Extremely frustrating, drawn-out illness

[Binkles]

Hi everyone! First of all, I’d like to apologize for being so scarce these last few years. It seems like I only post here when something is wrong. I love you guys and miss talking with you, but my life has just been so crazy!

That being said, something is dreadfully wrong with my Peter. We’ve spent the last three weeks fighting stasis -yes, three weeks! He’s been to the vet twice and gotten sub-Q fluids both times. He’s been on Metaclopramide and Loxicom every day, and he’s been yo-yo-ing between getting better and getting worse. Unfortunately the Christmas and New Year’s holidays the vet has been taking have not helped. He has now lost weight. My entire month has been dedicated almost solely to pestering Peter and encouraging him to eat and drink. I come home in the middle of the day to offer him pellet water (about 75% water, 15% Oxbow pellets) which is the only way I can get him to drink. I’ve had a camera on him 24/7 while I’m at work and sleeping so that later I can find out whether or not he’s been eating properly. Since the camera needs light in order to record, I’ve been sleeping on the couch in the living room this entire time…and waking up every two or three hours to reset the camera because it only records three hours at a time.

Basically, I’m about to go insane. But even more than that, Peter has now manifested two more symptoms:

1. Last night he had mushy stools, along with some normal-ish ones. And yes, I’m sure they’re stools and not cecals. I’m not positive, but I think this may be related to the fact that I’ve been giving him so much pellet water in attempt to keep him hydrated. Our maybe it’s Coccidia or something, I don’t know.

2. And more ominous…I’ve noticed gradually that his eyes are bulging, but only when he lowers his head. And they bulge a good deal too, the whites of his eyes are prominent and you can see his third eyelid.

Having done done research on that symptom, I am terrified at what is suggested. I want to know what you all think. Could it be anything other than Thymomas?

I will be bringing him to the vet day after tomorrow on my day off. I can only anticipate that they will want to do an x-ray. Peter is ten years old. I am beginning to worry that I am in my last days with him.

[BB & Tiny]

I wish you and Peter well at your appointment !

[LBJ10]

The poo issue is hard to say without the vet taking a sample. The only thing I can think of with eye bulging is glaucoma. Good luck at the vet, you’ll have to keep us updated.

[tobyluv]

I’m sorry that Peter is having these problems. I hope that the vet will be able to figure out what is wrong and help him.

[Bam]

Are both eyes bulging?

I’m guessing you’ve had his molars checked? I once had to nurse my bun Yohio for three weeks because he wouldn’t eat, it turned out to be his molars after all.

Sending Peter so many vibes. Please keep us posted.

[Binkles]

Thanks guys! It’s both of his eyes, and they only bulge when he lowers his head, ie. when he lowers his head to drink or eat hay. His molars were checked, they do have slight points, but nothing that the vet is concerned about.

In my research online, bulging eyes when the head is lowered seems to pretty consistently indicate a Thymoma. A tumor in the chest.

I am very worried…and I’m worried about even putting him under for an xray, because he is ten years old.

[LittlePuffyTail]

Hi, Binkles!

Sorry to see you back for such a negative situation.

I’m having very strong suspicions, like Bam, that this could be a dental issue. I recommend having a vet do a thorough dental check (he may need to be sedated for this) and a head X-ray asap. All of the symptoms you are describing are consistent with molar spurs and his age makes me suspect them even more so. Spurs that are left too long can cause things like abscess and ulcers, which could also explain the bulging eyes.

Crossing my fingers that you figure out the problem asap and sending him ((((Healing Vibes)))).

[Binkles]

The problem is, he’s eating lots of hay, just not drinking, and not pooping much. And he’s getting lots of loud gas and dark poops, despite Simethicone and metachlopramide.

I understand that an abscess would cause the eye on that side to bulge, but what are the odds of getting a tooth abscess on both sides at the same time causing both eyes to bulge? And wouldn’t an abscess cause the eye to bulge all the time, not just when his head is lowered?

My research online seems to indicate that the only reason both eyes would bulge simultaneously only when the head is lowered is due to a blood pressure differential between the head and the thoracic cavity. And everything I read seems to suggest that that differential is almost always caused by a Thymoma.

[Author]

Messages