Laboured Breathing

[Big Sky Piggies]

Good evening,

Some help please! I’ve just gone to feed Luna, and noticed she’s breathing really heavily. I saw this around an hour ago too but thought she was just snoozing as they often have more noticeable breathing when they’re flopped out.

I took her out of the cage, her nose, eyes and mouth are clear, there’s no rasping, sneezing or coughing. She’s just really using her abdominal muscles with each laboured breath. She is still breathing through her nose though, definitely not her mouth.

She’s refused her dinner, her treats, her water and fresh hay. She was 100% her normal self yesterday evening and seemed absolutely fine taking a treat off me at about 3pm today. What could have happened so fast?! I’ve managed to get her to eat a mouthful of the rescue remedy mix that comes from the sachets but she’s refusing that now too. I’ve got a syringe but am very hesitant to force food into her mouth and restrict her breathing any further.

I’ll take her to the vets as soon as they open tomorrow. Is there anything I can do to help her breathe overnight? I just want her to be comfortable!

 

[Piggies&buns]

I’m sorry to hear this.
How is she?

As your location isn’t on your profile, I can’t see if you are UK based but if you are then please see an out of hours vet immediately and don’t wait for your normal vet to open.
Laboured breathing/respiratory distress is sadly an emergency at any time of day or night and cannot wait.

Please continue to offer her syringe feed as it is so important she gets it if she is still physically able to swallow

I hope she is ok

Thread 'How Soon Should My Guinea Pig See A Vet? - A Quick Guide'

Oct 2, 2012

Overview
1 Does my guinea pig need to see a vet?
2 Emergency: Things that need immediate action
3 See promptly: Things that could wait until the next day (24 hours)
4 See during regular hours: Things that could wait a few days
5 First aid, emergency and bridging care links


1 Does my guinea pig need to see a vet?

In short - yes, if your worried its always best to see or speak to a vet or nurse about any concerns, however there are...

• Abi_nurse
• Replies: 4
• Forum: Health & Illness Support Corner

• 
• 

Thread 'Emergency and Crisis Care as well as Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment'

Mar 14, 2019

1 Statement
2 Emergency assessment and accessing vets
- How urgent is my guinea pig's problem?
- Finding an emergency vet
- Seeing a vet not familiar with guinea pigs (including lists of safe and dangerous medications)
3 First Aid care and easily available products
- General 'always have at home' stuff and comfort measures for very ill guinea pigs
- Improvising support feed; recovery formulas...

• Wiebke
• Replies: 4
• Forum: Emergency Information and Care

• 

 

[Big Sky Piggies]

Thank you for your quick response, unfortunately she passed away last night. We don’t have an out of hours vet that I could’ve taken her to so I was really stuck sadly.

What might have happened for her to go so quickly? I know once they stop eating their digestive system shuts down really fast, but her breathing came on so suddenly.

 

[Claire W]

Aw I’m so sorry for your loss (((hugs))) Guinea pigs sadly go downhill very quickly

Sleep tight Luna x

 

[weepweeps]

I’m so sorry you lost Luna. Sending you massive hugs.

Sleep tight

 

[Big Sky Piggies]

Thank you all.