George is going into hospital

[eppingstrider]

The abcesses that have been plaguing George all summer have suddenly got worse and I took him back to the vet today. The decision is to have him in for an operation under anaesthetic tomorrow.

In case you think this is sudden - it isnt, he's been going back to the vet at least once a month for a latest checkup, and now his teeth are beginning to grow up to his tongue again, and one of his abcesses is being particularly troublesome (plus he doesnt want to take his medicine any more). So while we discussed the options he wee'ed down my front to express his opinion, but we still decided it was too cruel to leave him be and this was really the last option. He's going to have his main abcesses lanced, his teeth sorted out, and his lymph nodes explored to see what's happening with them as well. Then I'll have to insert a pellet of antibiotic into the main abcess when I clean them every day.

So please keep your fingers crossed for him tomorrow.

[lisa]

Oh George I hope the op goes well. Please keep us updated we here at dazie patch will have our fingers and toes crossed

[lisajaneh]

Oh! ES, I'm so sorry you and George are having to go through this. As bad as it may seem, you know you have made the right decision for him, and once its all done he will be much better off. You are a good mummy and he knows it, even if he did pee.

I've been going through all the aftercare thing with Taz and its been hard going, especially when you can see he is in discomfort, but the support from here has helped to know that its for the best in the long run.

We all send our love to George and support to you. Hope everything goes well for you both.

[meggiepiggy]

I've only just caught up with this thread ES.

I know it's a worrying time for you, and I know how much F&G mean to you...........but you are doing exactly the right thing for George.

Hopefully the vet will be able to get to the bottom of George's problem and take steps to sort it out properly. It's that 'cruel to be kind' thing again.

He is one very lucky piggy to have a mummy like you.

Keeping my fingers crossed for tomorrow - make sure you keep us all updated

[Mr_M]

I do know what it's like to have a poorly pig so have a good idea how you feel. You know that everyone on the forum will be rooting for George and we're all looking forward to the photo of Fred fetching George's slippers (2 pair) whilst he convalesces. Does he know about all the nice nurses!

Give George a special good luck squeeze from Vlad and me

[Bob - Hugs Cavies]

Poor Georgie, I'm sure he will be OK.

Give him a hug from me

[Hugs-Cavies (Doris)]

Good luck ES, we are all crossing all fingers and toes

[snailspace]

I'm sorry I didnt get online much today Jacky - how is he now? I'm hoping he gets over the operation quickly, and everything is ok. I'll be thinking of you.

Sue xx

[PigPog]

How is it going ES...? I'm so sorry to hear he's gone downhill again. We're all here if you need us.

[eppingstrider]

I cant tell you how nice it is to get all these messages. It really is very helpful.

He's come through his op so far and I have to go and see the vet and collect him early this evening.

Fred is a bit bewildered but is up here with me in the work room now.

[lisa]

Any news yet? I am terrible at waiting , sending big get well wishes George

[PigPog]

I soooo very much have every sympathy for you Jacky because I'm always on the edge of my seat waiting for an operation to be completed. It's especially bad I find when the evening draws in and the whole thing drags on into the night with observation and aftercare. Let us know how he is, I'm thinking of all three of you.

[eppingstrider]

Well, I was asked to collect George at 6 and eventually got to see the vet at 6.30, she had been run ragged with emergency ops today, and delayed by a family who had bought a dog knowing it had bitten someone, even though they had young kids; they were in hysterics because she'd had to tell them that as it had now bitten their daughter's friend as well it had to be put down.....

George has had six abcesses lanced, the vet thought they drained into each other but each is separate - four appear to be lymph ones, one is saliva and the other was horrible green pus (I quote). She says that for these to be like this and not responded to the treatment before it has to be a blood infection, so we can treat that but we dont know where it started, so the prognosis is not good, because we havent solved the problem. He is now going to have antibiotic injections every 48hours to see if we can get rid of the infection.

He also had his teeth filed - they hadnt started to cause a porblem with his tongue but it slows down that problem. The are misaligned, they grow inwards towards his tongue instead of upwards so they dont get ground down evenly by his upper teeth.

So he came home and I put a towel down on his cage floor so he doesnt get bits in his wounds. I just have to bathe them for now. He wandered round a bit and sniffed at things, then I brought him in some favourite herbs and he started tucking in. Fred was a bit confused (having been lost all day, so I'd had him with me all afternoon) and eventually as they sniffed each other through the bars he looked as if it was a horrible smell, but it was probably his brother all right!

So they're both tucked up in their separate parts of their cage and getting a good nights sleep.

[Mr_M]

Sounds like the poor little guy went through the mill a bit but has popped out the other side reasonably ok.

George is clearly a fighter and at least he's got you and Fred to lend support and to provide the necessary TLC

We're certainly thinking of him

[lisa]

Oh George you poor lad

I am so pleased he is home now and that he is eating which is a good sign

thinking of you all