|
Post by LilyandDaisy on Dec 23, 2021 15:59:35 GMT -8
Thank you both. I'm still hopeful, it's just easier to prepare for the worst and be pleasantly surprised than the opposite.
She's been trying to climb again this evening, even with her bloating and dodgy back leg and imperfect balance. Her determination is amazing.
|
|
|
Post by betty on Dec 24, 2021 0:20:46 GMT -8
Bless her. At least she will get to eat whatever she wants - all her favourites at Christmas.
I had an older lady with (what was believed to be) Congestive Heart Failure and she carried on regardless. She was quite a size before she passed - but active all the way. I did have a picture of her somewhere I will try to find to compare shapes, but I don't think she came up suddenly...
|
|
Thea
Member
Posts: 1,012
|
Post by Thea on Dec 24, 2021 4:59:30 GMT -8
So sorry about Lily I'm sure she knows she's very loved.
|
|
|
Post by LilyandDaisy on Dec 24, 2021 7:12:45 GMT -8
The swelling came up over a couple of days rather than very suddenly. This is what she looks like: It is reassuring to hear that your gerbil did so well until the end betty, if heart failure is what Lily has. Since yesterday evening she has been peeing more and her weight is hovering around 95-96g rather than increasing.
|
|
|
Post by Markpd on Dec 24, 2021 11:54:16 GMT -8
Let's hope her weight has stabilised.
I was just reading this article about congestive heart failure in people, do vets not give any medications to small pets for this?
|
|
|
Post by LilyandDaisy on Dec 24, 2021 12:20:39 GMT -8
I think they mainly just give diuretics for the fluid build-up Markpd.
|
|
|
Post by Markpd on Dec 24, 2021 12:59:35 GMT -8
Oh ok, perhaps because it would need one or some of the expensive scans to determine which medicine to use?
|
|
|
Post by LilyandDaisy on Dec 24, 2021 13:34:08 GMT -8
Yes, you might be right. This website about heart failure in dogs mentions diuretics as a more general treatment and then there are other drugs for heart failure with specific causes. I was offered x-rays when I took Lily to the vet last week which might have shown if there was fluid in her lungs or abdomen but I didn't want to risk the anaesthesia at her age and in her condition. I don't know whether they would have shown her heart though.
|
|
|
Post by betty on Dec 24, 2021 13:53:42 GMT -8
This was her towards the end - I think she was 3 and a half-ish. Those nails really grow when they start to get poorly... [a href=""]
|
|
|
Post by LilyandDaisy on Dec 24, 2021 14:03:24 GMT -8
Oh yes Lily looks a lot like that when she sits on her back legs. Very pot-belled. Did your gerbil ever have any breathing issues?
|
|
|
Post by LilyandDaisy on Dec 25, 2021 13:37:19 GMT -8
The diuretics seem to have finally kicked in because this morning Lily looked noticeably smaller and weighed 89g. By the evening she looked normal and weighed 86g so I haven't given her the evening dose. She's so, so tired though. It's just one day at a time.
I'm happy she made it to her third Christmas.
|
|
|
Post by Markpd on Dec 25, 2021 16:38:23 GMT -8
That's good she's losing fluid-weight Happy Christmas to you and lily When will she'll be 3?
|
|
|
Post by LilyandDaisy on Dec 26, 2021 16:08:28 GMT -8
Thank you Markpd. I hope you had a nice Christmas too. Lily will be 3 on 1st March. But if she makes it, she's going to get a mini 2-year-10-month birthday party on New Years Day because when you've survived as much as Lily has, you deserve a birthday every month. This photo was taken yesterday (Boxing Day):
|
|
|
Post by Markpd on Dec 26, 2021 16:57:31 GMT -8
Aww, looks like she's curious as to what's down below, and wants to drop down there! And yes she deservers an extra birthday after what she's been through recently! Was a nice xmas thanks, nice time and good food at my dad's and step mum's place
|
|
|
Post by LilyandDaisy on Dec 27, 2021 11:22:40 GMT -8
Sadly Lily died today. Her last 20 minutes or so were distressing but she's at peace now.
I'll be posting a thread in the memorial section later on.
|
|