Asthmatic Guinea Pig

[AbiS]

I would like to tell you a story to hear what your opinions are on this.

I know somebody (lets call her Julie) whose daughter rehomed a single guinea pig when a friend no longer wanted one. I am not sure of his age but he is an adult. I found out through somebody else on Wednesday that Julie had heard piggy wheezing. I recommended a trip to the vet ASAP as it could be a URI and this can be fatal. I heard no more about this until I saw Julie the following day. She told me that she had not taken him to the vet but self-diagnosed asthma. She had then treated him with her daughters becotide inhaler, she removed everything from his cage (hideys etc) only leaving him with a layer of woodshavings. She had placed a towel over his cage so he felt safe as he did not have a hidey any more. I said that she really needed to keep an eye on him as it could still be a URI and should see a vet. I asked if he was still eating his hay to be told that she had removed all of his hay as a potential allergen. I made it very clear that she could be killing him by removing his hay due to gut stasis etc. and she said she would put some hay back that night after work.

I have to say I spent the rest of the day feeling so sorry for the poor piggy but am limited as to what I can do as Julie is a very strong woman who knows her own mind and does not really listen to others opinions. I am also quite concerned about the method she uses to cut piggy's nails and have tried to broach that to no avail.

I just wanted to see what you all think as I do not know if piggies can get asthma and what the treatment would be if they did.

 

[Chief Guinea Pig]

Poor piggy. I completely agree with you.
I do not know about the asthma situation, but I hope everything all gets better! x

 

[Freela]

I agree with you completely. I'm not sure if guinea pigs develop asthma, but if they do I'm positive that the treatment would not be a human-dosed inhaler! Plus wood shavings are more likely to cause breathing difficulty than any hideys that she removed, and guinea pigs need hay. Poor little guy... I would be just as concerned as you if I heard this!

 

[helen105281]

I don't think I have heard of a pig having asthma, my thoughts would be URI, heart issues or a reaction to shavings. He really needs checking by a vet, I hope she listens to you.

 

[AbiS]

I don't think I have heard of a pig having asthma, my thoughts would be URI, heart issues or a reaction to shavings. He really needs checking by a vet, I hope she listens to you.

Sadly, I know she won't listen. And I know she won't feel any blame if piggy dies.

 

[helen105281]

You must feel very helpless

 

[AbiS]

You must feel very helpless

I do - it is just so frustrating because there are 3 women at work who aren't doing what they should for their piggies. The other 2 are keeping them as single pigs. They got their pigs after I told them how important it is to have at least 2 but I was ignored. I just feel like i am hitting my head against a brick wall but it's the piggies that are suffering.

 

[Wiebke]

I am ever so sorry! Poor piggy!

It is worse and extremely upsetting and frustrating when something like that happens in your family, with friends or close workmates. You feel very much like you should be able to influence them, but they are not open to listen to you. It makes you feel very helpless.

Please take heart that you have at least tried your best. Sadly, people being people, you cannot save them all. You can just try - and you are certainly doing that!

I agree that it is sadly the voiceless animals that have to pay a heavy price. But until we get better animal welfare and pet protection, there is very little you can do in cases like that.