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Piggy With Uri/pneumonia

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PamperedPiggys

PamperedPiggys

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I noticed that last night one of my girls breathing was really crackly. She's fine in herself, still eating etc. Took her to the vet this morning who said she's got an infection and fluid on her lungs.

She's got baytril once a day for 10 days. I've been reading online that diuretics can help with the fluid so I called the vet to ask. She said that the fluid is secondary to the infection so just the baytril will be fine. Is this right? Obviously I want to do everything possible to help her.

I'm going to get some Pro C probiotic in a minute. Should I just put it in her water? Anything else I can do?
 
I would have recommended diuretics to clear the fluid which will then allow the antibiotics to work. I have had 2 pigs with Pneumonia and both were on diuretics and antibiotics. You may also find that Baytril does not nip it in the bud so would be worth asking about Zithromax as that is what helped when my Buzz had it.

Bisolvon is also good if there is mucous in the nasal passages and steam therapy can help using 2 drops of Olbas oil in boiling water either in a bowl next to the cage or in a steam inhaler (held over the nose in 5 second bursts).

For the Pro C, it needs to be at least an hour apart from the antibiotics so I would give by syringe instead, that way you can also control how much she is getting.

It's good that she is still eating.
 
I really don't know what to do about the diuretics. I'd be happier if she had them, but I've already phoned the vet and asked and she said it wasn't necessary, so I don't want to be a pain and act as though I know better than her. How are diuretics given? Is it just more medicine to have in a syringe?
 
It's difficult as we all hate challenging our vets but usually they do need diuretics usually if there is fluid. How is her breathing at the moment?
 
I spoke to the vet and she said she didn't want to give her diuretics as it could dry out and cause the mucus to become thick or something.

Her breathing seems quite normal apart from the crackling noise. Sometimes the noise isn't there though.
 
She's just come out to eat her dinner :)

I have her some pro c earlier. I just sprinkled a bit on some tomato and she ate it all up.

I'm praying that it's a good sign that she's eating etc and have all my fingers crossed that she doesn't get any worse!

image.webp
 
No shes in a different room. I separated her from the others yesterday morning when I got back from the vets. I noticed her crackly breathing on Monday night. She's got baytril for 10 days.
 
I am always torn about separating as she would have been brewing the infection for a few days up to when she became ill so the others have already been exposed to it. Personally I would put them back together but see what other people think. Is she ok on her own or does she seem miserable?
 
I feel bad for her because she's never been on her own before :( I think she's a little bit miserable. I've got a cat basket in her cage full of hay and she doesn't really come out of there.
 
Did the vet say to separate? How may pigs does she usually live with?
 
Ok, if she had lived with more than 2 others, I was going to suggest putting one of the other pigs with her. it is difficult to know what to do for the best, because having a friend with them can help with the recovery.
 
I really don't know what to do for the best :(

She's not showing any symptoms at all now, apart from not coming out from her house.
 
@Wiebke just want a second opinion on this. Do you think she should rejoin her friends or stay in quarantine until the infection has gone?
 
PamperedPiggys said:
I really don't know what to do for the best :(

She's not showing any symptoms at all now, apart from not coming out from her house.
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Healthy guinea pigs are usually able to fend off a bacterial respiratory infection once their immune system is fully developed; in most cases there is no transmission, so you can see whether she is happier with her friends if she is clearly very stressed out on her own.
With a bunch of shop bought youngsters there is a risk that you need to balance out and see which side you come down on; but they have usually already been exposed to the bacteria at the shop. Babies are especially dependent on company.

Please weigh her daily before her dinner and if necessary, step in with syringe feeding if necessary to keep her body weight and fighting strength up.
 
Wiebke said:
Healthy guinea pigs are usually able to fend off a bacterial respiratory infection once their immune system is fully developed; in most cases there is no transmission, so you can see whether she is happier with her friends if she is clearly very stressed out on her own.
With a bunch of shop bought youngsters there is a risk that you need to balance out and see which side you come down on; but they have usually already been exposed to the bacteria at the shop. Babies are especially dependent on company.

Please weigh her daily before her dinner and if necessary, step in with syringe feeding if necessary to keep her body weight and fighting strength up.
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I gave the vet a ring and she said to keep her separate for 7 to 10 days. She just doesn't really come out of her house when she's on her own so she must be missing the others :(

My other 2 girls would have already been exposed to the URI anyway because Daisy was with them for a night and morning before I separated them from her. Are the chances of them catching it pretty slim if I put her back with them then? They're all about 2 and very healthy otherwise.

I will start to weight her daily. Should she be exactly the same every day? She's eating completely normally at the moment which is good, she even wheeked when she wanted her veggies :)

Her eyes and nose are completely clear and her breathing is silent now. She's had 3 doses of Baytril so far.
 
PamperedPiggys said:
I gave the vet a ring and she said to keep her separate for 7 to 10 days. She just doesn't really come out of her house when she's on her own so she must be missing the others :(

My other 2 girls would have already been exposed to the URI anyway because Daisy was with them for a night and morning before I separated them from her. Are the chances of them catching it pretty slim if I put her back with them then? They're all about 2 and very healthy otherwise.

I will start to weight her daily. Should she be exactly the same every day? She's eating completely normally at the moment which is good, she even wheeked when she wanted her veggies :)

Her eyes and nose are completely clear and her breathing is silent now. She's had 3 doses of Baytril so far.
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Personally, I would put them together if she was that badly affected, but it is a decision you have to take on your own, knowing that there is a certain risk the others may come down with it. The separation is stressing her out additionally and is only helping to lower her immune system.

Unless one of mine is really off its food with URI or has a very frail companion, I usually don't separate.
 
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