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Piggy Breathing Issues

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rufcjoe87

rufcjoe87

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One of my piggies, Arthur isn't very well

Woke up this morning and he was gasping, seems like he is strunggling to breathe, his whole body seems to be moving with each breath. Every now and then he does a little kind of cough thing.

He is eating, though not as much, he is pooing and his other vitals are ok he's just really struggling to breathe. Noww he is a big piggy 1.4kg but he always has been

took him to vets and vet has given him amoxcycillin injection (says doesn't like to do it but worked last time) got to take him back in the morning.

He's clearly not happy and struggling bless him. We're keeping him cool and just leaving him this afternoon
He has had this before and recovered in a few days with injections (cant remember what now - think amoxcycillin)
- he was fine last night and it has come on so suddenly - I don't want him to get too much worse

Any suggestions of what it could be or what might help him?

Thanks guys
 
I'm sorry he is so poorly. Did the vet check his chest for fluid? if there is fluid he would need diuretics to clear it. Also has the vet considered a conscious xray to see whether the heart is enlarged? or if there is any kind of obstruction?
 
I would be worried about his lungs. Did the vet listen to his lungs carefully? If it's severe then I would be worried about heart failure and fluid build up in the lungs. I don't mean to worry you but that would be the first place I would check if it was a human patient
 
thank you

I'm not sure my girlfriend took him - the vet had a feel of him and was not concerned, while he was there he did a rather large poo that was about 5 stuck together but he does do that sometimes. I think the vet wants to see how this injection goes today - when we go back tomorrow morning if he's no better should I perhaps suggest an xray/fluid check? Arthur is normally very placcid so would probably sir still for an xray. My first thought was obstruction, the way he is gasping/coughing etc?
 
As far as I understand he had a listen to the chest? If no better tomorrow I will ask him to check the lungs. Tho I am alays on the cautious side so if he's no better this evening I may take him to emergency vet I think. Always rather be safe than sorry. Bless him
 
Yes I would definitely ask for that. If your vets are like mine though they may need to book him in for the day, so maybe speak to them today?
 
rufcjoe87 said:
As far as I understand he had a listen to the chest? If no better tomorrow I will ask him to check the lungs. Tho I am alays on the cautious side so if he's no better this evening I may take him to emergency vet I think. Always rather be safe than sorry. Bless him
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Definitely.
 
Thanks @helen105281 I think if no improvement when I get in from work may take him to emergency vets. Rather that that leave him overnight and potentially not get better. I'll see how he is in a few hours and maybe get him looked at. Conscious I don't want to stress him out too much too though but obviously he needs some help.
 
Piggies can get real sick real fast, definitely better safe than sorry so don't hesitate to call or return to the vet
 
The emergency vet would be able to give diuretics if needed. You don't have a stethoscope at all do you? If so, fluid can make it sound like the heart is under water.
 
I am wondering if this could be walking Pneumonia as that tends to strike out of the blue with no prior symptoms, though if he has had problems before, I think the heart needs to be checked as recurring respiratory infections are one of the symptoms.
 
I've just spoken to my girlfriend who said he 'coughed' when in there and vet said it 'sounded a bti wet' but had a listen and feel and wasn't concerned. I guess 'best' case is an infection which can clear up, worse case is heart/lungs? See how he is later

Would you recommend syringing? I mean he IS eating but not as much - but I don't want to stress him out or risk blocking his airwaves any more?
 
helen105281 said:
I am wondering if this could be walking Pneumonia as that tends to strike out of the blue with no prior symptoms, though if he has had problems before, I think the heart needs to be checked as recurring respiratory infections are one of the symptoms.
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Yes he had this exact thing last year and it was an infection that cleared up. Came on literally over night right out of the blue which was the worrying thing. Perhaps even if it does clear up maybe get his heart checked? If it is Pneumonia then hopefully it can be cleared up. Will keep you posted later, appreciate the help so far :)
 
Yes if he is not eating but you would need to do a very small amount at a time and see how he takes it as there is a risk of aspirating him.

It sounds like he may have fluid if he is coughing, whether it is around the heart or on the lungs. I am about to finish my lunchbreak and have the vets after work but will be back online this evening.
 
rufcjoe87 said:
Yes he had this exact thing last year and it was an infection that cleared up. Came on literally over night right out of the blue which was the worrying thing. Perhaps even if it does clear up maybe get his heart checked? If it is Pneumonia then hopefully it can be cleared up. Will keep you posted later, appreciate the help so far :)
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Yes definitely get it checked. I had good success with treating Pneumonia with Zithromax, Bisolvon and diuretics if it does turn out to be that.
 
Heck i don't want to be a scaremongerer but i thought amoxycillain was dangerous for pigs? I'm not clever enough to tag people on this forum and i am no expert by any means so many apologies in advance if I've got this wrong but please can someone come along with correct advice re amoxycillain.


Best wishes and keepingeverything crossed that your vet hasn't made a mistake and i am completely wrong
 
I thought that too and it is a definite no no if given orally but I have been told that injections are OK.
 
Amoxicillin injections are safe, oral isnt but i wouldnt have thought this would have been the first treatment option- baytril or septrin should have been.

Sounds like your vet is treating for a URI, which will need at least a 7-10 day oral course of antibiotics.

Since amoxicillan isnt safe orally, this wont be able to be continued at home. You will need to call the vet and ask for an oral course of antibiotics, baytril or sulfatrim/septrin, 7-10 day course and ask when you are able to start this. You shouldnt need to take your piggy back for that.

Keep him away from any drafts, place a bowl of boiling water with a couple drops of albas oil in it next to his cage to help clear his nasal passages (keep out of pigs reach to prevent scalding). syringe feed if he is losing weight, little amounts often because he has heavy breathing. DO NOT syringe water as this is extremely dangerous when the piggy is gasping- if he aspirates, recovery becomes extremely difficult. Give extra cucumber to keep him hydrated.

If he gets worse when on the oral antibiotics, or doesnt improve within a day or 2- take him back to the vet for a chest xray to check for fluid. This would require a diuretic to shift it.

Really hope hes on the mend soon x
 
Thanks for clearing up my confusion over amoxycillin (and showing me how to spell it!)

It started as a uri for my stan, he got metacam and baytril and seemed to pick up well over the next couple of weeks. Then, thinking he was fully recovered, i took my eye of the ball and when he took a turn for the worst, rather than rushing him along to the vet as an emergency,(as i had initially when he got ill) i waited 3 hrs for the first appointment available. the appt didn't go well at all and i think the stress of the appt was too much as he never made it through.

Lots and lots of 'if onlys' for me. Please don't hesitate to get vet help and make the effort to get to a vet that actually knows about pigs.

All the best, here's hoping Arthur is soon on the road to recovery and please keep weighing him every day to make sure he regains all the weight lost. they go down fast, but it takes them a long time to fully pick up again.
 
Thanks for the good wishes!

Little bit of an update

Got in from work and he was no better but no worse. In certain positions he's worse than others. Cleaned his cage out and while we did he was running around as normal. Put him back in his cage and he's not really bothered with his tea but he jumped on his little shelf and ate plenty of readigrass. While he was on the shelf he did the biggest poo ive ever seen, not kidding when i say sze of a golf ball! I think he also has dried 'snot' on his nose - its not wet but its definitely been running. He's still gasping etc.

I've put the bowl with olbas oil near his cage. He does look bright enough to look at and he is a bit subdued but not overly but he's definitely still struggling to breathe. gf wants to leave it till appointment tomorrow, really dont want to stress him

Any further thoughts? Also should i be worrie about the poo? He's not had much water but reluctant to syringe and hes not really eating his cucumber.

JUst gone to chekc on him and hes moving histoys and eating his poporn stick!
 
The fact he is still eating is good, you may want to top him up with syringe feed though. Weigh him at the same time in the feeding cycle daily to see if hes eating enough to maintain his weight.

If its tomorrow you are going to the vet- dont leave without at least 7-10 days worth of antibiotics and dont accept oral amoxicillin! Baytril/sulfatrim/septrin/zithromax are all safe.

One antibiotic injection on its own will 100% not be enough.

If the vet feels there is mucous, or you see his nose is congested, you can ask for some biosolvin powder. The dose is literally a small pinch added to veg or a little water and syringed- this will break up the mucous helping him breathe.

If he deteriorates further, or doesnt respond to antibiotics, you really need to push for an xray to chexk if theres any fluid in his lungs- which will require a diuretic.

Time is of the essence with these issues- i hope he gets antibiotics tomorrow and they help him xx
 
Thank you! Really appreciate that! Will speak to vet tomorrow and ask for antibiotics and hope its an infection, which s more curable, will just keep him happy tonight, syringe if we have to and hope he starts getting a bit better bless him. He's ok in himself just struggling with breathing
thanks again x
 
Just one other thing, should we be concerned about the size of his poo lol? Made my eyes water to see it in comparison lol
 
rufcjoe87 said:
Just one other thing, should we be concerned about the size of his poo lol? Made my eyes water to see it in comparison lol
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As long as its coming out, thats a good sign. His system will be a little out of wack at the moment. You may need to give him some probiotics whilst he is on antibiotics to keep his guts balanced- examples include pro-c/ avipro plus/ fibreplex.

Make sure the poo isnt all gathering in his anal sac, then falling out- making you think hes passing it like that. He could be getting temporarily impacted if his poos are a little sticky. Check his bum every now and again to make sure it isnt getting stuck but VERY IMPORTANT dont tip him up onto his back- this can be fatal for a piggy with potential fluid in the lungs. Let him stand up right and check his behind that way x
 
Bit of an update.

He was really struggling so took him to emergency vet. She checked him thouroughly and listened to his lungs. She said his hear sounded clear but his lungs sounded like they had fluid on them. She said even if it was an infection the underlying cause could be his heart. She says the strain on his heart from today is pushing him into heart failure
She's not hopeful
We've left him in overnight, shes going to give him oxygen, sedate him only slightly to calm him down and give him diuretic and antibiotic. If he improves she will consider maybe xrays (conscious) to check his heart.
If he does not get better in the next few hours because he is so bad she says our only option may be to put him to sleep as he's struggling so much. We really didn't want to leave him but it is his only chance and hes going to get the best care. Just hope he comes through and starts to get better. Really don't want to lose him :(
 
Keeping everything crossed for him, sounds like he is in the best place. If a heart issue is diagnosed, both myself and Adelle have heart pigs so can help with information.
 
Thank you. She did say if he survives the first part that it can be medicated, so if thats the case I will be asking for help I'm sure. Its hard to leave him but he's better there than at home for now so hopefully he can get better. Its good to know heart pigs CAN surivive and its not a reason on its own to have to put him to sleep. Hopefully he can get over the worst of whatever he has now
 
Sorry to hear he took a bad turn but well done on getting him to the emergency vet so soon.

The vets plan sounds very thorough and is everything you would want them to do- so his best chance is definately in the hands of the vet.

I will keep everything crossed for him xx
 
It always depends how advanced it is when they are diagnosed. Adelle's pig Fudge is 7 and was diagnosed a year ago. I have 4 now on heart meds, the eldest is Millie at almost 6 and she was diagnosed a few years ago.
 
My 7 year old girl fudge first developed a chest full of fluid nearly a year ago- her heart was already failing by the time it was diagnosed. She was placed on heart meds and a maximum dose of diuretics to shift the fluid, with the aim of getting her off the diuretics if she survived. She never got off the diuretics and ended up having an extra one added in too, shes on them every 8 hours but she is still hear, maintaining her weight and eating and shouting like a piggy should.

Hopefully he can get over this infection, even if its just fluid, the diuretics should kick in fairly quickly. The oxygen he is on will help alot too.

Praying he stays strong bless him xx
 
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