Specialist Breathing problems

[Hope444]

Almost two weeks ago I noticed my 4 year old female was having labored breathing. Her body is heaving and she makes loud noises. We took her to the vet and they said she had asthma, which I thought was weird because I have never seen her have a struggle before. Nothing in her life or diet has changed. She has some eye discharge and other than that there were no other signs of a problem. They treated her for asthma and gave us antibiotics. We spent quite a lot for all the treatments. Her medication is gone and she hasn't improved. Some days she barely eats some days she eats fine, but always labored breathing. We can't afford to keep taking her to the vet when they aren't even helping. I don't know what to do. The other vets we tried wouldn't see guinea pigs. I am wondering if anyone has ideas for in home treatment if it is asthma? Or ideas on what else could be wrong?

 

[Wiebke]

Almost two weeks ago I noticed my 4 year old female was having labored breathing. Her body is heaving and she makes loud noises. We took her to the vet and they said she had asthma, which I thought was weird because I have never seen her have a struggle before. Nothing in her life or diet has changed. She has some eye discharge and other than that there were no other signs of a problem. They treated her for asthma and gave us antibiotics. We spent quite a lot for all the treatments. Her medication is gone and she hasn't improved. Some days she barely eats some days she eats fine, but always labored breathing. We can't afford to keep taking her to the vet when they aren't even helping. I don't know what to do. The other vets we tried wouldn't see guinea pigs. I am wondering if anyone has ideas for in home treatment if it is asthma? Or ideas on what else could be wrong?

Hi!

How piggy savvy is your vet? Have they checked her heart and her chest cavity for a fluid build up if the lungs are clear (x-ray)? It can also be something pushing on her heart (internal growth, ovarian cysts, gassing etc.)
Diaphragmic laboured breathing with heaving sides is usually a sign that there is a fluid build up in either one or the other; never both.
Asthma is not an issue that guinea pigs are usually suffering from.

Since the need to breathe comes before the need to drink and only thirdly the need to eat, a piggy that struggles to breathe will often need feeding and watering support. How much you control by weighing daily.

Please take the time to read these links here for feeding support:
Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide