Coughing issues

[Cassi0pia]

It started about four months ago but my now 6 month old guinea pig, Luna, started coughing and wheezing. I believe it started because my housemate was smoking weed in the house with no care about the smoke. The vet put her on anti inflammatories and it didn't stop but got better. In the last month though she's gotten much worse. She's coughing enough to shake her whole body and wheezing more and keeps rocking. I took her back to the vets who thought it might be a dust allergy. Everything in the cage is hypoallergenic but hasn't helped. Recently Luna stopped eating very much and its a struggle to get her to take her medication. They put her on stronger antibiotics and said to bring her back if she declines.

Sorry for the long post but I'm just wondering if anyone has dealt with anything similar with their cavvies? Or if anyone has any ideas of what I can do to help her?

Thanks!

 

[Deleted member 139433]

If she is consistently coughing, wheezing and rocking when breathing you must seek urgent veterinary advice.

I hope you can get her the help and that she improves soon.

 

[Siikibam]

I’m afraid I’ve not experienced this. What I would say is to weigh her daily at the same time (if you’re not already) - preferably morning - in order to monitor her hay intake. Antibiotics can mess with the gut bacteria so it’s often recommended you give a probiotic either 1-2 hours before or after the antibiotics dose.

If she’s losing weight consistently then you do have to syringe feed. You just have to be cruel to be kind and be firmer with syringe feeding.

Have you also eliminated all irritants in the room - perfumes, candles, body sprays etc? I hope you get to the bottom of it soon

 

[Wiebke]

It started about four months ago but my now 6 month old guinea pig, Luna, started coughing and wheezing. I believe it started because my housemate was smoking weed in the house with no care about the smoke. The vet put her on anti inflammatories and it didn't stop but got better. In the last month though she's gotten much worse. She's coughing enough to shake her whole body and wheezing more and keeps rocking. I took her back to the vets who thought it might be a dust allergy. Everything in the cage is hypoallergenic but hasn't helped. Recently Luna stopped eating very much and its a struggle to get her to take her medication. They put her on stronger antibiotics and said to bring her back if she declines.

Sorry for the long post but I'm just wondering if anyone has dealt with anything similar with their cavvies? Or if anyone has any ideas of what I can do to help her?

Thanks!

Hi

Has your vet checked her heart? Please see them again.

Please step in with weighing daily and feeding support. Keep in mind that around 80% of the daily food intake is hay, which you cannot control by eye. Unlike predatory pets, guinea pigs cannot fast. Antibiotics can impact on the gut bacteria as much as on the 'bad' bacteria and kill the appetite. Your home support can help to make a difference. It is a battle with a piggy off their food but you need to persist and feed little but often (5-10 ml every 2 hours during the day and once through the night) - aim ideally at 60 ml in 24 hours but try to come as close to 40ml as you can to just keep her alive.
You can soak pellets in warm water in a pinch but in this case, you need to cut off the syringe tip with scissors just below where it widens to allow the rougher pellet fibre to pass through but still keep the syringe plunger inside the syringe. Mix probiotics from a pet shop or online into the syringe feed to support the gut microbiome.

Try and see whether a bowl of steaming water next to the cage can help ease the breathing. If it does, please keep it refreshed.

Here is our detailed practical crisis and bridging care advice with more tips and practical advice:
Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
Probiotics, Recovery Foods And Vitamin C: Overview With Product Links

All the best!

 

[Cassi0pia]

If she is consistently coughing, wheezing and rocking when breathing you must seek urgent veterinary advice.

I hope you can get her the help and that she improves soon.

Thank you for responding but she actually died overnight. I appreciate it though

 

[Cassi0pia]

Hi

Has your vet checked her heart? Please see them again.

Please step in with weighing daily and feeding support. Keep in mind that around 80% of the daily food intake is hay, which you cannot control by eye. Unlike predatory pets, guinea pigs cannot fast. Antibiotics can impact on the gut bacteria as much as on the 'bad' bacteria and kill the appetite. Your home support can help to make a difference. It is a battle with a piggy off their food but you need to persist and feed little but often (5-10 ml every 2 hours during the day and once through the night) - aim ideally at 60 ml in 24 hours but try to come as close to 40ml as you can to just keep her alive.
You can soak pellets in warm water in a pinch but in this case, you need to cut off the syringe tip with scissors just below where it widens to allow the rougher pellet fibre to pass through but still keep the syringe plunger inside the syringe. Mix probiotics from a pet shop or online into the syringe feed to support the gut microbiome.

Try and see whether a bowl of steaming water next to the cage can help ease the breathing. If it does, please keep it refreshed.

Here is our detailed practical crisis and bridging care advice with more tips and practical advice:
Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
Probiotics, Recovery Foods And Vitamin C: Overview With Product Links

All the best!

Thank you so much for the advice but unfortunately Luna died overnight

 

[Claire W]

Aw I’m so sorry for your loss of Luna She could have had a upper respiratory infection (URI) or a heart condition x

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you so much for the advice but unfortunately Luna died overnight

BIG HUGS

I am so sorry. You have done everything you could for Luna; please don't feel guilty. It sounds rather like there has been a genetic issue with her, considering her young age - which is out of your control. Luna has just been very unlucky in that respect but she has been very lucky to find somebody who loved her and who cared for her.

Be kind to yourself in the coming days.

You may find the information via this guide very helpful in terms of what you can do for Luna's companion now and in the coming days and weeks and how you can make sense of your own feelings: Death, Dying, Terminal Illness, Grieving and Bereaved Companions: Information and Support for Owners and Their Children

 

[Deleted member 139433]

So sorry for your loss. Thinking of you at this difficult time