Pyke's Going Under the Knife

[jeannie]

Little Pyke, my pied agouti, has a scent gland tumor. I found it today while cleaning his tank, and took him to the vet immediately. She shaved the hair off his tummy and has put him on antibiotics for a week prior to surgery to clear the infection. I also have to clean his gland 3-4 times a day. He is having surgery on Friday. He will be accompanied at the vet's office by his life long friend, Pan, who has graciously volunteered to be his caretaker, since I cannot stay with him.

Prayers and nice thoughts would be welcomed next Friday!

[jeannie]

Here are some photos, in case you are interested in seeing what it looks like:

[Die Fledermaus]

Oh, wow. That is jaw-dropping stuff, seeing what that looks like! My gosh.

I will be looking over my crowd a little closer later, and with some trepidation.

How old is Pyke??

Best wishes and prayers for him.

Do me a favor next time you see your vet. Ask if she/he/whomever knows REAL "exotic" (I so hate that term) vets in the southwest Brooklyn area, or, if there are web sites, either NYS gov, or Vet. Assoc., that can direct me to a vet who KNOWS how to deal with small rodents, and not one who just says they do - for the business.

Again, best to Pyke. Yikes.

[jeannie]

Pyke is a year and 7 months.

I'll try to remember to ask my vets when I have a chance. I know that Calvinator has a vet in Brooklyn. She's on vacation until Wednesday though...

[Die Fledermaus]

I figured you asking your vet would be better than a call from a stranger; i.e, me.

There was one fellow in Brooklyn on McDonald Ave (just on the north side of G-W cemetery) who supposedly is an "exotic" vet (I so hate that word). I was also told of one for rabbits in the Flatbush area. Which reminds me. . . ask about a good rabbit vet, too please.

Best to Pyke.


BTW, all my dwarfs have Habitrail waterbottles attached by wires now. Maybe you just had bad luck with the QQ's, but I will play it safer.

[calvinator1]

Yikes! Poor Pyke! I hope all goes well - and big kiss to Pan for keeping him company through it all. ;D

[Die Fledermaus]

I didn't mean to say this before, but WTH. . . none of mine seem to have such, ahem, black balls. What's with that?

[jeannie]

All of mine have black balls, except Apollo, the Siamese, who has very pink ones. I think it's related to their coloring.

Are you the gerbil ball examiner???

[Die Fledermaus]

I actually feared Pyke had a problem down there. I heard of "blue balls", but not black ones.

Whoa! Are you wearing gloves to handle him?? Are those black fingers? He's a biter??

[jeannie]

Nope, his balls are fine. Pan and Palahad have black ones too.

I only wear those gloves when treating him - his growth hurts and he bites when I clean it. He bit the vet when she examined it too (he was never a biter either.) It's also easier for me to get a grip on him when they are on. I used the same gloves when I treated Pan's ear infection. Pan is a wus in my hands though and becomes a limpie guy, despite his dominance around other gerbils.

[rasputin]

Praying for Pyke -- hope all goes well Friday.

[rasputin]

RE balls -- it's a skin tone thing. I've got some gerbs whose are pink, some black, and a couple whose are mottled -- that is unusual to behold. I don't think the color much matters to the gerbs.

[Die Fledermaus]

Oh, it hurts - hence the gloves.

BTW, I checked several of my crowd last night: Whitey (DTW); Petey (cream spot); Sam (pied). All had balls that matched their fur color in that area. The only ones with black ones were the three black brothers.

Oh, I picked them up by the tail to take a quick peak. Report me to the SPCA. (They couldn't have cared less).

But if it is OK, so be it.

I wonder if Pyke is going to get shaved "down there". I once had an inguinal hernia operation, and the goon-orderly with the straight razor "down there" was really pleasant.

[jeannie]

The vet just called about the surgery on Pyke's scent gland tumor. He was a little groggy when he first woke up, but after about 2 minutes he was running in the wheel! (Can you imagine having that kind of energy after surgery?) He has both internal and external stitches, so he should heal up just fine. She is going to give me some pain medication to give him to keep him from grooming himself too much. Meanwhile, I am also to continue the antibiotics. ;D

[jeannie]

I just got the little guy and he seems fine - he was running in his wheel when I picked him up.

I am amazed at the price. It was only $105 and that included the surgery, a sedative, the anesthesia, staying there all day, and some pain killers that she gave me to give him the next couple of days. For Manhattan, that is amazing!