Poor piggy with suspected URI

[misssparkly]

My piggy Elsie is almost 4. She has been on Baytril since Monday with a suspected URI and also Frusol twice a day as she was so full of fluid.

She hasn't had much of an appetite so I've been feeding her with critical care since Monday. The Baytril doesn't seem to have made much of a difference, she is still breathing really hard. Took her back to vets today who did an x ray, her lungs didn't look great but vet was more concerned that her abdomen was full of gas. She couldn't really see her heart but she thought there was a possibility it could be enlarged. The vet said I could try Infacol to get rid of the gas but she suggested it might be time to put her to sleep if she didn't get better soon. I have started her on the Infacol. I asked if it might be worth trying a different antibiotic to help with the URI but she didn't think it would help. I got the feeling she wasn't particularly experienced with guinea pigs. Is there anything I could or should ask for which might help her? She is relatively bright in herself except for the breathing and the picky eating so although I don't want her to suffer I would like to make sure nothing is being missed. Any advice gratefully received..

 

[Abi_nurse]

The frusol is furosemide and i would think the vet has put her on this like you said to shift some fluid on her chest. Usually with a URI this doesnt have accumalation of fluid in the chest, as its the upper airway that is effected. Your vet may be worried about heart disease if she has placed her on furosemide, in which case antibiotics will make no difference. She may have a lot of air in her tummy due to her laboured breathing and therefore swallowing air in the process. There are a few things you can do such as:

- massage her tummy to get the air moving through and make sure she exercises well (gentle exercise promotes the guts to move)
- get your vet to up the dose of frusol if possible - if the fluid isnt shifting then a higher dose or more meds may be needed
- get the vet/or be referred to one who can do a scan of her heart to see if she has heart disease
- ask for some pain relief, ive heard having trouble breathing can be quite painful and unfomfortable, it may make her feel a bit better with a little metacam to ease the muscle ache in her chest

I would not necessarily consider pts at this stage. If you want more of a comprehensive diagnoses and maybe more through treatment, ask to be referred to an exotic specialist or a more piggie savvy vets.

Hope she starts to feel a little better. My herd send her hugs! xoxo

x.

 

[misssparkly]

Thanks for the advice, I haven't given up yet. She seems a bit brighter this afternoon, she ate more grass, nibbled hay and even ate a pellet (albeit very slowly). I tried massaging her and encouraged her to walk around a little bit and she seems a little more comfortable. Hopefully that and the medication will help a bit with the gas. Her breathing still isn't good but she does seem brighter.