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Blue Lips

J668

J668

Junior Guinea Pig
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I took my two little princesses to the vet on Wednesday for an MOT where they were both given a clean bill of health. I mentioned to the vet that I felt that Nibbles was a little wheezy but she listened to her chest and she said it seemed fine.

This morning when I went to do their breakfast Nibbles was laying still and didn't object to being picked up. She was cold and seems a bit floppy. I took her indoors to have a good look. Her lips and nose were blue, she struggled to stand and her tummy seemed a little bloated. I couldn't interest her in any food, veg or water. I rung the vet and rushed her straight there. They've admitted her to put her in an oxygen box and give her fluids but have warned me that it doesn't look good.

Could anyone give me any ideas what could be wrong and could be be something which will effect her sister?
 
I'm sorry she is so poorly. A heart issue can also make the lips go blue, hopefully the vet has already considered that but something to mention if not. Heart pigs can get fluid on the chest so a conscious xray would be a good idea to see if the heart can be seen. If the vet can get her through the crisis and does diagnose a heart issue they can be put on an ACE Inhibator like Benazepril. Some pigs need a diuretic like Frusemide in addition to this.

Other possibilities are a problem with the airways or a respiratory infection. Only a respiratory infection would possibly affect her sister and even then it is not always the case as it depends on the individual pig and how good their immune system is.

I hope she pulls through.
 
Thank you.
The vet said they would try an X-ray but thy wanted to get some fluids and oxygen into her first to see if she would perk up.

They seemed concerned about her tummy being bloated and said that it might be a gut impaction that's has caused her to go into shock.
 
J668 said:
Thank you.
The vet said they would try an X-ray but thy wanted to get some fluids and oxygen into her first to see if she would perk up.

They seemed concerned about her tummy being bloated and said that it might be a gut impaction that's has caused her to go into shock.
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One other thing is pigs can suck in air when they are struggling to breathe which can also cause bloating.
 
J668 said:
I took my two little princesses to the vet on Wednesday for an MOT where they were both given a clean bill of health. I mentioned to the vet that I felt that Nibbles was a little wheezy but she listened to her chest and she said it seemed fine.

This morning when I went to do their breakfast Nibbles was laying still and didn't object to being picked up. She was cold and seems a bit floppy. I took her indoors to have a good look. Her lips and nose were blue, she struggled to stand and her tummy seemed a little bloated. I couldn't interest her in any food, veg or water. I rung the vet and rushed her straight there. They've admitted her to put her in an oxygen box and give her fluids but have warned me that it doesn't look good.

Could anyone give me any ideas what could be wrong and could be be something which will effect her sister?
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Fingers very firmly crossed! Concentrate on sending your girl loving and healing thoughts and be there for her sister, as much as she wants it.

I've lost both my Telyn and my Ffion from sudden acute heart failure despite rushing them to the vets straight away. It was a big shock each time as they were both seemingly healthy young piggies.
The other problem could be a sudden massive blockage or gut stasis that has impacted on the heart function. That is what Ffion's daughter Ffowlyn died of. Sadly as the onset was in the middle of the night, by the time I found her in the morning, she was too far gone to do more than relieve her from her suffering as quickly as possible.

You have done absolutely the right thing. Please do not beat yourself up for missing something vital - you haven't. It really happens right out of the blue and develops very quickly. These piggies basically live a seemingly healthy life with a genetic bomb on a ticker that can go off at any time. :(

There is a certain risk that her sister has inherited the same faulty gene if it has started with the heart, otherwise it is just one of these tragedies that you cannot brace for.
Telyn was from a large several generations inbred rescue; most of her generation died young from heart failure. I don't know anything about Ffion's background, except that her daughter which I adopted with her died after a series of health issues also at a not very old age.:(
 
It is with a broken heart that I have to tell you that I was called back to the vet about an hour ago to say goodbye.

Nibbles had a contorted bowel and her whole body was shutting down due to severe shock.

Run free my baby girl.
 
J668 said:
It is with a broken heart that I have to tell you that I was called back to the vet about an hour ago to say goodbye.

Nibbles had a contorted bowel and her whole body was shutting down due to severe shock.

Run free my baby girl.
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BIG HUGS

I am so sorry; it is one of these rare freak things that you cannot prevent or brace for - a contorted bowel can still be fatal even for humans. :(

Try to take what scant consolation you can from the fact that you have done your best Nibbles and that you and your vet have tried to make her suffer as little as possible.

Here are tips on what you can do for Nibbles' sister. You are also welcome to post a tribute to Nibbles in our Rainbow Bridge. It is there for those members that want to make use of it whenever it feels right for them since we all grieve differently. There is no time limit or urge to use it. Some of us find consolation in being able to talk through it as much as possible at the time, others need to digest it all first and come to terms with their loss, and some rather would not use it at all.
Looking After A Bereaved Guinea Pig
 
I'm so sorry, what a horrible thing to happen. You really did do everything you could for Nibbles - getting her to the vet as soon as you noticed something wasn't right. By the sounds of it there's nothing you could have done to prevent this, just one of those things. Nibbles would have known how much she was loved
 
Thank you for your love.

Her sister seems to be ok. Eating fine. It's so strange how quiet it is when there's only one and they aren't chatting to each other. My sister in law has offered me her neutered boar to keep Snowflake company as he was lives by himself due to being bullied by his siblings.

Is this a good idea?

I've attached a picture of my beautiful Nibbles cuddling up after a bath. And one with her sister. Having a post bath spinach treat.

IMG_7868.webp

IMG_7871.webp
 
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