My Pig Has Loud Breathing, On Antibiotics But Worse!!

[Bribri]

My guinea pig had been breathing loud for a week I took him to vet. 2 days ago . The vet said it wasn't in the lungs and put him on an antibiotic every 12 hours for six days I've given him 4 doses in two days but breathing is louder, almost like a chewing noise or grinding. He's 2 or 2.5 years old and never had anything like this happen. I've always given him vitamin c in water and use fleece blankets for bedding with hay. He seems to be eating, drinking, and going to the bathroom OK. I did call vet yesterday and she said sometimes it gets worse before it does better but IDK about this. Is there anyway the meds haven't worked yet? I no a respiratory infection comes very quickly but he is on antibiotics so any advice would b much appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Wiebke]

Guinea pig airways are very narrow, so you can hear any obstruction very quickly and loudly. Has your vet checked his chest cavity for fluid build up?
It can take a week for or more for the airways to clear fully, and until that has happened you may hear noises. I would take heart from the fact that your boy is still eating, drinking and lively. If it was really serious, he wouldn't be. The need to breathe comes before the need to drink and only thirdly the need to eat.

I would strongly recommend to not give any vitamin C in the water. Guinea pigs drink noticeably less when there are additives in the water. These go off very quickly and all they do is promote the growth of algae, which is putting off piggies even more... Rather up the vitamin C content of his veg and syringe him any vitamin C directly; about 1/4 of a human tablet in 1 ml of water for the time being and 1/8 of a tablet when he is well. That way you can be sure that he has got the full amount when it is at its most effective.
Recommendations For A Balanced General Guinea Pig Diet
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If there is a noticeable deterioration (loss of appetite/lethargy), please contact your vet promptly. Also do that if the breathing is not better after a week.

 

[Bribri]

Thank you I will do that with the vitamin c bcuz I do feel like the water gets slimy. The vet said his lungs were clear but if they do get worse what else besides antibiotics can they do for him.

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you I will do that with the vitamin c bcuz I do feel like the water gets slimy. The vet said his lungs were clear but if they do get worse what else besides antibiotics can they do for him.

Please concentrate on the positives, first and foremost. I assume that you piggy is on baytril? There are stronger antibiotics. Piggies can survive pneumonia.
Just the sheer fact that your guinea is still eating and behaving normally means that it is not all that badly affected. Give your course of antibiotics a chance. It can take a week or longer to clear up; it has often enough done that with piggies of mine.

If you wish to help easing the breathing, place a bowl with steaming water next to the cage can replace from time to time. You can add 1-2 drop os olbas oil if you really wish, but please do not vicks; it contains substances that are harmful to guinea pigs. Plain steaming water is fine in itself, too.