mammary tumor removal and anesthesia on senior guinea pig
Ok, here is an update from the second vet. She did an x-ray and said that the lungs look clear, heart looks good, waiting to get back results from bloodwork. If they look good, he is scheduled for surgery on wednesday (6 days from now). I hope his tumor won't grow too much by then :(
She only looks at exotics, and gave me more confidence. But, she said she doesn't prescribe antibiotics for after surgery, and I thought they all did that to prevent infections, or help fight them?
She only looks at exotics, and gave me more confidence. But, she said she doesn't prescribe antibiotics for after surgery, and I thought they all did that to prevent infections, or help fight them?
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- And got the T-shirt
Not always. Antibiotics often cause guinea pigs to completely lose their appetites, at best, or develop pretty serious GI problems, at worst. I imagine she'll give you instructions, but the main thing you should do is keep follow the wound care instructions and keep his cage scrupulously clean.
What kind of bedding do you usually use?
What kind of bedding do you usually use?
I told her not to give baytril for sure, since that one caused him pretty bad GI problems couple years ago. He used bactrim when he was 6 months old, and that one didn't cause any problems back then.
I use fleece with a towel under it, and soft paper bedding from small pet select (only on the kitchen part of his C&C cage). I was thinking of only using fleece/towel after surgery, and change it twice a day maybe? What do you recommend?
I use fleece with a towel under it, and soft paper bedding from small pet select (only on the kitchen part of his C&C cage). I was thinking of only using fleece/towel after surgery, and change it twice a day maybe? What do you recommend?
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- And got the T-shirt
I think the fleece and towels would work fine as long as you do change them both. And I'd probably either put smaller pee pads wherever he pees and poops the most and change them more frequently. With no antibiotics on board, you don't want that incision line to get infected.
Bactrim wouldn't be a very good choice for something like this. It mainly treats anaerobic bacteria -- the ones the don't grow in the air. It's why it usually works well for bladder infections.
Bactrim wouldn't be a very good choice for something like this. It mainly treats anaerobic bacteria -- the ones the don't grow in the air. It's why it usually works well for bladder infections.
Tomorrow is the day of the surgery...I am so nervous, and I hope this is the right decision. He seems so happy and healthy now, but the tumors do feel a bit bigger. I hope he makes it through this with all my heart...
I read the section about hand feeding and bought wheat grass, unflavored pedialyte, and also unsweetened all natural cranberry juice for making the critical care if he doesn't eat by himself after the surgery, and if he doesn't eat critical care with water. I have never given pedialyte or cranberry juice these to him before, should I be worried about giving them now? Also, do you dilute the cranberry juice?
Thank you for all your advice, I really appreciate having a forum like this.
I read the section about hand feeding and bought wheat grass, unflavored pedialyte, and also unsweetened all natural cranberry juice for making the critical care if he doesn't eat by himself after the surgery, and if he doesn't eat critical care with water. I have never given pedialyte or cranberry juice these to him before, should I be worried about giving them now? Also, do you dilute the cranberry juice?
Thank you for all your advice, I really appreciate having a forum like this.
- Lynx
- Celebrate!!!
You could dilute the unsweetened cranberry juice by 50% (one part water, one part juice) if you wanted to. It is likely pretty strong. You mentioned using it to mix critical care? That sounds interesting. I hope he likes it (not many guinea pigs get a chance to try some).
I hope the surgery goes well.
I hope the surgery goes well.
I was reading the section about hand feeding which had a link to this discussion:
https://www.guinealynx.info/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1412
That's why I got pedialyte and cranberry juice, in case I need to hand feed him, and he doesn't like critical care when mixed with water.
Thank you Lynx, I hope so too!
https://www.guinealynx.info/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1412
That's why I got pedialyte and cranberry juice, in case I need to hand feed him, and he doesn't like critical care when mixed with water.
Thank you Lynx, I hope so too!