Peachy Breathing Heavy

[Fishybat]

Hi.
Peachy 12 weeks and 420g has been breathing very heavy today. Her body is moving in and out.
Took her to the vet and he said she is in respiratory failure. Gave her a steroid injection. We have baytril and probotics.

Vet said because she was syringe feed as a baby some of the food may be in her lungs.

She is eating well. Salad, pellets and hay. Putting on between 10 and 25g per week. Wheeking and waiting for her breakfast in the mornings.

Apart from the heavy breathing seems ok.

Vet thinks she might not make it and gave poor prognosis. She is going back next week to vet or earlier if gets worse.

Anyone else experienced this?
Good news is Truffle is not showing any signs of pregnancy yet.

 

[Wiebke]

I am very sorry for the bad news! Could you ask your vet for a diuretic to help ease the breathing?

 

[Fishybat]

I will see how she is in the morning after having the steroid and then ring the vet to ask for diuretic.

 

[helen105281]

I'm so sorry, I agree with Wiebke that she really needs diuretics. Has your vet considered the fact that the weather is humid as this can really affect pigs and make their breathing laboured Also, she needs to be checked for a heart condition as it can cause the symptoms you describe.

 

[Fishybat]

Not sure the vet was that good as was looking up info in a book. She is indoors and we have a dehumidifier that keeps humidity stable. He didn't want to X-Ray her but did listen to her heart and lungs. I am hoping the steroid injection will help.

 

[helen105281]

The dehumidifier will help, we have one too.

Fingers crossed the steroid helps but if not hopefully the vet will prescribe the diuretic. If she has it though you will need to make sure she has plenty of fluids to rehydrate her, Dioralyte is good for this and helps maintain the electrolyte balance.

 

[Pebble]

Aspiration of food into the airways is always a big risk when syringe feeding piggies.l It needs to be taken very slow, very steady, and with a 1ml syringe to avoid the risk of "shooting too much food" into the mouth.

If it happens it causes a non-specific pneumonia and can scar the lungs.

However - there is good news - in that, with careful nursing it may be possible to overcome this providing you take account of all points in the critical path for dealing with this condition..

First thing is you need to stablise the lungs and get rid of any excess fluid builing up (diuretic). As Helen has already said - you also need to be aware that giving a diuretic may also require fluid replacement as a consequence.
2) you also need to reduce inflammation which is the cause of the fluid build up - (which will occur in reaction to the food in the lungs) Either a steroid or a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory pain reliever such as metacam will be given - (NB you cannot give steroids in conjunction with metacam - the two types of drugs interfere with each other and cause more harm to the piggie).
3) you need to give an antibiotic as bugs will take their opportunity to set up residence in the damaged lungs
4) you need to give a probioitic to help counteract the fact the antibiotics are wiping out all the good bacteria from the guts and causing digestive imbalance
5) you will probably need to syringe feed liquidised pellets or critical care (20-30ml every 3-4 hours day and night) to maintain weight, keep guts moving properly and prevent teeth from overgrowing as the piggie will not be wanting to eat of its own accord.
6) you need to be alert to the gut slowing down and give gut stimulants (cisapride/emeprid/metaclopromide and also zantac) to keep it moving to avoid gut stasis

If all this is taken into account and acted on in a timely fashion, then you should be able to get through this. However if there has been any delay in any of the treatments, then you need to revisit the points above and also be prepared for
7) A visit to have molars filed down as they have overgrown and are preventing proper eating

I'm sure with your diligent care, you can get Peachy through this...please take the points above with you to the vet so they are "primed" to provide the correct types of treatment and medication whilst you nurse your little piggie through this sad situation

I'm afraid it will be exhausting and time-consuming - but please don;t give up! There have been many successful recoveries for piggies in this situation.

HTH
x
.

 

[Pebble]

Sorry - just noted your post about your vets. It is always a worry as many vets really do not have enough experience to know how to correctly manage the "complete clinical pathway" for guinea pig care.

Can you get to see John Chtitty at Anton vets in Andover? He will give you all the support and meds you will need to get her through this.
Anton Vets,
Units 11-12
Anton Mill Road,
Andover,
Hampshire
SP10 2NJ

http://antonvets.co.uk/contact-us

x

 

[Pebble]

What I have detailed above is the "Must do's"...........however there are other things you can do help alleviate and encourage your piggie - but on their own account, they will not be part of the main points listed above that are critical to recovery.

Assisting with breathing - helps encourage eating and improvement in wellbeing
Bisolvon can clear snot/mucus
There is a real balancing act with pgigies with breathing problems between too much humidity (requiring a dehumidifier) and too little - especially if diuretics are being given which will dry out the mucus membranes of the lungs.
-You might , on the advice of your vet, wish to consider twice daily treatments with a nebuliser with sterile saline/F10 disinfectant as this will help to eliminate microbes in the lungs and provide a more favourable breathing environment.(I have one and am wiling to lend it out for cover of postage costs)

Food temptations to encourage eating
Fresh grass is always a winner and one of the most easiest things for a pigige to eat unless they are also challenged such that they can only eat mushed pelltes/etc

x

.

 

[Fishybat]

This morning Peachy seems to be breathing better. Still some sucking in and out of body but not as much. She was awake and wheeking for her breakfast. Took the baytril well but struggled to get probiotic in as not very keen. I popped it on some parsley and she ate that.
Any tips on giving probiotics?
She is eating really well and lively. Can't believe she is as poorly as the vet said.
Should I ring and ask for diuretic as well as having the other meds?
I don't need to syringe feed as she is eating well at moment.
Thank you for all the advice and hoping not as bleak as vet suggested.
Andover is about hour and half drive from me.