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Post by tanzanyte on Apr 25, 2023 8:40:35 GMT -8
I'm pretty sure Max has a SGT. I'll try and upload some pics when I get time tonight or tomorrow, but just want to get this posted so that I get any possible feedback faster. I've phoned my usual vets who quoted £377 but the vet who has said he will do it has only ever done the op on a hamster before, which concerns me a little. Another practice refused outright. Both practices suggested I try Coastways, who have said £300-£350 plus meds etc, so I'm not sure if that even includes anything they give during the surgery itself, plus I'm sure I'll have to pay for a consult as well. Seers Croft said £400 plus £150 for a referral fee. I don't know if I'm so out of touch as I wasn't expecting it to be so expensive. I know my stepdaughter has been taking her rats in to get growths removed and has been paying £150-£175 so in my head I thought maybe £250. I don't know what to do as my daughter and I will be devastated if we lose him and he still seems quite young at under 3. Trying to bond the girls was a very drawn out process and not something I can go through with my current health so I'm really worried what it will mean for Pepsi. Does anyone know of anywhere else I could try, or even if that's the going rate now everywhere for SGT removal? I'm Worthing way but willing to travel a couple of hours, although I'd obviously prefer to stay closer to keep their level of distress down. Also if I have little choice but to consider palliative care is there anything I can do to help, things to watch out for etc. I have tried to have a quick search on here and it seems like some die very fast and others can live for months so I know it's a bit of a lottery. Link to pic if all goes to plan
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Post by Markpd on May 7, 2023 17:50:16 GMT -8
Hi tanzanyte, sorry this thread got missed, I'd actually been mostly away from the forum for over a week or so, I guess others have been busy too, hopefully this thread bump will trigger new replies Btw, yes your linked photo works Not sure if you've already seen my photos of Blakes SGT, but just looking at it now I see it isn't any help. It does somewhat look like what Blake had though, as best I remember. Sorry I can't help more than that. Prices are mental for SGT removal now
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Post by betty on May 8, 2023 11:55:18 GMT -8
I had no idea it had gone up so much for sure - I will get some quotes from my own vets up in the Midlands to compare. I think that some of the vets in Pets@Home are quite reasonable - but I think that varies depending on the franchise owners. I will also ask a few friends still down Sussex-way about best vets...
You are right that they can vary in growth for sure - and looking at your image I had the thought that I wonder if the location of the first pimple can make a difference to its progression. Possibly not - but I remember my older guys pimple started low if I remember correctly and his took a whole year to reach a level I was unhappy with. Maybe I am just clutching at straws for some hopeful news.
The only palliative suggestions I have is nothing rough to scratch it on/mark up against; constant chilled slate/tile to lay on to reduce itching; the softest dust-free substrate possible to avoid scratches/getting stuck on the wound; and pain killers whenever it is really itchy.
Some people have talked about manuka/raw honey or other topical oily thing like lanolin/vaseline that stick to it and act as a barrier, but then it gets quite sticky with the wrong substrate and toilet paper if used (rather than kitchen roll or shredded paper).
Hmm. So difficult.
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Post by tanzanyte on May 15, 2023 13:02:56 GMT -8
Thank you. I actually didn’t end having the surgery straight away as the vet recommended trying Loxicom given that the tumour was so small in the hope that it would decrease and be ok. The only problem is that cost £90 for the consultation and meds. I seriously cannot afford the hike in vets fees now and will shortly have to think of university costs for my kids so I’m beginning to think that I may not be able to get any more gerbils after I no longer have my current clan.
Typically Max has actually been leaving the tumour alone since I originally booked him in, but I’m really not sure whether to try the surgery or see how he goes before I consider surgery. I can’t afford another £90 just to see the vet to find out what she thinks so if I take him in it’ll be for surgery.
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Post by betty on May 19, 2023 11:45:12 GMT -8
How is the little guy doing on the meds - hopefuly it is easing his itchiness?
As for taking him in - there are always really just the three options for SGTs as they will not heal by themselves - they only get worse over time sadly. The good news is that you shouldn't really need a face-to-face second opinion with which ever you choose as most vets will let you choose a treatment route (over the phone if needed) based on that original consultation alone - as long as it was recent and/or ongoing.
Option 1 - book in the surgery (and ask for the entire scent gland to be removed) Option 2 - stay on pain meds (repeat prescription) and hospital-home care until enough is enough, then PTS Option 3 - PTS sooner if not using pain meds (the SG bleeding regularly is a sign of pain/discomfort)
If it within 6 months - vets will give out repeat prescritions without needing another consultation - so that save you most of that cost (meloxidyl/metacam alone is usually around £5-20 a bottle).
Also, most vets will accept a PTS appointment at face value without an additional consulation - and if you are taking them home afterwards for home burial this could certainly be less than £20, but do ask first what their options are.
Not an easy thing - especially with todays vet care prices. I think most of use will have to take more time to consider life-long pet care costs rather than just weekly or monthly costs going forward.
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Post by tanzanyte on May 19, 2023 13:42:00 GMT -8
Thanks Betty, I actually planned to come on tonight and update as I've had discussion with the vets today. I prolonged the date as we weren't getting the meds down properly, eh actually hides his face (very cute, but not at all helpful! He is booked in for Monday. I took pictures and sent them today and they have recommended bringing him in sooner or waiting a couple of weeks but still bringing him in. Typically he has now caught the tumour again so it does need sorting. My only issue is that I have a full day Wednesday and won't be around. Do you think it's worth seeing if I can move it to Thursday so that I will be able to be home more following the surgery to check on him?
I can only afford to do this for one gerbil so this is it now, but he is the most cuddly and chilled out gerbil and we will be so lost without him so I feel I need to try. I know I will be heartbroken if I lose him in surgery and won't forgive myself for that, but neither will I forgive myself for leaving him so I;'m in a catch 22 and at least this way he has more of a chance and he is constantly rubbing against things whiners his brother doesn't seem to do that.
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Post by betty on May 19, 2023 14:50:04 GMT -8
It is never easy - but they often do recover well. You said it is on Monday but that you are busy Wednesday - but the first 24 hours are usually the most intense so you may well be ok watching-wise (mainly to see if he reopens the stiches) But if you delayed until the Thursday, you need to factor in the weekend. You might be more free at the weekend, but the vets are closed - so if you DO hit a problem outside of that first 24 hours, you may need to visit the emergency vets instead (unless you are lucky to have at least a Saturday service at your current place).
Fingers crossed for whenever it happens...
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Post by tanzanyte on May 20, 2023 9:47:29 GMT -8
Thanks Betty, you are right, I hadn't even thought about that. I'm far better sticking with the Monday so we'll see how it goes. Getting very nervous already.
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Post by tanzanyte on May 21, 2023 12:38:29 GMT -8
Out of interest betty, did you say you usually pay extra for your gerbils to say in longer for further supervision? I'm wondering about this as I'm quite a distance from the vets so won't be able to get Max back there quickly if needs be. If so how long do you normally keep them there for?
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Post by betty on May 22, 2023 8:36:39 GMT -8
One vet I used most often actually booked in a one-to-one nurse all day during and after the op and I collected them right before closing - so surgery around 11am and collect for 6ish. That way they are there for as long as possible with a specialist on hand without any disturbance. I also always take them in with their tankmate and had them in a 10 gallon type enclosure (rather than a temporary carrier) - so they can snuggle and stay relaxed the whole time - and then travel home and stay in that same enclosure for a few days during the recovery. I just wanted to reduce the number of times they were picked up, disturbed or moved between enclosures that whole time - and the practice were fine with the whole thing.
Another one I had to use briefly after moving had nurses living on site all night and it was further from my home - so I had them keep one overnight (same large enclosure but with 2 sons this time) and collected them first thing on opening. All went very smoothly indeed - and saves me having to worry all night when they are with me.
I remember my worse 'first thing in the morning panic' was after one of my older guys had the op (the guy in my avatar) had been not very mobile all evening. He was in with his son and they both just stayed hugging in the corner all evening. I check them in dim light over night a few times, but when I went back in first thing in daylight and looked at him his feet and lips were all blue! I panicked and thought he was dying and had gone cold so scooped him up for some urgent warming - and he was already warm and looked at me like I had gone crazy. It was then I realised that the vets had put him on shredded newspaper to come home on and he had just been chewing it overnight and all the ink had come off on him. Bless my skyrocketed heart rate!!!
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Post by Markpd on Jun 2, 2023 12:56:01 GMT -8
Lol! , but I quite see why it gave you a scare!
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Post by betty on Jun 3, 2023 11:40:54 GMT -8
I still remember it for sure...
His little face was a (deathly) picture.
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Post by tanzanyte on Jun 29, 2023 1:42:28 GMT -8
I'd have panicked too as that wouldn't have occurred to me that it was the newspaper. Sorry for the slow update. I have had a nightmare month as my gerbils have not been doing too well and life has been hectic, but I will update on another post for one as I desperately need help now. Anyways Max made it through ok. I haven't been so worried sick for a long time and the relief that he had made it through he anaestheitc was huge. He is back to his bright, cuddly self so all cuddles now are extra special. His brother on the other hand has also now got a SGT and that has gotten large in the space of a couple of weeks. I was dog sitting and had hoped I could sort it afterwards but I'm now worried I've left it too late. He's in today ready for his op in the morning so I just have to hope that they can sort it and he pulls through. I'll have spent nearly £1000 on vets bills in the past month
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Post by betty on Jun 29, 2023 11:55:08 GMT -8
Wow - that is a real hefty chunk of change! Bless you for your dedication to them - giving them every chance you possibly can right now.
Fingers crossed they both come through it even better and more adorable than they were before.
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Post by tanzanyte on Jun 29, 2023 13:58:14 GMT -8
Hopefully I can update tomorrow. I'm am praying as my daughter will be devastated. The vet said it wasn't the worst SGT she had seen. It's just worrying that it had grown so fast, especially when Max's didn't, and Pepsi's wasn't even there month ago and he has left it alone. The bills have all gone on the credit card and I am trying not to think about it. I just can't leave them like they are when they are still bright and busy. It really has made it hit home that I cannot afford to get any more gerbils after our current ones. The vets are just too costly and I don't have it in me to have them pts when something can be done to help them. The worst thing is I know I'll be lost without them Out of interest has anyone ever taken out pet insurance for gerbils? I wondered if they paid out for things like SGT as I know with dogs if they are a certain breed and have known issues they refuse to pay out. They also won't cover unlicensed meds and I had to sign consent for that today as the meds for gerbils are usually cats and dogs and so aren't classed a licensed for rodents so that would mean insurance wouldn't pay out again. Just wondered if anyone had any experience with any of this?
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