Gidget Medical Thread
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ItsaZoo
- Supporter in 2023
She’s really wiped out tonight and she looks kind of puffed up. She’s sleeping on my lap. I massaged her tummy, she only had one poop since we came home. So hopefully once she starts moving around more, digestion will follow. The clinic already called to check on her, and said they’ll call again tomorrow.
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ItsaZoo
- Supporter in 2023
Things aren’t going well today. She’s not eating, just picking at hay, so she’s not pooping near enough. She had a little corn husk and lettuce this morning but she’s only interested in fresh grass tonight.
She was wobbly this morning and rolled on her side when she took a run around the corner of her pen. She gets right back up, and she’s not circling or eye-rolling, but I think it scares her.
She spends too much time laying down, but she probably feels more grounded. When she looks up, she moves her head like she’s dizzy.
I got a tablespoon of CC with vitamin C and probiotic into her today. I’m going to try floor time tonight and see how she moves. She needs to get some exercise and get the digestion going. Then we’ll have more CC.
I talked to the clinic and they said if she’s not better tomorrow to call them. They thought it might still be after effects of the anesthetic, but I think it’s the dizziness that’s keeping her from eating. She’s only had two doses of Orbax so I doubt she’s reacting to the AB.
Any suggestions or tips you can share would be appreciated.
She was wobbly this morning and rolled on her side when she took a run around the corner of her pen. She gets right back up, and she’s not circling or eye-rolling, but I think it scares her.
She spends too much time laying down, but she probably feels more grounded. When she looks up, she moves her head like she’s dizzy.
I got a tablespoon of CC with vitamin C and probiotic into her today. I’m going to try floor time tonight and see how she moves. She needs to get some exercise and get the digestion going. Then we’ll have more CC.
I talked to the clinic and they said if she’s not better tomorrow to call them. They thought it might still be after effects of the anesthetic, but I think it’s the dizziness that’s keeping her from eating. She’s only had two doses of Orbax so I doubt she’s reacting to the AB.
Any suggestions or tips you can share would be appreciated.
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ItsaZoo
- Supporter in 2023
Today’s Headline: Floor time causes Gidget to stress-poop!
She doesn’t care for floor time, so we don’t do it too often. She chortles and keeps moving around the grid fence trying to find a way out. And tonight that caused her to poop a few times. Which must have made her hungry because she nibbled some hay.
More stress occurred when a paper bag landed next to a hidey and the bag contained hay. Then some thin blades of fresh grass showed up.
Hopefully all this activity will be beneficial. She’s moving well tonight, but evenings seem to be better than mornings.
She doesn’t care for floor time, so we don’t do it too often. She chortles and keeps moving around the grid fence trying to find a way out. And tonight that caused her to poop a few times. Which must have made her hungry because she nibbled some hay.
More stress occurred when a paper bag landed next to a hidey and the bag contained hay. Then some thin blades of fresh grass showed up.
Hopefully all this activity will be beneficial. She’s moving well tonight, but evenings seem to be better than mornings.
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ItsaZoo
- Supporter in 2023
First thing this morning she got meds and about a teaspoon of CC with vitamin C. Not interested in fresh grass or corn husk, but she did eat some lettuce. I feed something fresh after a few syringes to make sure she’s swallowing the CC okay.
She’s mostly laying around picking at her hay. We were gone for a couple of hours and came back to lots of poops in different parts of the cage, so food is moving through her system and she moved around some.
Here’s my confusion and my frustration: I phoned the clinic to ask how long it takes for the Orbax to start working on the inner ear infection and when I should see an improvement in her dizziness. Their answer: It may not improve. It may be chronic and can’t be cured but can be managed. Her head tilts slightly to the left and that’s probably permanent.
I must be a slow learner here, but if she has a chronic infection that won’t improve, what is the Orbax for, and what does “managed” mean? The vet isn’t available today but they’ll have her call me tomorrow.
As you can tell, I’m a little irritable. I know it’s only been 3 days, but I just spent over $600 on vet expenses and it seems they’re telling me this is the best her life is going to be.
She’s mostly laying around picking at her hay. We were gone for a couple of hours and came back to lots of poops in different parts of the cage, so food is moving through her system and she moved around some.
Here’s my confusion and my frustration: I phoned the clinic to ask how long it takes for the Orbax to start working on the inner ear infection and when I should see an improvement in her dizziness. Their answer: It may not improve. It may be chronic and can’t be cured but can be managed. Her head tilts slightly to the left and that’s probably permanent.
I must be a slow learner here, but if she has a chronic infection that won’t improve, what is the Orbax for, and what does “managed” mean? The vet isn’t available today but they’ll have her call me tomorrow.
As you can tell, I’m a little irritable. I know it’s only been 3 days, but I just spent over $600 on vet expenses and it seems they’re telling me this is the best her life is going to be.
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Sef
- I dissent.
I sure hope that's not the case (chronic infection)! My thought is maybe they are trying the Orbax to see if it *will* clear up, which is a possibility. There is something in the dark recesses of my brain that just got me thinking about Chlor and how it penetrates the blood-brain barrier and is Talishan's preferred drug for stubborn inner ear infections. See some references below:
https://www.guinealynx.info/forums/viewt ... n#p2245277
https://www.guinealynx.info/forums/viewt ... l#p2286094
https://www.guinealynx.info/forums/viewt ... n#p2201547
It is one of the "big guns" and hard on the gut, from what I've read, but maybe worth a try if a round of Orbax doesn't seem to help?
I'm so sorry that you and Gidget are dealing with this. :(
https://www.guinealynx.info/forums/viewt ... n#p2245277
https://www.guinealynx.info/forums/viewt ... l#p2286094
https://www.guinealynx.info/forums/viewt ... n#p2201547
It is one of the "big guns" and hard on the gut, from what I've read, but maybe worth a try if a round of Orbax doesn't seem to help?
I'm so sorry that you and Gidget are dealing with this. :(
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ItsaZoo
- Supporter in 2023
Thanks for the information and the links. This vet clinic is the only one that really knows about exotics, but they are also very expensive and push every test available. So I tend to question what’s really necessary and what is just curiosity or an up-sell on their part.
For example, our dog’s annual exam would have been over $800 because they wanted to do complete blood work, urinalysis, and a host of other tests. He just had all this done in the fall when he had pancreatitis. So we got the checkup and 3 vaccinations for $275.
For example, our dog’s annual exam would have been over $800 because they wanted to do complete blood work, urinalysis, and a host of other tests. He just had all this done in the fall when he had pancreatitis. So we got the checkup and 3 vaccinations for $275.
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ItsaZoo
- Supporter in 2023
The vet tech called this afternoon. I told her my concerns about Gidget spending so much time in her hidey, not moving around much, and not eating well. She was always active before this, running and jumping up on her hideys. I also mentioned how she seems unbalanced or dizzy, and loses her balance when she turns too fast. So she talked with the vet and called back to tell me they were calling in a prescription for meclizine, which is for motion sickness and vertigo. So I’ll pick that up at the pharmacy tomorrow. Apparently it’s the same as Bonine which I’ve used myself.
She also had the blood work results and Gidget has high normal white blood count. This could mean a low-grade infection or maybe none at all. The leukocytes value indicates she has inflammation. So the Orbax and meloxicam should help. I just don’t know when I should see a change.
She also had the blood work results and Gidget has high normal white blood count. This could mean a low-grade infection or maybe none at all. The leukocytes value indicates she has inflammation. So the Orbax and meloxicam should help. I just don’t know when I should see a change.
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Sef
- I dissent.
I really do hope she starts to see some marked improvement over the next few days. Giving her something for vertigo seems like a good idea, although I can't say I have seen it mentioned here before. It will be interesting to see if it helps her feel less dizzy so that she is more inclined to move about and eat.
Fingers crossed!
ETA: A search here on meclizine did produce a number of results, and apparently has been used by others for vertigo. I do hope it helps.
Fingers crossed!
ETA: A search here on meclizine did produce a number of results, and apparently has been used by others for vertigo. I do hope it helps.
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ItsaZoo
- Supporter in 2023
Cautiously optimistic today. Floor time last night and Gidget was running around mumbling to herself. She ate hay and fresh grass so I passed on the CC.
Decent poops overnight and this morning. She’s looking for food, wheeking when she sees hubs (aka the local food vendor). Got her meds and lettuce. Now she’s laying down eating hay.
It was an adventure getting the meclizine. Went to the pharmacy first thing and they were closed due to lack of staff. No indication on the web site or their phone message. So I called the clinic, asked for a paper copy of the Rx, drove out there to pick it up, and came back to our local Walgreens. Walgreens pharmacy is closed weekends.
Went to the local grocery store and their pharmacy was open. They looked at the Rx and said it was available OTC in generic form at twice the strength. So they helped me find one with larger tablets that are easy to split 4 ways. And we checked ingredients for artificial sweeteners since some are flavored and chewable. So I got it mixed with a little watery CC and down the hatch it went.
I’ve used this in the past for motion sickness when we were on a cruise ages ago. It worked well so I hope it helps her.
Now it’s time I had breakfast and coffee.
Decent poops overnight and this morning. She’s looking for food, wheeking when she sees hubs (aka the local food vendor). Got her meds and lettuce. Now she’s laying down eating hay.
It was an adventure getting the meclizine. Went to the pharmacy first thing and they were closed due to lack of staff. No indication on the web site or their phone message. So I called the clinic, asked for a paper copy of the Rx, drove out there to pick it up, and came back to our local Walgreens. Walgreens pharmacy is closed weekends.
Went to the local grocery store and their pharmacy was open. They looked at the Rx and said it was available OTC in generic form at twice the strength. So they helped me find one with larger tablets that are easy to split 4 ways. And we checked ingredients for artificial sweeteners since some are flavored and chewable. So I got it mixed with a little watery CC and down the hatch it went.
I’ve used this in the past for motion sickness when we were on a cruise ages ago. It worked well so I hope it helps her.
Now it’s time I had breakfast and coffee.
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Sef
- I dissent.
Oh my goodness, what a hassle having to run all over the place to find a pharmacy today. I'm glad you were able to finally get it, though, and good to hear that she seems interested in food and producing those all-important poops.
Yes, do have yourself a breakfast and coffee break now---you more than earned it!
Yes, do have yourself a breakfast and coffee break now---you more than earned it!
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ItsaZoo
- Supporter in 2023
Gidget is having better days. Yesterday she had good input and output, and today is the same. She’s eating more of her favorite veggies and fresh grass again. I’m sure the AB has an effect on her taste buds, that usually happens with people where things taste a bit off.
Today we’re having a taste test to see if Garden Select or Organic pellets are the favorite. Two identical cups side by side. The Pepsi Challenge was nothing compared to this.
It’s just a relief that she feels better and has more interest in her surroundings. Broke my heart when she just wanted to hide, since she’s so active and interested in everything going on.
Today we’re having a taste test to see if Garden Select or Organic pellets are the favorite. Two identical cups side by side. The Pepsi Challenge was nothing compared to this.
It’s just a relief that she feels better and has more interest in her surroundings. Broke my heart when she just wanted to hide, since she’s so active and interested in everything going on.