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My Baby Has Pneumonia

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Harvey

Harvey

Junior Guinea Pig
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hi guys I have been on reading comments to help as we are New Guinea pig owners so have been reading up on them but about 2 weeks ago wee ozzy who is about 5 months stopped eating his hay I took him to the vet to see if it was his teeth which it is but turns out our wee guy has pneumonia we're gutted we've had him since December 13th I am just hoping the wee guy is strong enough to pull through but the vet says he's very ill first lot of antibiotics haven't done anything so we're on stronger now. We're in Glasgow I guess I'm just hoping he has fight in him for being so young X
 
Harvey said:
hi guys I have been on reading comments to help as we are New Guinea pig owners so have been reading up on them but about 2 weeks ago wee ozzy who is about 5 months stopped eating his hay I took him to the vet to see if it was his teeth which it is but turns out our wee guy has pneumonia we're gutted we've had him since December 13th I am just hoping the wee guy is strong enough to pull through but the vet says he's very ill first lot of antibiotics haven't done anything so we're on stronger now. We're in Glasgow I guess I'm just hoping he has fight in him for being so young X
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Hi and welcome!

Are you topping him up with syringe feed and water? The need to breathe comes before the need to drink and only thirdly the need to eat.
It is absolutely vital to keep the guts going as soon as a guinea pig goes off food, but you have to be very careful at the same time to not allow anything to go down the wrong way, as that can make the pneumonia worse. Antibiotics in themselves can be appetite dampeners, so Harley is dealing with a double whammy at the moment. If he is very ill, you need to feed little but often round the clock.
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
Make sure that you also give a pinch of probiotics about 1-2 hours after the antibiotic in order to help prop up the guts. Vitamin C can help to boost the immune system. You can find more information on that in our syringe feeding guide.

A bowl of steaming water, which you keep replacing can help ease the breathing a bit. If you wish, you can add 2-3 drop of olbas oil (NOT vicks, which contains substances that are bad for guinea pigs). I assume that you have him indoors anyway and are keeping him warm (but not hot) and comfy?

What antibiotic is he on? Would your vet consider diuretics to help drain the lungs and bisolvon powder to clear any mucus in the airways?
 
I'm sorry he is so poorly. Do you know what antibiotics he is on and has the vet given a diuretic for any fluid on his chest? Also if he has any mucous in his nose, the vet could also give him Bisolvon.
 
Hi guys Ive to syringe feed him he is loving that he's trying to take it so fast he's drinking but I am also giving him water through a syringe too just to make sure he's getting it, the wee souls teeth are bad too but he can't get sedated just now he's on septrin twice a day and an painkiller metacam...yes he's indoors he's just so young to be going through this How much of the syringe food (recovery plus) should I give him every 2-3 hours 5ml, 10ml? x
 
Harvey said:
Hi guys Ive to syringe feed him he is loving that he's trying to take it so fast he's drinking but I am also giving him water through a syringe too just to make sure he's getting it, the wee souls teeth are bad too but he can't get sedated just now he's on septrin twice a day and an painkiller metacam...yes he's indoors he's just so young to be going through this How much of the syringe food (recovery plus) should I give him every 2-3 hours 5ml, 10ml? x
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Basically, you give him as much as he will take. Please have a look through our syringe feeding guide; it addresses the question in more detail as to how often he needs to be fed depending on the amount he is eating. It is actually a very encouraging sign that he is eating so well!
 
I meant to ask Is this something we have caused he's indoors x
 
Harvey said:
I meant to ask Is this something we have caused he's indoors x
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Good that he is indoors!

Respiratory infections are unfortunately fairly common in young guinea pigs with a still developing immune system that have been through several total upheavals in their short lives. He needs to have had exposure to the bacteria in order to come down with it; that is usually the shop or breeders. All you can do is to help support his body strength and immune system and hope for the best. You are doing all you can.
 
Antibiotics don't seem to have kicked in yet, ozzy is still the same... fearful it's too late for him....he's still eating his syringe food but hardly drinking now....hurry up antibiotics let me see some sort of change! Xx
 
If there is no real improvement I would ask the vet about diuretics, they can help clear any fluid off his chest. When my pig had Pneumonia he was on antibiotics (Zithromax), diuretics and Bisolvon plus steam therapy.
 
DOes a diuretic have to come from the vet can I buy it no x
 
Yes it does, usually called either Frusol or Frusemide, sometimes Lasix. All have the same active ingredient.
 
He did from the first bout of it and we had him for another few months. Sadly he got it again and that time we lost him. He did have some other underlying health issues though which affected him being able to fight it.
 
Awe I'm sorry helen that's sad to hear...even if ozzy comes back a bit from it we have his teeth to deal with I think it's gonna be to much for the wee man xx
 
Thank you, it was a few years ago now. Are you in the UK? if so whereabouts? there is a really good dental vet in Northampton.
 
I am in Glasgow I'm registered with Taylor vets they have a girl in there who specialises in guinea pigs I just wish Friday was here till I see if there's any improvement x
 
I have no experience of this situation but I hope your piggy recovers well, sending you positive pigvibes! X
 
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