Cherriesxo
Junior Guinea Pig
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2012
- Messages
- 24
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- Points
- 120
One of my guinea pigs (Felicity) started sneezing on Monday night, we weren't that concerned because she has done this occasionally ever since we got her (we've had her almost 5 years now), but on Tuesday night it was terrible her eyes went big and she kept drinking and eating excessively. I listened to her breathing and it was like a panting noise.
I took her to the vets on Wednesday who said she had a lower respiratory infection, he prescribed Baytril and metacam. He warned us that in the next couple of days the infection could get worse and he has had some guinea pigs die during this time. Fortunately this hasn't happened with Felicity, but she is showing no signs of improvement apart from reduced sneezing? She's sneezing maybe 1-2 times a day instead of every 15 mins like she was on Tuesday night. She is also making a noise when she's moving around, so I can tell she's got a cold, and she makes slight jerky movements when breathing (but again, she's always done this especially when sleeping), but otherwise she seems her normal self? She's eating hay and nuggets/drinking normally, jumping around, eating vegetables.
The vet said if she hasn't improved after the 10 days then there's nothing else they can do and we should consider putting her down. I really don't want to do this because a) one of my guinea pigs has recently passed away and I can't face losing two within two weeks8... i know this sounds selfish, but: b) she doesn't actually seem to be in pain? she's still eating/drinking, moving around etc and c) she is determined to survive, as I said she is drinking, having plenty of hay, and fresh vegetables and nuggets. Squeaking for veg, jumping around. My guinea pig that recently passed away (Amelie) was in a real bad state and I felt it was the right time for her to go, because she wasn't eating or drinking, and was hunched up in the cage and just generally looked miserable, but with Felicity it seems unfair to put her down when she seems otherwise well. She's coping really well with the medication, it hasn't affected her badly, though she has gone slightly worse (can hear the snuffly sounds) but the vet did warn us this would happen before she gets better.
Has anyone else had experience with lower respiratory infections? I know they are more serious than upper infections but I'm trying to remain positive.
I'm constantly looking out for signs of decline - Felicity eats like a horse so if her appetite goes downhill I know things are turning bad. She's had the medication 4 times so far, which is why I'm worried because she's almost half way through the course but is still very sniffly.
She hasn't had crusty eyes or any discharge, slight crackly breathing on Tuesday but that seems to have eased a little now.
Obviously if she declines I will seriously consider putting her to sleep but at the moment I wouldn't be willing because apart from the infection she seems her usual self.
I took her to the vets on Wednesday who said she had a lower respiratory infection, he prescribed Baytril and metacam. He warned us that in the next couple of days the infection could get worse and he has had some guinea pigs die during this time. Fortunately this hasn't happened with Felicity, but she is showing no signs of improvement apart from reduced sneezing? She's sneezing maybe 1-2 times a day instead of every 15 mins like she was on Tuesday night. She is also making a noise when she's moving around, so I can tell she's got a cold, and she makes slight jerky movements when breathing (but again, she's always done this especially when sleeping), but otherwise she seems her normal self? She's eating hay and nuggets/drinking normally, jumping around, eating vegetables.
The vet said if she hasn't improved after the 10 days then there's nothing else they can do and we should consider putting her down. I really don't want to do this because a) one of my guinea pigs has recently passed away and I can't face losing two within two weeks8... i know this sounds selfish, but: b) she doesn't actually seem to be in pain? she's still eating/drinking, moving around etc and c) she is determined to survive, as I said she is drinking, having plenty of hay, and fresh vegetables and nuggets. Squeaking for veg, jumping around. My guinea pig that recently passed away (Amelie) was in a real bad state and I felt it was the right time for her to go, because she wasn't eating or drinking, and was hunched up in the cage and just generally looked miserable, but with Felicity it seems unfair to put her down when she seems otherwise well. She's coping really well with the medication, it hasn't affected her badly, though she has gone slightly worse (can hear the snuffly sounds) but the vet did warn us this would happen before she gets better.
Has anyone else had experience with lower respiratory infections? I know they are more serious than upper infections but I'm trying to remain positive.
I'm constantly looking out for signs of decline - Felicity eats like a horse so if her appetite goes downhill I know things are turning bad. She's had the medication 4 times so far, which is why I'm worried because she's almost half way through the course but is still very sniffly.
She hasn't had crusty eyes or any discharge, slight crackly breathing on Tuesday but that seems to have eased a little now.
Obviously if she declines I will seriously consider putting her to sleep but at the moment I wouldn't be willing because apart from the infection she seems her usual self.
Some infections become stubborn and the ABX are not effective - as sportbilly says, Baytril is the one most Vets prescribe due to licensing, our Exotic rarely prescribe it.
