pneumonia

[johnfin]

my young pig had pneumonia and the vet gave him tons of meds, his weight gained and the recheck was good but now its back. weight loss and sneezing. any thoughts. i have spent $250 on him so far.

 

[Freela]

I'm guessing he was on an antibiotic? Which med was he on and for how long? It's possible that the course of antibiotics wasn't long enough, or that the antibiotic was not an ideal match for the bacteria and therefore didn't completely solve the problem, so once the meds were stopped, the congestion started to come back. I've had good results in this case with changing the antibiotic to a different one. It's also possible to do a culture to try to target the appropriate bacteria, but that's best done before antibiotics are started the first time. I feel you on the expense... vets are expensive. I've been there too!

 

[Wiebke]

my young pig had pneumonia and the vet gave him tons of meds, his weight gained and the recheck was good but now its back. weight loss and sneezing. any thoughts. i have spent $250 on him so far.

Hi! I agree with @Freela. A lot depends on what is causing the pneumonia.

Please step in with syringe feed top up and offering water by syringe asap. You can used mushed up pellets in an emergency as long as you cut off the syringe tip as shown in the syringe feeding guide. The need to breathe comes before the need to drink and only thirdly the need to eat. This means that every serious respiratory problem is causing loss of appetite, which can be a killer in its own right.
Please take the time to read these guides here. They have been specifically written (with illustrations) for inexperienced owners.
Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
Administering Medications And Syringe Feed

I really feel for you in terms of vet cost! Sadly serious illnesses and operations can quickly go into the hundreds of dollars or pounds. It is a vital aspect that many owners unfortunately completely overlook even though it is the biggest budget post in any pet's life time expense.

@Jaycey @helen105281

 

[johnfin]

Doxycycline 25mg/ml Baytril 20mg/ml Metacam 1.ml/ml bene-bac probiotic all for 7 days

 

[johnfin]

what about a light or heat source to keep him warm.

 

[pig in the city]

My vet usually gives the meds for a bit longer than a week for respiratory problems.
If he is inside l don't think he will need extra heat unless it's very cold in your house. Some extra humidity might help . I would definitely take him back to the vet as pneumonia can kill piggies very quickly l am afraid