How to relieve croaking/wheezing prior to vet appointment?

[Pantalaimon]

I’ve been keeping an eye on one of my pigs for a few days now as he has occasionally been croaking a little bit. Then yesterday he had a lot of discharge coming from his eyes and now today he is croaking badly.

I’m going to get him a vet appointment before the end of the week as this clearly needs seeing.

But in the meantime, what can I do to try and relieve some of the croaking? It’s clearly annoying for him but it’s also very loud and he is right beside my bed so it is kept me awake last night.

I’m thinking of holding a warm damp cloth onto the top of his face to try and loosen the mucus. Is there anything else that could work?

Thanks for any help.

 

[Piggies&buns]

We recommend putting a steaming bowl of water beside the cage to help humidify the air. Or taking him into a bathroom while the shower is running.

I would also recommend that you switch to daily weight checks and step in with syringe feeding if needed, along with ideally getting a vet appointment for today.

I hope he is ok

 

[Pantalaimon]

We recommend putting a steaming bowl of water beside the cage to help humidify the air. Or taking him into a bathroom while the shower is running.

I would also recommend that you switch to daily weight checks and step in with syringe feeding if needed, along with ideally getting a vet appointment for today.

I hope he is ok

Thank you
I can try the steaming bowl of water. He has stopped croaking so much right now.

He’s otherwise completely normal and perky. I am usually really good at recognising when one of them is off so I trust my instincts.

Fingers crossed the vets have an appointment available in the next 24 hours.

Thank you.

 

[Pantalaimon]

Just an update for anyone interested. But also as a very good example of why you always always take your pigs (or other pets) to the vet at the slightest sign of an issue as even a mild symptom is often a sign of something much bigger.

Pat has a heart murmur and the respiratory issues could be an irritation from his companions urine problems, or just something he has picked up and is being made worse by potential fluid buildup from the heart issue. He’s on metacam, antibiotics and a diuretic.

 

[Pantalaimon]

Luckily he’s pretty laid back. He does not like the taste of the diuretic though!

 

[LucyP]

Sorry to hear about Pat’s troubles but glad you got him seen quickly and have some meds now. He looks very cute!

Do you mind me asking how they diagnosed the heart murmur? Just asking as we have a pig with a bit of laboured breathing, and heart issues are one avenue the vets are thinking of exploring further.

Thanks and all the best for lovely Pat.

 

[piggieminder]

Poor Pat, what a gorgeous piggy.

@LucyP Reds enlarged hear (slightly) was picked up on an xray when looking at his arthritis.
Ducks murmur was heard via stethoscope when listening to his lungs.

 

[LucyP]

Poor Pat, what a gorgeous piggy.

@LucyP Reds enlarged hear (slightly) was picked up on an xray when looking at his arthritis.
Ducks murmur was heard via stethoscope when listening to his lungs.

Thanks for sharing this piggieminder- helpful to know. Hope Duck and Red are doing as well as possible.

 

[Pantalaimon]

Sorry to hear about Pat’s troubles but glad you got him seen quickly and have some meds now. He looks very cute!

Do you mind me asking how they diagnosed the heart murmur? Just asking as we have a pig with a bit of laboured breathing, and heart issues are one avenue the vets are thinking of exploring further.

Thanks and all the best for lovely Pat.

My vet just listened with a stethoscope for a long time. Probably about 5 minutes or more. It was quite stressful just standing there waiting for him to say what it was he was doing!

My vet is a really experienced exotics vet so other vets might not be as confident to diagnose that quickly.

I hope your pig is ok.

 

[Pantalaimon]

Poor Pat, what a gorgeous piggy.

@LucyP Reds enlarged hear (slightly) was picked up on an xray when looking at his arthritis.
Ducks murmur was heard via stethoscope when listening to his lungs.

I love the name Duck!
Pat will hopefully begin to appreciate his medication when I start remembering to give him a treat afterwards.

 

[LucyP]

Many thanks for sharing that and I hope Pat is doing ok. He’s lovely.

My vet just listened with a stethoscope for a long time. Probably about 5 minutes or more. It was quite stressful just standing there waiting for him to say what it was he was doing!

My vet is a really experienced exotics vet so other vets might not be as confident to diagnose that quickly.

I hope your pig is ok.

 

[piggieminder]

I love the name Duck!
Pat will hopefully begin to appreciate his medication when I start remembering to give him a treat afterwards.

The name is growing on me, I was going to change it when he came here but he was 4 years old and he knew his name so I didn't have the heart to change it.
I do find a treat helps, trouble is there's 7 other little faces at their bars when treats are around!

 

[Pantalaimon]

The name is growing on me, I was going to change it when he came here but he was 4 years old and he knew his name so I didn't have the heart to change it.
I do find a treat helps, trouble is there's 7 other little faces at their bars when treats are around!

I’d love to have that many pigs! Perhaps one day when I have a whole room for them, I don’t think I’d be able to cope with having eight plus a hamster in my bedroom with me while I’m trying to sleep!