Tastyshrimp
Junior Guinea Pig
Hello everyone. I hope you might be able to help me as my vet - despite being cavy-savvy and very caring - has all but run out of options.
My sow Flo, who is around 5 years old, has had a respiratory problem for the last six months. It started with a wheezing sound, and of course I rushed her to the vet. The vet listened to her chest and took an x-ray, which showed that it was in her lungs and possibly a pneumonia-type problem. She was given Septrin (an antibiotic) and Metacam, which initially helped. Fast forward to now and despite several courses of antibiotic the problem has not been solved; she is still wheezing and the vet says her breathing is 'huffy'.
I do give her 'steam baths' (by putting her in a little crate with a towel over the top and a bowl of hot water outside the crate), but these don't really do much as far as I can tell.
I did ask the vet about nebulisation but without knowing if it is an infection or an inflammatory condition the vet would not know what drug to give. So, we are now trying a steroid with the antibiotic to see if this will dampen any inflammation, but so far there is no change so I will taper the steroids off.
It's definitely not an allergy or URTI, as there is no sneezing, coughing or nasal discharge. In all other ways she is doing well - her weight is good, she eats well, she's active and alert and even tries to wheek although it is wheezy and pitiful!
For information, her cage mate, a 4-year-old neutered boar called Beanie, is absolutely fine and has not suffered any respiratory issues at all. I use a paper-based bedding which I spot clean daily and change every few days, good quality hay and pellets, fresh veg and fruit, they go outside on the grass as often as possible...I can't think if I am doing anything wrong?
I am at a loss and so frustrated and upset as I want to do the best for my little pig. Does anyone have any suggestions that I can try? I'm willing to try almost anything, and of course will go the euthanasia route if I think for one minute she is suffering.
Thank you so much for reading, and for any advice or suggestions you can offer.
Anna. x
My sow Flo, who is around 5 years old, has had a respiratory problem for the last six months. It started with a wheezing sound, and of course I rushed her to the vet. The vet listened to her chest and took an x-ray, which showed that it was in her lungs and possibly a pneumonia-type problem. She was given Septrin (an antibiotic) and Metacam, which initially helped. Fast forward to now and despite several courses of antibiotic the problem has not been solved; she is still wheezing and the vet says her breathing is 'huffy'.
I do give her 'steam baths' (by putting her in a little crate with a towel over the top and a bowl of hot water outside the crate), but these don't really do much as far as I can tell.
I did ask the vet about nebulisation but without knowing if it is an infection or an inflammatory condition the vet would not know what drug to give. So, we are now trying a steroid with the antibiotic to see if this will dampen any inflammation, but so far there is no change so I will taper the steroids off.
It's definitely not an allergy or URTI, as there is no sneezing, coughing or nasal discharge. In all other ways she is doing well - her weight is good, she eats well, she's active and alert and even tries to wheek although it is wheezy and pitiful!
For information, her cage mate, a 4-year-old neutered boar called Beanie, is absolutely fine and has not suffered any respiratory issues at all. I use a paper-based bedding which I spot clean daily and change every few days, good quality hay and pellets, fresh veg and fruit, they go outside on the grass as often as possible...I can't think if I am doing anything wrong?
I am at a loss and so frustrated and upset as I want to do the best for my little pig. Does anyone have any suggestions that I can try? I'm willing to try almost anything, and of course will go the euthanasia route if I think for one minute she is suffering.
Thank you so much for reading, and for any advice or suggestions you can offer.
Anna. x
