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Help - Uri

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Nicola_

Nicola_

Adult Guinea Pig
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Just back from the vet with Sam, he is very lethargic, not really eating and has crusty eyes/nose and has lost a lot of weight. Vet has given antibiotic injection (baytril lookalike apparently) an anti-inflammatory injection and has sent me away with a critical care type build-up feed to syringe hourly. I would say the vet didn't seem all that expert so I just want to make sure that she's done all the right stuff and I haven't missed anything for him.

Also, would it be ok to bathe Sam as he seems very smelly (I think from not moving he's been sat in his own pee) I'm worried about him getting skin sores if I don't clean him but worried that a bath is a bad idea while so ill, especially as he's never had one before.

Any advice would be really appreciated, thanks
 
Nicola_ said:
Just back from the vet with Sam, he is very lethargic, not really eating and has crusty eyes/nose and has lost a lot of weight. Vet has given antibiotic injection (baytril lookalike apparently) an anti-inflammatory injection and has sent me away with a critical care type build-up feed to syringe hourly. I would say the vet didn't seem all that expert so I just want to make sure that she's done all the right stuff and I haven't missed anything for him.

Also, would it be ok to bathe Sam as he seems very smelly (I think from not moving he's been sat in his own pee) I'm worried about him getting skin sores if I don't clean him but worried that a bath is a bad idea while so ill, especially as he's never had one before.

Any advice would be really appreciated, thanks
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Please start topping him up with syringe feed and watering. The need to breathe comes before the need to drink and only thirdly the need to eat. Here is our guide, which may help you with how much overall; you need to help him through the acute crisis right now. Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

Guinea pig can only breathe through their noses, so please place a bowl with steaming water next to the cage. You can add 2-3 drops of olbas oil if you wish (vicks contains ingredients that are harmful to guine pigs). You could also ask your vet for bisolvon powder, which softens thick mucus and helps to clear the airways. A pinch is the appropriate dosage for guinea pigs.

Generally, your vet is not wrong.

You can clean up your piggy with a damp cloth with hand warm water or give him a quick bum bath, again with hand warm water; then make sure that he warm and dry afterwards.
 
poor sam :(

the injections are fine to start with, but have you been given any additional meds to continue to give at home? because obviously a one off injection will not be enough to treat an infection, and you don't really want to be travelling back and forth to the vet everyday for additonal injections whilst he is ill. keeping stress to a minimum is important.

as someone who has been through uri's with two rabbits, i would say a savvy vet is a must. they can be very complex. the vet locator at the top of the page may help you locate a more savvy vet.

small amounts of syringe feed every hour sound the best idea for a piggy who is struggling with breathing. you can adjust the times/amounts if he becomes too stressed with regular feeding.

i wouldn't bath him whilst poorly but a quick bum bath may be ok, aslong as he is able to be dried properly afterwards - a tiny bit of shampoo, warm water and flannel will be fine for now if you're worried about him being covered in urine.
 
gizzy said:
do you know a keeper named Joanne Gavin, she lives in glasgow and has a very piggy sav vet
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No I don't, I'm not actually in Glasgow any more - didn't realise I hadn't changed it on my profile, I'm in the Scottish Borders now.
 
Little update - just been in to give Sam his 2nd dose of build-up feed. On the up side he's perked up a bit, on the down side he's extra resistent to the syringe feed - got as much into him as I could but he spat most of it back out!

Checked his nose and it doesn't seem to bunged or crusty and he appears to be breathing ok, definitely no laboured breathing. I've put some steamy water next to the cage anyway.
 
Nicola_ said:
Little update - just been in to give Sam his 2nd dose of build-up feed. On the up side he's perked up a bit, on the down side he's extra resistent to the syringe feed - got as much into him as I could but he spat most of it back out!

Checked his nose and it doesn't seem to bunged or crusty and he appears to be breathing ok, definitely no laboured breathing. I've put some steamy water next to the cage anyway.
Click to expand...

Severely ill piggies tend to struggle, and it is not easy to get food in. Try little but often; there are tips in our guide. With a guinea pig with breathing difficulties, I would never give more than 1/3 of a 1ml syringe full at once, which is a bit less than a mouthful.
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

You may want to give him extra vitamin C or a bit of metatone (0.2 ml twice daily) to help perk him up.

Stick at it, so you can get him through the next critical couple of days.

Please ask your vet for bisolvon powder for the mucus and discuss whether a diuretic to help drain the airways from any build-up of fluid would be helpful in your case; it is generally recommended with URIs to help ease the breathing as much as possible.
 
you could always ask your vet to consult with a more savvy vet if needed :)
 
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