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Suspected Pneumonia - Urgent Advice Wanted Please.

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The Duchess

The Duchess

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Hello.

I am a newbie at guinea pig keeping, I am mainly a rabbit carer, but took on from someone who was emigrating, a 2 year old boar around Christmas.

For the last month or so, he has been suffering with a URI, for which has had antibiotics and metacam to help open his airway.

He has been up and down, recovering to a degree some days and then a few days later, going back downhill. He has lost weight, but not his appetite.

He is eating with gusto but I am also giving him Critical Care little and often.

He lives with a friend who was more recently introduced - a baby who I suspect that has brought something in with him.

He was bedded on shavings before we took him on and has been on either Megazorb, Hemp, or VetBed, since.

He is much worse today and I am wondering if I should split him from his little friend who has far too much energy and now seems to be bothering him.

He has had steam with Olbas in it to try and help but it doesnt' seem to. I have moved him to another room in the house (he is a house piggy) to give him some clean air. He has had heatpads but just seems to move off them.

I have had three emergency appointments with a piggy savvy vet this last week alone.

I am now wondering if there is anything else I can do immediately and whether given how hard it now seems for him to breath, whether it might be kinder to let him go to the bridge.

If this were a rabbit I would know what to do, but I have no idea with Tom being my beloved piggy.

Please help, I am sitting here in tears not knowing what to do for the best.

Helen
 
I know what you are going through as I lost my old boy to pnumonia last year. You are doing all you can, the only other thing is if he has fluid on his lungs, ths will need to be dealt with by the vet. Does his chest sound clicky when you put your ear to it?

There are some very experienced people on here so stay around and I am sure they can advise better.
 
Just remembered, Furryfriends vet uses an antibiotic called zithromax with amazing results...sure she will be on soon!
 
Yes Zithromax works incredibly well for pneumonia. It comes in power form and because it only keeps for five days, my vet splits the powder into three separate bottles. To each bottle you then add 3 mls of tap water, making a new batch up when you need it. The dose is 1 ml per day for five days and then 1 ml every other day. It can be taken for 4 to 6 weeks if needed. If your vet needed to speak with my vet about this, as I don't think many vets use this antibiotic for piggies, then I know he would be more than happy to help.
 
I've got a piggy with a chronic respiratory problem. She started with an infection, which was sorted with a nebuliser borrowed from the vet for a week.

She now has a problem that surfaces from time to time, especially in hayfever season. The other thing that really helped with the infection, and helps on an ongoing basis now, is Bisolvon powder, only available on prescription.
 
Thank you both.

He isn't clicking when breathing, there is a little bit of a squeak when he does, and it seems not to be shallow, but just laboured. He is quieter than he was this morning. It has been suggested by a piggy friend, that it may be because the new anti biotic (don't know it's name) is starting to loosen what ever it is in his chest making it harder for him to breath. Possibility I suppose.

My own vet (I work at a vet group practise) is good with pigs but as it's a Sunday and I have no idea who will be on duty, a good piggy vet or not, and I have a good exotic's lady up the road 5 mins (who isn't my normal vet - no discount!), I'll give her a shout. Thank you for the offer of the chance to talk to your vet if needed, I'll tell her.

I'm just about to ring and see what she has to say about this drug.

Will be back on later.

Helen
 
pelicano said:
I've got a piggy with a chronic respiratory problem. She started with an infection, which was sorted with a nebuliser borrowed from the vet for a week.

She now has a problem that surfaces from time to time, especially in hayfever season. The other thing that really helped with the infection, and helps on an ongoing basis now, is Bisolvon powder, only available on prescription.
Click to expand...

I am just about to go get a nebuliser from a friend (who is a nurse manager) so that we can try and get him breathing more easily.
 
Welcome to the forum, good luck with the little guy!x
 
Sorry to report that our beloved Tom has just passed to the bridge.

Thank you for your advice and good wishes.

Popcorn pain free now my little man.
 
I am so very sorry, be assured you did all you could :( My Lennie went very quickly too.
Rest in peace Tom xx
 
Welcome to the forum, and I am so sorry for your loss. Rest well, dear Tom. xx

A bit late now I guess to add this but recurrent URIs can also be a sign of heart problems, something most vets sadly don't seem to consider in such cases.
 
I'm so sorry to hear about Tom. 8...8... My Aragon died of pneumonia earlier this year. He had it last year which he recovered from, but this year he couldn't fight it. It is hard to see them struggle for breath but you did everything you could have. Success from treatment is not guarenteed and sometimes it is time for them to cross the bridge - even when we aren't ready for it.

Know that he will be looked after by all the piggies who have gone before him & that he won't be struggling for breath anymore. Trust me, this will give you some comfort, although it won't take away the pain of losing him.

Hold onto the memories you have of him.

Hugs & squeaks from my manly quintet

Michele
xx
 
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