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10 week old breathing issues

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Stuart8404

New Born Pup
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Hi we bought two guinea pigs together 3 weeks ago now. At first they were both jumping around getting used to us and them to us etc and everything was fine. After 10 days we noticed one was not himself and paid a visit to the vets. They said it may have been pneumonia and prescribed antibiotics. That was last Monday the 30th of December. The antibiotics r re an out on Friday and we don’t seem to think much has changed. He is eating peeing and pooing fine but still we feel the breathing is not right. we are taking him back to the same vets tomorrow reluctantly as they are just a general vet. Here is a short video of his breathing as I am hoping someone with a little more expertise can give us some advice.
 
Yes, normally breathing isn't visible to this extent and it also looks quite erratic. Get them to check his heart, it might be a congenital heart issue at this young age.
If it is respiratory infection an alternative antibiotic such as azithromycin may work better. An anti inflammatory such as metacam may help as well. Ask for a good 2 to 3 weeks of treatment. He is lovely, l hope he improves soon
 
Stuart8404 said:
Hi we bought two guinea pigs together 3 weeks ago now. At first they were both jumping around getting used to us and them to us etc and everything was fine. After 10 days we noticed one was not himself and paid a visit to the vets. They said it may have been pneumonia and prescribed antibiotics. That was last Monday the 30th of December. The antibiotics r re an out on Friday and we don’t seem to think much has changed. He is eating peeing and pooing fine but still we feel the breathing is not right. we are taking him back to the same vets tomorrow reluctantly as they are just a general vet. Here is a short video of his breathing as I am hoping someone with a little more expertise can give us some advice.
Click to expand...

Hi and welcome!

I am very sorry; what a gorgeous little one!

I would recommend to ask your vet for a diuretic like frusol or furosemide as I suspect a build up of fluids in either the lungs or the chest cavity when you are dealing with diaphragmic (i.e. very noticeable) breathing with heaving sides.

I would also have the heart checked. It is the other place this kind of breathing can come from. A heart defect could be the cause in this case.

If it is pneumonia, I would also discuss with your vet whether nebulising session may help ease the breathing. You can do a little tester with placing a bowl of steaming water next to the cage. Nebulising is not recommended for all cases, so please don't go the full hog just on spec.
A lab test in this case could look to which antibiotics your piggy is reactive to.

Please keep on doing a daily weigh-in at the same time instead of the normal weekly life long weight check; over 80% of the daily food intake should be hay, which you cannot control by eye. It is you best way to control the food intake.

All the best!
 
Wiebke said:
Hi and welcome!

I am very sorry; what a gorgeous little one!

I would recommend to ask your vet for a diuretic like frusol or furosemide as I suspect a build up of fluids in either the lungs or the chest cavity when you are dealing with diaphragmic (i.e. very noticeable) breathing with heaving sides.

I would also have the heart checked. It is the other place this kind of breathing can come from. A heart defect could be the cause in this case.

If it is pneumonia, I would also discuss with your vet whether nebulising session may help ease the breathing. You can do a little tester with placing a bowl of steaming water next to the cage. Nebulising is not recommended for all cases, so please don't go the full hog just on spec.
A lab test in this case could look to which antibiotics your piggy is reactive to.

Please keep on doing a daily weigh-in at the same time instead of the normal weekly life long weight check; over 80% of the daily food intake should be hay, which you cannot control by eye. It is you best way to control the food intake.

All the best!
Click to expand...
Thanks we will ask the vet regarding what you have mentioned so thank you for that. we have been weighing him and he has put 2 ounces overnight but you can still feel his spine quite easily.
 
Stuart8404 said:
Thanks we will ask the vet regarding what you have mentioned so thank you for that. we have been weighing him and he has put 2 ounces overnight but you can still feel his spine quite easily.
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it is great that he has been putting on weight - the need to breathe comes before the need to drink and only thirdly the need to eat, so putting on any weight under those circumstances is great news!

If you need to, here is our emergency care link if you ever need it; it is worth bookmarking!
Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
 
pig in the city said:
Yes, normally breathing isn't visible to this extent and it also looks quite erratic. Get them to check his heart, it might be a congenital heart issue at this young age.
If it is respiratory infection an alternative antibiotic such as azithromycin may work better. An anti inflammatory such as metacam may help as well. Ask for a good 2 to 3 weeks of treatment. He is lovely, l hope he improves soon
Click to expand...
Thank you for replying someone else mentioned a congenital heart disease could he lead a decent life with that or do you not know ?
 
Stuart8404 said:
Thank you for replying someone else mentioned a congenital heart disease could he lead a decent life with that or do you not know ?
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It very much depends on the individual case and what is exactly wrong/how bad the heart is affected, but we have several members with heart piggies on medication. ;)
 
Stuart8404 said:
Thank you for replying someone else mentioned a congenital heart disease could he lead a decent life with that or do you not know ?
Click to expand...
It depends on the underlying issue. There is treatment for heart failure, several members on here have had piggies with heart failure that have lived some years with the problem controlled on medication. But in one so young it is worrying 😔
 
pig in the city said:
It depends on the underlying issue. There is treatment for heart failure, several members on here have had piggies with heart failure that have lived some years with the problem controlled on medication. But in one so young it is worrying 😔
Click to expand...
Thank you for your honesty
 
Hi Stuart, just saw your post on our Facebook page so I'm glad you found your way here. If you aren't as confident in your vet perhaps you can check out our vet locator where you may find one more knowledgeable or ask your vet to refer you to a local specialist
 
Lady Kelly said:
Hi Stuart, just saw your post on our Facebook page so I'm glad you found your way here. If you aren't as confident in your vet perhaps you can check out our vet locator where you may find one more knowledgeable or ask your vet to refer you to a local specialist
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Thanks for that it looks like the group recommended one near me in Stockport so I’ll get him down there tomorrow thanks.
 
I can’t offer any advice but wanted to offer support.
I hope you can get that gorgeous boy seen by a piggy savvy vet and find a solution for him.
Welcome to the forum
 
I’ve just seen this thread and agree with all the advice given. Well done for getting him seen and treated and good luck in getting him reviewed again.
 
Hi guys and girls just a bit of an update we took him to the vets yesterday and they have said it is respiratory and not a problem with his heart. They have given us a10 day course of antibiotics and anti inflammatory medicine. I just want to say a massive thank you to you all as you were all a great help
 
Stuart8404 said:
Hi guys and girls just a bit of an update we took him to the vets yesterday and they have said it is respiratory and not a problem with his heart. They have given us a10 day course of antibiotics and anti inflammatory medicine. I just want to say a massive thank you to you all as you were all a great help
Click to expand...

All the best for a good recovery!
 
Stuart8404 said:
Hi guys and girls just a bit of an update we took him to the vets yesterday and they have said it is respiratory and not a problem with his heart. They have given us a10 day course of antibiotics and anti inflammatory medicine. I just want to say a massive thank you to you all as you were all a great help
Click to expand...
Great news, l hope he improves quickly x
 
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