Accidentally Got Liqiud Antibiotic in Morty's Eye

bpatters
And got the T-shirt

Post   » Fri Mar 19, 2021 6:13 pm


@amberkenn2016, I just read your post from the 16th: "Morty's heart and lungs are deteriorating to the point that the air goes past the lungs."

If your vet really thinks that, you need a new vet. ASAP. Air doesn't go "past the lungs." It goes into the lungs, and comes back out again, and there's no place else for it to go.

Gas in the abdomen is almost always caused by digestive processes (like fermentation) and comes from the food that's eaten. It does not come from inhaled air that's gone past the lungs.

amberkenn2016

Post   » Thu Mar 25, 2021 1:19 pm


I say this with a heavy heart that Morty is scheduled to have an at-home appointment to be PTS. He's not eating carrots anymore, and if he's interested at all he only has a bite. His breathing is more heavy, and he's dribbling on his chin again. He looks uncomfortable when he tries to lay down to nap, and when he tries to go outside of the cage for exercise, he gets tired very very easily.

We saw a second vet that was mentioned on this website for vets in MN, and she suggested we dial back the enalapril to once a day, which helped his poops have shape again, but I hear him still grunting here and there. I just don't want to put him through more horrendous episodes of being barely able to breathe and painful diarrhea. He's also very thin and continues to lose weight even though he eats still.

I don't want him to stay if it's more for my benefit, which, I have done in the past to one of my piggies. If he wasn't such a fighter, I wouldn't have tried to help him for so long because the vet even said that his body will give out before his spirit will. However, I still have a feeling in the back of my mind that wants me to cancel the appointment and hold onto him for another day, but I feel like that's just me being selfish. I don't want to let him go, but I can't bear to see him go through more discomfort and pain. I apologize if this sounds like I'm rambling on, but I am devastated that I have to make such a tough call.

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Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Thu Mar 25, 2021 9:28 pm


It sounds like you are both hurting. This is indeed the most difficult decision to make, even when it is the right one. I know you have fought for his good health. You have my sympathy.

amberkenn2016

Post   » Wed May 12, 2021 1:46 pm


Alright, so my update here is both good and bad, and the good is that Morty is still here. He's got the same fight and spirit he's always had, however he's slowly losing more weight (he is 1lb 4.3 oz at the last weigh in, but he's always been smaller). Plus, I'm thinking his furosemide is not helping as well as it used to. The poor guy has been having off and on hooting episodes these past few days and I don't know if I can increase his furosemide dose any further. Right now he's getting 4 mg every 6 hours, and sometimes more depending on his symptoms.

Has anyone had any experience with Furosemide and what's the limit with it? I want to keep him trucking along comfortably until that's not possible anymore.

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Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Wed May 12, 2021 7:55 pm


I can't give you any advice on manipulating the furosemide dose. Has your vet given you helpful guidelines?

Hopefully someone more experienced than I am can provide some feedback on their own maintenance of heart issues. I am sorry he's losing weight and showing worrisome signs.

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ItsaZoo
Supporter in 2023

Post   » Thu May 13, 2021 1:28 am


I would check back with the vet clinic. There are other meds they sometimes add that are more effective than just increasing the furosemide. If he's having more trouble breathing, he may not be eating as much since it's hard to eat when you can't breath well. So if an adjustment of meds helps his breathing, his weight may stabilize. He's just so lucky to have you taking care of him so well.

amberkenn2016

Post   » Thu May 13, 2021 1:34 am


I'm planning on giving my vet a call in the morning to get the answer to that, however I fear she'll tell me it's time to PTS. She has told us this at times where he wasn't doing so hot, but each time he fought to stay here. So quite frankly, I don't know whether I can have faith in her when it comes down to that horrible decision. I understand that she's got her best intentions involved, but I don't think we want to throw the towel in just yet.

We have seen a different vet for a second opinion, and he did get better after her suggestion of lowering his enalapril dose. So I'm thinking I'll give each of them a call just to see what my options are. I'm truly hoping that I will get good news and will update. Thank you Lynx, and thank you too ItsAZoo. It's definitely the Mort who deserves the credit though; I've never seen such a pig who shows so much resilience like he does, and I don't want to give up on him as long as he's willing to continue, you know?

amberkenn2016

Post   » Tue Jun 15, 2021 6:03 pm


I unfortunately have bad news. For a while, I upped his dose of furosemide to the safest yet highest level possible with guidance from my vet, and that seemed to buy us some time. However, Morty started slowing down late last week and he passed away at home yesterday morning. I would suspect it was a heart attack, so it was most likely quick, but we are heartbroken.

He was such a tenacious pig and even though he was small, he's the biggest fighter I'd ever seen when it comes to guinea pigs. I think I mentioned it here before, but his vet and I agreed that his body would give out before his spirit would, and we were right. That little guy fought until the very end, and now he gets the rest he very much deserves. We're having him cremated and bringing him back home hopefully by the end of this week. Thank you to everyone who helped out the Mort by giving us the advice to do so.

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mmeadow
Supporter 2004-2022

Post   » Tue Jun 15, 2021 9:53 pm


I'm very sorry for your loss.

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Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Tue Jun 15, 2021 11:00 pm


I am so sorry you lost Morty, amberkenn2016. Sometimes our guinea pigs seem so fragile. I am sorry his tenaciousness did not win out. You have our sympathy.

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ItsaZoo
Supporter in 2023

Post   » Wed Jun 16, 2021 12:05 am


My condolences, I’m so sorry about Morty. He had a big personality and you gave him such a good life. Take care of yourself.

Lisa12

Post   » Wed Jun 16, 2021 2:37 pm


R.I.P. Morty, I am sorry for your loss, too...;(

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