Pepino's Medical Thread, Starting with Mites
Pepino is now five years old. Last December 14th (a Friday) I noticed he was spending more time in the Pigloo but I was a little under the weather, too. Next day he seemed a little better. When I came home around 11PM on the 16th I noticed his face looked a little swollen (hard to notice right away in an Abby.) Eight hours later, by the time the vet’s office opened, the swelling on his neck/face was huge. The vet operated around 1PM on the 17th. Pepino was put on Baytril and had to be syringe fed some of the time. I didn’t expect him to make it through New Year’s.
By January 3 he was much better but on March 16th he seemed lethargic and was eating less. I took him to the emergency vet who said the infection never went away. We started the same meds again and he improved but then April 18th (Holy Thursday) he was worse again and barely eating. The vet couldn’t see him until Easter Monday. I had to leave him there to board as I was going to see my mother in Florida—there was nothing I could do but hope for the best.
Easter Monday I called the vet from Florida and she said it wasn’t good. The infection had spread into his mouth and one of his teeth had fallen out. His gums were also horribly inflamed. One of the vet’s staff made sure he ate, including syringe feeding him. In addition to the same meds the vet recommended something called “Maxiguard” to flush his mouth with—it’s had good results with rabbits with irritation caused by malocclusion.
This morning I took him to in for a follow up and there was some improvement. He gained back a lot of the weight he had lost, the vet says the infection and inflammation are less and the tooth is growing back. I didn’t think they did.
By January 3 he was much better but on March 16th he seemed lethargic and was eating less. I took him to the emergency vet who said the infection never went away. We started the same meds again and he improved but then April 18th (Holy Thursday) he was worse again and barely eating. The vet couldn’t see him until Easter Monday. I had to leave him there to board as I was going to see my mother in Florida—there was nothing I could do but hope for the best.
Easter Monday I called the vet from Florida and she said it wasn’t good. The infection had spread into his mouth and one of his teeth had fallen out. His gums were also horribly inflamed. One of the vet’s staff made sure he ate, including syringe feeding him. In addition to the same meds the vet recommended something called “Maxiguard” to flush his mouth with—it’s had good results with rabbits with irritation caused by malocclusion.
This morning I took him to in for a follow up and there was some improvement. He gained back a lot of the weight he had lost, the vet says the infection and inflammation are less and the tooth is growing back. I didn’t think they did.
Pepino is doing better. Since December he has been on antibiotics and anti-inflammatories and it will probably be a permanent thing for him.
This is something I want to warn everyone: Last week I called both refills into the vet and picked them up. I have been going there more than 16 years and had most prescriptions filled there. Since I had a little of the old ones left I didn't open up the new ones until two days ago. Instead of giving me the AB and anti-inflammatory the vet gave me two bottles of the anti-inflammatory in different containers. Since most of the containers there look a like and the type was very small i figured the smaller container was the AB and gave him a dose from each bottle. It turns out I gave him THREE TIMES the prescribed amount of the anti-inflammatory and none of the AB.
Fortunately the vet says he should be fine (she saw him right after the triple dose, neither of us realizing what had happened.) I just want everyone to be careful--make sure you are given the right prescriptions and you understand the dosage! I don't think this has ever happened to me before.
This is something I want to warn everyone: Last week I called both refills into the vet and picked them up. I have been going there more than 16 years and had most prescriptions filled there. Since I had a little of the old ones left I didn't open up the new ones until two days ago. Instead of giving me the AB and anti-inflammatory the vet gave me two bottles of the anti-inflammatory in different containers. Since most of the containers there look a like and the type was very small i figured the smaller container was the AB and gave him a dose from each bottle. It turns out I gave him THREE TIMES the prescribed amount of the anti-inflammatory and none of the AB.
Fortunately the vet says he should be fine (she saw him right after the triple dose, neither of us realizing what had happened.) I just want everyone to be careful--make sure you are given the right prescriptions and you understand the dosage! I don't think this has ever happened to me before.
Thank you, Bookfan.
It’s pretty incredible. The vet found the lump more than two weeks ago and the life expectancy for pigs with lymphoma is two to five weeks after diagnosis. I took Pepino to the vet yesterday and the vet said Pepino had gained weight since his last weigh-in and the post-surgical swelling had gone down. The lump in his neck had not come back and there were no new ones to be found anywhere.
Steroids are usually used as treatment for pigs with lymphoma but usually don’t have any major effect, also the vet is worried about other side effects. So for the time being we are keeping Pepino as happy and comfortable as possible with the pain meds we used for the post-abscess treatment and letting him eat as much as he wants of whatever he wants.
Our vet is continuing to research his condition as much as she can and also ask the advice of Dr. Scott Stahl, one of the area’s premiere exotic veterinarians, who is cutting back on his practice hours to pursue other interests.
It’s pretty incredible. The vet found the lump more than two weeks ago and the life expectancy for pigs with lymphoma is two to five weeks after diagnosis. I took Pepino to the vet yesterday and the vet said Pepino had gained weight since his last weigh-in and the post-surgical swelling had gone down. The lump in his neck had not come back and there were no new ones to be found anywhere.
Steroids are usually used as treatment for pigs with lymphoma but usually don’t have any major effect, also the vet is worried about other side effects. So for the time being we are keeping Pepino as happy and comfortable as possible with the pain meds we used for the post-abscess treatment and letting him eat as much as he wants of whatever he wants.
Our vet is continuing to research his condition as much as she can and also ask the advice of Dr. Scott Stahl, one of the area’s premiere exotic veterinarians, who is cutting back on his practice hours to pursue other interests.