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Piggy Pneumonia :'(

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HERE PIGGY PIG

HERE PIGGY PIG

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My name is Anna & I (my daughter) have 3 beautiful boys!
This is Sasquatch- Sassy
Screenshot_2017-03-10-15-30-32.png

Here is Chewbacca-Chewy
Screenshot_2017-03-10-15-30-39.png

And our youngest Grunt
Screenshot_2017-03-10-15-30-27.png

This little guy is the reason I have joined up. I need some advise on how I can help him get through a vet diagnosed URI & Pneumonia. The vet is consulting another about the infection being a fungle infection instead of a viral one as this is the second time its cropped up and it doesn't appear to be contagious.
Lots of snot, sneezing, hacking up then sounding like he is drowning, head bobbing, and bulging eyes.
At this point I am sure your wondering how it could have gotten so bad without intervention and frankly so am I!
I just returned home from a 2mo trip last night and when I went to check on the boys I noticed our little Grunt in respiratory distress. Upon picking him up I immediately heard the crackling from his lungs(sounded like the crinkle paper they put in baby & pet toys- it was aweful!). I immediately suspected pneumonia and rushed him into the vet.
He was put on SCZ today and given a Vitamin C shot. When we got home the hair around his face was all crusted and grey snot was literally pouring out of his nostril so I put a cloth in hot water rung it out and cleaned his face and nose. I then rubbed a tiny bit of Breathe Essential oil on the tuft of hair above his nose. It took some time but he seems to be breathing better now.
I wish I had recorded his condition earlier as it spoke a thousand words. Terrifying words.
Back story....
We adopted him from the SPCA and when we brought him home he made grunting noises, hence the name Grunt. At first I thought it was just part of his personality as every pig sounds a bit different but then I noticed him sneezing & coughing so I took him to the vet. They put him on antibiotics saying that he had an upper respiratory infection. However the antibiotics didn't seem to help much and I ended up treating him mostly by diffusing essential oils to help with breathing and respiratory distress. Although it seemed to take a while he did get better and that is when I left for my trip. I was gone two months and came home to this.
I really thought I was going to lose him this morning. I am hoping that there are others out there who having experienced this & brought their guinea pigs through it may have some advice on how I can make him more comfortable and increase his chances of survival. It will break my heart to lose this little guy.
My daughter's heart as well. Not too mention Sass & Chewies little hearts, he is a favorite of both.
 
It might not seem contagious but I would keep him separate from the rest until 100% better as it can spread quickly and ultimately piggies can die. You must make sure he stays hydrated with watery veggies and syringe feeding water if need be. Antibiotics can cause diarrhea though I'm sure your vet said this so veggies may need putting on hold to give the stomach break. I would keep cleaning the nose to help his breathing status as clear as possible and make sure he is eating. Antibiotics may put him off food in which case you'll have to syringe feed him. Good luck hopefully he recovers very soon poor piggy. And as always if you are worried or unsure do see the vet again.
 
HERE PIGGY PIG said:
My name is Anna & I (my daughter) have 3 beautiful boys!
This is Sasquatch- Sassy
Screenshot_2017-03-10-15-30-32.png

Here is Chewbacca-Chewy
Screenshot_2017-03-10-15-30-39.png

And our youngest Grunt
Screenshot_2017-03-10-15-30-27.png

This little guy is the reason I have joined up. I need some advise on how I can help him get through a vet diagnosed URI & Pneumonia. The vet is consulting another about the infection being a fungle infection instead of a viral one as this is the second time its cropped up and it doesn't appear to be contagious.
Lots of snot, sneezing, hacking up then sounding like he is drowning, head bobbing, and bulging eyes.
At this point I am sure your wondering how it could have gotten so bad without intervention and frankly so am I!
I just returned home from a 2mo trip last night and when I went to check on the boys I noticed our little Grunt in respiratory distress. Upon picking him up I immediately heard the crackling from his lungs(sounded like the crinkle paper they put in baby & pet toys- it was aweful!). I immediately suspected pneumonia and rushed him into the vet.
He was put on SCZ today and given a Vitamin C shot. When we got home the hair around his face was all crusted and grey snot was literally pouring out of his nostril so I put a cloth in hot water rung it out and cleaned his face and nose. I then rubbed a tiny bit of Breathe Essential oil on the tuft of hair above his nose. It took some time but he seems to be breathing better now.
I wish I had recorded his condition earlier as it spoke a thousand words. Terrifying words.
Back story....
We adopted him from the SPCA and when we brought him home he made grunting noises, hence the name Grunt. At first I thought it was just part of his personality as every pig sounds a bit different but then I noticed him sneezing & coughing so I took him to the vet. They put him on antibiotics saying that he had an upper respiratory infection. However the antibiotics didn't seem to help much and I ended up treating him mostly by diffusing essential oils to help with breathing and respiratory distress. Although it seemed to take a while he did get better and that is when I left for my trip. I was gone two months and came home to this.
I really thought I was going to lose him this morning. I am hoping that there are others out there who having experienced this & brought their guinea pigs through it may have some advice on how I can make him more comfortable and increase his chances of survival. It will break my heart to lose this little guy.
My daughter's heart as well. Not too mention Sass & Chewies little hearts, he is a favorite of both.
Click to expand...

Hi! How experienced is the person that has been looking after your guinea pigs during your absence? Has he had any vet care or check-ups? Please have him seen by a vet as soon as possible, ideally as an emergency! He may have problems with swallowing and also should have his heart checked because of the potential fluid build-up; has your vet every considered putting him on a diuretic?

Start syringe feeding if he has lost weight during your absence. Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

@helen105281 @Jaycey
 
I don't know whay SCZ is, but I'm assuming that its an antibiotic?

How is your boy today @HERE PIGGY PIG ?

If the vet is unsure what it is, then I would ask him to take a sample of the discharge and have it tested so the most appropriate medicine can be used to fight it.

A diuretic could be good, as this will help with any fluid building up in his lungs. I've had a few pigs with breathing issues on antibiotics and diuretics.

Try to keep his airway clear. You can use a bowl of steaming water near the cage to try to keep it loosened, or theres something called Bisolvon which a vet can prescribe which is a decongestant.

I had a pig that needed nebulisation for his breathing issues which I'm happy to chat about. But as it's very early days I think the vet will want to see how the antibiotics go first.

I hope he's feeling better today.
 
Not got anything else to add at this stage. I hope he is feeling brighter today. As Jaycee has said if you could confirm the antibiotic that would be helpful. Please could you also confirm your location.
 
helen105281 said:
Not got anything else to add at this stage. I hope he is feeling brighter today. As Jaycee has said if you could confirm the antibiotic that would be helpful. Please could you also confirm your location.
Click to expand...

Sumter, Sc
Yes, the SMZ is a liquid antibiotic or so it says I'm beginning to have my doubts.
He is also on a liquid Albuterol now. The second visit we got a more experienced vet and I was told Grunt has Chronic Bronchitis. But we were also told his breathing should get better in 2 days on the Albuterol and after five days I really dont think it has. What I mean to say is he is better then when I first came home but he is still having problems with labored breathing. I have to take my dog in for shots today and I think I will be piggybacking Grunt to the appointment with us.
 
I added more information in my earlier post today if you'd like to catch up but the SMZ is supposed to be an antibiotic. He is also now on Albuterol but he hasn't had any marked improvement with his breathing. However his snot has cleared up so no possibility of testing unfortunately. I will be taking him back in today and if it's still sounds like he's got a lot of fluid I will ask about a diuretic, although that worries me as he's never been a big drinker.



Jaycey said:
I don't know whay SCZ is, but I'm assuming that its an antibiotic?

How is your boy today @HERE PIGGY PIG ?

If the vet is unsure what it is, then I would ask him to take a sample of the discharge and have it tested so the most appropriate medicine can be used to fight it.

A diuretic could be good, as this will help with any fluid building up in his lungs. I've had a few pigs with breathing issues on antibiotics and diuretics. I will ask about the today

Try to keep his airway clear. You can use a bowl of steaming water near the cage to try to keep it loosened, or theres something called Bisolvon which a vet can prescribe which is a decongestant.

I had a pig that needed nebulisation for his breathing issues which I'm happy to chat about. But as it's very early days I think the vet will want to see how the antibiotics go first.

I hope he's feeling better today.
Click to expand...
 
@HERE PIGGY PIG a very short course if diuretics aren't too much to worry about and hopefully that should help your boy.

It's only really when you use it long term that it could cause a problem. One of my boys was on one for a few years and he never drank. I supplemented his watee by wetting his veg, giving him more veg with a better water content, offering water by syringe and finding a flavour that I could use in water to encourage him to drink. He did fine on he diuretic. He even had a blood test once to confirm his kidneys were fine.
 
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