Max (aka Pua) w/mites

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Max (aka Pua) w/mites

These photos show a guinea pig who was left behind after the occupants moved out of an apartment in the mountains of Los Angeles. The guinea pig was found in a bird cage among the bags of trash. The landlords took in the pig and cared for him in the best way that they could. They discovered that his skin was quite flakey and had open sores on it. A topical-pain reliever provided some relief for the pig, however, their daughter had allergies and so they could not keep him. The guinea pig needed immediate medical care and a request for help was posted on a guinea-pig forum. After various attempts to try to transport the guinea pig to the San Francisco Bay Area, a person was asked if he might have any suggestions on how to get him transported. The person offered the use of a (new) car and to pay for the gas for the trip. The offer was accepted and a person in the LA area drove to meet the people who had been caring for Pua (his name was later changed to Max when it was discovered that he was a male). The tranport person, who had never driven more than an 1-1/2 hour's distance, drove down to Gorman (north of LA) to meet the people who had the guinea pig. The drive back also included the transport of two other male guinea pigs, one of whom had been abandoned in a park. They also both had a (very mild) case of mites. The drive to and from LA was done as a turnaround trip and took a total of 12 hours. This album will contain photos that show the healing progress which will be the result of treating Max with Ivermectin and baths. It appears that Max may be a Satin.

UPDATE: 7-17-04 An update on Max ... his hair is growing in and he looks so much better now. There is still flakey skin so he still will need a couple more Ivermectin treatments and baths. One thing that was noted during his last photo shoot is that he had a weird way of breathing. I took him ot the vet and he was put on oxygen and then they referred me to the ER vet for overnight oxygen and x-rays. When he was at the ER vet, they said that the oxygen seemed to make him worse so they sent him home. He's currently being treated twice a day with antibiotics and will go back to the vet for oxygen and an x-ray if his breathing worsens. He has no other symptoms such as discharge from his eyes or nose and no sneezing. He was housed on kiln-dried-pine shavings for a week since I had run out of Carefresh. At the moment he seems to be improving (the first vet wasn't sure if he would survive without being on oxygen all night). UPDATE: 7-18-04 Max's x-rays today showed that he has fluid in his lungs and chest area. He was given and injection of furosemide/lasix and sent home with the same ... to be given twice a day. UPDATE: 7-30-04 Max is no longer on the lasix but will continue his antibiotics for two weeks and then have another x-ray taken to see if his lungs are clear. [His next x-ray showed one clear lung and his meds were stopped and he is to be monitored.] UPDATE: 10-31-04 Max started breathing with difficulty again so he was taken to the vet where another x-ray was taken. The diagnois was heart disease and his treatment will include lasix and a bronchodilator. However, the vet called back to say that she can not find any information on the dilators so they will not be presribed. So far, Max has been seen by four vets, including one at an emergency clinic. UPDATE: 12-15-04 Max was seen by another exotics vet recently and it was discovered that he was being treated for the wrong ilness and with the wrong medicine. He has persistent pneumonia and the vets did not get back to me with the results of the last two x-rays that were taken on two occasions. He is now being treated with a high dose of Baytril and may need to be on it for the rest of his life. UPDATE 6-22-05: Max died today. His fifth x-ray showed that his lungs were collapsed due to the scar tissue from his ongoing pneumonia that he had for nearly a year.

CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE PHOTOS.

Date(s): April 26, 2004. Album by Guinea Pig Fun. Photos by Kathy. 1 - 36 of 36 Total.

Prior to transport: Pua was found in this bird cage among the trash in an empty apartment. (The wheel was added and later removed by the person who found him.)	A view of the interior of the cage; the cage had a wire floor. Open sores treated with DermoPlast.	Pua near his soda-pop cardboard house. The wire floor is now covered with hay and the pull-out drawer has been removed. CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE PHOTOS.
Inside his new cardboard home and a view of his treats.	Day 1 after transport: a bit of crust around eyes.	Flakes on skin: quite thick.
Flakes seen on top of and through hair. Along with hairloss, he is covered with scabs, open sores, and tons of flakes.	Thinning of hair over lower back. Long toenails were trimmed twice to get them to the normal length.	Scabs on back of neck and shoulders. His vet check confirmed a case of mites.
Another view.	Day 2: Open sores from scratching.	Another view.
After bath: Malaseb shampoo followed by an oatmeal/aloe shampoo to soothe skin.	Dry (red-eye curtesy of Kodak).	Day 6: Remaining scabs from open-wound area. (Second Ivermectin treatment on day 5.)
Area below neck sores.	Lower back area.	Waiting for shampoo to do its wonders. (Jumped out of crate to tour bed.)
After bath and rinse.	Fresh-grass treat before getting dried.	Close-up of prior open-wound area after bath.
Another view of same area.	Day 14: Photo of Max's new cage; funds for cage donated by a local business.	Close-up of new cage. House, food dish, and PVC tube were purchased using funds donated by Christine and Jake.
Close-up of Max eating. He received only an Ivermectin dose today; next week he will get another bath. Still lots of flakey skin on back; no open wounds.	Max's new hanging toy (easy to wash). He no longer has any scabs but there is still quite a bit of flakes on his skin and in his hair.	Six weeks: still a couple of areas where there is a buildup of flakes; no scabs or open sores. Ivermectin given again, nails trimmed, and wax-gland buildup removed.
Max getting ready to jump out of the container (which he did). The shampoo used was Earthbath's Oatmeal and Aloe and the conditioner was Earthbath's Creme Rinse & Conditioner (with oatmeal).	Max showing off the conditioner that is setting for a few minutes.	July 14, 2004: Most of the hair has grown back in but there is still flaky skin. Received another dose of Ivermectin today.
July 18, 2004: Not feeling too well. Max had an x-ray today and his lungs and chest cavity are filled with fluid.	July 18, 2004: Side view showing that his hair is growing back in.	July 18, 2004: Other side; showing hair grown in. Max is currently on an antibiotic and diuretic twice a day.
Breathing better now that he's on the correct medicine. Photo: 12-15-04	3-17-05: Flaky skin and dark spot on skin ... don't recall spot being there before.	Close-up of area. Will treat with Ivermectin and give him a bath this weekend. PLEASE NOTE: There will be no further photos in this album. Max died on 6-22-05.