Is my guinea pick sick?

[cocoandbean]

Hi everyone! Pls help me I don’t know what to do!
I have two guinea pigs, Coco and Bean. About a month or 2 ago, Coco started making these sort of “clicking” sounds. They don’t happen all day but he seems to have “episodes” where he will make the noise for like 10 minutes straight, most of the time when he’s laying down. He also coughs more than normal, maybe like 3-5 times a day or more. When he breathes, you can see his “side” going in and out. He’s eating normally and has a normal weight, he does seem a bit more lethargic though, but nothing too major. When this first started I spent $120 just for them to give me antibiotics that did absolutely nothing. She said she couldn’t see anything wrong with him. Both of my pigs are in a 3x4 c&c cage on fleece bedding, and they get Timothy hay. They get a plate of veggies every day and are overall healthy piggies, but idk what’s wrong with Coco. Going to the vet again is an option but they’re very expensive and I don’t want to spend about $100 for no reason. I will attach video links below of the problems, they aren’t the best but they will do. Thank you for reading!

- Clicking noise

- Breathing

 

[Piggies&buns]

I would definitely get him seen by a vet again, perhaps a difference practise if you are worried the first vet isn’t piggy knowledgeable.
I can’t make out much in the first video, but watching the breathing in the second video, it really doesn’t look right.

 

[cocoandbean]

I would definitely get him seen by a vet again, perhaps a difference practise if you are worried the first vet isn’t piggy knowledgeable.
I can’t make out much in the first video, but watching the breathing in the second video, it really doesn’t look right.

Thank you! After doing some google searches, I have determined that what he is doing is called “hooting” and is usually related to a heart problem I’m taking him to the vet tomorrow.

 

[Claire W]

All the best at the vet. Hooting isn’t always due to heart problems but could be a uri or something dust? stuck or irritating the airways.
Let us know how you get on x

 

[Free Ranger]

If it's the same vet check if they have a policy for 'follow-up' appointments. For instance, some vets will charge for the consult and the meds - but if the meds are wrong and you have to go back you might pay for different meds but not necessarily for a second consult. Not every vet does this here in the UK but it's worth enquiring. You might prefer to look for a second opinion anyway.... but it's possible that your first vet suspected something else but was trying to rule out the simplest thing first. Good luck, cocoandbean

 

[cocoandbean]

If it's the same vet check if they have a policy for 'follow-up' appointments. For instance, some vets will charge for the consult and the meds - but if the meds are wrong and you have to go back you might pay for different meds but not necessarily for a second consult. Not every vet does this here in the UK but it's worth enquiring. You might prefer to look for a second opinion anyway.... but it's possible that your first vet suspected something else but was trying to rule out the simplest thing first. Good luck, cocoandbean

UPDATE: He went to the vet today, turns out he has a severe case of pneumonia. There was so much fluid in his left lung that the vet couldn’t even see air. I spent $207, and they gave him antibiotics to take. They said the survival rate is very low, he most likely won’t survive. I will update you as time goes on.

 

[cocoandbean]

UPDATE: He went to the vet today, turns out he has a severe case of pneumonia. There was so much fluid in his left lung that the vet couldn’t even see air. I spent $207, and they gave him antibiotics to take. They said the survival rate is very low, he most likely won’t survive. I will update you as time goes on.

ANOTHER UPDATE: Coco is Alive, and seems to be doing much better! He hasn’t coughed since before we took him to the vet, and his breathing seems to be so much better! He’s still on his medicine and is now having one Vitamin C Oxbow cracker a day. He’s eating, running around, playing, and he seems to be gaining some weight back. He’s doing great.

 

[Siikibam]

That’s good to hear. I hope he’s all better very soon.

 

[Free Ranger]

What a nice thing to read as I was about to log off - thanks for such a great update. And well done Coco, keep up the good work!

 

[cocoandbean]

Ok so I thought I would post an update (a very sad one). After finishing his first week of medicine, Coco was doing great! He stopped coughing, was way more active, and his breathing seemed to get better. He seemed better so I decided to hold off on getting another dose of medicine just to see if he really needed it. After about 4 more days, his conditions went downhill again. He then got another dose, which then seemed to do absolutely nothing ($50 down the drain). His last dose was 3 weeks long, the others were about 1 week, and also did absolutely nothing at all. He only seemed to get worse on these last two doses, I cannot understand why. The vet says there’s really nothing else I can do for him, I’m so devastated. As of now, he literally stands in once place for sometimes 30 mins to an hour just breathing, as if it is a chore for him. (By the way, since the first medicine seemed to work well, the 3rd dose was the same one, but I didn’t work the second time). As of now, I’m just trying to keep him confortable by keeping him in the bathroom while I shower (the steam supposedly helps breathing) giving him extra fruits and veggies, and preparing for his death. There is sadly nothing else I can do for him, nothing is working. He’s standing still just breathing as I’m typing this, my poor baby. I will update everyone if/when he dies.

 

[cocoandbean]

Ok so I thought I would post an update (a very sad one). After finishing his first week of medicine, Coco was doing great! He stopped coughing, was way more active, and his breathing seemed to get better. He seemed better so I decided to hold off on getting another dose of medicine just to see if he really needed it. After about 4 more days, his conditions went downhill again. He then got another dose, which then seemed to do absolutely nothing ($50 down the drain). His last dose was 3 weeks long, the others were about 1 week, and also did absolutely nothing at all. He only seemed to get worse on these last two doses, I cannot understand why. The vet says there’s really nothing else I can do for him, I’m so devastated. As of now, he literally stands in once place for sometimes 30 mins to an hour just breathing, as if it is a chore for him. (By the way, since the first medicine seemed to work well, the 3rd dose was the same one, but I didn’t work the second time). As of now, I’m just trying to keep him confortable by keeping him in the bathroom while I shower (the steam supposedly helps breathing) giving him extra fruits and veggies, and preparing for his death. There is sadly nothing else I can do for him, nothing is working. He’s standing still just breathing as I’m typing this, my poor baby. I will update everyone if/when he dies.

He’s also gotten very skinny, I’m not sure why. Him and his brother Bean get a whole plate of veggies each night and I watch Coco eat it. I also see him constantly eating hay, drinking water, etc. so I’m not sure why he’s so skinny.

 

[Free Ranger]

I'm so sorry to hear about Coco. I have no experience of heart conditions or pneumonia so all I can offer is my sympathy and prayers. You've tried so hard for him

 

[Claire W]

I’m so sorry All you can do is keep him comfortable x