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Blackjack has raspy breathing

Danielle Smith

Danielle Smith

Teenage Guinea Pig
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My ~6 year old boar Blackjack started doing raspy breathing today. His eyes and nostrils are just a tiny bit moister than usual. I know it's likely URI, but my cavy-savvy vet is shut tomorrow save for emergencies. As he's still eating, pooping, and rumbling about the cage okay, can this wait until Tuesday or does it warrant an emergency appointment?

EDIT: worth noting that he moved into a new cage on Christmas Eve and has been rumbstrutting about like a madman. He's been much more vocal than usual which is unlike him!
 
Hmm it would be better if he could be seen tomorrow. Weigh daily at the same time for now as you suspect he may be ill. Hopefully it’s something simple.
 
I would class this as an emergency and push for an appointment tomorrow.
If he is coming down with something better to get meds for him asap, as we all know how quickly guinea pigs can go downhill.
 
Danielle Smith said:
My ~6 year old boar Blackjack started doing raspy breathing today. His eyes and nostrils are just a tiny bit moister than usual. I know it's likely URI, but my cavy-savvy vet is shut tomorrow save for emergencies. As he's still eating, pooping, and rumbling about the cage okay, can this wait until Tuesday or does it warrant an emergency appointment?

EDIT: worth noting that he moved into a new cage on Christmas Eve and has been rumbstrutting about like a madman. He's been much more vocal than usual which is unlike him!
Click to expand...

Ring up the clinic tomorrow morning and let them decide whether they class this as urgent or not. Right now it is not yet an emergency.
Try and see whether a bowl of steaming water will help to ease the symptoms. Older piggies can suffer from narrowed airways and can get raspy breathing from very dry, badly ventilated air on cold days.
 
Okay, so my vet advised to wait until tomorrow as he's still keen for food etc. His raspiness is now more intermittent but definitely still there. Poor wee sausage, I'll give him some extra critical care at lunch and dinner today as he loves the stuff off a spoon.
 
How odd... Today, as I was going to call the vet all raspiness has gone and he's happily munching away.

I'm still tempted to take him to the vet but... well... as I've had four piggies pass away the past few months (3 within one month of each other), I have been (much) more proactive at getting them checked over if anything is amiss. The last 2 or 3 times I've brought an animal to the vet they have listened to my worries, done a good check over, and have essentially told me I am the piggy equivalent of "worried well". I'm worried in case this happens again :doh:.

Doesn't help that I want to get Flubs checked out too as he has audible breathing... Which he's always had, he's very nervous when being picked up but now I'm convinced it's heart failure as his limbs have darkened over the years to a purplish colour. I wish I could stop being so worried over them!
 
Being worried is a good sign that you’re a caring owner. I can see why you would be over worried though given your more recent losses. I would take him for a check anyway, no harm done.
 
If it sets your mind at ease I would go and get him checked out, it could be just a bit of hay dust that’s caused it x
Hoping it turns out fine for Blackjack x
 
Blackjack was seen at the vet today as his rasps came back and he had some discharge coming out of his nostrils. Vet agrees with URI suspicion but says it hasn't made it down to his lungs :yahoo:. Sulfatrim for 7 days as well as loxicom and we'll see how we get on. He's currently inhaling some DualCare mush.

I took Flubs in too and she said I was absolutely right to be worried and on checking with stethoscope he had some harsh lung sounds :no:. Sulfatrim for 7-10 days for him plus loxicom and back in for a check up if he doesn't improve... I suspect it's his heart but agree we need to try the easy wins first! Poor old boy; ate a couple mouthfuls of DualCare but much prefers rootling around for tiny strands of hay.
 
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