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Labored Breathing.almost Comatose

Devyn50

Devyn50

Junior Guinea Pig
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Cincinnati, Ohio..U.S.
Hamlet was syringe fed this morning, and fine then he started coughing. Now he is laying in my arms all stretched out with labored breathing, head laid back. Clicking noise when breathing in chest.. Been this way 2 hours. Had same episode yesterday after eating but only lasted 20 minutes. He has had a stroke months ago and now has trouble eating, so we syringe feed him. He is like a limp noodle now. We've been to the vet many times, so he has been treated for all his issues. Any answers
 
Devyn50 said:
Hamlet was syringe fed this morning, and fine then he started coughing. Now he is laying in my arms all stretched out with labored breathing, head laid back. Clicking noise when breathing in chest.. Been this way 2 hours. Had same episode yesterday after eating but only lasted 20 minutes. He has had a stroke months ago and now has trouble eating, so we syringe feed him. He is like a limp noodle now. We've been to the vet many times, so he has been treated for all his issues. Any answers
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Hi!

Please see a vet asap for potential heart failure or pneumonia. Diaphragmic breathing and lethargy are both life and death emergency symptoms!

Please never push a syringeful of food into the mouth of an uncooperative piggy. Adapt the amount to how fit your guinea pig is and only feed as little or as much as it will take on. You need to feed the more often around the clock the less your guinea pig is able to take in one sitting - that can range from 1-3 ml at the worst to 15-25 ml in one go. A mouthful can range from 0.5 ml - 0.1 ml (on tenth of a small syringe) for a very weak guinea pig. Always wait until the first bit has been swallowed before giving more to prevent things going down the wrong way.
List Of Life And Death Out-of-hours Emergencies
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
 
Thank you, he's a willing eater, he comes to me for the next bite. When he's had enough he will turn around and give me his back. Thanks again for the info
 
Poor Hamlet and poor you, it's so stressful when piggies are unwell. Sometimes food/saliva/liquid can get into the airways and cause an infection. It might not be this but I felt I should mention it. I would take him to the vet to get him checked out. I hope he gets better soon.
 
I would suspect aspiration of some of the syringed food. It would need prompt attention and antibiotics for aspiration pneumonia. It can happen even with really slow, careful syringe feeding, especially if he has swallowing issues post stroke.
 
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