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Amy Is Breathing Funny And Generally Not Herself

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Liane

Liane

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I just went to feed the piggies and found Amy not herself, and breathing funny. She is breathing quite heavily (you can see and feel her tummy heaving) and making odd little throaty squeaks. My Dad felt her and she doesn't appear to have any painful bits, but he agrees that she seems very off. She was fine yesterday and eating normally, but now she's off her food, although she is currently half-heartedly eating hay.

I'm very worried about her, especially as Simon isn't open this late or on Sunday, and I don't know of any good out of hours vets near me? (Buckinghamshire) She is nearly four and otherwise in good health. They have been living indoors for the past four months or so as its winter.
 
Have you tried the vet locater on here? Your own vet will have an emergency phone number if you call them.
 
Try spoon feeding mashed pellets to keep her going til you get her to a vet
 
Would definitely contact the E Vet as others have said. Keep us updated. Lots of healing vibes to your little one
 
I very much agree with what everyone else says. Take a look on the vet locator: http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/pages/guinea-pig-vet-locator/ for the other nearest vets.
The way she is breathing heavy so you can see her sides suggests there may be something respiratory/ heart potentially going on and she may have some fluid on her chest- which may need a diuretic. Heavy breathing may also be associated with pain. Piggies will breathe rather than eat if breathing is difficult.
I agree with the additional feeding, you can give mushed pellets( her normal pellets made up with boiled water, cooled and allowed to form a thick paste) , she may take this off a spoon or may need to be syringe fed ( using a 1ml syringe with the tip removed, but not so much that the plunger comes through the end). This will need to be done from the side of the mouth behind the teeth, so as not to allow any food into her lungs.
@helen105281 Can you advise?
 
Please see an out-of-hours vet. Heavy breathing with sides heaving can mean a congested chest/heart failure. Please hand feed and when seeing a vet ask for diuretics like furosemide.

I am keeping my fingers firmly crossed!
 
Thanks for tagging me Klee.

I agree with Wiebke and Klee that she needs the emergency vet tonight, and will most likely need diuretics as she could have fluid on her chest. A standard vet should be able to help in an emergency, you can always get her to Simon at a later date if need be.

If you syringe feed please be extra careful if she is struggling to breathe, it is best to get her to the vets first. Please keep us all updated.
 
Poor Amy is so poorly :( the vet said the problem is in her lungs rather than just the nose/throat. He has given her 0.5 of baytril, twice a day. Fingers crossed we start to see some improvement soon.

One thing the vet didn't mention and I was unsure about - does Amy need to be separated from River&Ace?
 
Liane said:
Poor Amy is so poorly the vet said the problem is in her lungs rather than just the nose/throat. He has given her 0.5 of baytril, twice a day. Fingers crossed we start to see some improvement soon.


One thing the vet didn't mention and I was unsure about - does Amy need to be separated from River&Ace?
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Please give her probiotics as she is having baytril as this can suppress the appetite. Did the vet say if they could hear any fluid on the lungs? Given the nature of her breathing it sounds like there may be some of which a diuretic e.g. furosemide given alongside the antibiotic would be of benefit to get rid of the fluid.
If she is continuing to have difficulty breathing I would really go and see your regular vet first thing on monday.
Can't advise about separating, i would keep them together for now as this may spur her on to eat etc if she is with her friends.
 
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Yes I am surprised the vet didn't mention diuretics, did they say if there was fluid on her chest?

I agree on the probiotics.
 
I did wonder about diuretics but he didnt mention it :S He said that he could hear something in her lungs which was preventing her from exhaling fully which is why her breathing is so laboured.

We're making an appointment with our regular vet ASAP, and I still have packs of critical care and probiotic from when Nelson was poorly so I'm about to make up a batch of that for her. I just can't believe how poorly she has become so quickly :'( I know piggies can go downhill fast but it is still a shock. She was her usual, lively, greedy self Friday night and now she's just so ill :'(
 
Sounds to me like a URI as it has come on so quickly or even pneumonia. Diuretics are very important in this situation, is there another vet you can see today?
 
helen105281 said:
Sounds to me like a URI as it has come on so quickly or even pneumonia. Diuretics are very important in this situation, is there another vet you can see today?
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Are the diuretics vital, or can she wait to see our regular vet Monday? Are there any particular type she should/shouldn't have? I wish I had mentioned diuretics myself at the vets :( I was just so worried about seeing the emergency vet as I don't know how much experience he has. We checked the antibiotics as that was something I was particularly worried about, that she'd be given the wrong ones, but I've never had a piggy with URI before and we didn't have much time to prepare beforehand.
 
How is her breathing now? The diuretic would be Furosemide (injection or tablet form) or Frusol (liquid).

If she is snotty it will be worth asking for Bisolvon too which is a powder you can sprinkle on her food or straight into the mouth.
 
helen105281 said:
How is her breathing now? The diuretic would be Furosemide (injection or tablet form) or Frusol (liquid).

If she is snotty it will be worth asking for Bisolvon too which is a powder you can sprinkle on her food or straight into the mouth.
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Her breathing is still very laboured. I'm currently feeding her critical care mixed with probiotic - hoping she will produce some poops for me as there haven't been any so far this morning :( She's not too chuffed about syringe feeding.

Her nose and eyes are clear. She feels a little cool to the touch so she's wrapped in a fleece blanket atm.
 
She doesn't sound very well at all. Is there a vet you can see today? I really don't think this can wait until tomorrow if her breathing is laboured and she feels cold. The lack of poo is also not good. I really do think she needs diuretic or at least see if you can speak to the vet you saw yesterday about whether they detected any fluid?
 
helen105281 said:
She doesn't sound very well at all. Is there a vet you can see today? I really don't think this can wait until tomorrow if her breathing is laboured and she feels cold. The lack of poo is also not good. I really do think she needs diuretic or at least see if you can speak to the vet you saw yesterday about whether they detected any fluid?
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I think perhaps I'll ring a few vets, see who would recommend diuretics and go for them. Should the vet I saw have prescribed diuretics?

Good job I've just been paid! £140 in less than 24 hours o_o
 
Blimey that's a lot. Sorry to add to the expense.

Yes they should have if they detected fluid. I don't suppose you have a stethoscope do you? If so it would sound like she was under water if there is fluid or her breathing would sound clicky.
 
helen105281 said:
Blimey that's a lot. Sorry to add to the expense.

Yes they should have if they detected fluid. I don't suppose you have a stethoscope do you? If so it would sound like she was under water if there is fluid or her breathing would sound clicky.
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I don't mind the cost, I'd pay anything to make my piggies better. I'd just rather it was the usual cost, rather than three times the amount!

I have a stethoscope somewhere, not sure how good it is but I'll see what I can hear. I'm going to ring the original vet and see whether he'll prescribe diuretics without another consultation.
 
I'm in complete shock. Amy suffered a massive stroke and died in my arms about 15 minutes ago. I can't believe she's gone
 
Only just catching up with this, so sorry. Huge hugs

Sleep well little one x
 
just caught up with this. So sorry for your loss. Everyone on here understands how much it hurts.Big hugs to you
 
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