• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

Specialist Heart pig advice?

starla

starla

Adult Guinea Pig
Joined
Nov 22, 2007
Messages
3,258
Reaction score
6
Points
525
Hi all,
I have got a 6 month old sow who was originally diagnosed with Pnuemonia.
An x ray was taken which showed one lung completely filled with fluid. She looked like she was panting, with her sides moving rapidly and obviously. She was blue around the lips.
She was on Baytril, then Sulfatrim for 3 weeks, also neublised twice a day for over a month. During this time she seemed to improve slightly, but her breathing is still very fast and she's very quiet. Also very thin. Lips are not blue any longer.

After investigating, I think the pnuemonia is gone, but I think she's got heart problems? I saw the vet again who agreed we could try heart meds for this week and see if there was any improvement. I haven't had any heart scans done because a specialist would need to be called in, apparently he only comes once a month

She's now on Fortekor 2.5mg tablet 1/4 twice a day, Vetmedin 1.25mg tablet 1/4 twice a day, and Frusol 0.4ml twice a day. She's still breathing very quickly. No crackly breathing, vet said she sounded clear. Since the meds, she is more lively and eating better, I'm feeding her critical care twice a day to try and boost her weight further, but why is she still breathing so rapidly? She's around 680g.

Can anyone advise? What can I ask my vet to do next? another x ray? She absolutely cannot be sedated for anything.
 
starla said:
Hi all,
I have got a 6 month old sow who was originally diagnosed with Pnuemonia.
An x ray was taken which showed one lung completely filled with fluid. She looked like she was panting, with her sides moving rapidly and obviously. She was blue around the lips.
She was on Baytril, then Sulfatrim for 3 weeks, also neublised twice a day for over a month. During this time she seemed to improve slightly, but her breathing is still very fast and she's very quiet. Also very thin. Lips are not blue any longer.

After investigating, I think the pnuemonia is gone, but I think she's got heart problems? I saw the vet again who agreed we could try heart meds for this week and see if there was any improvement. I haven't had any heart scans done because a specialist would need to be called in, apparently he only comes once a month

She's now on Fortekor 2.5mg tablet 1/4 twice a day, Vetmedin 1.25mg tablet 1/4 twice a day, and Frusol 0.4ml twice a day. She's still breathing very quickly. No crackly breathing, vet said she sounded clear. Since the meds, she is more lively and eating better, I'm feeding her critical care twice a day to try and boost her weight further, but why is she still breathing so rapidly? She's around 680g.

Can anyone advise? What can I ask my vet to do next? another x ray? She absolutely cannot be sedated for anything.
Click to expand...

Hi and welcome

I am very sorry for your worries!

Your girl is on the heart medication that we also recommend.

I am linking in some more medically experienced members that may be able to help you further: @Abi_nurse @furryfriends (TEAS) @Piggies&buns @PigglePuggle
 
Sorry to hear this, fluid on the lungs and rapid breathing can be a sign that the heart isnt working as well as it should, even if the pneumonia has cleared.
I think you need to trust your vet on whether they can do an xray while she is awake, but also realistically what treatments they can offer if anything does show on the xray- it may be a case of just managing her symptoms with medication as best you and the vet can.
Unless you can ask your vet for referral to a specialist? Though that may be expensive and not necessarily change the outcome for a heart condition...
Hopefully one of the other health and illness advisors with some direct experience of piggies with heart problems will be along soon with some more specific advice x
 
Thank you. The vet said an x ray concious (for the most part) would be possible. I just wish the meds were having better effect on her breathing/sides moving so rapidly, as it must be horrible for her.
Vet has suggested a referral to another vet, this would be a 3 hour drive though so I'd have to think about it.
 
I'm just wondering if her Frusol should be increased. Obviously I wouldn't do this without vet advice, but maybe she's not on enough
 
I’ve tagged the thread. Sorry @starla I can’t offer much help. The specialist members have been tagged but as we are all volunteers may not log on or see the post. I think it’s best to speak to your vet.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top