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Sandy coughed once and breathed weird

Hope4gem

Hope4gem

Adult Guinea Pig
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Yesterday morning, Sandy (about 9 months old), who is healthy (as far as we can tell) coughed once after eating. She was also breathing funny when eating hay yesterday morning. I called the vet yesterday and the soonest we can get in is today at 2:30 pm (which is about 40 minutes from the time that I'm writing this post). I took off from work and stayed home with her today and have not noticed any further weird breathing, coughing, or other concerns. I'm guessing that maybe she was eating too fast, but we've never heard her do that before so not sure. As far as I can tell she is eating, drinking, peeing, and pooping normally. She has a normal level of activity and both Sandy and her cage mate (Penny) seem to be getting along fine. Has anyone encountered this before? I will do my best to remember to post what the vet tells us after our visit today. Thanks for reading this.
 
Hope all goes well at the vet appointment 🤞🏻

It’s all good signs that she’s back to normal, but well worth checking.

My boys sometimes eat too fast and make a strange cough sound. They are just greedy and need to slow down! 🤦🏻‍♀️

Hopefully you have nothing to worry about. Do let us know what the vet says
 
Almost done at the vets. The vet said that she wants to do antibiotics out of an abundance of caution. Does not hear any pulmonary issues when listening to her, but because they can develop pneumonia and die rather quickly she wants to be overly aggressive with treatment just in case. She also recommended separating Sandy from her cage mate (Penny) so that Penny doesn't get sick which I am not comfortable doing. My girls really like to be with each other so I think it will be best to run the risk that if Sandy is sick Penny will get sick too. I would really rather not separate them. I also don't have the space to put Sandy in a separate room so she would end up in a very small cage if I had to separate them which is not fair to her. I didn't argue the point of this with the vet, but I am definitely going to do things based on what I think is best for my girls. Will be starting the meds today as soon as we get them. Will keep you all posted on how she does. Thanks for listening.
 
I personally wouldn’t separate them. This can be more detrimental to piggies.

I’m sure our more experienced members can advise further?

Pneumonia does not always have a bacterial cause. I’m always very cautious of using antibiotics as a precautionary measure due to resistance. Our vets use them as a last resort. But it’s very important to follow the advice of your vet.
I just would not separate the piggies.
 
Bradshaw Piggies said:
I personally wouldn’t separate them. This can be more detrimental to piggies.

I’m sure our more experienced members can advise further?

Pneumonia does not always have a bacterial cause. I’m always very cautious of using antibiotics as a precautionary measure due to resistance. Our vets use them as a last resort. But it’s very important to follow the advice of your vet.
I just would not separate the piggies.
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Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I was worried about using antibiotics out of an abundance of caution as well, but I feel like it's best to follow my vet's advice so (somewhat reluctantly) that's what I will do. I don't really have any options as far as vets go in my area. The Exotic vet we use is the only option unless I travel out-of-state several hours away. So I'm trying to trust the vet that we have, but sometimes I wish we had some options.
 
Hope4gem said:
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I was worried about using antibiotics out of an abundance of caution as well, but I feel like it's best to follow my vet's advice so (somewhat reluctantly) that's what I will do. I don't really have any options as far as vets go in my area. The Exotic vet we use is the only option unless I travel out-of-state several hours away. So I'm trying to trust the vet that we have, but sometimes I wish we had some options.
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Some great advice my vets gave me was to monitor breaths per minute over a couple of weeks. On average a piggy will take somewhere between 80 and 120 breaths per minute. My vets had me monitor this daily. If there was a gradual increase over 10 days, that could be a sign of an issue with the lower respiratory system.

Piggies really do rely on bacteria, particularly for digestive processes and unfortunately antibiotics can really upset this culture. Has your vet discussed using probiotics too?
 
Bradshaw Piggies said:
Some great advice my vets gave me was to monitor breaths per minute over a couple of weeks. On average a piggy will take somewhere between 80 and 120 breaths per minute. My vets had me monitor this daily. If there was a gradual increase over 10 days, that could be a sign of an issue with the lower respiratory system.

Piggies really do rely on bacteria, particularly for digestive processes and unfortunately antibiotics can really upset this culture. Has your vet discussed using probiotics too?
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Thank you for sharing your experience with me. Unfortunately, no she did not discuss probiotics with me, but I have bene-bac at home and was wondering if I should also use that with the antibiotics (Azithromycin). My vet did not suggest counting breaths but I can certainly do that. Do you just watch their sides go in and out? I don't know how else to count their breaths. Thanks again!
 
Hope4gem said:
Thank you for sharing your experience with me. Unfortunately, no she did not discuss probiotics with me, but I have bene-bac at home and was wondering if I should also use that with the antibiotics (Azithromycin). My vet did not suggest counting breaths but I can certainly do that. Do you just watch their sides go in and out? I don't know how else to count their breaths. Thanks again!
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No problem at all. Happy to help!

yes, sides out and back in is one breath.

I’ve attached the probiotic guide for you.
Be sure to weigh your piggy daily throughout the treatment and step in with support feeding if need be

I have had lots of experience with Azithromycin. It is by far the best antibiotic I’ve used for respiratory related infections.

Probiotics, Recovery Foods And Vitamin C: Overview With Product Links

Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
 
Bradshaw Piggies said:
No problem at all. Happy to help!

yes, sides out and back in is one breath.

I’ve attached the probiotic guide for you.
Be sure to weigh your piggy daily throughout the treatment and step in with support feeding if need be

I have had lots of experience with Azithromycin. It is by far the best antibiotic I’ve used for respiratory related infections.

Probiotics, Recovery Foods And Vitamin C: Overview With Product Links

Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
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Thank you so much! I will read the guides. We have recovery food at home and will certainly use if needed. I weighed her today and her weight is stable compared to last week, but will start weighing daily until the antibiotic is done (14 days, poor baby girl). Thanks again!
 
Hope4gem said:
Thank you so much! I will read the guides. We have recovery food at home and will certainly use if needed. I weighed her today and her weight is stable compared to last week, but will start weighing daily until the antibiotic is done (14 days, poor baby girl). Thanks again!
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No problem. Please do keep us posted and let us know how she’s getting on.
Here if you need anything! The boys and I are sending lots of love and healing vibes for your girl 🥰
 
Bradshaw Piggies has told you all the relevant information - weighing daily so you can step in with syringe feeding if needed. Use of a probiotic can be useful but be sure to leave a gap of an hour between the antibiotic and the probiotic (don’t give it at the same time).

I would also not separate. If it is something transmissible then your other piggy has already been exposed to separating them would serve little purpose but would cause them a lot of stress.
 
Piggies&buns said:
Bradshaw Piggies has told you all the relevant information - weighing daily so you can step in with syringe feeding if needed. Use of a probiotic can be useful but be sure to leave a gap of an hour between the antibiotic and the probiotic (don’t give it at the same time).

I would also not separate. If it is something transmissible then your other piggy has already been exposed to separating them would serve little purpose but would cause them a lot of stress.
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Thank you for the advice! I'm so grateful that this forum exists and that all the wonderful members are so very helpful!
 
Hope4gem said:
Thank you for sharing your experience with me. Unfortunately, no she did not discuss probiotics with me, but I have bene-bac at home and was wondering if I should also use that with the antibiotics (Azithromycin). My vet did not suggest counting breaths but I can certainly do that. Do you just watch their sides go in and out? I don't know how else to count their breaths. Thanks again!
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Please use probiotics with azithromycin/zithromax (UK brand name). Many piggies tolerate it well but if it knocks the guts, it really knocks them as I know from my own experience with having to nurse piggies with total loss of appetite through two back-to-back courses when the alternative would have been pts/euthanasia. Thankfully all piggies have survived the experience, so it was well worth the lack of sleep and general exhaustion.

Here is our information thread for support products: First Aid Kit: Easily available non-medication support products for an emergency.
With total loss of appetite I prefer to use a combination of 'poo soup' and fibreplex (which I usually mix into a bit of syringe feed as most piggies don't like the taste of fibreplex), including syringe feeding products.
 
Wiebke said:
Please use probiotics with azithromycin/zithromax (UK brand name). Many piggies tolerate it well but if it knocks the guts, it really knocks them as I know from my own experience with having to nurse piggies with total loss of appetite through two back-to-back courses when the alternative would have been pts/euthanasia. Thankfully all piggies have survived the experience, so it was well worth the lack of sleep and general exhaustion.

Here is our information thread for support products: First Aid Kit: Easily available non-medication support products for an emergency.
With total loss of appetite I prefer to use a combination of 'poo soup' and fibreplex (which I usually mix into a bit of syringe feed as most piggies don't like the taste of fibreplex), including syringe feeding products.
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Thank you very much for the advice. I have some benebac on hand and have given her a first dose of that. Will give antibiotic an hour apart. I have some emergency supplies on hand, but in reading through the guide you linked there's definitely more things I want to order. Will be placing an order for those things tonight. Thank you again!
 
Hope4gem said:
Thank you very much for the advice. I have some benebac on hand and have given her a first dose of that. Will give antibiotic an hour apart. I have some emergency supplies on hand, but in reading through the guide you linked there's definitely more things I want to order. Will be placing an order for those things tonight. Thank you again!
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You can always step in with mushed up pellets in a pinch. Just remember to cut off the tip of the syringe just before it widens but still holds the plunger in in order to allow the much rougher pellet fibre to pass through.

You can find more helpful improvising tips in these guide links here, which you may find helpful until you can get hold of stuff:
Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
First Aid Kit: Easily available non-medication support products for an emergency
 
Wiebke said:
You can always step in with mushed up pellets in a pinch. Just remember to cut off the tip of the syringe just before it widens but still holds the plunger in in order to allow the much rougher pellet fibre to pass through.

You can find more helpful improvising tips in these guide links here, which you may find helpful until you can get hold of stuff:
Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
First Aid Kit: Easily available non-medication support products for an emergency
Click to expand...
Thanks! I have Oxbow Critical Care for Herbivores, but I want to order the fine grind too. I'm also ordering F10 in case we need it in the future. I was hoping to find one of the probiotics you recommended, but I think they're all UK brands so I may stick with benebac as UK brands are hard for me to get. Thanks again for the advice!
 
Just a little update: Sandy had her first dose of antibiotic last night and will get her second dose tonight. (She gets it once per day). She had two doses of benebac (one last night and one this morning). So far, so good. 🤞
 
Weighed Sandy this morning and she's 795 grams. She was 831 grams two days ago and 816 grams two weeks ago. I'm not sure if today's weight is lower due to normal fluctuation, but I'm scared that she might be losing weight. Will call the vet this morning as soon as they open. Can anyone share their thoughts as to whether or not they would start syringe feeding with a weight fluctuation like this? Thanks for listening.
 
Try it and see! My poorly pigs have all absolutely loved oxbow c c and have taken it very keenly even when they have been really, really ill.

The syringe i prefer for critical care (and i will caution that i am not one of the forum health experts) is the syringe that comes with kids' calpol/nurofen. I see you are u.s. but just in case you have similar in your house) It is a 5 ml one but has a small hole at the end which is absolutely the perfect size for the thicker textured critical care. All my pigs have managed great with that. Would be no good for liquid but is perfect for critical care.
 
tabelmabel said:
Try it and see! My poorly pigs have all absolutely loved oxbow c c and have taken it very keenly even when they have been really, really ill.

The syringe i prefer for critical care (and i will caution that i am not one of the forum health experts) is the syringe that comes with kids' calpol/nurofen. I see you are u.s. but just in case you have similar in your house) It is a 5 ml one but has a small hole at the end which is absolutely the perfect size for the thicker textured critical care. All my pigs have managed great with that. Would be no good for liquid but is perfect for critical care.
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Thanks so much for the advice. I appreciate it!
 
Called vet. They suggested to start Oxbow CC syringe feeding 5mL's 3x's daily. I'm at work now, but will start this with Sandy as soon as I get home. We'll continue to update the thread with how she's doing.
 
Weighed Sandy tonight. She is down to 782. I've started syringe feeding her Oxbow CC and she definitely got a few mL's worth, but that was all I could get her to take for now. Will try again in two hours. I don't think she's at the point where I need to feed her around the clock, but I definitely want to get as much as I can into her before I go to bed. Here's hoping she puts some weight back on - or at least stops losing weight. Luckily it's the weekend so I'm off from work and can focus on taking care of her.
 
I‘m sorry to hear that your girl is causing you worry. I can’t offer any advice but one of my girls just randomly lost some weight too so I know exactly how you feel. It‘s such a worry, especially when there‘s nothing obviously wrong! I hope you‘ll get to the bottom of the problem soon. Sending you hugs:hug:
 
stef.trg said:
I‘m sorry to hear that your girl is causing you worry. I can’t offer any advice but one of my girls just randomly lost some weight too so I know exactly how you feel. It‘s such a worry, especially when there‘s nothing obviously wrong! I hope you‘ll get to the bottom of the problem soon. Sending you hugs:hug:
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Thank you so much.
 
I hope someone will see this post. I wasn't sure whether to start a new post or continue this one. When spot cleaning my girl's cage this evening I noticed brown wet spots in their kitchen areas. I'm guessing it's either brown pee or very watery diarrhea. I've never seen this before. I've freshened up the bedding so I'll be able to tell if it happens again. Sandy gets probiotic twice per day. She is still eating and drinking but I've started syringing Oxbow CC because she began losing weight. I can't call my regular vet until Monday as it is the weekend, but (although I don't trust them as much) we have an emergency vet that I can see this weekend if I keep noticing this. Not sure if it's diarrhea or not, but will call the vet if it continues just in case. Just really scared for my little girl.
 
Feeling a bit relieved and more hopeful this morning. Sandy's weight seems to have stabilized for now. She was 809 grams this morning. Will continue Oxbow CC and praying that it all works out. Will call vet if anything worsens.
 
Sandy's weight continues to be stable. She's getting better at taking the syringe feeding and today was even willing to eat a bit of recovery food off my finger and then off a spoon. :yahoo:
 
Sending continued love and healing vibes to Sandy

Has there been any more watery brown spots in the cage - just read your post from Saturday...

how many days of antibiotic does she have left? Is she eating veggies and hay all okay?
 
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