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Could This Be More Than Just A Uri?

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Well my mum called from the vets. He is 90% sure its not heart...he thinks its her lungs only. Good strong steady heartbeat etc. He says she has pneumonia :-( and he thinks somthing is irritating her lungs. He also thinks she may have a genetic flaw as Harmony and Liberty both died from the same thing (pneumonia). He says hes pretty sure her lungs are irritated and when stressed or body at a low the genetic flaw kicks in and makes her poorly. He isnt happy to do an xray yet as he is worried about her under sedation. He wants to clear her of any infection and then can investigate more. He wants me to call tuesday and she has more antibiotics but he wants her to be on a long corse of antibiotics to try and kill the infection. Thats the jist of it anyway lol. I.am relieved but also worried as its a case of wait and see. ..I just want her better.
 
Thanks for the update Jenny. Has she tried any furosemide at any point? It's a diuretic and removes fluid from the lungs. It may be worth mentioning to the vet next time you go.. It helped Cookie shift a stubborn URI this year. Cuddles and vibes to Honor x
 
Thanks. No she hasnt...i will.mention it when i call tuesday. Am worried for her....shes strong ...but so were Harmony and Liberty. I will be pleased when the infection goes...he has given me some good tips but he thinks she has a bad reaction to hay. Any ideas whats the best dust free and fresh hay? He also thinks when its spring/summer to let her outside as much as poss...would an air humidifier help? x
 
Thanks Helen. I will call tomorrow and see if John is working if not will speak to him Monday and ask for one.

Can I ask a few questions about concious x-rays, I don't know if Honor would stay still for that.. she is quite a live wire and always hopping about at the vets...how do they work? Do many vets do concious x-rays? Thanks.
 
I managed to persuade my local vet and they taped Nigel to the table with masking tape as he was a little sod and would not stay still. At clinic the vet uses a restraint bag or a strap to hold the pig in place on the table. Am sure other members will be able to say what their vet does too.
 
Okay thanks Helen. I cant imagine how Honor would react to that lol...she's such a live wire and a madam- as soon as she is restrained she turns into a mad piggie :P
 
jenniferanneharris said:
Thanks Helen. I will call tomorrow and see if John is working if not will speak to him Monday and ask for one.

Can I ask a few questions about concious x-rays, I don't know if Honor would stay still for that.. she is quite a live wire and always hopping about at the vets...how do they work? Do many vets do concious x-rays? Thanks.
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Our vets will always do conscious X-rays unless sedation is absolutely necessary with the pigs. Esme had a conscious X-ray, in my understanding they use a cardboard box with the bottom cut out and they pop the piggy in it. In their experience, the box is small enough to stop the pig moving around too much and the pig doesn't try to run out of it so they are able to get a clear picture. Like everyone has said if it is pneumonia, furosemide will make the world a difference and improve her breathing.
Esme was a fairly lively pig although she would sit still for a short while.
 
Thank you, i will ask about doing this when i call John. I don't know if he is in tomorrow, but i know he is Monday. Either way I will call and see. Thank you.
 
I have only just caught up with this thread. Am so sorry that you are going through more illness with your girls. Will be keeping my fingers crossed that she makes a speedy recovery. Keep us up to date x
 
Wanted to refresh this thread, Honor was back at the vets today. She had an xray to look at heart heart/lungs etc. I came back an hour or so later to pick her up and discuss results. John says she has quite a few issues. First of all she has a vitamin C deficiency- its affecting her rib cage and knees :( - she is on Metacam now and vitamin c tabs.

She still has pneumonia (although its improving as her chest is clearer than last week) so is still on antibiotics and a diuretic (Frusol sol) and he says her heart is enlarged and she has fluid round her heart. He also noted it looks like she has enlarged lymph node or an absus on her lungs)- somthing we are going to investigate (i think that's what he said- was alot to take in)
She is now on 4 diffrent meds (Metacam, VitC, Frusol sol and antibiotic's). She will be on all these for at least another week and am back at the vets next Monday morning where he says he will probs scan her heart and start her on some sort of heart meds.
 
I'm glad you have been able to get some answers, I'm sorry it is a lot to take in at once.
It sounds very like Esme's treatment/diagnosis minus the vitamin c problems.
She was given antibiotics and frusol initially as the pneumonia could be from an infection or due to the heart over working and causing fluid build up. Essentially my vet said one condition can give way to the symptoms of another i.e the enlarged heart.
I hope you can get a treatment plan in place, and if you need to chat PM me :)
 
So sorry to hear of the issues :( sending lots of hugs to you and honor and haven because she can't be left out of the hugs hehe. I feel like I know honor and haven personally so it's so heartbreaking to hear she's not having a brilliant time. As you know I am always there if you need a chat not that I'm much help lol. Get better soon honor and I hope the meds make you all better!
 
Wow that's a lot to take in. Happy to hear she is on Frusol as that will help with both the pneumonia and the heart problem. I expect he will start her on Fortekor (Benazapril) on Monday which can be given in conjunction with the Frusol.

I will be interested to see what his next steps are regarding the enlarged lymph node.
 
Thanks everyone. I think he said enlarge lymph node...but to be honest i was taken back by it all. He said call anytime etc. I was just in a rush to get back to work.so its all quite fuzzy. Am just pleased she is starting to mend.
 
Honor seems to like Metacam :P So i give her that last to take the taste of the other meds away :P She looks so cute licking her lips after :P. I feel like the medicine woman at the moment what with Haven's thyroid meds and Now all of Honor's. I think the metacam is helping already- Honor seems more sprite-ley this evening and even popcorned earlier when i put her back in her cage she popcorned to her hayrack :P Can Metacam work this quickly after 2 doses?
 
I think it can be quick acting but it could well be that the Frusol is taking effect too, I find that giving diuretic to my heart pigs when needed can help very quickly.
 
On way back from vets. Honor is now on Imidapril twice a a day for her heart. She is still on the Frusol and the metacam and vit c tabs but her chest is looking much better so that is good.
We see John again next week for a check up etc to see how the meds are going.
 
Glad you have heart meds at last, that's not one I have heard of but am assuming it similar to Benazepril and Enalapril? Am surprised he didn't go for Benazapril as it is less harsh on the kidneys than Enalapril at least. I can't comment on Imidapril.

What doses of the diuretic and heart meds has he suggested?
 
0.1 twice a day at the moment.



Shes really improved in the last week- its so nice to see- chest prety clear and her knees are not causing her any more problems she hops about yhe cage nicely.
 
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Ah ok. Any idea what milligram that puts her being on?
 
Thank you just looked it up online but still can't work it out, the OH mixes our meds up as I get confused with miligrams and doses.

Glad to hear she has perked up well anyway.
 
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