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8 year old guinea pig with a URI

Wiebke said:
Hi

That doesn't sound worrying; things often echo down from the throat when you are holding your ear against the chest. Crackling/rasping in the throat and clicking from lungs (chest - indicates pneumonia) are the key sounds to listen out for an acute respiratory both upper and lower. :tu:
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Thank you. He just sneezed today, but it sounded like he was nose diving into his hay lol so it easily could have been some hay dust. I will obviously still keep an eye on things, but thankfully I did not hear any crackling or rasping noises. I listened with a stethoscope.
 
The stethoscope is from when I was in nursing school, I think it's fairly good, so it's not like one of the cheap Walmart ones or anything. :)

My vet does not like to give guinea pigs injections or at least, take blood. She once told me that in order to get blood work, she'd have to put him under anesthesia and I am not comfortable with that at his age. But maybe an injection of an antibiotic would be different, I could at least ask when we see her on Thursday. I don't want him to get it if he doesn't need it but I'll definitely have his lungs x-rayed. I think he's okay, but I'm watching carefully.
 
rosequartz said:
The stethoscope is from when I was in nursing school, I think it's fairly good, so it's not like one of the cheap Walmart ones or anything. :)

My vet does not like to give guinea pigs injections or at least, take blood. She once told me that in order to get blood work, she'd have to put him under anesthesia and I am not comfortable with that at his age. But maybe an injection of an antibiotic would be different, I could at least ask when we see her on Thursday. I don't want him to get it if he doesn't need it but I'll definitely have his lungs x-rayed. I think he's okay, but I'm watching carefully.
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Sub-q injections are easier (although guinea pig skin is surprisingly tough but blood work takes experience as guinea pigs are very tricky in that respect.

Just a one-off nose clearing sneeze is not a problem at all - that is absolutely normal.

It is the none stop sneezing ever few minutes for hours on end that can indicate an infection or irritation in the nose. Plus the sounds described in my last post.
 
He *seemed* to pee slightly more yesterday and there was one spot where it dried into *tiny tiny* little specks of gritty/sandy like material. No blood in his urine. I am monitoring very closely and am going to bring in some of his urine for a urinalysis on Monday.

He does not seem to have pain when he pees.

GI tract looked great on Thursday, everything looked and sounded great besides that he has mild Congestive Heart Failure from his age (8 years old), but we already knew that.

He weighed 720 grams at his lowest, this was about a month ago. I got him up to 780 grams, and now he is maintaining his weight at about 800-815 grams. He seems to be doing very well, though I'll monitor the peeing thing very carefully this weekend; the vet commented on how he seems to have an aura like he feels a lot better too.
 
Is it completely safe to add Oxbow's Urinary Support vitamin, or, if all turns out completely okay with his urinary tract, just adding Oxbow's Joint Support since he has arthritis and loss of muscle mass from old age? If not, I will hold off until speaking to the vet. Just curious if that might benefit him. He does get Oxbow's Vitamin C daily.
 
Peeing is fine, back to normal. He now kind of, only when sleeping, leans his head to the side... I looked it up and it said Congestive Heart failure can sometimes cause this?
 
He doesn't have signs of any of the other causes
 
Was convinced he had fluid on his stomach and maybe needed heart meds because he gained 40g in 2 or 3 days. But overnight his stomach was like, bloated? But he was pooping a lot, and normally. Maybe he needs a probiotic. I did give him a largeish at a time dose of critical care a day or two days before this, wasn't sure if he was keeping up with eating because of arthritis pain so was probably a little TOO cautious and gave him critical care.

Got him in to the vet, he had an ultrasound, no fluid on his stomach, and his heart is functioning fine. She says that he actually appears improved and heart meds would be risky right now, because he doesn't appear to need them yet.

My mental health is really taking a toll. Not just because of this but other stuff going on too. But I am so thankful my guinea pig is still here with me, and that he's happy and healthy. I'm sorry for the back and forth so much.
 
rosequartz said:
Was convinced he had fluid on his stomach and maybe needed heart meds because he gained 40g in 2 or 3 days. But overnight his stomach was like, bloated? But he was pooping a lot, and normally. Maybe he needs a probiotic. I did give him a largeish at a time dose of critical care a day or two days before this, wasn't sure if he was keeping up with eating because of arthritis pain so was probably a little TOO cautious and gave him critical care.

Got him in to the vet, he had an ultrasound, no fluid on his stomach, and his heart is functioning fine. She says that he actually appears improved and heart meds would be risky right now, because he doesn't appear to need them yet.

My mental health is really taking a toll. Not just because of this but other stuff going on too. But I am so thankful my guinea pig is still here with me, and that he's happy and healthy. I'm sorry for the back and forth so much.
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HUGS

I think that the weight gain is due to you feeding him extra. 40g is basically the difference between a full stomach and bladder and an empty stomach and bladder. That is the reason why are only talking about weight loss and weight gain from 50g onward.

Please take some time out for yourself and look after yourself. Do some Mindfulness exercises daily to help calm yourself down and centre youself again. Make sure that you get enough time to sleep at night.
 
Update: Finn has been doing very well. He hasn't needed to go to the vet in over a week.

Essentials Senior Guinea Pig Food - Oxbow Animal Health

Should I be giving Finn this considering he's 8? Or is Oxbow's Essentials Adult Guinea Pig food better, which is what I have been giving him all his life? I will admit he has always had more pellets than he was supposed to. Not unlimited but more than a tablespoon a day. Thankfully it hasn't caused any issues that I know of, and I'm now limiting his pellets so he's only getting as much as he's supposed to in a day. But of course he has unlimited access to hay. And I've introduced green bell peppers (just a little bit) to his diet, and he really likes it.

Also he's on Oxbow's Vitamin C, and I'm adding Oxbow's Joint Support since he has osteoarthritis. If y'all think that's a good idea.
 
I am glad Finn is doing better, he is blessed to have such a caring owner like you who has gone above and beyond what many other people would do. 💗

As far as I am aware, the senior or baby guinea pig pellets are pretty much just a marketing gimmick. The regular garden select pig food is going to be better. Just keep it at a max of one tablespoon like you have been since it seems to work well for him.

If he is getting bell pepper in his diet then there is no need for a vitamin C supplement. Those hay cookies are really only a good treat every now and then.

I don't know anything about joint supplements though so hopefully someone will be able to provide you help with that.
 
rosequartz said:
Update: Finn has been doing very well. He hasn't needed to go to the vet in over a week.

Essentials Senior Guinea Pig Food - Oxbow Animal Health

Should I be giving Finn this considering he's 8? Or is Oxbow's Essentials Adult Guinea Pig food better, which is what I have been giving him all his life? I will admit he has always had more pellets than he was supposed to. Not unlimited but more than a tablespoon a day. Thankfully it hasn't caused any issues that I know of, and I'm now limiting his pellets so he's only getting as much as he's supposed to in a day. But of course he has unlimited access to hay. And I've introduced green bell peppers (just a little bit) to his diet, and he really likes it.

Also he's on Oxbow's Vitamin C, and I'm adding Oxbow's Joint Support since he has osteoarthritis. If y'all think that's a good idea.
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Hi

Great to hear that Finn is doing so well!

To be honest, pellets for babies and for the elderlies are more of a money spinner for the huge pet market that plays majorly on the owners' desire to spoil their pets and the wish to do their very best for them - with common sense instantly suspended. Pellets and treats are the one part of the diet that are optional and that can be replaced by fresh or dried forage.

Oxbow's joint support is OK but it is not very high dosed. If your gent has more advanced arthritis then having his painkillers looked at during the next vet trip and you researching for higher dosed glucosamine products for pets (other US members may be able to help you with recommendations as to more suiitable dog or cat products) would be more effective.
 
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