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Respiratory Infection

MaggieGuinea

MaggieGuinea

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Apr 30, 2018
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Location
Chelmsford, Uk
Hi, just made an account so don't know this works or if this is the right way to post a question :hmm:

My eldest piggie Magpie has been experiencing respiratory issues for quite a while now, shes been on 2 types of medicine three times for a week each time. The second time she was on it, it worked however, about 5 days after coming off the medicine she started to get all the symptoms back! She's now back on the medicine but the symptoms aren't going away this time, she's got a runny nose and running eyes. She sneezes every now and then and her breathing is really really labored, she's seems to be really struggling and in a lot of pain (I know this as everytime she exhales she whimpers) and I don't know what else to do.
I was suppose to put her to sleep today but I couldn't do it! I need to know if I should try something else or if I should make the decision to let her go! I just want to make the best choice for her. I just don't want her to be in pain anymore!
Please can someone help! :ple:
 
Hello and welcome to the forum.

What antibiotics is she on? I really wouldn’t rush into having her pts. Antibiotics can take a while to work and a week really isn’t that long. Maybe she needs longer than a week?
 
Claire W said:
Hello and welcome to the forum.

What antibiotics is she on? I really wouldn’t rush into having her pts. Antibiotics can take a while to work and a week really isn’t that long. Maybe she needs longer than a week?
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Hi, thank you. She's on Enrobactin, she has 0.2ml twice a day! She's been on it for about a week so far, the vet told me to give it to her for two weeks this time. I hope it works but i'm losing hope since it's not working at the moment. I hate the thought of letting her go but I don't want her to stay in pain because she just doesn't deserve it :(
 
Livia Rabideau said:
Definitely get a second opinion! Sending healing prayers to you and your piggy!
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Thank you and yeah definitely need more opinions, I dont want to act to quick and the idea of letting her go is so awful! Vet's are so useless when it comes to guinea pigs, they give me the same medication every time and say if this don't work then put her to sleep :(
 
MaggieGuinea said:
Thank you and yeah definitely need more opinions, I dont want to act to quick and the idea of letting her go is so awful! Vet's are so useless when it comes to guinea pigs, they give me the same medication every time and say if this don't work then put her to sleep :(
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If your vet is advising to pts, I would definitely seek a second opinion from another vet!
 
Please get another opinion from a more experienced exotics vet as soon as possible.

So far your girl has only had three short courses of baytril (enroflaxin is just another brand name), which is basic no frills treatment. She may need a different and stronger antibiotic; diuretics to clear any fluid from her lungs and airways, a mucus thinning medication to clear the upper airways.

Has your sow been in the same room with a dog or cat with kennel cough recently? Bordetellosis transmits to guinea pigs, but is lethal for them; it is a chest infection.
Dogs, Kennel Cough And Guinea Pigs - An Important Consideration.

What you can do until you can have her seen:
- Please place a bowl of steaming water next to her cage and see whether that helps to ease her breathing. If it does and you have a shower, steam up the shower and then place her on a dry towel in the shower for half an hour; it is basically an improvised nebuliser.

- Start syringe feeding and watering her, little but often to keep her guts going. The need to breathe comes before the need to drink and only thirdly the need to eat. Any major respiratory illness is connected with loss of appetite. This is not helped with baytril being one of the more appetite dampening antibiotics.
Not Eating, Weight Loss Over 50g And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
Our illustrated syringe feeding guide tells you exactly how, including what you can do, how much/how often to feed with what you have got at home in an emergency: Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

Can you please add your country, state/province or UK county so we can help you better. We have got members and enquiries from all over the world. Please click on your username on the top bar, then go to account details and scroll down to location. This makes it appear with every post you make and allows us to tailor any advice to what is revelant and available where you straight away. Thank you!
 
Wiebke said:
Please get another opinion from a more experienced exotics vet as soon as possible.

So far your girl has only had three short courses of baytril (enroflaxin is just another brand name), which is basic no frills treatment. She may need a different and stronger antibiotic; diuretics to clear any fluid from her lungs and airways, a mucus thinning medication to clear the upper airways.

Has your sow been in the same room with a dog or cat with kennel cough recently? Bordetellosis transmits to guinea pigs, but is lethal for them; it is a chest infection.
Dogs, Kennel Cough And Guinea Pigs - An Important Consideration.

What you can do until you can have her seen:
- Please place a bowl of steaming water next to her cage and see whether that helps to ease her breathing. If it does and you have a shower, steam up the shower and then place her on a dry towel in the shower for half an hour; it is basically an improvised nebuliser.

- Start syringe feeding and watering her, little but often to keep her guts going. The need to breathe comes before the need to drink and only thirdly the need to eat. Any major respiratory illness is connected with loss of appetite. This is not helped with baytril being one of the more appetite dampening antibiotics.
Not Eating, Weight Loss Over 50g And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
Our illustrated syringe feeding guide tells you exactly how, including what you can do, how much/how often to feed with what you have got at home in an emergency: Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

Can you please add your country, state/province or UK county so we can help you better. We have got members and enquiries from all over the world. Please click on your username on the top bar, then go to account details and scroll down to location. This makes it appear with every post you make and allows us to tailor any advice to what is revelant and available where you straight away. Thank you!
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She hasn't been near any other animal with any other problems, I'm going to speak to another vet near me for a second opinion tomorrow. Thanks for all the tips ill try some out for sure! I'll make a note of the medicine you have said and take them to the vets with me to see what they can do! I hope I can get a stronger antibiotics and pray that it works. She's has done well, she's never had any problems before this and she's 6 years old so I'm a proud mummy :) :)
Thanks for your help it means a lot.
 
MaggieGuinea said:
She hasn't been near any other animal with any other problems, I'm going to speak to another vet near me for a second opinion tomorrow. Thanks for all the tips ill try some out for sure! I'll make a note of the medicine you have said and take them to the vets with me to see what they can do! I hope I can get a stronger antibiotics and pray that it works. She's has done well, she's never had any problems before this and she's 6 years old so I'm a proud mummy :):)
Thanks for your help it means a lot.
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All the best!

Here is our Recommended UK vets list: Recommended Guinea Pig Vets
 
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