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Emergency - Head Under Water

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Little Ones

Little Ones

Adult Guinea Pig
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I was bathing my Guinea pig, the water was veryyyy shallow I turned away for a tiny second and then I looked back he was panicking, his nose was under water somehow and there were bubbles like he wa trying to breathe underwater and now when he breathes it sounds watery, I can't get to a vet help, I don't know how this happened I'm shaking so bad omg
 
I know you have said you can't get to a vet but he is likely to need a diuretic if the water has got onto his chest and only a vet can give you that. I am not sure what else to suggest.
 
helen105281 said:
I know you have said you can't get to a vet but he is likely to need a diuretic if the water has got onto his chest and only a vet can give you that. I am not sure what else to suggest.
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How will I know it has gotten to his chest? He's eating normal, the watery noise has stopped, he's running around, he seems fine I don't think it was a lot of water, I'll keep my eye on him. I'm still really worried, I honestly have no idea how it happened :no:
 
Hopefully it was just up his nose then. Keep an eye out for any laboured breathing. Is good he is running about.
 
Watch your piggy for coughing and sneezing. I assume small amounts of water would be absorbed in the body. Anything more may need treated. I assume you need to consider if the water was clean or dirty and if there is risk of infection you need to look for.
 
helen105281 said:
Hopefully it was just up his nose then. Keep an eye out for any laboured breathing. Is good he is running about.
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Thanks for your help, I appreciate it :nod:
Wiggie said:
Watch your piggy for coughing and sneezing. I assume small amounts of water would be absorbed in the body. Anything more may need treated. I assume you need to consider if the water was clean or dirty and if there is risk of infection you need to look for.
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he's coughed twice now, the water had nezoral shampoo in it (i suspected he was getting a fungal infection), so I suppose that's clean in a way. I don't think there was much, if there was I think he'd be acting differently but I'm still panicked :no:
 
Keep a close eye on him for a few days. It is not ideal getting water up their noses. One of mine have wriggled before in my hands and got soapy water up their noses before, they have sneezed and I have not thought anymore of it. I guess it is just the uncertainty of how brief it was. I would assume a piggy would dip their nose in accidently and get it out very quickly. They will then sneeze a bit and it will be a lesson learnt for the piggy and owner. Just keep an eye on him, if he is functioning normally you cant do anything else right now. Just make sure next time you have everything to hand before you get them wet and it will be ok.
 
Wiggie said:
Keep a close eye on him for a few days. It is not ideal getting water up their noses. One of mine have wriggled before in my hands and got soapy water up their noses before, they have sneezed and I have not thought anymore of it. I guess it is just the uncertainty of how brief it was. I would assume a piggy would dip their nose in accidently and get it out very quickly. They will then sneeze a bit and it will be a lesson learnt for the piggy and owner. Just keep an eye on him, if he is functioning normally you cant do anything else right now. Just make sure next time you have everything to hand before you get them wet and it will be ok.
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It was for a few seconds, the water was so shallow but when I turned around then turned back he had started swimming but his nose completely under, trying to breathe, there were a lot of bubbles, it took me a few seconds to process what was happening, as soon as I realised I took him straight out. I don't know why he didn't just stop and stand up, the water only went to the top of his legs and he's a large Guinea pig! I'll be so much more careful in future, lesson learned! Thanks for your help, it's appreciated
 
I agree with the above posters - please keep a close eye on him . We all learn with the benefit if hindsight .
 
Little Ones said:
I was bathing my Guinea pig, the water was veryyyy shallow I turned away for a tiny second and then I looked back he was panicking, his nose was under water somehow and there were bubbles like he wa trying to breathe underwater and now when he breathes it sounds watery, I can't get to a vet help, I don't know how this happened I'm shaking so bad omg
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Please have your guinea pig vet checked as soon as possible, in case he has inhaled water. Your vet will check whether the lungs are free of water or whether he may need a diuretic and/or antibiotic to clear the lungs and prevent pneumonia.

UK vets usually have got an emergency out-of-hours service number to contact in any life-and-death emergency. You can normally get it from your vets' answering machine.
 
Wiebke said:
Please have your guinea pig vet checked as soon as possible, in case he has inhaled water. Your vet will check whether the lungs are free of water or whether he may need a diuretic and/or antibiotic to clear the lungs and prevent pneumonia.

UK vets usually have got an emergency out-of-hours service number to contact in any life-and-death emergency. You can normally get it from your vets' answering machine.
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Thank you for the advice, I appreciate it, unfortunately my mum won't let me contact the vets and believes he will be fine because he is eating, I on the other hand desperately want him to be examined :no:
 
Little Ones said:
Thank you for the advice, I appreciate it, unfortunately my mum won't let me contact the vets and believes he will be fine because he is eating, I on the other hand desperately want him to be examined :no:
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If he is running and eating, it is very likely that he is OK and can wait until your normal vet is accessible again.

However, if you notice any signs of laboured, crackly breathing and/or weight/appetite loss etc. at any point in the next couple of weeks, he needs to be seen asap as an emergency because that means pneumonia and that is a life-and-death emergency. It can come on quite quickly.
 
I understand that you need to follow your Mum's advice.

Will your Mum help you keep an eye on him?
 
Wiebke said:
If he is running and eating, it is very likely that he is OK and can wait until your normal vet is accessible again.

However, if you notice any signs of laboured, crackly breathing and/or weight/appetite loss etc. at any point in the next couple of weeks, he needs to be seen asap as an emergency because that means pneumonia and that is a life-and-death emergency. It can come on quite quickly.
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Thank you, I'll be sure to look out for those signs
PiggyOwner said:
I understand that you need to follow your Mum's advice.

Will your Mum help you keep an eye on him?
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It can be so frustrating though haha, yes she will help me keep an eye out
 
Glad all is ok today. Hopefully false alarm. Keep an extra eye on him for a few more days. Xx
 
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