Snowball's breathing is slow and deep, as if forced, as you do when you are taking deliberately deep breaths. The other piggies are making two normal breaths to her one deep one. Her chest/sides seem to be rising twice as high as the others.
Her breathing is not noisy, she has no signs that I can see of a cold.
This came on a couple of days ago whilst asleep. I thought nothing of it as she was indeed sleeping and she does sleep heavily, twitching and jerking her limbs at times, though she never used to breath so heavily I felt it was due to sleep and nothing more.
Yesterday she was like it all afternoon. and noticed she was active and normal in her speed of doing things (but breathing heavily) whilst awake, but also napping more than usual. She is usually a very vocal piggy, and has gone quiet. She doesn't seem distressed or in pain, just a bit breathless.
Her breathing is now like this all the time, resting, eating, moving, interacting...
I can't hear any rattling or clicking, she's not 'hooting'.
She is eating well - hay, veggies, grass, nuggets....
Snowball has no medical history - she has always been healthy and spritely and has never needed the vets.
I don't feel this is something that can wait any longer, after seeing if it went away yesterday (it didn't) I am concerned that it is her heart, and if so my hope is that meds will control it.
Anyhow, I'm off to the Alfreton vet practice (the one as recommended on the vet locator) this afternoon.
Snowball is 6 1/4 years old. I have to face facts that it may soon be her time, but as I say, hopefully with treatment she will be with us (and her mate Freddie) and healthy for a while longer.
I'll keep you updated, and of course any thoughts and advice will be welcome.
xx
Her breathing is not noisy, she has no signs that I can see of a cold.
This came on a couple of days ago whilst asleep. I thought nothing of it as she was indeed sleeping and she does sleep heavily, twitching and jerking her limbs at times, though she never used to breath so heavily I felt it was due to sleep and nothing more.
Yesterday she was like it all afternoon. and noticed she was active and normal in her speed of doing things (but breathing heavily) whilst awake, but also napping more than usual. She is usually a very vocal piggy, and has gone quiet. She doesn't seem distressed or in pain, just a bit breathless.
Her breathing is now like this all the time, resting, eating, moving, interacting...
I can't hear any rattling or clicking, she's not 'hooting'.
She is eating well - hay, veggies, grass, nuggets....
Snowball has no medical history - she has always been healthy and spritely and has never needed the vets.
I don't feel this is something that can wait any longer, after seeing if it went away yesterday (it didn't) I am concerned that it is her heart, and if so my hope is that meds will control it.
Anyhow, I'm off to the Alfreton vet practice (the one as recommended on the vet locator) this afternoon.
Snowball is 6 1/4 years old. I have to face facts that it may soon be her time, but as I say, hopefully with treatment she will be with us (and her mate Freddie) and healthy for a while longer.
I'll keep you updated, and of course any thoughts and advice will be welcome.
xx