notthemilkcowelsie
New Born Pup
The luck gods have not been with me lately. About two months ago I lost my dear companion Tiberius, which left my female piggie, Elsie, without a friend. Around a month ago I felt ready to get a new pig, I had been searching humane society's in the area, and thought I might have to drive over an hour (I live in rural Wisconsin) to find a new cavy companion, but my local shelter got a young boar surrender and I applied to adopt him, and my application was accepted. He's almost all white, except for some orange by his face. I named him Bernie.
The humane society said he had just finished antibiotics for a 'guinea pig cold'. I didn't think much of this as Tiberius occasionally needed to go on them when his breathing was a bit more labored.
A week later I brought him in for his pre-neuter check up and he still sounded rather weezy, so the vet put him on a new antibiotic. He had his surgery a week later, and other than scaring me a bit with being a little subdued, he came out of the surgery fine. His breathing was sounding a bit worse tho. The doctor put him on a third antibiotic and about a week and a half after that his breathing scared me enough to call around for 24/hr emergency vets that accepted guinea pigs. The closest one was an hour and a half away.
The doctor at the ER confirmed that he had severe pneumonia, and told me his prospects were poor. They could hospitalize him, but he said that even with that he might not make it. It also would have cost about $1200.
He also suggesting saying good bye. I asked/begged for one last good old college try to try and get him to good health. He is now on two strong antibiotics, an anti-inflammatory, and a mandatory 1/4 of a red pepper a day.
He's been on the new regime for four and a half days. I think his breathing sounds better, but I don't know if that is simply wishful thinking on my part. Bernie is still eating well, and seems fairly active and alert. I scheduled a follow up with my local vet in a few days, but as she didn't hear him at his absolute worst, I don't know if she can tell his lungs are healthier.
My question is, how long do I stick with the new regime? Am I prolonging the inevitable because I think he's getting better, but really isn't?
I have only had Bernie for about a month, and I'm already rather attached. Elsie seems to like him as well, as she wants him to get out of quarantine from getting neutered so that they can hang out without a cage wall in between. This is also right on the heals of losing her best friend Tiberius, and on top of that I moved flats.
I guess I'm asking when is the time to say goodbye. With his condition so up in the air I'm not sure what the right thing to do is.
Any help would be fantastic.
The humane society said he had just finished antibiotics for a 'guinea pig cold'. I didn't think much of this as Tiberius occasionally needed to go on them when his breathing was a bit more labored.
A week later I brought him in for his pre-neuter check up and he still sounded rather weezy, so the vet put him on a new antibiotic. He had his surgery a week later, and other than scaring me a bit with being a little subdued, he came out of the surgery fine. His breathing was sounding a bit worse tho. The doctor put him on a third antibiotic and about a week and a half after that his breathing scared me enough to call around for 24/hr emergency vets that accepted guinea pigs. The closest one was an hour and a half away.
The doctor at the ER confirmed that he had severe pneumonia, and told me his prospects were poor. They could hospitalize him, but he said that even with that he might not make it. It also would have cost about $1200.
He also suggesting saying good bye. I asked/begged for one last good old college try to try and get him to good health. He is now on two strong antibiotics, an anti-inflammatory, and a mandatory 1/4 of a red pepper a day.
He's been on the new regime for four and a half days. I think his breathing sounds better, but I don't know if that is simply wishful thinking on my part. Bernie is still eating well, and seems fairly active and alert. I scheduled a follow up with my local vet in a few days, but as she didn't hear him at his absolute worst, I don't know if she can tell his lungs are healthier.
My question is, how long do I stick with the new regime? Am I prolonging the inevitable because I think he's getting better, but really isn't?
I have only had Bernie for about a month, and I'm already rather attached. Elsie seems to like him as well, as she wants him to get out of quarantine from getting neutered so that they can hang out without a cage wall in between. This is also right on the heals of losing her best friend Tiberius, and on top of that I moved flats.
I guess I'm asking when is the time to say goodbye. With his condition so up in the air I'm not sure what the right thing to do is.
Any help would be fantastic.
. Hopefully it clears