Sinus Problem And Living With Pasteurella

[NASH]

About 2 months ago I posted about Fluffy and her "snuffling after eating" the good news is she is still pigging around and enjoying life but she is suffering reoccurring respiratory issues. She will go 2 weeks with no problems then it starts again, firstly she coughs when she eats then a day or so later her breathing sounds like a steam train. The vet (Bridges) believe she has a sinus problem probably scarring from a URI but would need a ct or mri to rule out any growths and a reoccurring pasteurella bacteria. Her lungs and heart are healthy and strong, it is all in the head. Treatment is antibiotics when the breathing starts - but after discussion with the vet if she can tolerate it she will go on long term daily antibiotics, she also has bisolvon, metacam and twice daily nebulising with F10 and saline. She also has a pro biotic. Does anyone else have any experience of this horrible bacteria? and any other tips or ideas?
Last night Fluffy gave us a horrible fright as the greedy little piggy ate her nuggets too quickly without pausing for a drink, she choked and was unable to draw a breath with her little stomach heaving, we gave her water from her bottle to no effect, we held her upside down and rubbed her back with no effect, things were getting very hairy indeed, the blockage only shifted after i got a syringe and squirted several tubes into her mouth. Guineas cant vomit but it sure looked like it the aftermath all over us. She is fine I however had a sleepless night and am now soaking her nuggets before giving them to her.

 

[Elwickcavies]

Poor Fluffy. My pig, Puffle, has a very similar issue, with the coughing and snuffling especially when eating, but it doesn't tend to go away. She started to get a nasal discharge and we are currently using a combination of septrin orally and gentamicin in a nebulizer, which after 2 weeks has cleared up the discharge, but hasn't entirely solved the snuffling, although she is much improved. My vet is thinking that it may take quite a prolonged attack with ABs to fully sort it out. I'm seeing her tomorrow, so I'll let you know if we have any additional treatments - maybe we can pool knowledge? What antibiotic are you using?
That scare sounds awful. Touch wood we've not had a proper choking incident. Thak goodness you were on the ball and able to help her.

 

[NASH]

Poor little Puffle its a horrible thing to see and listen to. Fluffy didn't tolerate Baytril and unfortunately septrin had little effect on her so as a last ditch attempt and because she was very poorly indeed she started on zithromax, this worked well but despite everything this blooming bacteria keeps flaring up, she was on zithromax for 10 days then had 2 weeks symptom free before starting again last Wednesday. Hopefully Puffle being improved means the septrin is working. Your vet like ours sounds like they are willing to work on this. We've found moistening her nuggets helps with the coughing whilst eating and we now julienne her fresh food and put it on a feeder off the ground which keeps her head up whilst eating this has also helped her, we think its because any form of physical (or mental) stress makes the situation worse, its as if her poor little body cant quite cope with eating and breathing at the same time. Fluffy has just finished dinner and is sitting quietly making no snuffling sounds but in an hours time she could be sounding like Ivor the engine, it is very strange indeed. How old is Puffle? Fluffy is 6 so is quite a little old lady. We've been warned that this may be something that we will never eradicate just manage. Thanks for mentioning gentamicin as i'll make a note of it to discuss with our vets next time we visit....I've been so often we have our own parking space. Good luck tomorrow let me know how you and Puffle got on.

 

[Elwickcavies]

Puffle is only 2, but she came to me absolutely riddled with fungal, which took quite a bit of eradicating - itrafungol, imaverol - the big guns. It was after this that she really started with the snuffles, so I'm thinking she may have some scarring from that infection. She's been on several different ABs, including baytril, but with limited success. We're holding Zithromax in reserve, but it does look like Septrin is doing the trick (or maybe its the gentamicin - she really hates the nebulizer!) I'll have a look at putting her food up high and moistening her nuggets (although she has Harringtons, which are small compared to most brands, so not so hard to handle).

 

[Elwickcavies]

Just back from vets. Puffle is off the hated nebulizer for now and we're trying nasal Maxitrol drops, whilst continuing with the septrin. Review in a week.

 

[NASH]

Oh good that does sound promising, we are keeping fingers and paws crossed for Puffle. When we nebulise Fluffy we put a very small hot water bottle or heat pad in with her as we found she was coming out dampish and slightly cool to touch, she settles down and has a nice nap whilst its pumping away, i am pleased that she doesn't mind it as she is a terror trying to get medicine inside her.

 

[Elwickcavies]

I think Puffle just hates the cool misty atmosphere and the fact that she get more snuffly for a while. Thanks for the good wishes. I hope you can find a regime that will work for Fluffy. x