Help For A Suspected Uri

[rosie and bramble]

Baby Hazel who is now 8 weeks but hasn't really grown and only weighs 100g was at the vets last week to investigate why she is still not managing to eat very well herself hence the reason for her not growing very well.

She had a GA and an xray(which showed nothing) so upon examination of her mouth 2 teeth were not quite right so we're filed.

Since then she had a twitch in her eye and was squinting although she picked up on eating and started to gain weight so stopped hand feeding.

This morning we had to do an emergency trip to the vet as her breathing seemed laboured and she is very gravely when breathing and a bit lethargic.

Got to vets for her to not have a clue and wanted to send me away with nothing as doesn't believe in antibiotics.

I pursuaded her to at least let me try so we got Septrin.

Wondering @Pebble if you could give me a little more advice please

 

[Wiebke]

I have already given you my advice on what you can do to support the poor little mite! Fingers VERY firmly crossed!

 

[Pebble]

Without further information, pics and actually examining the Hazel myself, I am not sure what type of further advice I can give....except to find another vet.

You suspect a URI...but it appears your vet hasn't confirmed it (would have been obvious on listening to her airways with a stethoscope). I think you have missed a word out in your post when describing her breathing? Please provide further details as to why you think this is a URI. What exactly did the vet find wrong with her teeth and which ones were filed?

Re ab's - Septrin is a better alternative to baytril in your situation as the latter can affect joint formation in baby piggies and should only be given as a last resort to pregnant/lactating mums. Septrin should be effective against just as many of the standard respiratory bugs as baytril.....but it is not so good against infections hidden away in places difficult to reach e.g. ear infections or abcesses

It sounds more like you have a baby piggie that is failing to thrive......given your description about the teeth/difficulty eating....I am wondering if she has lethal genes? That doesn;t mean she will die but it does mean her care will be more demanding with possibly regular dentals throughout her life. If she hasn;t been eating for herself and putting on the necessary weight gain for baby piggies then it would not be surprising for her to go down with a URI owing to a compromised immune system. .

She really needs a cavy-savvy vet....and in the meantime keep up the septrin, syringe feeding and any other supportive care that @Wiebke has recommended.
HTH
x

 

[helen105281]

I agree that a trip to a different vet is needed.

I would personally be asking for diuretics too if the vet can hear fluid on the chest but I am not sure on the dosing for such a young pig.

 

[rosie and bramble]

Sorry for missing the responses to this.

It turns out that by me pleading for the Septrin that after 3 days Hazel has recovered . Her eye is now fine and so is her breathing.

She is managing to eat nuggets for herself and some veggies and is gaining very small amounts of weight. I have spoken to Debbie at TEAS and we are monitoring her until next week and possibly having her see Simon at the Cat and Rabbit Clinic.

I have heard of the lethal gene but only thought it was white guineas that could have it.

But overall it is failure to thrive as she hasn't really grown from birth .

 

[Wiebke]

I am keeping my fingers firmly crossed for your little baby! The lethal gene is a complex of issues that is linked with the roan gene and albinism, but that doesn't mean that other can't have the same or similar issues without the genetic link.

I am very glad that she has got over her illness despite her problems.

 

[Pebble]

It's great she is now being monitored with Debbie and vet Simon @ Cat and Rabbit

Well done!

There is nothing helpful I can add at this juncture
x.