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pneumonia?

  • Thread starter Thread starter spaz
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spaz

Hi everyone, I'm new! I wanted to know how to tell if my guinea pig has a cold or if it's turned into pneumonia. Are there any certain signs that pneumonia has? I have a 2-3 month old male guinea pig. He is sneezing alot, has crusties around his nose every morning, when he breaths he sounds like his nose is stuffed up and is congested. He mostly sounds congested at night when sleeping. He has a healthy appetite. I am giving him vit. C suppliments and putting vicks vapor rub on his nose and cage. I am setting up an appt. with the vet today. Is there anything else I can do to help him before then?
 
Welcome to the forum

Hoping it's not, but pneumonia is nasty. Make sure you keep your piggy warm and that he drinks plenty. Good luck with the vets.
 
Thanks, yeah I have been keeping him very warm. He's sleeping alot so I wake him up every few hours to give him some lettus and I try to give him some water. I also make sure the lettus has water on it just to ensure he stays hydrated. I'm just very worried because I've never had to care for a sick guinea pig, and from what I hear about it, they can go down hill fast.
 
Yep they can. But what you're doing right now is great, so well done. Hope you can get him to the vets soon
 
is he eating his dry food and hay? if not try and get some food into him. (syringe feed or back of spoon) but not directly to back of throat or in large quantities.

gizmo has been ill for 5 weeks, each night we have sat with him wrapped up in a jumper on our chest getting warmth from us. i've been putting towels, extra hay and shredded paper in hutch to keep him extra warm.

try and get him to eat cucumber and celery.

don't miss that vets visit, really important to get him there, hope its just a cold and not pneumonia :(
 
Yeah, he's eating dry food. He will only eat the dry food if I just put it in the bowl, and not if it's been sitting for a few hours.
 
as long as he is eating thats what matters keep his guts right. does he like cucumber and celery ? i read that it is really good for them when ill. gizmo is on four drops of vit c per day.

remember peppers, strawberries good for vit c.

keep a check for body warmth.

it might just be a cold but better to be safe than sorry.

gizzmo has pneumonia.
 
I havn't tried cucumbers or celery, I'm going to have to buy some tomarrow.
 
Just so you know, piggies don't get colds like humans do - they are caused by a virus that only humans can get. Piggies get upper respiratory infections that are caused by bacteria (pneumonia is a very severe bacterial infection). That is why it is so important to get them to a vet as they almost always need antibiotics.
 
the vet will lsiten to his chest with a stethascope and will be able to hear if phnumonia has set in, if it has then he will give you anti biotics probably baytril, and fingers crossed it will clear it up, good luck and definatly get soem cucumber and celery,
 
remember if you feel after you have been to the vets that he isn't getting better take him back.

my vet told me nothing was wrong with gizmo even though i insisted there was and within the week he had pneumonia, two weeks later they wanted to put him down.

go with your gut feeling, you know your guinea pig and his habits.

i've changed vets now, i felt so let down by the vet i saw twice.

did you get an appointment?

by the way gizmo is still here and fighting :D but it is five weeks on and it is still touch and go.

i'm no expert, i just know what i'm going through right now.

good luck
 
I called the vet and told her my situation. She said for me to keep a close eye on him and if he gets worse to take him in and they would fit him in even if there schedual is full. He is getting better though. Last night I didn't hear him breathing congested and stuffed up. He also is starting to get more energy and starting to gain alittle weight. When I first got him, he was skin and bones. If he starts to sound congested again or if I see his sickness getting worse, I am taking him straight to the vet. I think a warm room, clean cage, lots of food and water, and vit. C suppliments has helped him alot! I'll keep you posted.
 
thats good, mayb it was just a cold ;) keep a close eye on him tho

glad he's improving ;)
 
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