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Nutty - URI (Very bad breathing)

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*Nibbles&Nugget*

*Nibbles&Nugget*

Adult Guinea Pig
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As some of you know, Nutty has been battling URI's for awhile now. This was his previous thread. A few days ago he finished a course of zithromax on the dose 0.12 once a day. At the end his breathing was still a little heavy but he was practically back to normal. The vet said he didn't need anything more. However today I woke up to very heavy and loud breathing with a slight whistling noise to it. His sides were heaving with every breath, his nose running and he looked awful. I rushed him straight into the vets and they have put him back on zithromax, the same dose as before.

Earlier I was trying to feed him and he took a chunk of pepper, bit a piece off, moved it around in his mouth or chewed it for a moment and then spat it out. It's the same with all vegetables so far. I'm not sure whether he just has no appetite or cannot swallow but I'm really worried.

I tried syringing critical care as the vet suggested, earlier but he seems pretty reluctant and only took a very small amount. This is not like before.

The vet told me I should be prepared that I may need to say goodbye to him but I just couldn't bear it. I can't lose him.

Does anyone know anything else I can do or try? Anything to make him more comfortable, make him eat? Any other meds or treatments for URI's?

Thanks in advance

Amy
x
 
I'm so sorry to read this, poor Nutty :(
We had fantastic results with Marbocyl and Bisolvon when Sheila developed pleurisy - she was making awful clicking/hooting noises and had a snotty nose despite being on Baytril :(
Zithromax is great for stubborn infections I believe so perhaps discuss Marbocyl as an alternative with your Vet ?
Hugs sent and all paws crossed here - please keep us informed x>>
 
Is he being given Furosemide too? It's a diuretic & will shift the fluid build up which is probably why his breathing is so bad :( You could ask your vet to prescribe some if he isn't on it, the sooner the better.
 
Hope he improves soon. I second what guinea pig slave says, if he has a stubborn infection he may be getting fluid build up. Esme had fluid build up on her lungs because of her heart problem and was really affecting her breathing.
She had a furosemide injection at the vets and we have continued with oral furosemide twice a day ever since. The change in her was seen the same evening as the injection but it has gradually improved over rime. She is still on the oral meds but touchwood she hasn't had any breathing issues for several weeks.
 
So sorry to here Nutty is unwell again, hope you can explore some more avenues like Furosemide if it hasn't already been tried.

Love to Nutty x
 
Hi N&N
I can understand how worried your are and that you;re also feeling a bit frustrated. I don;t know whereabouts in Kent you are, but it is definitely worth trying to find a vet that is willing to continue to prescribe a diuretic and take further steps to investigate for a heart condition. Puttenham vets in paddock Wood (Nichola) and Trinity Vets Maidstone (Mark) are both good at cavy diagnostics and treatment.

Not all heart conditions in guinea pigs are easily diagnosed by either stethoscope or Xray. I myself have had a heart pig who suffered from chronic endocarditis - past infection of the heart - that was only diagnosed on ultrasound. Once he got his heart meds...and we did have to adjust them according to for instance temperature etc and the amount of fluid building up - he live a very happy extra year.

Even if it is just a deep-seated pneumonia, diuretic will still help to clear out the fluid in his lungs and aid his breathing and give a new anitbiotic a chance to work.

Do you have access to a nebuliser? Sometime a mixture of saline and F10 can help with chronic pneumonia. In the interim, a steam bath with some olbas oil drops may also help...but it does sound to me as though the main issue is fluid in the lungs which can only be reduced by a hefty course of furosemide or similar diuretic for a few days, taking care that he doesn;t dehydrate whilst being given the medication.

Keeping my fingers crossed for you and Nutty
x
 
Pebble said:
I can understand how worried your are and that you;re also feeling a bit frustrated. I don;t know whereabouts in Kent you are, but it is definitely worth trying to find a vet that is willing to continue to prescribe a diuretic and take further steps to investigate for a heart condition. Puttenham vets in paddock Wood (Nichola) and Trinity Vets Maidstone (Mark) are both good at cavy diagnostics and treatment.

Not all heart conditions in guinea pigs are easily diagnosed by either stethoscope or Xray. I myself have had a heart pig who suffered from chronic endocarditis - past infection of the heart - that was only diagnosed on ultrasound. Once he got his heart meds...and we did have to adjust them according to for instance temperature etc and the amount of fluid building up - he live a very happy extra year.

Even if it is just a deep-seated pneumonia, diuretic will still help to clear out the fluid in his lungs and aid his breathing and give a new anitbiotic a chance to work.

Do you have access to a nebuliser? Sometime a mixture of saline and F10 can help with chronic pneumonia. In the interim, a steam bath with some olbas oil drops may also help...but it does sound to me as though the main issue is fluid in the lungs which can only be reduced by a hefty course of furosemide or similar diuretic for a few days, taking care that he doesn;t dehydrate whilst being given the medication.

Keeping my fingers crossed for you and Nutty
x
Click to expand...

So sorry to hear your boy is still struggling, it's at times like this we wish our pigs could talk.

I second Pebbles post above and just wanted to pop Putlands and Trinity's phone numbers here in case you want a second opinion. Nicola Logan at Putlands in Paddock Wood is my usual piggy vet and the contact number is 01892 835456. As you know, Mark at Trinity is an exotic specialist, his number is 01622 726730. Good luck with your little guy.
 
Nutty has had an ultrasound with inconclusive results, though we are planning to try another one today. At my begging an emergency vet gave him diuretics (though I can't for the life of me remember what exactly it was, it was late at night) and that stopped the watery gurgle noises when he was breathing however he is still making loud, heavy, whistling breaths. He spent the night at the vets but they said he would do better with us at home. Nacho is trying to get him to eat and cuddling up to him which he seems to find comforting.

He was suffering from awful bloating but that has gone completely now. With syringing small amounts carefully, never forced, every two hours (through the night me and my mum took turns) he has made slight improvements and is passing very small poops. I have never been so glad to see them! This morning though he has is tilting his head to one side, very weak and barely able to stand. His eyes are very crusty and his nose is running quite a lot and I am hoping this means the meds are getting things moving around in there or something. I am not totally sure whether he can see me. The only thing that got him excited was a piece of parsley but he struggled to eat it and began making retching movements minutes after he snatched it from my fingers.

We have put bowls of boiling water with a few drop of olbas oil next to his cage twice a day since this particular bout of URI started. He likes to sit near it and put his nose in the air. I will look into getting a nebuliser or seeing if someone I know has one.

He just seems to have completely given up today and it breaks my heart. He now weighs only 870g

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I'm fighting as hard as I can for him. I'm just hoping and praying we can keep him going a little longer so the meds can work.

Amy
x
 
Just be there for him, you've done so much for him. I hope he starts showing some improvement soon. I know it is a terrible time for you and you feel so helpless.
 
I don't think he can swallow. He has chewed on a tiny piece of cucumber for 8 minutes and now and I had to take it out of his mouth cos' I was scared he might choke. I spoke to the vet and they said to bring him in later today and discuss options. We all know what options means. I hope he is going to show improvements soon. I hate to see him suffering like this.

Amy
x
 
Huge hugs Amy, I am really sorry you and Nutty are going through this. What time is the apt?
 
Amy, thank you for the update, will be thinking of you later. Has he had any diuretic yet? I know you said previously you were taking him to the emergency vet but not sure what happened after that.
 
Sorry just seen your previous post, good the emergency vet gave diuretic, they should have given you some to bring home too though as it is needed ongoing for at least a few days.
 
He has just suffered a very frightening seizure. My friend is coming round to take us to the vets. Thank you for all your help everyone but unless there is a sudden drastic improvement I think this is goodbye to my very special little boy.

Amy
x
 
We helped my beautiful boy along the rainbow bridge earlier today. He was very unwell, not seeing, swallowing or reacting to anything. It hurts terribly but I know I made the right choice for him.

RIP Nutty, my precious Nut Baby

Amy
x
 
I'm so sorry Amy. You did your very best for him and you can rest easy knowing that.
Popcorn free beautiful Nutty.
 
So sorry Amy, you made the right decision for him and did all you could. Massive hugs, so sorry x

RIP Nutty
x x
 
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