• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

A VERY SICK DENZIL! please read

  • Thread starter Thread starter Gilly66
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
G

Gilly66

Hi All,
I am a newbie but really wanted to share my story with you as i was in a total panic.

I will give you the short version; Denzil is 3yrs old and on Sunday evening as usual i went to the garage where i keep him and my rabbit for the winter and he was making the most horrendous breathing noises, it sounded like a mix between being short of breath but also like he really needed a drink. He did not want his food and just sat in the same position which was really unusual.

I took Denzil to the vet yesterday who told me he had Pneumonia and he was really in a very bad way, he gave him two injections one of which being a steroid and told me he will either seem himself within a couple of hours or stay as he was in which case there was nothing they could do and i was to keep a close eye on him during the night - the vet by the way was incredibly helpful, i knew this was it as he did not want to prescribe anti biotics for me to take away as i think he knew Denzil was not going to make it.

This morning Denzil was in the same place as the night before, he had not moved, eaten or had any water, i thought i was going to take him back to the vet for them to put him to sleep. I returned to the vet this morning after saying all our goodbyes (even the rabbit) and it was truly unbelievable, they said his breathing had really improved and in the vets words 'this little fella deserves a second chance' they gave him another injection and some antibiotics to take away.

This evening he is eating his broccoli and is active in his cage, it is totally unbelieveable the difference in him, he obviously has come through the worst but is still on the mend.

The reason i wanted to share this with you, is no matter what if you think your Guinea Pig has changes in breathing get them to the vet asap, and also never give up hope, Denzil was extremely poorly but bless the little fella has fought back, and i at the time did not think it possible, i also could not believe he seemed fine on Saturday and then was so ill on Sunday, they can get ill so quickly. I am so pleased this forum exists i read everything i could this morning trying to find someone who had been in a similar situation to me, and now i would like to share my experience with you all
 
Oh thats great news, well done you and Denzil! Its so scary when they get sick - thank heavens you noticed it early and got him to the vets.

Hope he continues to make a full recovery!
 
That's great that he's doing better :) Could it have been something he might have been allergic to, has he been near anything or fed anything unusual for instance?
 
:) Glad Denzil is feeling better, I'm new to the forum as well and the advise and help i have received has been wonderful.
Lets hope he makes a speedy recovery. Keep us posted.
Deb
 
welcome to the forums from me and the girls in oz. :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: that is an amazing story, so glad denzil is getting better. sending hugs and cuddles to you and denzel and hoping he makes a full recovery! :smitten: :smitten: :smitten:
 
Boureki said:
That's great that he's doing better :) Could it have been something he might have been allergic to, has he been near anything or fed anything unusual for instance?
Click to expand...

Nothing different at all, that was the strange thing, we have the same routine also every year, summer they are outside, and winter in the garage, never had a problem at all before the vet said that rabbits can carry certain things and could of been the case?
Vet advised that breathing problems can occur from; Extreme changes in temperatures, poor housing, allergies, poor ventilation etc however we cancelled out one by one
 
An update for you and some advice needed Please,

Denzil is suprisingly quite lively now, however i am concerned that he is still not eating as he did before, i have given him a variety of things to eat but it never seems to go down, he is obviously just having little nibbless!! i can now feel a considerable difference of weight loss on him. I am giving him his medicine twice a day and i have been giving him water by syringe also. I am looking for any tips on feeding. What suprises me is how lively he now is considering he has not eaten, i even put him in the run with his pal Robbie (rabbit) today for an hour as i thought they missed each other and he was happy as anything. [/b][
 
Welcome to the forum. :)

It is terrifying when guineas refuse to eat. Have you any recovery food you can give him in a syringe? Or pureed veg? Or even fruit smoothie? I have had to do this in the past. It's important that you get him to eat something. Has he got diarrhoea?


You can also give him metacam to boost his appetite.

Good luck, let us know x
 
Sorry i have not heard of recovery food or metacam, sorry its probably because he has never been sick before. He is pooing ok, to me it seems odd as everything appears to be well apart from his eating, the reason i put him in the run with my rabbit was in case his routine had been messed up and he did not want to eat like he usually did before, as they always had their food at the same time together
 
Poor Denzil. Recovery food is like a powder made of chopped p hay - you mix it with water so that it can be syringe-fed. Could be that the meds have put him off his food - ask your vet for some pro biotic.
Hope he gets better soon.

x
 
Thanks for that i will call them in the morning. His medicine is Baytril i dont know if anyone can give me any advice on that, i have seen people talk about that in the forum. The other thing i wanted to ask was do you think i could give him some human rehydration medicine?
 
If he's on Baytril he must also take a probiotic or he will end up with bad diarrhoea.
 
baytril is an antibiotic and it kills good and bad bugs in a guinea pig which can cause an upset tummy and soft poops. so most vets (NOT here in oz vets and piggies here in oz don't mix :tickedoff: :tickedoff: :tickedoff:) give piggies a probiotic too which puts good bugs back into a guinea pig like protexin or bio lapis. metacam is a medicine given to piggies when they are in pain. as for the baytril i have never used it but it seems a small percent of guinea piggies have an allergic reaction to baytril, just like humans have allergies. hoping this has helped. hugs and cuddles to you and denzel and hoping he gets better soon. :smitten: :smitten: :smitten:
 
Your first story was very inspiring. I truly hope your little one is ok. My baby has been sick since the day I got him (in November). He's only about 6 months (if that). I'm sometimes ready to throw in the towel, but I try never to give up. He's so helpless. But reading your story makes me think that there is always hope that one day he'll be healthy! I'm sorry your Denzil is not really eating. Maybe he has an upset tummy? My vet has told me to give my guniea infant gas drops. (only about 1/3 of the lowest dose). I just gave him some a little while ago. He to is not really eating and hadn't pooped for almost two days. Very little poop now. When I read your story about Denzil sounding like he couldn't breathe, I can't believe he overcame that! It is truly inspiring and gives me hope. I sincerely hope Denzil makes a full recovery from what is ailing him. He sounds like a fighter! Good luck to you and little Denzil!
 
I would firstly just like to say thank youso much for all your help, advice and good wishes..

I took Denzil back to vets today who after examining him said it was really unusual how quick he has recovered and his breathing is almost back to normal, he started eating this morning, and is virtually back to his old self. I have read a lot of stories of illness on here and am very lucky after having my little fella for 3 yrs this is the first time i have had to deal with him being unwell, it is really a huge thing to know there are people you can talk to..thanks to all
 
Awwwwwww :smitten: glad Denzil is ok now :D
Is he housed with a rabbit ? Just to let you know if he is then its not a good idea to house them together as guinea pigs can die from being kicked by rabbits due to their hind back legs which are ever so powerful ;)
 
Thanks for reply, I know that about Rabbits, and the power of their back legs, i have had rabbits for over 18yrs now and i would never put a piggie in with one unless i was completely satisfied that they are safe, Robbie is a tiny thing and they have been together for over a year now and they really are best pals, they are missing each other right now Denzil actually sleeps on rabbits back!
 
am so glad denzil is doing better :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: would love to see picture of denzil sleeping on robbie's back :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: sounds really cute. sending hugs and cuddles to you, denzil and robbie from me and the girls in oz! :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: am thinking people are worried with denzel being with robbie as (a) guinea pigs can catch things of a bunnies that can kill them and (b) robbie may move or stretch his feet and accidently hit denzil. like i said hoping all goes well for you and the boys. :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :-* :-* :-* please keep us posted. :smitten: :smitten: :smitten:
 
Hi All,
Just an update for you all. Denzil did well following his steroids and anti biotics, and was pottering around with no major problems at all, however he did not have his usual energy

On Thursday after work his breathing was suddenly very laboured and he was making terrible noises, it was really that quick, i had prepared for the worse and got an emergency appointment straight away. The vet said we had two options; the first to put him to sleep or to try again on steroids and more anti biotics, she seemed to steer me towards the latter as she knew how well he responded on them last week. and said he made need steroids every two weeks for the rest of his life, i was encouraged by her optimism and we returned home and his breathing calmed a little even though it was not back to normal. She advised me to keep him calm and let him rest as he would be sleepy. Denzil was cosy and appeared very sleepy.

On Friday morning yesterday) he was quiet and still sleepy and we had a cuddle before work, we had an apppointment for 6.00pm with the vet to check him. He never made that appointment as he passed away at around 4.00. The poor fella obviously had taken all that he could and had no more energy to fight it. i truly believe i did everything i possibly could for him, but theres only so much fight in anyone. My only regret is not having him put to sleep the day before, as i dont want to think of him as being in pain at the end, and also he passed away alone while we were at work which is very upsetting.

Once again i would like to thank all of you who have given me advice and wished Denzil well, sites like this really are a huge help to people
 
am sorry to hear you lost denzel! :'( :'( :'( RIP sweet Denzil 0:) 0:) 0:) may you run free and popcorn in paradise and watch over your family :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: you did all you could it is a shame he passed alone but that is NO fault of yours. he knew you loved him and he loved you. :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: think of the good times, and he'll always be with you in spirit and in your heart. 0:) 0:) 0:) sending you hugs and cuddles :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: girls send :-* :-* :-* RIP sweet angel denzil so much loved and so sorely missed. 0:) 0:) :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: 0:)
 
Thank you for that. What is said is hubby was here and checked on him at 3.00pm and said he was in same position but breathing more calmly, the next time he checked him it was 4.00
 
sorry pressed twice or something, hoping denzel 0:) 0:) 0:) finds eternal peace in paradise! :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: you did a wonderful job with him and please don't balme yourself! he'll always be with you now and forever. :smitten: :smitten: :smitten:
 
so sorry i misunderstood, glad he went peacefully. :'( :'( :'( there is a section called rainbow bridge when you feel able to post about denzel. thinking of you and know we all care and feel for you. :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: no i have checked and it definately says he passed away as you were all at work. just check your post on page one. take care and hugs to you all. :smitten: :smitten: :smitten:
 
awwww HUGE HUGS :'( :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: RIP little one 0:) at least he's free of pain and suffering now :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: popcorning in paradise :smitten: :smitten: so sorry for your loss (((hugs and piggie kisses))) :smitten:
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top