Can A Piggy Be Bloated But Ok?

[xxaimeexx]

Ruby my elderly pig (6, 7 next year) has been to the vets with breathing issues, heaving sides and noise. She has heart failure, however she has been quite fine in herself at home and the frusemide we were given didn't make a great difference at all and I was advised that if I didn't think it worked just to stop. She had baytril too. Now the stage I'm at is that I'm a bit perplexed by the fact that she seems to be happy and eating, not in pain or lethargic, drinking a bit much but I think all systems are failing her to be honest. The big thing I've noticed is that she has absolutely blown up, she looks fat round the abdomen and feels like a balloon. I know it's fluid from everything packing up inside. It sounds awful and I have the vets booked but what I wanted to know was, can they be ok with this fluid, because she's doing 'fine' otherwise( for a pretty ill pig with not to long left) I also know this is geared towards when PTS is the best and that I'll speak to the vet about as it's only real option other than to wait. But I really wondered if the symptom of bloating and fluid itself would be something really concerning in this situation? She's a great wee piggy and I'd hate to be letting her suffer but I'm also keen for her to be chilling out as happy as she is for as long as she can (two special treats and veggies forecast for tomorrow) this was more of a ramble than anything but I hope someone can pick through it...

 

[piggieminder]

I'm not qualified to answer your questions but just wanted to send you both hugs.

 

[Wiebke]

Ruby my elderly pig (6, 7 next year) has been to the vets with breathing issues, heaving sides and noise. She has heart failure, however she has been quite fine in herself at home and the frusemide we were given didn't make a great difference at all and I was advised that if I didn't think it worked just to stop. She had baytril too. Now the stage I'm at is that I'm a bit perplexed by the fact that she seems to be happy and eating, not in pain or lethargic, drinking a bit much but I think all systems are failing her to be honest. The big thing I've noticed is that she has absolutely blown up, she looks fat round the abdomen and feels like a balloon. I know it's fluid from everything packing up inside. It sounds awful and I have the vets booked but what I wanted to know was, can they be ok with this fluid, because she's doing 'fine' otherwise( for a pretty ill pig with not to long left) I also know this is geared towards when PTS is the best and that I'll speak to the vet about as it's only real option other than to wait. But I really wondered if the symptom of bloating and fluid itself would be something really concerning in this situation? She's a great wee piggy and I'd hate to be letting her suffer but I'm also keen for her to be chilling out as happy as she is for as long as she can (two special treats and veggies forecast for tomorrow) this was more of a ramble than anything but I hope someone can pick through it...

I would have your vet check whether it is gassy bloat or a fluid build up in the chest cavity tomorrow.
Frusol works in my experience better than frusemide when it comes to a build-up of fluid. It is a diuretic (draining medication) like frusemide.
If it bloat the tummy should feel very tight and sound hollow when you gently knock against it. In that case, emeprid/metoclopramide and zantac are recommended. They work on different parts of the digestive system. Older piggies with saggier bodies can balloon up quite a bit with milder bloat when their digestion is no longer working as well. Please have any bloat seen by a vet; severe bloat can often be a killer and counts as one of the emergency illnesses; it is very painful, so I don't think that you piggy has got that.

I am also linking in members with more experience with heart piggies than me. They may be able to recommend more heart meds like vetmedin which can be safely used in guinea pigs with heart problems.
@Jaycey @helen105281

 

[xxaimeexx]

Thank you wiebke and piggieminder. It will be the fluid I think. It is not tight at all. I guess I just need to wait and see what the vet says but thanks for suggesting some alternative diuretics, I'll mention this

 

[helen105281]

Heart pigs can get abdominal bloating as they suck in air when trying to breathe. What meds is she on? is she on an ACE inhibator like Benzapril? Or Vetmedin as Wiebke has suggested? It may also be that the diuretic dose was not high enough, they often need a large dose first to kick start the process and then you can taper it down as needed.