Congestion

[vmorin918]

Let me start by saying: I will be calling the vet in the morning.

Okay, so we have a group of 4, and two of them came to us 3.5 months ago. We noticed one of the two new girls, her name is Rosie, had some congestion. We thought maybe it would calm down and go away as she settled in here. 3 weeks ago, the vet put her on Bactrim to start. A week after that her breathing got labored so I took her to the emergency after hours hospital and they put her on Baytril for a URI. We finished a 10 day dose of that this past Friday morning. She sounded so much better, wasn't snorting when breathing, etc. The vet said she can be reunited with the others today so we did. Everything was fine, everyone was happy to see each other. 6 hours later, I notice she's breathing all congested again, and struggling a little. (Not as bad as when I took her to the ER that night) but just how you would struggle to breath if your nose was plugged.

I just did a 10 minute steam shower with her, but has anyone experienced this before? I have a cool mist humidifier near the smaller quarantine cage she was in, but i need to make a shelf for it to sit on by the big cage. I wonder if she's just super sensitive to dry air now that her URI is cleared up.

 

[sport_billy]

Please let us know how the vet goes. Maybe ask about some bisolven to the vet as this can help clear congestion

 

[Wiebke]

Let me start by saying: I will be calling the vet in the morning.

Okay, so we have a group of 4, and two of them came to us 3.5 months ago. We noticed one of the two new girls, her name is Rosie, had some congestion. We thought maybe it would calm down and go away as she settled in here. 3 weeks ago, the vet put her on Bactrim to start. A week after that her breathing got labored so I took her to the emergency after hours hospital and they put her on Baytril for a URI. We finished a 10 day dose of that this past Friday morning. She sounded so much better, wasn't snorting when breathing, etc. The vet said she can be reunited with the others today so we did. Everything was fine, everyone was happy to see each other. 6 hours later, I notice she's breathing all congested again, and struggling a little. (Not as bad as when I took her to the ER that night) but just how you would struggle to breath if your nose was plugged.

I just did a 10 minute steam shower with her, but has anyone experienced this before? I have a cool mist humidifier near the smaller quarantine cage she was in, but i need to make a shelf for it to sit on by the big cage. I wonder if she's just super sensitive to dry air now that her URI is cleared up.

Hi!

A 10 days course may not be enough to clear out her URI. It also depends on whether baytril is the best antibiotic for her bacteria; with URI this in not always the case.

Please discuss any further measures like mucus thinning medication. Some piggies can be more sensitive to air changes, especially an abrupt change from a room with a humidifier to a dry room.
Be careful when using steam showers on spec and without consultation with the treating vet. Not all respiratory conditions react positively.

All the best!

 

[vmorin918]

Hi!

A 10 days course may not be enough to clear out her URI. It also depends on whether baytril is the best antibiotic for her bacteria; with URI this in not always the case.

Please discuss any further measures like mucus thinning medication. Some piggies can be more sensitive to air changes, especially an abrupt change from a room with a humidifier to a dry room.
Be careful when using steam showers on spec and without consultation with the treating vet. Not all respiratory conditions react positively.

All the best!

Yes the Vet actually suggested steam showers - and he brought up the humidifier. I know the doctor said he is always nervous to have piggies on baytril for a long period of time because it can create superbugs or immune problems down the road. But if she had some sort of URI even when we got her, a 10 day course may not be enough to kill a 3 month long infection. I will definitely ask the Vet, we had a snowstorm today so it threw my entire day off and I couldn't get a chance to call with work. Will be calling in the morning! (so in like 12 hours lol)

 

[vmorin918]

Please let us know how the vet goes. Maybe ask about some bisolven to the vet as this can help clear congestion

I definitely will! Anything to help her... she's the smallest of the group, only weighs about 700 grams or so! She's so lovey, always giving kisses... like she's so thankful we are trying to help her

 

[vmorin918]

Please let us know how the vet goes. Maybe ask about some bisolven to the vet as this can help clear congestion

The vet called me back a couple days ago and had me start her back on Baytril for at least another week. She sounds better, slightly congested it sounds a bit more mucus and not dry, and she's sneezing. So perhaps that means it's loosening up and working it's way out. Fingers crossed that this final push clears it all up! Now it's cage cleaning day... stinky stinky girls!

 

[Wiebke]

The vet called me back a couple days ago and had me start her back on Baytril for at least another week. She sounds better, slightly congested it sounds a bit more mucus and not dry, and she's sneezing. So perhaps that means it's loosening up and working it's way out. Fingers crossed that this final push clears it all up! Now it's cage cleaning day... stinky stinky girls!

All the best! If it gets worse please contact your vet re. a sinusitis and ask for a mucus thinning product like bisolvon powder (UK).

URI is NOT like a viral human cold; it is a bacterial infection.