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Need Seasoned Advice

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mom23piggies

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Hello, I am new to the forum and I am in need of urgent advice. Our 12 ear old son adopted an older guinea pig and this morning we awoke to Hans not feeling well. I took him to our local vet and he was prescribed Bactrim 0.3mg twice daily. As a nurse i notice that his breathing is rapid and squeaky, The vet says n fever but he wants to treat for pneumonia. I am working with pushing fluids but I need advice as a first time piggie mom who is under the weather. .I am in the U.S. in Western KY.
THank you in advance for your help.
 
our cavy has been diagnosed with pneumonia. I am new to having a guinea pig and I am in need of advice. It seems tonight he is worse than earlier today. I could use alittle guidance in that my vet said do the best we could however Hans is tachypneic and wheezing with a sqeaking noise when he breathes. I am keeping his nares clean and giving water every hour. I am wondering f I could use a product like gatorade or pedialyte to assist with oral rehydration. I am a nurse and I find myself trying to provide intervention like I would a small child but in microscopic doses. I looked to get the oxbow critical care but I cannot find it in the USA.
 
Mashed up pellets in a syringe will do until you find critical care. Did the vet prescribe anything? Usually they'd prescribe an antibiotic
 
I see from your other thread that your guinea pig has been prescribed Bactrim .

( Need Seasoned Advice )

Sorry your guinea pig isn't well . A health and illness guru will answer your questions.

Until this, I think this thread may help you ...

Uri Antibiotics Question?
 
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Hiya, I've merged your two topics, that way all assistance and replies are in one place. ;)
 
We have a medication called Bisolvon over here in the UK that is a decongestant that can help the mucus to come out if your pig is really struggling to breath.

You can also ask the vet about trying a nebuliser, or having a hot, steaming bowl of water near the cage to try to loosen things up.

Is your pig still eating and drinking? If not, then you will need to start handfeeding. There are foods like Critical Care that can be used for this, or you can use mashed up pellets if you don't have access to any.
 
If your piggy has pneumonia you need a diuretic like Furosemide from the vet to get rid of the fluid in his lungs. You need to syringe drip him a little water from a 1ml needleless syringe, only about 0.2ml at a time, make sure you direct the syringe towards the inside of his cheek, not to the back of his throat in case he aspirates any fluid.
 
It's strange that you can't find critical care as it is an American product. Mushed pellets would work the same though. I agree with Poppy's mum that if it is Pneumonia he will need diuretics from the vets and also a decongestant like Bisolvon as Jaycey has mentioned. For rehydration you could slowly syringe him water, or in the UK we sometimes use Dioralyte for electrolytes.
 
Pneumonia is common in guinea pigs with a repiratory infection and as mentioned above a diuretic like furosemide is essential. Bactrim is not always the most effect antibiotic for URIs. It may be worth asking your vet about Septrin or Zithromax.
 
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