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Please help- possible uri!

Wizzy

Wizzy

Junior Guinea Pig
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my 4 year old guinea pepper is making hooting noises when she breathes- she’s not lethargic, no runny nose or crusty nose and no crusty eyes at all. she just has very hooty breathing. could it be a uri? i have baytril and the specific dose for her weight from when she had a uti so would giving her that help at all?
 
i have given her a tiny bit of baytril, and the breathing is about the same although she is very active and reaching up to the hay rack to eat right now
 
Please do not give any medication without first consulting a vet. She needs to see a vet for correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment
 
Wizzy said:
i have given her a tiny bit of baytril, and the breathing is about the same although she is very active and reaching up to the hay rack to eat right now
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One dose of baytril won't do anything anyway, it has to be given for a certain period of time and consistently to start working and that's even if it does work on a uri and again IF it is uri. Also you could be upsetting the gut for nothing with baytril. Best see a vet as above said 👍
 
Also you need to consider how old your baytril is. All medications have a shelf life and if it is passed its best at the best it would be ineffective at the worst I suppose it could be dangerous
 
Really must echo what’s been said above. Hooting needs a vet check to rule URI in or out. In the same way that it’s inadvisable for humans to take antibiotics on spec it’s the same for piggies. You can build up antibiotic resistance and it may not be the right antibiotic anyway or at the right strength and dose. Please get a vet to examine her.
 
Wizzy said:
my 4 year old guinea pepper is making hooting noises when she breathes- she’s not lethargic, no runny nose or crusty nose and no crusty eyes at all. she just has very hooty breathing. could it be a uri? i have baytril and the specific dose for her weight from when she had a uti so would giving her that help at all?
Click to expand...

Hi!

The vast majority of hooting is simply from a slightly stuffy nose, usually caused by a little hay dust or pollen. The problem should correct itself within a couple of hours with a good old sneeze or two. ;)
Guinea pigs have very small and narrow airways and cannot breathe through the mouth, so you can hear every little obstruction very dramatically.

Please don't panic and medicate on spec - a small dose of antibiotic is only there for your nerves because it is a) not needed and b) in case it was needed would be too weak to do any good but will prevent the vet to step in with a higher dose and fresh medication asap.

If the hooting is not gone or the breathing is getting worse (raspy or crackly or with heaving sides), then please see a vet promptly. Also see a vet if the hooting is persistently turning up over the course of a few weeks.
 
:agr: If she continues to hoot then please have her seen by a vet.
 
thank you everyone- she had started to heave but she has suddenly gotten a lot better- is basically back to normal but i’ll keep an eye on her. Pepper is such an attention seeker- honestly i sometimes think she puts it on as as soon as i make a fuss of her and give her extra cucumber she is suddenly back to normal :doh:
 
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