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Worrying Times - Bladder Piggie Now Has Pneumonia

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lauraboara

lauraboara

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Just wanting to share a bit of anxiety really!
I have an older boar Pringle (somewhere 5yr to 6yrs old) and he had bladder stone op this spring and all went well but the stones returned quickly. I thought about a second round of surgery but in the end decided against based on lots of things and discussion with vet re outcomes. Anyway, he is doing fine on lots of metacam and pearl barley water and other things to help manage his bladder but it is obviously not going to be forever. But no blood in wee and weight is stable at over 1kg.
Then this week I noticed his breathing was obvious and a bit laboured and sometimes there was a faint clicking noise - not a crackle,a regular click. Also his eyes were a bit watery BUT no nasal discharge at all. It was all a bit vague and not a 'classic' URI. Been to vet today to see if I was making things up but sadly he agreed with me, had a really good listen to his chest and thinks he has pneumonia but not very badly. Sigh. So we have started a course of AB and he is on metacam already. Vet thought Bisolvon not required yet as really no evidence of phelgm but can opt for that if things worsen.
So any spare vibes would be welcomed for him - just too much going on for my little chap.
 
I am sorry to hear this, sending healing vibes for your boy x I have a bladder piggy & know how hard it is to manage their condition. There's no chance it could be his heart rather than pneumonia is there? x
 
I'm sorry to hear that Pringle is poorly, Laura. I do hope an answer can be found & he'll be back to his usual self again x
 
Poppy'sMum said:
I am sorry to hear this, sending healing vibes for your boy x I have a bladder piggy & know how hard it is to manage their condition. There's no chance it could be his heart rather than pneumonia is there? x
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Thanks for vibes. Yes I had thought heart also but nothing odd detected at vet visit - I will keep it in mind though
 
Stewybus said:
I'm sorry to hear that Pringle is poorly, Laura. I do hope an answer can be found & he'll be back to his usual self again x
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Thanks SB - he is still happy with his little mate Colin after you helped transport them back home in April :). Just need him to keep fighting these illnesses.
 
Has he been checked for heart problem, I've heard of these symptoms before & it was the heart but it was sorted by drugs :) x
 
Poppy'sMum said:
I don't know if @helen105281 is about, she will know more about the symptoms. I think listening to the heart doesn't always pick it up, you need x rays :( It's just when you said it didn't seem to be the classic URI symptoms, that was why x
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It depends who is listening to be honest, I am lucky in that my friend is able to pick up even the slightest change in heart rhythm etc as a result of a health issue she has. She then tells me what I need to ask the vet to listen for and then they usually spot it too. In those cases we go with a trial of heart medication. Otherwise, yes an xray is a good move, but it would ideally need to be conscious, then the vet can see if there is any fluid around the heart or lungs or if the heart is enlarged. For Pneumonia or even heart issues he may need diuretic if there is fluid.
 
Fingers very firmly crossed! I would in any case recommend to ask for a diuretic, as the priority is always to ease the breathing as quickly as possible.
 
Not much change in Pringle. His breathing still sounds like a soft wheeze and then a click. Also has cold feet which I know is a circulation issue. He is now on diuretic as well as the AB - review on Friday. He is still quite lively in himself and eating everything offered but clearly not well.
Crikey they make you worry! I keep going to the piggie room to watch him breathing as in a Victorian drama - the other piggies look at me as if to say ' what are you doing, only stand there if you have food '!
 
Not entirely sure why I am updating this thread but anyway, Pringle looks a bit rubbish today but I can't hear the regular click when breathing today which is maybe positive?. We will see.
 
Sounds like the diuretics may have kicked in? Has the vet checked his heart? you mention circulatory issues. What antibiotic is he on at the mo?
 
helen105281 said:
Sounds like the diuretics may have kicked in? Has the vet checked his heart? you mention circulatory issues. What antibiotic is he on at the mo?
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Thanks for reply. Vet had another good listen to his chest today and unfortunately he disagrees with me and says his chest sounds no different so it appears it was wishful thinking by me. There is still a wheeze click. But the chest and heart do not sound 'muffled'. So trying a different antibiotic with the hope that kicks in. I know I might sound a bit mad but I don't want to post which antibiotic because I had a debate at the vet and I don't want to hear that I am wrong now.
I have checked back through similar posts about respiratory issues to research the ABs suggested which was useful. Will kepp reviewing
Have been offered other diagnostics like x ray but their are issues with that because of his overall poor health from bladder pain.
So Pringle is now on metacam, different AB, frusol ( I am going to finish what he has), pro C professional, potassium citrate (only bit), glucosamine - he is like a walking chemist bless him. His weight is beginning to drop now, it had been stable so syringe feeding better start.
 
I have just read this thread today Laura. I do hope Pringle's health improves soon. They do know how to get your attention don't they. I am taking Rupert to Kyle at Strensall ( Mark was on holiday last week), because of a skin infection.
 
How is Pringle doing Laura? All l can say is he is a very strong piggy as in my experience respiratory problems tend to kill piggies off very quickly, so hopefully his body is fighting the infection off. I know what you mean about watching them breathe! Normally you don't notice anything but when its abnormal its so anxiety provoking! Hang in there P you can beat this xx
 
Thanks B - appreciate the thoughts. He looks pretty awful today :(. But as you say he is amazingly strong and he still has plenty of fight left in him because he is resisting syringe feeding like anything! trying different foods but not eating enough. He looks vaguely normal when up and eating but looks ill when lying down resting and his breathing is laboured.
 
lauraboara said:
Thanks B - appreciate the thoughts. He looks pretty awful today :(. But as you say he is amazingly strong and he still has plenty of fight left in him because he is resisting syringe feeding like anything! trying different foods but not eating enough. He looks vaguely normal when up and eating but looks ill when lying down resting and his breathing is laboured.
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:( Poor thing. Have you switched syringe feeds to try and tempt him, when Cookie was poorly we kept using Science Selective, Critical Care and mushed up pellets. Sending lots of healing vibes x x
 
lauraboara said:
Thanks B - appreciate the thoughts. He looks pretty awful today :(. But as you say he is amazingly strong and he still has plenty of fight left in him because he is resisting syringe feeding like anything! trying different foods but not eating enough. He looks vaguely normal when up and eating but looks ill when lying down resting and his breathing is laboured.
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Poor Pringle, sending him lots of love and healing thoughts x
 
Thanks for the ideas and support. I am afraid that Pringle is not responding to anything that we are trying - just slowly deteriorating, it is really sad. The ABs did nothing and the frusol also did nothing so tricky to know what is happening. He is not really struggling though (which actually might make things more clear cut) he is just drifting downhill.. vet review tomorrow morning but I can't see that going well. But he is currently having a run (well potter and sit for P!) in the kitchen with Colin and it is calm.
 
Thinking of you today, hope all goes well at the vets.

When Milo got His Uri we just couldn't shift it along with his ear infection, elongated tooth routes and Bloat. Seems everything was stacked against him, which is why I opted to pts I just didn't want him to suffer anymore.

Trust in yourself and your vet, it's hard to know the right thing to do with Milo I couldn't see him ever being pain free again so the final decision seemed right. It's not a decision I ever feel is right but it can sometimes be the kindest decision.

I don't envy your situation but I did want you to know we're all here for you and Pringle whatever happens. Good Luck.
 
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