet and try to be rational. To me, his shriveled foot looked like it had returned to normal size, but with lots of scabby stuff on it. I think him chewing at his toes was the equivalent of humans scab-picking but, because the toes have so little flesh on them, probably went too far. I honestly wouldn't have worried about the claws - I lost a fingernail last summer, and it's still not grown back properly!
Let's hope he stops playing with it now and lets it heal!
|
|
|
Post by hpdegus on Apr 24, 2024 14:50:41 GMT
I'm just glad my vet was so much more rational about it than the ER vet. I understand that the most conservative option is just to take the whole leg (which she did warn me is still a possibility if tissue death/infection continues), but it sounded unnecessarily aggressive. The toe/scab picking is a possibility! The exposed flesh did look healthy (to me) that morning, only looking really worrying after a few more hours. He didn't touch his third toe in, though, and that one was definitely dying. It had started to lose fur, turn purple, and had a creeping red line at the base (looked similar to what I'd seen on dry gangrene pictures). I heard it takes forever for nails to grow back! Upwards of 6 months? I haven't seen him touch it at all, before or since. I'll continue watching closely He's still pretty fluffy and unhappy today. However, he came running to the door last night when I opened it! He had also eaten the CC mix I left in the cage + ate a bit more later. He was up and moving this morning rather than huddled under a ramp. I did syringe feed meds + CC since he didn't seem motivated to eat on his own. And it's probably best to get more of the CC in him anyway. He's been pooping quite a bit. It's tiny and fairly dehydrated, but at least his gut is moving!
|
|
|
Post by bouncy on Apr 24, 2024 22:26:28 GMT
Yeah, Sooty used to have shriveled poo, so I switched cc. Instead of the Oxbow (which contains sugars and molasses), he now gets the Science Selective. He has the light blue one (suitable for long-term feeding) mixed with nuts still, and it contains probiotics.
Since the switch, he's had outstanding poos, started chewing stuff, and the fur has finally started to grow back on his bum!
|
|
|
Post by hpdegus on Apr 25, 2024 1:12:52 GMT
Good to know! I have science selective, but I think it's in a white and dark blue package. I'll check tomorrow. Edit: this is the one I have (https://www.amazon.com/SupremePetfoods-Recovery-Plus-Sachets-Supplements/dp/B00GONV6AU?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER) He was absolutely miserable tonight though He was up on the top floor when I got home and came running when I opened the door. Fluffed up and didn't want to move once he got on the heat pad though. More worrying to me is that he hardly fought when I syringe fed. Mainly just tried to avoid the syringe, rather than biting it or squirming out of the towel. He's definitely lost more weight, poor babe is so skinny. He did move around in the play area while I gave him a break. Kinda seemed a bit off balance, like he was walking a bit funny on the injured foot. I dont know if all of this is because the good (surgery) meds have worn off or maybe a GI issue with some of the (5...) medications. I'll call the vet tomorrow if he's still like this in the morning. Maybe it is the meloxicam? Last time I gave it (3/8), he looked miserable within 24 hours. That was the day I first took him to the emergency vet. He was so much better ~36 hours after his last dose.
|
|
|
Post by moletteuk on Apr 25, 2024 9:20:53 GMT
If he is still on other painkillers, or you have them to start again, I would get him off the meloxicam, there are quite a few suspicious incidents now where it could be making your boys worse.
|
|
|
Post by hpdegus on Apr 25, 2024 10:08:02 GMT
I'm not giving the meloxicam this morning. I'm worried about one of the antibiotics as well.
He's not doing ok this morning. He climbed into my hand soon soon as the door was opened, whimpering. I got him a new heat pad and put him on that while I take care of the other degus. Vet doesn't open for about 1.5 hours.
I've uploaded pics, you can see how absolutely miserable he looks.
|
|
|
Post by moletteuk on Apr 25, 2024 11:28:49 GMT
I agree, he doesn't look good Get as much CC in him as you can.
|
|
|
Post by hpdegus on Apr 25, 2024 13:46:21 GMT
I got 6 mL in him this morning. I'll see if I can work from home in the afternoon and try again. I'm really really hoping that he'll start feeling better as the metacam clears his system.
I was feeling so much more hopeful Wednesday morning, with how active he was. I should have brought up the medication issues with the vet earlier. I really I haven't pushed him too far.
|
|
|
Post by bouncy on Apr 25, 2024 14:51:36 GMT
I'm also hoping it was the old pain meds. I assume the intravenous stuff was still boosting him on Wednesday, and there must surely be an alternative for long-term use!
I couldn't decide between light and dark blue, so I went to the website. For me, the long-term feeding prospect led to the light blue one because it's designed for both long and short-term feeding. Q is just a law unto himself!
|
|
|
Post by hpdegus on Apr 25, 2024 16:05:11 GMT
I'd think there are alternatives! But at least he'll still be on the two other pain meds and one antibiotic. Waiting to hear back from the vet on that, though.
Hmm, I'll have to look. I don't think they have as much available here in the States, though. And yes, poor Q absolutely is!
My super nice neighbor (also landlord) stopped by my apartment an hour ago. Q came up to his cage door to visit with her! And he'd clearly been moving around (evidenced by CC footprints on the heat pads...), hopefully he's eaten more as well. I've uploaded the pictures she sent me too. Still not looking good, but his eyes are pretty open in her pictures.
|
|
|
Post by hpdegus on Apr 25, 2024 21:53:35 GMT
He's gone.
I came home from work and he was cold and barely breathing. I took him in to a place 10min from me, I didnt want him to suffer any more. At least it was quick, if he was rallying while my neighbor visited this afternoon.
It was all just too much I think. He went through so so much over the past 6 months. But now he's with his brothers and not in pain.
|
|
|
Post by moletteuk on Apr 26, 2024 8:59:26 GMT
Noooo. I'm so sorry. I'm really gutted to hear this. You couldn't have tried any harder or done any more. Rest easy Q x
|
|
|
Post by hpdegus on Apr 26, 2024 23:32:26 GMT
Thank you, Molette. All of the help and suggestions were very much appreciated. It kind of helps that other people cared about him and how he was doing.
And thinking about it all in hindsight, this was probably a kindness. Yes, he had to endure surgery, but it was relatively quick. He had so so much going on. He lost his brother, he had the heart condition, he probably had elongated roots, and such bad arthritis. And of course, the foot, and who knows if it would have stayed healthy. I'm so sad, but also happy that he isn't in pain.
|
|
|
Post by moletteuk on Apr 27, 2024 18:09:52 GMT
You're very welcome.
I'm glad you are managing to have a perspective on the bigger picture. I hope you are doing OK today.
|
|
|
Post by bouncy on Apr 27, 2024 19:06:49 GMT
Poor little Q! He was such a little fighter, great character. I still remember him and his brothers arriving on your doorstep in a hamster cage! From there, the only way was up - you gave all three love, care, a big home, and all your heart
|
|
|
Post by hpdegus on Apr 29, 2024 23:39:17 GMT
Thanks, Bouncy. He was such a character! No piece of paper towel was safe from him, haha. I miss seeing him and Tom fight over how the nest should be arranged or who would be first onto my hand and into the play area. Hah, I remember thinking that they were just temporary residents I really did try to give them the best lives, they were all such good (and funny) boys.
|
|
|
Post by bouncy on Apr 30, 2024 15:57:32 GMT
Yeah, you kinda lost the argument about them just being temporary the minute you shared them on here
|
|
|
Post by hpdegus on May 2, 2024 23:20:44 GMT
Hah! Probably lost that argument as soon as I saw them! And then when Tom put his hand on my finger and Ollie trusted me enough to jump onto my lap...yeah, I didn't have a choice!
|
|