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told gizmo outlook not good

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tawny

took gizmo vets just over 3 weeks and was told that nothing seemed to be wrong with him but because i had said he seemed down and had been sneezing that he could go on baytril for a week.

after 9 days we took him back and thats when i was told he had pneumonia and he was sent away with 14days treatment of baytril.

took him back today to be told that he was struggling to breath and that his lung tissue was probably all damaged and that he would have to be put to sleep.

she has given him a five day treatment of zithromax and metcam and told me to bring him back in five days so we can do what we have to.

i can understand what she is saying but what is strange is that the last few days gizmo has showed an improvement and been moving around more. he is eating fine and has lost no weight and has no temp.

as anyone else had dealings with a guinapig with pneumonia
 
Sorry no experience with guineas, but plenty with people ::)

Your vet is right that lung damage may well have occurred and that may mean that his breathing is always going to be compromised. It depends on the level of damage, he could be left with a kind of emphysema, where, put simply the lungs lose elasticity. If severe, his quality of life will be very poor, he will be prone to chest infections and probably eventually heart failure. But that is the worst scenario.

If he were mine and in the light of you saying he is improving, I'd keep an open mind and see how things go. If he has lung damage, long term steroids may help, sure they can cause other probs long term, but you have to ask if the benefits outweigh the risks. Something to maybe ask your vet about?
Has your vet tried diuretics? Was she sure there was no fluid on his lungs?

Possibly the best thing you can do is take it day by day. If not already doing so, bed him on paper and hay, keep him in a warm draught free environment and ensure he has lot's of fresh veggies. If he stays well, maybe consider seeing a homeopathic vet for supportive care? Just a thought :)
Of course you could always try Vedra at the CCT?
Good luck and keep us updated,
Barbara
 
well i believe he deserves a chance and if i thought he was struggling i would put him to sleep. the vet seemed sure that he will not pull through. he is walking round and has the odd pop corn. he is not as bouncy as normal but still to me seems happy. he is eating well, like i said no weight loss. his breathing is noisy and his heart beats fast but he doesn't seem to be gasping for air.

i just don't know how to judge the quality of his life, i know the vet thinks he should be put down but she said that about baby, my gp who has the tilted head. he too had pneumonia when he was a few months old and was alot worse than gizmo and yet 6 months on he is here and bobbing around(at a tilt ;D) but happy.

if gizmo doesn't get worse, i know i won't want to go back to that vets cause they will put him to sleep.

she didn't mention fluid on his lungs. just said he was struggling to breath.
 
I would try and get the vet to give you bissolvan to help clear congestion in the chest - it is a powder and I usually give it on a slice of cucumber which seems to go down well!

You could also try making a steam tent for him to help ease his breathing. Or some vick on the end of his nose may help too.

I have a pig with chronic chest problems and these are all things that have helped him in the past.

If there is anything I can do to help just let me know.
 
I personally think you are doing the right thing. If he is is happy pottering around and is eating well, then just watch him closely for any deterioration. You'll know if he starts to go down hill, if he goes off his food, sits huddled up etc. Keep an eye on his lips, look at the colour they are now and if they take on a blue-sh tinge at any time, this will mean that he is short of oxygen, at this point he breathing will have probably got worse anyway.

If he were mine I'd be asking about the possibility of giving a small amount of prednisolone - which is a steroid. Metacam is a non steroidal anti inflammatory and would not, I believe, be as helpful as pred in helping his breathing?

Just my thoughts, I'm not a vet ;)

Do think about having a word with Vedra at the CCT?

Take care.
Barbara
 
I agree, try to see Vedra or at least have a talk with her over the phone.

Also, I personally would change vets. It looks as if you are with one that suggests putting an animal to sleep as soon as she has tried everything she knows - instead of referring you to someone else, ringing up other professionals etc.

Alot of vets have the attitude of "I know everything, if I cant figure out what it is and what to do, then there cant possibly be anyone else who might" and so they suggest "putting the animal out of its misery" as there is NOTHING that can be done. ::)

You made this experience twice now - I would go and get the opinion of a second vet. See what they think.

And it wouldnt hurt to ring Vedra BEFORE the vet appointment, as she might be able to give you some vital information about what could be done, so that you can give your vet some helpful tips, or she could give you the address of a rodentologist near you.
 
I also think you need to speak to Vedra for advice and speak or go to see another vet if he is looking and acting better why would you want to end his life maybe its one of those vets who think Gps cannot be helped and they think it will cost too much for there worth, but they dont realise how much we are prepared to try and are prepared to pay out for to save our pigs lives I must have spent over £1,000 this year on my pigs, and luckly my vets realise this and will try anything, what about other forms of help one of my pigs was tried homeopathic tablets and theres also Bach rescue remedys ask Barbara for info to give him a boost and what with, I am willing to try anything for my adored babies, but as you said you have already had a pig like this who has survived so give Gizmo every chance, I certainly would good luck,
 
thank you to you all, i just needed to hear that i am right to be giving him this chance and if you like ignoring the vet at the moment.
he's here now having a walk around and a little to eat and having ago at a cardboard tube, why he's got that fight in him he deserves all i can do.

i really do love my piggies but have had so much bad luck with them this year, i lost one just a month ago, 9 months old and then there is baby with his tilted head and squeake who might be diabetic and gizmo with pneumonia and as for the rest they seem to have endless colds.

i keep wondering what am i doing wrong :( i buy them them the best fresh food even when i cant afford it, i've changed their bedding to aubios and travel an hour to go and fetch it :D and i travel half hour to go and get the hay they like.

i have 24 which i know is alot but i talk to them all daily and check them all daily and give them cuddles. it's like a full time job but i wouldn't be without them.

sometimes i think i jinx everything, my lad is autistic but for all the hard times we've had i couldn't wish or be more proud of him and everything we have gone through makes me know how lucky i am, sorry for going of on one just the time of year :-\ does verda not mind people phoning her?
 
I've had a bad year piggy wise as well I've lost 10 or so, but still have 27 mine are also talked to each day and loved about as much as any one humanly possibly could, so dont think having 24 means you dont look after them well, I know I do so am certain you can as well, but you also know you fight with everything you have to nurture and care for your pigs so you are doing right in waiting and defying the vet, I've done it many times sometimes for the best occasionally he was right but we know our pigs and know what they are capable of doing,
I have 3 sons with ADHD and have had to fight all thier lives so know what you mean, it just makes me a natural fighter in life so you do as you wish and good luck
 
thanx for understanding, our kids do have to fight every single day in one way or another but that's what makes them so dam special ;)

so sorry for all your piggies you've lost. apart from 2 who are 1 years old all my piggies are under 12months. so its a big learning curve but this last year i have learnt so much and spent alot at the vets but like you said you'll do anything for them :).

i know i have to move vets because i don't have the trust in the ones I'm with. one of them is great and treats all animals as being special but the rest make me feel like guineapigs don't matter.

the one that told me he had pneumonia sent me away with baytril but no info about anyway of caring for him eg food,warmth. everything i've learnt has been from forums like this and books.

gizmo has been down since going vets, staying inside his house, i think the medication might have affected him. lastnight i fed him some food through syringe and put towels in his bed to keep him warm.

this morning he was out of his house having a go at a cardboard tube, not bouncing around but out of the house ;) i noticed his medication is used for children, has anybody used it on their gp?zithromax suspension.
 
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