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Has anyone ever heard of....

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Fluffy_N_Feathers

Fluffy_N_Feathers

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Has anyone ever heard of something called thin guinea pig syndrome?

We took our little girl to the vets because she was breathing funny and making a weird popping noise, she's had two weeks of baytril and two vet appointments with another on Monday, but she's fluctuating in weight. In herself she seems happy and is eating well and running around.

The vet who saw her last time was rude and unhelpful and suggested she might just have something he called thin guinea pig syndrome. This isn't something I can find info on so wondered if anyone else had heard of it

Thanks xx
 
Fluffy_N_Feathers said:
Has anyone ever heard of something called thin guinea pig syndrome?

We took our little girl to the vets because she was breathing funny and making a weird popping noise, she's had two weeks of baytril and two vet appointments with another on Monday, but she's fluctuating in weight. In herself she seems happy and is eating well and running around.

The vet who saw her last time was rude and unhelpful and suggested she might just have something he called thin guinea pig syndrome. This isn't something I can find info on so wondered if anyone else had heard of it

Thanks xx
Click to expand...

i can honestly say ive never heard of that.... @)
but if I'm honest your vet sounds crap...
id be inclined to get a second oppinion...
x
 
No such thing. Dont bother seeing that vet again. They sound stupid and like they were trying to fob you off. Sounds like a chest infection, not a thin piggie syndrome. The baytril should help.

Let us know how you get on.
Good luck. Hope your piggie is feeling better.

x.
 
There is no such thing as thin guinea pig syndrome. There is a reason why your pig's weight is changing. Breathing funny, a popping sound, and weight fluctuations are all sings of infection or some underlying systemic issue.

Is the popping sound you're talking about in tempo with her breathing or do you hear it in between breathes as well, like when she swallows, chews, drinks water, etc?

Perhaps others on this forum will be able to help you find a new, good vet in your area. You should also never have to leave a vet's office feeling like they were unhelpful, dismissive or rude. There is a list of vets here:
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=38481
and others may be able to direct you to someone good, as well.

Sometimes it can take multiple rounds of an antibiotic to kick an infection. There are also times when the kind of infection (strain of bacteria or virus) must be determined in order to prescribe the right meds.

Other types of issues can cause the symptoms you're describing too. Though a typical respiratory infection is the most obvious culprit, it could potentially be something else.

I think the first move is to find a vet that is as interested in finding the right answer for your piggie as you are - one who will get to the bottom of the issue and not give you a silly answer and just send you home.

I'm glad you're asking questions and sorry that you've had to pop from vet to vet in trying to help her. I do hope you're able to get to the root cause. It can be frustrating. Hang in there.
 
Just found your previous thread about your little piggie - this one here:
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=70882

Your description of the noise caught my attention, which is why I asked the probing questions about it in my last post.

I had a pig that when I first took him in made a popping noise all the time and looked sort of like he had hiccups. Although I described it more like he was always moving his throat, trying to swallow or clear his throat, or like he had a sore throat - something more like that, but he did open his mouth all the time too.

Anyway, he also had a good appetite and plenty of energy, though his weight fluctuated and he breathed sort of funny - not super labored, but just sort of funny. He went through a couple rounds of antibiotics and that didn't take care of it. He developed more signs of infection instead.

Eventually, we discovered he had a tracheal infection and that it was a klebsiella bacterial infection which is a nasty bug that has a high mortality rate in humans, particularly when talking about klebsiella pneumonia. He managed to pull through, but only because we found out what it was and got it treated in time. He had to go through multiple rounds of ABs again - the right ones this time - and had some permanent scaring in his throat from the infection.

I'm sorry that I can't remember all the details regarding tests or meds and all that, as it has been some time. But I did want to throw this out there just in case.

It is your description that resonates with me. When I think of a typical respiratory infection and the noise that comes with it, I think of a sort of clicking sound, which is how I think most of us describe it. The noise with my guy was distinctly different and a real popping noise.

Just wanted to put the info out there in case it might help your little girl. But like I said before, the first thing is to find a good vet that really wants to help you and your piggie. Good luck and take care!
 
How is your little girl doing? Any progress? I do hope she is well.


I'm bumping this thread up with my reply so perhaps others who may be familiar with your area might be able to give you some input on good, guinea pig vets.
 
Hello :) thanks for the advice and concern x

So after our trip to the vets yesterday I feel a lot happier about willows progress. She was given a good check over (by a much better vet) and seems to be better (fingers crossed) there's been no wheezing for a few days and the vet said her lungs sound clear and that her heart sounds fine. She's also gained 50g in weight and is alot move active :)

Sadly the popping noise is there, but after listening to her lungs, heart, tummy and looking in her mouth, nose, ears and bum, there seems to be no reason for it that can be seem or heard. I don't know wether it's just going to be resigned to just being a noise she makes which is fine as long as she's healthy.

For the next two weeks her progress will be monitored and noted for her check up.

Hugs and wheeks from willow xx
 
Good to hear she is well and gaining weight. I'm glad you found a better vet, too. That must be a relief!

I would recommend an x-ray, just in case, since there was no explanation found on physical exam. Lots of things can't be seen, heard, or felt without the assistance of technology. Perhaps it is just some scar tissue that will cause an odd little noise in her for the rest of her life. I always feel better knowing for certain though.

Again, so glad to hear she is doing so well! Thanks for the update. Snuggles to your little girl.

p.s. I finally remembered what we did to discover the source of the infection. It was the combo of an x-ray showing issues with the trachea and blood work which told us the strain of bacteria - just in case you should need the info. Hoping all is well and that you don't need it! Here's to a good progress report over the next many days!
 
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