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Max = Lethargic And Heavy Breathing

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worried val of york

worried val of york

Adult Guinea Pig
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I noticed my 5 and half year old Max was not moving round as much and his breathing was quite exagerated.He was eating and pooping but was reluctant to move round. I phoned the vet and went today. Max had a scan but the vet couldn't see any problems except Max had some gas in his stomach. I am taking Max back in the morning for an x-ray. The vet says it could be URI or heart issues or there may be growth effecting his breathing. Max was given a couple of injections one was a diurectic.
 
Glad he has had a diuretic, it will help if he has fluid. I hope you get some answers in the morning. If you need any information on heart issues let me know. If it is a heart problem they tend to suck in air when they are trying to breathe which could explain the gas in the abdomen.
 
Thanks for healing vibe @Chief Guinea Pig for the healing vibes. Max needs them.
Thanks @helen105281 I will definitely get back to you if it's confirmed heart issue. I hope it's not a growth as vet indicated there would be nothing he could do. He's by my side now. He's had a bit of cucumber with Pro C and some Recovery food to build up his strength for his x-ray in case he has to have a mild anaesthetic.
 
All the very best for Max - I seem to meet you when it is all going wrong with the piggies so we are at the vets! Hope the xray gives you some better idea of how to proceed. They have got good kit at our vet which can be useful for investigation. Let us know what you find. x
 
Give my love to Max and Rupert, l so hope they can do something to help. It sounds like your vets are very good. Thinking of you Val x
 
Max had his x-rays which were inconclusive but the area of lungs shown were smaller than they should be that's why his breathing is more pronounced as he's having to work harder because of the reduced lung capacity. The vet was unable to see much because of water. The vet has given him Frusol and Baytril. He's advised me to keep an eye on Max and return on Friday for a follow up x-rap or earlier I I have any concerns. He's by my side now and he's a lot livelier than yesterday but still obviously not in normal health.
 
The diuretic should help, in fact it sounds like it has made a difference already. I too have had success with Zithromax for a respiratory infection.
 
Max I bit more energetic today. I gave him is 2nd shot of medicines this morning. He hates the Baytril but did take it. I gave him Pro c on cucumber slice about an hour after.
He is eating hay now.
However I am a bit concerned about his poops which just seem to be a mushy mess that don't leave his bum. @Wiebke or @helen105281 have you any advice please.
 
worried val of york said:
Max I bit more energetic today. I gave him is 2nd shot of medicines this morning. He hates the Baytril but did take it. I gave him Pro c on cucumber slice about an hour after.
He is eating hay now.
However I am a bit concerned about his poops which just seem to be a mushy mess that don't leave his bum. @Wiebke or @helen105281 have you any advice please.
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Please continue to syringe feed and water regularly as much as he'll take and stay off fresh veg until the poos have stabilised for a day. He can have some rough fibre like fibreplex or brown cardboard or toilet/kitchen roll inners to help steady the guts.

Baytril has the tendency to soften poos.
 
It's most likely the Baytril that is causing the soft poos. I don't take veg out of the diet of a poorly piggy, as I find that grass and dandelion leaves plus a little veg are the main things a poorly piggy wants to eat. If they are taking a lot of syringe food, that can also cause the poos to be a little soft and not formed quite properly.
 
Just make sure you clean him regularly Val, lots of horrible flies around at the moment. Hopefully now he is eating hay his pooh will improve. I am glad he is a bit brighter x
 
Hi Barbara Max is a lot brighter today. Still exaggerated breathing but his poops are more normal. I gave him his baytril syringe after the Frusol as he obviously doesn't like the baytril.
Afterwards I gave him a bit of grass and took one dandelion leaf from the dandelion plant I allow to grow just for my pigs. He ate the grass and could obviously could smell the leaf I had left on the sofa. He then tried to get off the lap pad on my knee to get to the leaf. So he is obviously improving but some way to go with his breathing. I have just given him a small amount of oats which he ate. I cut Maxwells hair yesterday especially round his bum. As I have kept him indoors I don't think fly strike will be an issue as I keep their C and C runs clean.
Thanks for the advice Barbara and also @Wiebke and @furryfriends (TEAS). It is always reassuring to have this support when caring for a poorly piggy.
 
It is great that Max is getting better and has interest in food again! Baytril is about as foul tasting as it comes, and it can cause diarrhea and complete loss of appetite in some piggies. :(
 
Thanks Lee. It is only the people on this Forum who appreciate guinea pigs. When I paid for the two consultations on Saturday ( which covered scan, 2 x rays, blood test and medicine) it came to quite a lot. A lady who obviously looked like a horse owner looked down on little Max in his pet carrier and commented all that for one guinea pig. I just hope Max can make a recovery. Val x
 
I'm finding right now, the best thing for a poorly pig is to keep offering their favourite food. Sometimes it's all that keeps them going, plus a good fuss goes a long way too. In BonBon's case, lettuce is at the top of the list, along with dried herbs, and apple. She's picking at the nuggets atm, but is still showing interest. I gave her her favourite timothy hay mixed with dried apple and carrot when we got in, it's keeping them motivated that's the key I think.
It's a pity I can't give her lucosade as the high syrup content would have her buzzing. It works for the husband when he gets flu :))
 
I cannot offer advice but I am glad he is on diuretics, from everything I have read. It's great news that he is picking up, and I hope you get to the bottom of the cause.
hugs and healing vibes to Max. xx
 
worried val of york said:
Thanks Lee. It is only the people on this Forum who appreciate guinea pigs. When I paid for the two consultations on Saturday ( which covered scan, 2 x rays, blood test and medicine) it came to quite a lot. A lady who obviously looked like a horse owner looked down on little Max in his pet carrier and commented all that for one guinea pig. I just hope Max can make a recovery. Val x
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Don't worry, i am usually behind you at the vets spending similar enormous amounts of cash of the boys. I was considering redirecting my salary straight to the vet's bank account;). A farmery friend said the other day aren't there only two types of guinea pig, dead or alive? What can you say to that? A whole sea of lack of understanding to fight your way across. But I am glad you are there to fight for Max - hope he is still improving.
 
worried val of york said:
Hi Barbara Max is a lot brighter today. Still exaggerated breathing but his poops are more normal. I gave him his baytril syringe after the Frusol as he obviously doesn't like the baytril.
Afterwards I gave him a bit of grass and took one dandelion leaf from the dandelion plant I allow to grow just for my pigs. He ate the grass and could obviously could smell the leaf I had left on the sofa. He then tried to get off the lap pad on my knee to get to the leaf. So he is obviously improving but some way to go with his breathing. I have just given him a small amount of oats which he ate. I cut Maxwells hair yesterday especially round his bum. As I have kept him indoors I don't think fly strike will be an issue as I keep their C and C runs clean.
Thanks for the advice Barbara and also @Wiebke and @furryfriends (TEAS). It is always reassuring to have this support when caring for a poorly piggy.
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That's great news Val, what a great piggy carer you are xx
 
The insurance paid out 3.5K for my horse's treatment - fusing of small bones in hock using steriods, catrophen and tildren each type of treatment costing £500 + that's not including overnight stay, call outs, etc. The insurance will write that leg off along with the other as issues found with that.
Guinea pigs bill will never even scrap the surface on the final bill.. Yep, he's got more treatment to come!
End of the day, they're still a member of the family, what ever size or species, and should be treated that way :)
 
I agree @BonBon2010 . I would never question the need for taking any animal to the vet. I spoke to a man in a supermarket car park who was fussing my 16yr old dog. I explained she was recovering from cruciate ligament injury and was still having hydrotherapy after 6 months. He the said he had a 9yr Jack Russell with an injured leg and he wouldn't bother taking it to the vet as he didn't believe in treating him as the dog was no longer useful for ratting. What do you say to a cretin like that. I don't have insurance for my guinea pigs but I put money away each month "for a rainy day".
It just seems to pour down a lot when I take them to the vet. @lauraboara Thanks for the support. I hope Pringle is OK @Piginthecity Max is definitely improving. I am hoping the next visit to the vet will confirm if his problem is URI, heart or tumour.
 
My girl has got sick of eating lettuce, but luckily is happily tucking into her apple and spinach. She's due her second septrin in an hour, i'm back on nights tomorrow night, so trying to move her med times to suit. I hate the idea of leaving her so long whilst she's poorly :(
I'm going to keep her topped up with grass i think, as she never gets bored of eating that.
It's a good job there is such a wide range of food available to them now, stopped the boredom.
You can get guinea pigs insured, it's just BonBon is too old to insure now. Worth considering in the future with new piggies though.
 
Maxwell is not eating his pellets. He is brighter than he was prior to vet visit but is still reluctant to move round. His poop output is limited. I have had to help him expel what poops he has. These tend to be miniature versions of his normal poops. He is not doing any wees whilst he's been on my knee lap pad which is strange.I am getting more concerned about his health and try and get him to the vet tomorrow.
.
 
How is his breathing now? if he is struggling to breathe he will not want to eat which in turn would result in small poos.
 
His breathing is still laboured. He is still reluctant to move. I have been holding the water bottle whilst Max has been on my knee to make sure he has had water as I've not noticed him drinking.
He's had a piece of parsley, small piece of apple, a bit of hay. I massaged his stomach gently and he weed. He did have a couple of slightly larger poops but mainly very small poops and not a lot of those. Thanks @helen105281
 
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