Piggy Crying For Help!

[Stevie-Rae]

I have a very sick Guinea pig, and i can't take him to the vet. Before i get bashed for being a poor piggy mother please listen to my situation, and any help i can get would be most appreciated! I live in Maui, 2 weeks ago i went to a garage sale for some guy moveing off island. In tha back of a stuffy garage i found the saddest thing i have ever seen, A tiny, skinny, sickly little pig living in a priority mail box. He was holding his mouth open and would just sit there and not move till you picked him up then he would scream. I have never had a pig, but felt so bad for him i bought him anyway. On this island we only have 2 real vets, 1 of them killed my puppy 2 years ago during a standard operation to fix her. When i took the sick pig to the 2nd vet the lady said "if i were you i would sooner put that down then waste your money" needless to say i was pissed. Any how after 2 weeks and extensive internet sleuthing the pig is doing much better and has gained some weight, the crust over his eyes is gone and he can open his eyes, i also cleaned all the gunk out of his ears.

My problem is, i am not a vet. And there is not one here that is worth much of anything and his little pig has a clicking whenever he breaths, he doesn't move much, and i think he may be blind in one eye. I am worried that evrything i have done will be for not and this little guy wont make it. But i have fallen in love with him and want to do anything to help.
Dose anyone have medical advise you can give me? Please! He is the sweetest thing! I have never had a pig befor but this one has stolen my heart! I'm worried about his lungs. Thank you!

 

[Wiebke]

I have a very sick Guinea pig, and i can't take him to the vet. Before i get bashed for being a poor piggy mother please listen to my situation, and any help i can get would be most appreciated! I live in Maui, 2 weeks ago i went to a garage sale for some guy moveing off island. In tha back of a stuffy garage i found the saddest thing i have ever seen, A tiny, skinny, sickly little pig living in a priority mail box. He was holding his mouth open and would just sit there and not move till you picked him up then he would scream. I have never had a pig, but felt so bad for him i bought him anyway. On this island we only have 2 real vets, 1 of them killed my puppy 2 years ago during a standard operation to fix her. When i took the sick pig to the 2nd vet the lady said "if i were you i would sooner put that down then waste your money" needless to say i was pissed. Any how after 2 weeks and extensive internet sleuthing the pig is doing much better and has gained some weight, the crust over his eyes is gone and he can open his eyes, i also cleaned all the gunk out of his ears.

My problem is, i am not a vet. And there is not one here that is worth much of anything and his little pig has a clicking whenever he breaths, he doesn't move much, and i think he may be blind in one eye. I am worried that evrything i have done will be for not and this little guy wont make it. But i have fallen in love with him and want to do anything to help.
Dose anyone have medical advise you can give me? Please! He is the sweetest thing! I have never had a pig befor but this one has stolen my heart! I'm worried about his lungs. Thank you!

Hi!

It is great that you want to care for this little scrap. It is not screaming for help, but for fear. In order to help it now, you will have to ignore it to a good extent, but here is a way you can try to work around it.
How To Pick Up Your Guinea Pig

Please start syringe feeding and watering your guinea pig asap. Weigh it daily at the same time in the feeding cycle. Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

You will unfortunately have to have it seen by a vet for a potential respiratory infection; they are bacterial in guinea pigs. Antibiotics is what your little piggy very likely needs, and they are not prescription-free. URI is fatal or can leave permanent damage if not treated. Guinea pigs can't breathe through the mouth, so you hear every obstruction of the airways in clicks, raspy or crackly breathing. If it is not too wiggly, you could check with holding your ear to the nose and the chest area to see whether and how congested it sounds.
The need to breathe comes before the need to drink and only thirdly the need to eat. This is why a fully developed URI (upper respiratory infection) causes loss of appetite, which can be fatal in itself. Guinea pigs need to eat pretty constantly; if left without food and water for more than 24 hours, their guts will start to slow and then close down over the course of the following days (gut stasis).
Until then (depending how humid and warm it is where you are), you can place a bowl of steaming water nearby to help ease the breathing, but this is only a supportive and not a curative measure. You can also add a 1/8 of a human vitamin C tablet, either by sprinkling it on the veg or by syringing it dissolved in a little bit of water to boost the immune system. Depending on the size/age, only give a third or half of a syringe at any time, which is about a mouthful and avoids stuff from going down the wrong way, especially important with a guinea pig with respiratory issues.
Here is more information Guinea Lynx :: URI
First Aid Kit For Guinea Pigs
Administering Medications

Via this link you can find more information for a new piggy owner on how to make friends with skittish piggies, diet, what a is normal and what not in a guinea pig etc. to bring you up to speed as quickly as possible. We have got more guides at the top of our various Care sections, but you are welcome to ask any questions in there at any time.
" Starter Kit" Of Information Threads For New Owners

Could you please add your state to your details, so we can adjust any advice accordingly straight away. Click on your username on the on the top bar, then go to personal details and scroll down to location. Thank you!