How far is fair for a very poorly Guinea?

[HorseDentist]

I have two beautiful Guinea pig sisters who are about 4 years old, who we have had for the last 6 months after getting them from a rescue centre.

Over the last two weeks one of the girls has swollen to almost double her size. It started as a bit of extra double chin and has spread to her whole chest and underside. The Vet thinks it feels like just fluid and is very soft. They have tried antibiotics and anti inflammatories but with no change to her condition. She also has a rash, runny eyes and nose and diarrhea. She is really very poorly. The vet has suspicions that the cause is heart failure and the next step will be an x-ray under anesthetic.

Her illness is so sudden and i'm still in shock a little bit to be honest. The vets keep asking how far I want to take things. Is it fair to even attempt an x ray on her heart, which would lead to extra treatments and a lifetime of medication. I'm not sure she would even survive the anesthetic at the moment. Would it be fairer to treat her with painkillers and snuggle her up in a nest with her sister until the end is reached?

My poor squeaky girl, i'm heartbroken for her.

[MsMims]

Thanks Fernie, just wanted the OP to know there is still the possibility of a good quality of life despite the scary diagnosis and prospect of meds.

OP, glad you've managed to get the meds down one way or another. I've nursed small animals with medications for months on end and they do always adapt and become a lot more tolerant about it. My chinchilla now holds onto her syringes like a baby holds a bottle!

[EastMidsGPs]

Oh now i am embarrashed FearnieB
Last time M was ill .. the vet was a locum and i think Spanish. Anyway we couldn't really get what she was saying about the medicine and its dosage .. only that it was for cats!! No other vet in surgery as it was an emergency. Went home but only gave M half the dose of what i thought i was told my thinking being cats and gps are very different ☺ and knowing from the past that once they've decided to do it gps die despite by my best ministrations.
Worried all night so asked for new appointment with main vet ... this had to be cancelled as main vet was called to a racehorse emergency. When M was seen two days after initial visit she was fighting fit - even on the half dose she'd been having and was pronounced the fittest sick gp the vet had seen 😀😀
Throughout it was the 'cat' medicine i was iffy about. So relieved to now read it is a general practice to prescribe some to piggies

[EastMidsGPs]

How's the patient doing on her meds?

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

She'll take a while to pass the fluid. Bear in mind flushing that out will be harder work for her heart and kidneys.
So it needs to be fairly slow.
Solid pooh is a very good sign

Sound a bit Gillian McKeith but checking a piggies pooh gives you a massive insight to their health.
Good job mine like to leave little clusters of their Health and Fitness Records in the hay .......

[HorseDentist]

Squeaky Pig has sadly passed away this evening.
She was fairly perky until the end and even seemed to be losing some fluid weight. Her sister is not doing well. Not eating and looks terrified all the time. She is not interested in cuddles and just wants to hide away.

So sad

[TheoriginalLEM]

oh am so sorry for your loss. If your other piggie doesn't start to eat you might want to check with your vet as it can be dangerous for smwll furries to stop eating as it affects their gut bacteria. If it continues you might have to syringe feed to stimulate appetite again

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Oh to hear she's gone but lovely that she was chirpy right to the end.

Tempt her sister with her favourite foods, you might need to get her out of her cage and hand feed her to make sure she's getting food through her .

They go quickly these little rodents , when they decide, they don't hang around.

Paw Holding from the 70 Hogs

[FernieB]

So sorry to hear about SqueakyPig. It's good that she was perky until the end. It can happen very fast.

Give her sister lots of fuss and attention and special treats. She will be sad for a while but extra attention will help. Can she be located in a room with lots of traffic so she can hear people noise and life's not too quiet for her?

[EastMidsGPs]

So sorry to hear about Little Squeak 😕 it was good that she was chirpy to the end and be assured you made the best decisions for her
hugs for you