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Baby Uri-rapid Breathing Not Solved By Vet. Help Appreciated.

fanniephina

fanniephina

Junior Guinea Pig
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Location
Johnson City, NY
My newest guinea pig is 8 weeks old and only a few days from the pet store. I have two others babies from a different store that have been here a few weeks now and are very healthy. The newest, Goblin, was coughing the next day but was lethargic from the beginning. Fri, we noticed her coughing more but still eating. However was still somewhat lethargic and in a corner from the other two. By Sat, she was coughing quite a bit more. We worried but couldn't find a vet around to help her. Sunday evening, she got very bad and was rapidly breathing in a corner through the night. I called vets around Monday morning but we are new to the area and there weren't many whom would see a guinea pig. The ones that would help her had no openings for new patients. Finally, we found a small vet to see her immediately. It's cold here; we were very careful preheating the car, keeping carrier warm, etc.

The vet freely admitted he knew basics was not too familiar with guinea pigs however they knew not to let a 'pocket pet' wait in this situation. After exam and looking at pics of bedding, etc he said he would give one shot for coughing and uri while he gave a steroid shot for breathing. I have read here the cautions and asked him but he said with the amount of time she had been breathing heavily, that it was a priority to get that fixed. I know Rome wasn't built in a day but it's been the full day and she seems to still be breathing heavily. Eating better and less coughing but still not fully back with energy. Breathing is worrying me the most. Any help or experience would be appreciated. She's only been here some days but I am very fond of this little girl and don't want her hurt. Thank you. Also, she's a Peruvian-not sure if the breed makes a difference. My others are not this breed.
 
fanniephina said:
My newest guinea pig is 8 weeks old and only a few days from the pet store. I have two others babies from a different store that have been here a few weeks now and are very healthy. The newest, Goblin, was coughing the next day but was lethargic from the beginning. Fri, we noticed her coughing more but still eating. However was still somewhat lethargic and in a corner from the other two. By Sat, she was coughing quite a bit more. We worried but couldn't find a vet around to help her. Sunday evening, she got very bad and was rapidly breathing in a corner through the night. I called vets around Monday morning but we are new to the area and there weren't many whom would see a guinea pig. The ones that would help her had no openings for new patients. Finally, we found a small vet to see her immediately. It's cold here; we were very careful preheating the car, keeping carrier warm, etc.

The vet freely admitted he knew basics was not too familiar with guinea pigs however they knew not to let a 'pocket pet' wait in this situation. After exam and looking at pics of bedding, etc he said he would give one shot for coughing and uri while he gave a steroid shot for breathing. I have read here the cautions and asked him but he said with the amount of time she had been breathing heavily, that it was a priority to get that fixed. I know Rome wasn't built in a day but it's been the full day and she seems to still be breathing heavily. Eating better and less coughing but still not fully back with energy. Breathing is worrying me the most. Any help or experience would be appreciated. She's only been here some days but I am very fond of this little girl and don't want her hurt. Thank you. Also, she's a Peruvian-not sure if the breed makes a difference. My others are not this breed.
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Please see a more knowledgeable vet. Your girl needs a course of antibiotics, first and foremost. The breathing is more noticeable because she is struggling to breathe!
Guinea Lynx :: URI

You can reclaim any vet fees in the first 2-3 weeks after sale from the pet shop by presenting the vet bills together with the sales receipt since exposure and infection have happened at the shop or their supplier and you have basically been sold damaged ware.

Make sure that you weigh daily at the same time and step in with offering syringe feed; the need to breathe comes before the need to drink and only thirdly the need to eat. URI (respiratory infection) is usually an appetite killer; this can be compounded by an antibiotic which can also impact on the gut bacteria.
Please make sure that she has the strength to fight and that her guts keep going until the antibiotic has a chance to kick in. If her airways and especially the lungs are congested, please ask your vet additionally for a diuretic to drain any fluid from the airways; the sooner she can breathe, more freely, the greater her chances of survival.

You can use mushed up pellets in an emergency as long as your prep the syringe tip as shown in the guide. Be careful to make sure to not overfill her mouth and allow her to swallow first before you give more.
Not Eating And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
Administering Medications And Syringe Feed


Please also be aware that guinea pigs breathe naturally a lot more quickly.
 
Thank you so much for your help and time Wiebke. She does seem to be doing a lot better this morning-eating and drinking. We gave her apples (her favorite) and she gobbled them up quickly. I think it was around 4:30 am that she first came out running around.

I have two large bottles in the cage-one is with vitamin c drops and the other is clear. I have done that because they drink the vitamin c water within an hour while a day on the water bottle. I change them both daily. Goblin drank the vitamin c water last night on into the early hours with the others until empty. Now she is drinking from the regular water, eating the hay and regular food fine.

I've held her this morning and she's starting to look up at me and react more, as the other babies do. I am not sure her normal character so not certain if she's 100% but she's interacting with the others very well now in this last hour or so. Much less coughing but it' still there.

I will call the vet back and ask about the next treatment. To be honest, we came from Fla and there were many more services there for even our animals (not certain of guinea pigs but I can say probably as there were more exotics like chinchillas, etc). We are just learning this area and learning there is a lot less of everything here until you travel a couple hours out to NY city. This vet was forthright and extremely caring while the others I called could have been the same but not so forthright. They also didn't move things around to be able to help asap while this vet at least said he understood the little ones needed care immediately. I would work with this vet as he listens only for the reason that I could be going somewhere worse.

Thank you for giving me some very valuable things to talk to my vet about and learn. This site is just wonderful and I am grateful. gob3.webp gob1.webp gob4.webp
 
Thanks for the kind words, VickiA. Just talked to the vet and they are having me watch her until Thurs then a follow-up for a second shot, if necessary.

I love seeing all the adorable guinea pigs here and all the creative and adorable names. Storm coming in here again today-hope it's warm enough for you and your tribe there.
 
I am so pleased to hear your little one is doing well. Hope she makes a complete recovery soon. She is very beautiful.
 
Here is a list of recommended vets in your state. They are mostly exotic vets, so very expensive, especially the closer you get to NYC!
Veterinarians: New York - Guinea Lynx Records

Good vets are not everywhere in within easy reach; it very much depends on where you live irrespective of your country.

All the best for a good recovery!

Please make sure that you do not overfeed fruit and tomato in the long term; it can cause a nasty lip infection (cheilitis). Rather concentrate on good quality pellets (only a small amount); sweet pepper of any colour and fresh herbs like cilantro (UK: coriander), parsley, dill, mint or basil for vitamin C
Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diet.
 
****UPDATE******

Goblin took a turn for the worst last Friday after her vet visit on Thurs. She started leaking fluid from her nose, was coughing much more and was breathing rapidly. Our vet had us come in immediately, even after closing hours, and gave her another diuretic as well as another antibiotic. He also gave us several syringes of the first antibiotic to give 3 times a day to her for the next 4 days.

We separated her into her own cage and I fed her by syringe around the clock; overnight as well. Our stores (all 3 of them in and around town) didn't carry any critical care and were limited on what they did carry so I got the most expensive select pellet that listed extra ingredients I could find and kept with the vitamin c water.

I have to say this was beyond frustrating and at one point my husband and I rounded a store manager with a firm query as to how they could sell guinea pigs and not have any kind of critical care available or anything. What ensued was even more frustrating as the person was trying to seem to know what they were talking about, switched to stating it was the job of the vet and had we seen one (which I really responded with that-since between vet hours and the vet visits is when she showed signs of failing rapidly) and then trying to suggest that there was something in way of prescription in the critical care that would be illegal to sell without knowing anything for certain. Grrr. Unknowing of much about Guinea Pigs.

I had to force feed her the first day and she seemed so pitiful and weak. She was losing a lot but we were able to get around 5 syringes down her every 3 hours. I pretty much slept in our family room next to her feeding her through night and early hours the first few days. The second day, she was excreting a hard crystal substance with a harder feces so the vet recommended a fibre mix and said the crystal was the antibiotic I was syringe feeding her. She got better after the fibre mix on the third day but I would say the fourth day, after the last syringe feeding of antibiotic, she began trying to eat from the syringe and looked for me when I came round to feed her. At that point, I put some greens, hay and a bit of apple underneath of her on the towel while I fed her. I had a habit of petting her after each force feed of the syringe to get her to respond (which seemed to motivate her or distract her into chewing and not spitting out). When I did that this time, she began to get excited and tried very hard to eat the hay and greens; sometimes being able to chew. Well she also began to play tug of war with me while I wiped her mouth each time with the paper towels. This was very encouraging; she even would grab the syringe with her teeth while taking the water I was feeding her.

I continued this for another day or so while weighing her. I also returned her to her pen with her playmates as she wasn't coughing anymore and only some little sneezes but no more fluid from nose. This really helped her a ton and after a day of this and my trying to motivate her to eat the hay all day, she started eating and drinking on her own. It was another day of effort from her as she was still breathing rapidly but she pulled through.

Now it's funny because my little Goblin will look for me every time I come near the pen. She will start breathing a bit more and squeaking softly with her nose moving rapidly toward me the closer I get to petting her or giving her the daily 'salad' we mix up with her greens. She seems to like to be picked up by me (something my other babies will tolerate and will settle for but don't come running to me for it) and will cuddle very well and contentedly. I am seeing her personality and really, she stole my heart. I never thought these little ones could be so full of personality and give so much but my daughter and I both are just enthralled with our little ones.

I'm still being careful with Goblin; both my husband and I give her a lot of attention throughout the day. However, she seems to really be going well now and brings us a lot of joy.

I wanted to sincerely thank this forum as it was so helpful and supportive. I don't have a lot of that here in the US, even online is really limited with true guinea pig knowledge. This forum really saved my little one and helped me to understand what to expect and what to do. I am very grateful for that.
 
Well done with all your hard work in saving Goblin. It's great that she has such lovely dedicated piggy slaves! She will give it all back in spades and will have a long and happy life with people who love her.:wub:
 
Welcome to the forum.
I’m so pleased you found the help and support you needed.
Good to hear that Goblin is pulling through - a real tribute to your love and care.
 
I am so sorry what you and your poorly girl are going through! My fingers are very firmly crossed for her!

You can in an emergency always mush up the pellets and add probiotics and vitamin to it as long as you cut off the syringe tip as shown to allow the fibre through.
Our illustrated step-by-step syringe feeding guide will talk you through it all in detail. We have written it especially for inexperienced owners. Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

You may also find our first aid guide helpful; I am very sorry that you have such a nightmare start!
First Aid Kit For Guinea Pigs
Administering Medications And Syringe Feed
 
I'm so glad that she was able to pull through. It can be really hard to find knowledgeable guinea pig vets (I've been on the receiving end of that too... I'm in Canada rather than the US, but the majority of vets here have limited knowledge of small animals too, although a great many treat them anyhow with that limited knowledge!) I'm glad she's doing well and so sorry you had such a harsh start to owning piggies! I think in some ways they do appreciate what you've done for them... I had a pig with chronic medical issues and we had a special bond, as we had been through so much together.
 
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