Fatimus needs to go to the vets

[fortifiedwithtea]

I think Fatimus has 'woman' problems

She's had a lump on her abdomen for a while. It hasn't caused her any discomfort until now.

From past experience of Smartie Button's (RIP) lump removal I knew she would miss out on summer on the grass.

However things have changed. She is now leaking wee all the time. She is permanently wet underneath. The wet is making her cold in the evening air. Their 'summer house' is attached to their run. By evening time they go in and snuggle in the hay. Naughty Girl is cosy and warm but Fatimus is damp and chilly . As you know they are house piggies and they are in from evening onwards.

So a busy week ahead. Getting kids back to school routine. I'll drag Old Boy's hutch out the garage and give it a scrub. I'm sure vet will remove lump and Fatimus will need to recover in a separate hutch but still in view and wheeking distance of Naughty Girl.

Why do they always need the vet when cash is short? Bugger

Ah bless her. GPs don't starve themselves voluntarily so she's probably still a bit woo after her operation.

Or maybe she's expecting some Pedigree Chum as she's now convinced she's a small dog

Was this the same one that asked if she was male or female............well, erm female bits operation, I'll leave it to you.

Glad she's okay - hope she's shouting for parsley this morning. Failing that try a couple of dog biscuits. Naughty Naughty Girl for weeing in the cuddle sac

Morning update. Fatimus had a horrible night, I stayed awake with her

Put the heating on and luckily cuddle sac dried out quickly enough to pop her in. She was very cold as the vet said she would be. I scooped her up and she feels like patchwork underneath (yuk). She bled a tiny bit

I decided she wouldn't cope being transferred to a hutch last night so she stayed in the pet carrier and refused to come out of her cuddle sac. About 4.00am Fatimus nibbled some naice salad leaves then turned her bum on me to let me know that was enough [happy] Roughly 5.00am she was making a horrible groaning wheek but by 5.30am she managed a little bit of hay and looked a bit brighter so I got a couple of hours sleep.

Today the most tender inner leaves of a celery heart have tempted Fatimus out of the cuddle sac. Naughty very that's her favourite part and she did protect. Gave me chance to wash and dry cuddle sac on the radiators again Fatimus has also managed a tiny piece of cucumber.

Medicine time now. Oh gawd

So glad to hear she is showing signs of improvement, eating will get her strength back, and it sounds like she is slowly getting back to normal....
it all takes lots of time. I can remember having one of my girls in a big basket next to my bed one night when she was ill, it makes for a sleepless night, but you are a good mum to do it.
Hope she makes a good recovery today< parsley leaves for Fatimus,, carrot cake for Naughty.

I've also done the 'up all night with sick pet' thing with my previous bun who ended up in bed with me (she quite often used to sleep on/in my bed). It's very tiring and worrying as you want them to eat and they just want to sleep.

Glad Fatimus is perking up. Celery leaves are fought over in our house as well

poor girl.
she's been through a huge ordeal for a tiny piggie.

the whistling 'flutey' sound which they make when they're unwell or upset is pitiful isn't it.

does she have to go back to see the vet for a check-up

one handed typing here 'cos i've got gp1

Guineapiglet I thought that carrot cake was for me I know how Naughty Girl feels now. Yes Fernie who knew celery leaves were such a delicacy lol 70 I read your reply looking like a bearded lady, Naughty Girl was tucked under my chin.

Fatimus was strong enough to take a wander out of the carrier this afternoon. She stretched up on her back legs to get in with Naughty Girl. I couldn't have that argh stitches! It was time to move her into Old Boy's hutch. I think she looked a bit bemused to be in there but she's made herself at home. Baytril has had an effect on her tum. Had to clean her paws as she had walked in soft poo [vom face]

Fatimus is taking her medicine well and check up with the nurse booked for Wednesday.

I will tell Fatimus she has a lot of Mumsnet Aunties thinking of her

So glad she's been active. I've come on here now specifically to see if you had an update (I like to know the Mumsnet pigs and buns are okay). Hope you have a better night tonight both of you.

Bad news about Fatimus Don't read if you are eating [vom face]

Last night Fatimus went to bed in Old Boy's old hutch 'bedroom' and did a very silly thing in secret. She came into the hutch 'living room' this morning looking a bit sorry for herself and took herself to the cuddle sac. She refused food all morning and in fact turned her bum on me.

At noon medicine time, I lifted her out still in cuddle sac. She had fibreplex and baytril with a bit of a fight. However the metacam on melon she flatly refused . She had gobbled that up yesterday. I noticed there were some blood stains on her cuddly thing so I prized her out. I had the shock of my life . Fatimus had chewed her stitches and pulled some of her insides out faint, vomit emoticon needed here

I rang vet, who of said come right away. The taxi driver did not get a tip He wanted to put her in the boot! And was clearly put out that I firmly told him she would be travelling with me in the back she was in a carrier Futhermore he would be driving slowly and carefully owing to her medical condition He said goodbye with an "I expect I'll see you later No, have bus pass will travel and so I did

So now I'm chewing my nails again with worry. Fatimus is under the gas, being tidied up and re-stitched and costing me more money

Oh poor girl.

Of course you can't keep an eye on her 24/7 and animals do have the habit of niggling their stitches (though with cats/dogs you can stick a collar on them)

Maybe ( cross fingers) the vet with do the tidy up surgery as a "GoodWill" gesture and not charge you (seeing as you paid the thick end of £300 for her surgery)

Good Luck little piggie

Do you think the "Guinea-in-a-sock" might be needed?

(Remember SockPig - she had to spend her days in a child's sock to stop her irritating her skin (mites)

I know it'll mean the air doesn't get to her wound but it might be the only thing to stop her homespun surgery.

See what your vet says.

Naughty Fatimus. Poor girl - hope she is okay.

It's difficult with small furries to stop them chewing. To stop Previous Bun I adapted a baby's bib for her to wear which meant she couldn't reach but rabbits have proper necks and are less sausage shaped . I have no idea what to do for a pig.

At sockpig!

Ooo Thanks 70 I had forgotten about Sockpig. I've searched the old thread. Lol @ going up a sock size. I wonder if we have socks big enough for Fatimus DH is only an 8.5, he has the biggest feet. Skips around hoping to put Fatimus in dolls clothes

Vet has rung. Fatimus is awake and has had dead tissue cut off and been re-stitched with extra stitches.

Vet bill so far, initial consultation, 1st op, x-rays, medication, 2nd op roughly £440 We will be eating bread and water for the foreseeable future

Good to hear she's awake but at the price !

(Yes I know the vets will say skill/time/equipment/staff etc, but that is a phenomenal amount )

Hope you were sitting down !

It's all starting to make dogs seem cheap. Glad she's okay - when is she travelling home again? Tell Fatimus that the consequences of her chewing her stitches are that you can no longer afford parsley/cucumber - that should make her behave this time.

Nearly fell off chair at the amount. Wish i was a vet....
Do hope the patient is doing ok bless her. I remember sock pig and that is a good solution to thproblem of chewing her tummy. You will have to keep her under cctv surveillance... Strong for you tonight!!!

Further update. Fatimus is wearing a collar of shame. The vet customised the smallest bird collar and edged it with elastaplast over the sharp edges and taped it together with more elastaplast.

Vet thinks possible cause was the surgical glue irritated her skin or maybe a stich was too tight and she pulled it. Anyway Fatimus had had a real good go. She had pulled out external stitches and several internal stitches had gone Vet had to completely re-stitch her inside and out, put in extra stitches but this time no glue just in case.

Cost wasn't quite so expensive, £46 instead of £70 but that maybe waived fingers crossed

The receptionist is quite endearing in an odd way. I asked her what the time was, her reply "11:09, oh no that's the date. Mmm what is it now?" searches computer screen to find time

Fatimus is home staying overnight in the pet carrier again. Looking quite well if a bit judgey and eating veg again. She must be comfortable this time. Going back again Friday to see vet nurse.

I need strong tea Guineapiglet I am totally frazzled

at 'oh no thats the date!..'. I want her job,!

Poor Fatimus in her collar, she will need constant watching so she doesnt find a way out of that as well- I know how itchy human stiches are, especially when they start to heal up, maybe a good thick fisherman's type sock over her will do the trick, you had better get knitting!

< I have noticed there is no MN icon for beer! Isn't that a bit, well typical MN? - sending you a pint icon anyway, if you are sick of tea). And more celery for the patient

Guineapiglet I could never get sick of tea

Cone of shame was not a success. Firstly it looked like a cd disc around her neck not a cone, meaning she couldn't lay down. Secondly Fatimus was unable to wash her face. Thirdly, she got her paw suck in it, got very distressed and the cone had to come off

Can you believe we have no socks big enough for her. I've even looked at football socks but thought no. Soooo.......Fatimus is wearing a very stylist pink dolls top that velcros all the way up the back . Will ask DD2 to find her camera when she comes home from school. That would defo be one for the profile page

Ooh la la, there goes a fancy guinea pig

Is Naughty Girl jealous? She'll want to dress up as well - maybe slip into a little blue number with sequins.

Aaaaaaaahhh pink dolls top . but only out of reach of Fatimus teeth .

Hopefully she'll tolerate it- she won't understand that if she leaves the wound alone it'll heal quicker. They only think of the here and now.

My DD dressed GP1 in a Build-a-Bear skating dress once he didn't even have stitches, it was for a laff .
GP1 still complains judgily in my ear about "the dress".

Starting to wonder what I can dress my boys up in . And waiting for a photo of Fatimus in her new outfit.

DD took photos of GP1 and GP2 on her DS Lite then used the animation thing to 'improve' their photos.

GP1 became a vampire , an Easter bunny (he was cute with ears and teeth)
GP2 (being jet black doesn't really show up) became a SuperMario Brother.
Poor little boys hee hee

And don't forget the Christmas Santa hats . A must

BTW this is to make Fatimus feel better - not to take the mick from my boys. But they don't know I'm writing about them. They're scoffing supper.