Drooling again

[HeatherLouWho]

:banghead:
Well, Pipsqueak seemed to be getting better. The vet put him on some low level antibiotic (SFM?), which he loved so much he'd actually BEG for it. But now, two weeks after going off of it, he is back to drooling and pulling at his face. He also seems to have a harder time eating, and looks thinner to me. The drool in his fur smells bad. Like sweet and rotten. Any ideas???

 

[Tillygizmo]

Its most likely tooth related which sadly can't be cured... have you had xrays done?

 

[Mt. Zion Chins]

sometimes after having the teeth trimmed you have to go back a month or so later to 'finish up the job' - then if you are lucky it can be 3-4 months before another trimming is needed. As Samantha said, xrays are needed to know the extend of the teeth problems.

 

[ticklechin]

What is the vet trying to treat with the sulfa based antibiotic? Dental infections do not respond well to sulfa based antibiotics, the big guns are needed such as baytril and flagyl or chloramphenicol. It sounds like the antibiotic you are using is just holding the infection at bay and not curing it. Have the vet prescribe a stronger med.

 

[HeatherLouWho]

UPDATE:

I will take Pip to the vet tomorrow AM. If the vet thinks his teeth are fine (he was trimmed about a month ago), then I will insist on better antibiotics.

I'm convinced it is an issue below the gumline, although the xrays were normal, according to the vet. I think it must be an infection, as he was getting better on the antibiotics. How would the vet check for an infection in the jaw instead of the gum?

 

[ticklechin]

If the x-rays do not show any periapical abscesses, the vet can use a periodontal probe and probe around the teeth into the periodonal pocket and check for blood and pus and check for any foreign objects with a currette.

 

[Tillygizmo]

Also you can ask for copies of xrays ..a lot of people here can read them well.

 

[HeatherLouWho]

UPDATE:

Quite a busy morning for Mr. Squeak. Took him to the vet, who looked at his teeth and didn't see any spurs or other problems. The vet did listen to my concerns about an infection, though, and gave me some Baytril and some Metacam for him. Hopefully, these will help. Pip had lost weight, and his poops (even his nervous going-to-the-vet poops) are about 1/3 the usual size. I will give him some pellet mush this afternoon and again this evening to get some calories into him. He took a dust bath, and is now sleeping off the whole ordeal.

Fingers crossed for a happy outcome.

 

[ticklechin]

I would get some critical care and feed him that with a syringe.

 

[HeatherLouWho]

I would get some critical care and feed him that with a syringe.

The Critical Care tastes really salty to me. He's not having diarrhea, and I'm worried that it will dehydrate him. Is this possible, or am I just being too nervous?

:hmm:

 

[HeatherLouWho]

I seriously want to thank you guys for your advice on this. I should post pics of my poor little guy. He is so thin and crusty from the drool.

He HATES being wrapped up. HATES the Baytril. HATES the Metacam. HATES the Critical Care. He squirms and wriggles and kaks at me. It totally breaks my heart.

I am glad to have some folks online who at least know what I am going through and can help me through it.

Thanks again for your support.

 

[mishellyshel]

whenever i had to admin meds, i would put them all in the same syringe and add some baby gas drops. it has a little bit of a sweeter taste plus when handfeeding it can help with air bubbles. i usually buy the store brand, the small bottle is about 10 bucks.
when giving ongoing meds, i use ground up lifeline. i will add water to it and mix that and the meds in a small 1 cc syringe.

there are lots of tips her on feeding meds and syringe feeding. eventually they get so used to it, they just sit there and take the food.
dont get frustrated. i have had to had my chins teeth filed and then about 6 weeks later, after still drooling, i had to go back and they missed spot and i believe that was the last time about 18 months ago. he is on meds for the rest of his life and has a little bit of a different diet than my other chins.
to wipe of the crusty and drool it depends on how bad it is........for mild cases you can use unscented baby wipes. if it is more involved, you can get a small wash cloth and put a drop of baby shampoo with warm water, wring out so just damp and wipe. dont allow him to dust until its dry. you can also take a small comb and get some of the clumps of food out but this may pull his skin so go slow and be extra gentle.
many of us have gone thru this and have good and bad stories. keep your chin up and do the best you can.

 

[Tanya]

HATES the Critical Care

You can try Essentials for Life. Many chins prefer EFL over Critical Care.

Critical Care and pellets contain synthetic nutrients that allow for maximum mineralization of the teeth (hard to wear the teeth down), but EFL does not (all nutrients come from plant sources).

You can try feeding your chin while he is in his cage using a small spoon or you can leave a bowl with the handfeeding formula in the cage (some chins may refuse to eat a hand feeding formula when you hold them).

You can also offer some alfalfa hay. Provision of alfalfa hay is recommended for sick and recuperating herbivores. It's rich in nutrients; alfalfa also promotes weight gain and stimulates the appetite.

 

[HeatherLouWho]

Thanks for the advice, Tanya! He DOES like it significantly better. I'm recommending it to my vet, too!

You can try Essentials for Life. Many chins prefer EFL over Critical Care.

Critical Care and pellets contain synthetic nutrients that allow for maximum mineralization of the teeth (hard to wear the teeth down), but EFL does not (all nutrients come from plant sources).

You can try feeding your chin while he is in his cage using a small spoon or you can leave a bowl with the handfeeding formula in the cage (some chins may refuse to eat a hand feeding formula when you hold them).

You can also offer some alfalfa hay. Provision of alfalfa hay is recommended for sick and recuperating herbivores. It's rich in nutrients; alfalfa also promotes weight gain and stimulates the appetite.

 

[mishellyshel]

another tip you can try is really watering down the EFL & putting that & the baytril in a small syringe....it will mask the taste of the meds.

that is what i do with lifeline. i grind it in a coffee grinder & add water, then syringe that & meds all together.