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Post by titchycatnipsandwich on Apr 20, 2022 13:15:19 GMT
River and Best were both probably about 3.5y old when they were neutered. Old enough to be hormonally settled; young enough to bounce back from surgery/anaesthetic relatively quickly. Post-op, River was far easier to wrangle than Best- Best absolutely loathed his surgical site being cleaned; I perfected the art of setting up everything I needed and putting leather gloves on, then as fast as possible: scoop him up, flip him onto his back on a cushion, gently pin him with one gloved hand while wiping the surgical wound with the other hand, drying him off, syringing meds into his unwilling face and then letting him “win” and turn himself over and back into the cage. He needed meds and wound cleaning for about 6 weeks because he kept picking/chewing at the wound, and by the end of that time he was reasonably resigned to “the less I fight this the faster I get to go back to bed”. I wouldn’t make the neutering choice lightly, but I wouldn’t hesitate to do it again if it was right for my goo - I’d just build into the equation that post op care wasn’t automatically going to be only a week or two. Interestingly, with River’s tumour removal in January, he healed quickly and cleanly in about a fortnight - he would have been 9-10 years old at that point, and the vet said the older the rodent, the less likely they are to mess with surgical wounds - they just can’t be bothered, or haven’t got the flexibility to mess with the wound in their old age
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Post by hpdegus on Apr 22, 2022 20:21:14 GMT
Quick update-- we're home from the vet! Tom is very very out of it, so not out of the woods yet. Vet neutered him as planned, it was a mass on his right testes. Surgery tech said it looked really weird, couldn't say what it was. We've sent it to the lab for id. Prognosis is unknown until we get results back in two weeks. He ate some at the vet and has pooped a few times since. He's moved a little with me, but mostly just finding more comfortable resting positions. We're currently cuddled up on the couch. Surgery tech was the same as last time. She's absolutely amazing. When I dropped him off she said she kinda loved him and was pulling for him! She also held him sitting up for the entire surgery since apparently he was in distress when he was flat on his back. She also gave me extra towels for the drive back. Totally worth a decent drive to visit this practice. And the procedure was almost 4x less expensive than I thought it would be. I'll keep everyone updated. Please keep Tom in your thoughts! photos.app.goo.gl/o83QFBVaKAtZWT7A9
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Post by hpdegus on Apr 22, 2022 23:15:10 GMT
Any advice?
Tom very much does not want to eat and I don't know if I should be trying to syringe feed or not.
I've tried a bunch of different things but absolutely no interest. He's moved a very little bit, but again, its not more than shifting or maybe a few steps. He's pooped, but I think it very much does not feel good. I actually pulled a piece out for him, since it was most of the way out. There was another piece right behind it, which doesn't seem great.
This surgery is hitting him much much harder than the previous one. Understandable since this was incredibly invasive, but I'm worried.
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Post by savvy on Apr 22, 2022 23:15:22 GMT
You're both in mine. Hugs and cuddles.
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Post by savvy on Apr 22, 2022 23:20:09 GMT
It took Dixie a couple of days to get over his anaesthetic and he had poo like a string of sausages when he was on high dose antibiotics.
I'd keep an eye on him tonight, but if he doesn't want to eat tonight I wouldn't force him. You said he ate at the vets so he should have something in his system. I think forcing him may cause him some discomfort if he decides to wriggle.
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Post by hpdegus on Apr 22, 2022 23:24:31 GMT
Thank you Savvy!
Yeah, I really don't want to hurt him more than he already is.
I looked over my posts on his tail amputation and he didn't take baby food until that night. The vet did say it could take 24 hours to metabolize everything. I think I'm just more worried since he honestly does look worse this time around (sort of deflated) but as you've said, he has eaten today. So gut stasis is not yet a huge concern.
Edit: he just took a few bites of sweet potato baby food + baby oats.
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Post by deguconvert on Apr 23, 2022 1:07:30 GMT
The neutering surgery is a really big one, but one which he clearly needed to have. It will feel quite different inside . . . and then there is the anesthetic metabolize. Most degus do tend to look quite deflated and unwell after this is done. You are both in my thoughts as well!
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Post by bouncy on Apr 23, 2022 10:41:50 GMT
I'm glad you went for the surgery. After all, there are so many government advisories for men to take their lumps to a doctor and not to ignore them! Every Degu is different after surgery. Some bounce back so quickly, they're in danger of doing themselves more harm. Tom is at least being sensible. I think the key thing is to stay on top of the pain, keeping the doses as regular as possible. It may be worth asking your vet if you can increase the dose for the first few days. I should think his lying still on you is his appreciation of a squishy heat pad tha feels comfortable against his wound. If you can get on top of the pain (from his perspective),he will feel better about food. You may have to spoil him on your lap with perhaps a shallow dish for him to lap water from so he doesn't have to struggle with a drinking bottle position, and eating will come as the pain recedes. Hang in there, both of you!
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Post by hpdegus on Apr 23, 2022 11:50:03 GMT
Hah, that is true, Bouncy! I am NOT his favorite person this morning. Good news is that he made it through the night and is more mobile. Bad news is that he waddles slowly away when I offer medicated food/try to arrange him in my lap. I'm leaving a few different mixes in the cage hoping he chooses to return to one. Thanks for the support all
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Post by hpdegus on Apr 23, 2022 14:23:46 GMT
Still refusing to eat
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Post by hpdegus on Apr 23, 2022 15:47:14 GMT
Was able to get a dose of metacam in behind his front teeth. Not 100% sure that he'll swallow/absorb the full dose but it will hopefully take enough of the edge off.
Edit: and the antibiotics too! Hoping he hates the taste enough to eat/drink something to get it out of his mouth.
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Post by bouncy on Apr 23, 2022 17:08:24 GMT
That's great! How much Metacam are you giving, and which strength?
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Post by hpdegus on Apr 23, 2022 17:13:53 GMT
1 drop (30 uL) per day at 1.5 mg/mL. It's the same dosing they've always given me (other than when Ollie was on palliative care).
It seems like it helped fairly quickly. He was up and moving even more, bothering his brother for grooming within about 20 minutes.
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Post by moletteuk on Apr 23, 2022 17:26:03 GMT
I'm glad the operation went OK Maybe he will feel a bit more like eating now he has a fresh dose of metacam in him. I would go pretty hard today trying to persuade him with various things. Don't forget it's pretty important that he drinks since has drugs to pee out.
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Post by hpdegus on Apr 23, 2022 21:19:37 GMT
Thank you Molette He's just had a little bit of liquidy CC+baby oats mixture, no prodding needed. It's not a lot, but at least it is something, especially the critical care. He's cuddled up with his brother now. His eyes are much more open too!
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Post by moletteuk on Apr 23, 2022 21:45:04 GMT
That's good.
I think you coukd probably top up the metacam with a bit extra at the 12 hr mark over these first couple of days to get it built up in his system. Or split the vet advised dose into 12 hr doses. I think it's really important for Tom that he's as comfortable as possible so he loses the least weight.
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Post by hpdegus on Apr 23, 2022 22:48:08 GMT
Yeah, I might give him a quarter dose later tonight. I normally do half doses every 12 hours, but the amount is small enough that syringing half accurately was going to be a nightmare. I need smaller syringes or my pipettes from work, haha.
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Post by hpdegus on Apr 24, 2022 0:21:45 GMT
Dot of blood on one of the incision sites. He fought me a bit on meds, so I'm a bit worried about that.
I did get about 0.5 mL of very very liquidy CC into him as well. Approximately, based on what is still in the syringe and what is on me. Also gave a bit of metacam, so hoping he perks up again.
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Post by hpdegus on Apr 24, 2022 12:33:33 GMT
Every morning I hum the same song to the goos, which is their morning treat notification. Tom came running He ate a half dose of metacam on a rice puff and took some CC. He's been decently active but did NOT want anything contaminated by antibiotics. Hoping he eats and drinks a bit more today. I'll keep offering his favorites.
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Post by bouncy on Apr 24, 2022 13:48:53 GMT
If you have syringes, you can offer 0.05 every 12 hrs without issue. It sounds like the Metacam is making him feel more normal, which is fantastic! Just offer him as much food and water as he'll take! He may be comfy cuddled, but we all know how easy it is to stay there instead of eating when we're feeling under the weather Try putting the ABs into something strong flavoured or sweet. It's apparently quite bitter, so that may disguise it. Failing that, try manuka honey on the wound instead? Boss vet John swears my its antibacterial properties. Tom is a little trooper!
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