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Specialist Breathing problems, otherwise ok...

Qualcast&Flymo said:
Just wanted to mention, if by vapour rub you mean Vicks, that isn't recommended for guinea pigs anymore. I think Olbas oil is ok though.
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Please do NOT used Vicks. You can use olbas oil safely, but if in doubt, please don't add either. ;)
 
I haven’t used either!
I’m wishing I took the frusemide today then. It’s so hard to make these decisions! I must say I’m not happy with the idea of her going under either, especially as you said she’s got breathing issues. He wanted to do it now while she’s still okay-ish and eating well etc rather than when it gets too late I guess.
 
We have had a couple of piggies, plus my own bunny, with similar symptoms. All responded well to frusol. We have never had the piggies x-rayed, but my bunny was. Nothing shown on the x-ray, but he has responded well to frusol and has changed from a rabbit struggling for every breath, to a very energetic bunny, despite being an elderly little man (he will be 10 years old on 1st May).
 
I think I’ll give them a call in the morning and ask to do that then. She seems a bit knackered this evening, we were out for 4 hours on trains and trams across London this afternoon, I don’t actually want to take her all the way there again tomorrow!
I’m so stupid not to ask to take the frusol home today just in case. Oh well, I’d definitely be able to pick it up tomorrow. I wonder why both this exotics vet and my local one were so reluctant to try it?!
 
FYI I am just waiting for confirmation that my local vet has the prescription info for me to collect from them. I suspect I may have to settle for frusemide capsules rather than the liquid Frusol but we’ll see.

Meanwhile Stormy has been pretty lazy today, mostly burying herself under hay and popping out only now and then for a munch of hay or whatever. Weight down to 933g (as opposed to 950-980g). I put her lethargy down to the stressful day yesterday tbh, she’s obviously struggling a bit more than normal poor thing ... the sooner we get this medicine the better!
 
Got the Frusol, yay! Correct concentration and dose prescribed - 40mg/5ml, 0.23ml twice daily.
Bit of a faff, my own vet only had the capsules, but thankfully their sister vet had it. Yet another 4 hours out this afternoon to'ing & fro'ing! (without Stormy this time though!) But, yay. Gonna get them their evening veg first and will then give her her first dose. :)

Just to be clear, so I should look for an improvement within 24-48 hours, right? If she does improve, how long do I need to be giving it for, would it be an indefinite thing (vet didn't say). What bad side effects should I keep an eye open for, other than dehydration? Vet yesterday mentioned she might be a bit wobbly or something... Also, should I worry if I don't think she's drinking much water, as I saw dehydration is one possible side effect? And, should I keep an eye on weeing etc given that it could effect kidneys?

And, if it doesn't make her better, what next?
 
No change yet though as you said I’m not expecting much for a couple of days. Poor thing does seem a bit sorry for herself. She’s also now limping on her foot that has the bumblefoot, it’s a bit swollen (vet said same the other day but didn’t prescribe anything other than the hibiscrub, which tbh I’ve not been doing very well as she won’t tolerate it for more than a minute or two! Id better redouble my efforts ... otherwise, I do still have loxicom and baytril left from before... May ring vet to see if they’d like me to put her back on either , for the foot... bit worried it’ll become infected otherwise if it isn’t already ...
 
Thought I’d post this photo to demonstrate how Stormy is still the most enthusiastic about veg time! This was this morning. Her weight this morning is down to 915g, however she was 947g yesterday evening (up from a previous 928g; she’s normally between 950-1kg) and I don’t normally weigh her in the morning. I know they’re quieter at night than during the day so as long as it’s gone back up by tonight I’m not too worried.

It’s possible her breathing sounds SLIGHTLY better (putting my ear to her) but that might be just me being hopeful!
 

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Thanks. Yes and her tummy looks less round this morning too so perhaps she’s managed to shed some of that gas too! she looks more comfortable than she did last night. :)
 
StormyMidnight said:
Thanks. Yes and her tummy looks less round this morning too so perhaps she’s managed to shed some of that gas too! she looks more comfortable than she did last night. :)
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Maybe some of that was fluid too. Maddie dropped over 100g once we got her on diuretics and she is doing amazingly well now.
 
That’s great :) Stormy hasn’t stopped munching hay and nuggets since she finished her veg so I haven’t hadn’t a chance to give her the morning dose yet 😂
 
Not good this morning :( She stayed in her hut while I was chopping veg, never a good sign, but did come out to see, she had a sniff at the veg and didn't seem keen on taking any but I hand fed her a strip of pepper and she ate it but seemed to be struggling, couldn't tell how/why (for all i know it could simply be back teeth, but I'd imagine not so suddenly as this?). I listened to her breathing (putting my ear to her) and it is much, much slower but not louder. I don't know what is wrong? I think I'll have to take her straight to the specialist again although I'm loathe to take her on that journey again and I still really don't want her to be put under anaesthetic! Especially now she's worse. I'm wondering now if I should've consented to it back on Tuesday when she wasn't like this, in case something else is wrong that Frusol can't solve. :(
 
Wondering if i should try & give her some critical care at some point today, & water too? Given that i don't know long it is since she ate (other than when i went to bed at 11 last night). She weighs same as yesterday morning, 913g.
 
I think her tummy is more swollen than normal too and she’s a little wobbly on her feet . Here are a couple of photos of her from above.
 

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I'm really sad to say that Stormy passed away this evening. I managed to syringe feed several ml this morning, I took her in to the vet who was very worried about her, they gave her sub cut fluids and put her in an oxygen tank, and they also syringe fed her a few times through the afternoon, and she stayed there, but sadly she didn't make it & passed peacefully this evening there. I had said a proper goodbye before I left as the vet was worried she wouldn't make it through the next couple of days even in their care, so I'm glad I had that pre-warning. I'm heartbroken but she had a good life (5 years), and in fact I gave her an extra year after she had her bottom teeth out, it was touch & go there for a bit and I managed to get her through that :) She was a wonderful piggie and I will miss her so much. Thank you for all your support here. xx
 
So sorry to hear. You did your best and you can't do more than that and it sounds like she was very loved and happy.
 
Thank you :) She was very loved and happy. The cage is very quiet without her, she was our loudest most enthusiastic wheeker! The vets all loved her too, those at the local vet who burred her teeth regularly etc, they always said that she was the most relaxed piggy they'd ever had to deal with :) It was funny because the vet would take her into the back room to do her teeth and I'd hear joyful exclamations from the others in there, because they were always so happy to see her :D
 
Such sad news. Sorry or your loss. You did everything you could but sometimes the pull of the rainbow bridge is too strong.
RIP little one.
 
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