Piggie With Breathing Problems

[Kim.b.1711]

Hi

One of my guinea pigs is having breathing problems (I can hear him from across the room, but at least if I can hear him he is still breathing!). I'm fairly sure he has a URI and we are going to the vets at 2.30pm but is there anything I can do to help his breathing until then?

 

[Critter]

I'm tagging two of our members who may be around in a while: @Wiebke @helen105281
Although I have had a piggy with a chest issue I didn't find anything other than vet medicine to help. I would suggest keeping him quiet if you can, as in no excitement for the day. Make sure there is nothing that could add to his problem, as in any dust in his cage. If you have sawdust or shavings or any bedding that may be dusty it may be of help to replace that with a towel, and shake out his hay to remove dust.

Please would you mind updating your avatar with your location? It's to help others to help you with more specific vet advice for your area.

Good luck x

 

[Kim.b.1711]

I'm avoiding handling him or fussing with him too much so I don't make him stressed. I have a small travel cage so I will separate him out from his brother and put him in there on a towel so its not dusty for him as he's on shavings in his normal cage.

 

[MintyAndGarry (TEAS)]

If it's a URI, then moving him from his normal surroundings isn't going to make much of a difference. Taking him away from his brother may also cause him more stress - are you looking at taking them both to the vets, for company? Septrin is the best starting point for URIs.

If you have any Olbas oil (not Vicks), you can drop some of that on to a piece of kitchen roll and hang it near to their cage - it may help with his breathing for now. Otherwise, you could try placing a bowl of steaming water next to the cage, but this doesn't work quite as well.

 

[Kim.b.1711]

Thanks for the advice! Off to go hunting for the Olbas oil, I know there is some around here somewhere.

 

[helen105281]

I don't have anything else to add really, was going to suggest Olbas oil too.

The vet may need to give a diuretic if he has fluid on his chest in addition to any antibiotics and Bisolvon is good for mucous in the nasal passages.

 

[Kim.b.1711]

Back from the vets, she confirmed that Teddy has a URI, hes had an anti-inflammatory injection and I have antibiotics to give him once daily. He also has some problems with his teeth so hes booked in to have them taken care of next Friday as long as the infection improves.

 

[Wiebke]

Usually placing a bowl with steaming water with or without 2 drops of olbas oil next to the cage can help. In healthy, not stressed guinea pigs, URI is usually not transmitted, so you do not separate.

All the best! Please weigh your ill piggy daily at the same time rather than the usual weekly check to make sure that he is eating enough; the need to breathe comes before the need to drink and thirdly the need to eat. If necessary, top up with syringe feeding, but hopefully, you have caught it well in time for that to become necessary.
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

 

[helen105281]

Back from the vets, she confirmed that Teddy has a URI, hes had an anti-inflammatory injection and I have antibiotics to give him once daily. He also has some problems with his teeth so hes booked in to have them taken care of next Friday as long as the infection improves.

What antibiotics do you have? if it is Baytril you will need probiotics too to give an hour or so after the dose. This helps protect the gut. If you have a different antibiotic can be used too, though Baytril can upset the gut the most.