• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

Heavy breathing but lungs clear - next steps

S

salfel

New Born Pup
Joined
Mar 10, 2025
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
Points
55
Location
Manchester
Hello!

My boar Peanut is pretty healthy but I recently noticed he was more lethargic, laying out in the open but not necessarily looking comfy. I also think he is breathing heavily, with his whole body rocking slightly as he breathes. I took him to the vet, and his lungs were clear. She suggested antibiotics or an x-ray. I booked the x-ray in, mainly due to trauma of choosing to treat a hamster with meds and not doing any diagnostics that led to the hamster suffering a lot. Now I'm doubting myself again, as the x-ray comes with the risk of anaesthesia, and I'm getting it done the day before I'm meant to be going away.

I just wanted some more experienced piggy peoples perspectives. What would you do? Should I trial the antibiotics first?
 
I’m sorry to hear this.

How long is it until the x ray? I would definitely suggest the x ray is done but If it is a while then I would personally try the antibiotics just to be sure there isn’t a bacterial angle to it.
Sometimes rocking when breathing can be a sign of heart issues or fluid building up in the chest so you definitely want the other checks rather than just relying on antibiotics

I hope your piggy is ok
 
Piggies&buns said:
I’m sorry to hear this.

How long is it until the x ray? I would definitely suggest the x ray is done but If it is a while then I would personally try the antibiotics just to be sure there isn’t a bacterial angle to it.
Sometimes rocking when breathing can be a sign of heart issues or fluid building up in the chest so you definitely want the other checks rather than just relying on antibiotics

I hope your piggy is ok
Click to expand...
It's tomorrow, so not much time to see if antibiotics work.

Yeah thats kind of what I was thinking but I also didn't want to put him under anaesthetic just because of hang ups I have, so it's good to have another opinion. Thanks!
 
Ok, no that’s not enough time for antibiotics to work!
He may well still need antibiotics but I would get the x ray done and then have that discussion with the vet

Let us know how things go
 
Is it possible to do a conscious xray instead? We've had many conscious xrays done with success.
 
Hi, my piggy was displaying similar symptoms to yours and was diagnosed with heart disease earlier this year so I’d definitely recommend getting the scan done. If it’s any consolation, she had a successful surgery (spayed so under anaesthetic) before being diagnosed with this and made a full recovery and is now healthy on her heart meds. Hope Peanut feels better soon.
 
Not sure which vet you are using but I can recommend Ashleigh Vets in Chorlton. Aiden is particularly good with piggies.

My piggy with similar symptoms was suffering from heart failure. This was diagnosed without an x-ray. He had laboured breathing and weight gain due to fluid retention. With medication he lived a further year.
 
Thanks everyone for your replies, I didn't get the notifications so have only just seen them.

He had his x-ray today and it went well, although they saw signs of pneumonia so he is on medication for that, and I'm very concerned and will likely cancel my trip

I could only speak to a vet nurse at the time, and she didn't seem to know too much about 'exotics' (they have specialist exotics vets). Is there a risk of this transferring to my other two?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top