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Heart, Uri Or Just Vocal Sounds?!

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Adelle

Adult Guinea Pig
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I am so worried about Fudge. Shes an older girl that pretty much hasnt been right for a couple of months. Her symptoms where:
-episodes of fluffing up coat and breathing hard (mainly when eating veg at free time)
- excess drinking/urination/dilute urine
- weight loss (very gradually and only 100g all in)
- getting cold and requiring a heat pad when room temperature and other sows are fine

She has ate very well/poos normal throughout. She was quered kidney disease but i wasnt convinced an they couldnt get blood off her. Kidneys/bladder where normal on ultrasound. She was bright otherwise so was told to monitor but iv not been happy with her. Even got her teeth checked just to rule something out.

Tonight i heard almost a squeek/short whimper repeatedly coming from fudge at floor time. I picked her up and put her on bed and she stopped then started again several times. Seemed to be happening more when she was sniffing. Breathing slightly laboured. Still eating very well at the same time of this episode. She then passed a huge volume of urine on the bed which she never does- she will try her best to get away from me when she needs a wee. I dont know if its a noise or from her chest.. Its a new sound for her. I am now thinking possible heart issue going on, and its came about tonight because she was exercising? And the other times its happened when eating veg, could be because shes excercising?

Heres the large volume of urine she passed.
image.webp

Heres the noise (more evident quarter of the way in)

@Wiebke hope you dont mind me tagging, i just know u know your stuff!
 
that souds like my Bella , my vet has explored all avenues and tryed most of the meds , she gets some noticabal relefe from suderfed ,
though vet is looking for an alternative , as she is alredy 1600 plus grams and i am concerned abot the sugure making her heaver .

though on saing that , she has the nick name Bella the bullit , as she is the fastest pig l have .
 
Has your vet checked for heart issues/build-up of fluid on her chest re. laboured breathing? It would tie in with her being cold (i.e. her blood circulation no longer being great). I noticed the latter in my Ffraid in the last few months of her life. She'd also fluff up a bit mostly when eating; probably because of the increased stress on her body/breathing. A diuretic may help in any case. You could also ask your vet whether he would be prepared to consider trialling heart meds like fortekor for a couple of weeks to see whether they'd bring a noticeable improvement.

I would also consider having her checked for either kidney failure or diabetes; both come with increased drinking and of course peeing.

All the best!
 
I agree with Wiebke. She may well be having difficulty breathing becuse of a build-up of fluid on her lungs, which can indicate a heart issue and it would be worth looking at her kidneys again (assuming they can get any blood!).
 
Fudge has an URI, crackles heard in her chest. Heart sounded fine. Shes on 0.5ml Septrin (240mg/ml) twice a day. Shes otherwise bright and eating well. Hopefully this clears it up, she hasnt made any respiritory sounds since last night. Will take her back in a week unless she becomes worse or doesnt improve x
 
No more raspy sounds but still breathing heavier than id like. Still eating well and currently enjoying some grass in the gardrn with her sisters now the suns moved to the other side of the house :)
 
Just a thought , could it be fluid on the lungs that is causing this uri?

If so you could aways ask him to try fruzol ,
This has wouked well on o pig of mine , though make sure he knows the exact dose for a guinia pig ,
As to much could cause dehidration


Frusol 50mig per mill solution
 
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So far its just a URI so if treatment works i'll be happy. If not i will request xrays, its not safe to give frusemide without a proper diagnosis.
 
I always give extra fluids when mine are on diuretics, in particular Dioralyte. It helps to prevent dehydration and to keep the potassium levels stable.
 
Fudge isn't on frusemide, just antib's which will hopefuly clear it up!
 
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