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Looking for reassurance or a miracle

T

twixpiggy

New Born Pup
Joined
Jan 28, 2024
Messages
9
Reaction score
27
Points
90
Location
Lincolnshire
Looking for advice. We bought 2 guinea pigs last Sunday they are 8-10 weeks. Straight away one started coughing I went back to the shop and was told it's okay he's just greedy with his food.
On Friday he was laid still struggling to breathe I took him to a vet who said he has pneumonia and started him on strong meds. Today he is still fighting but his breathing still sounds awful he eats but moves very little. This is my son's first pet and I'm hopeful that as time goes on he will get better but don't want to get hopes up as he doesn't look better.
 
So sorry your piggy is poorly. I'm presuming the meds are antibiotics? Keep going with them, they can take a few days to work.
Keep him eating plenty - is he eating hay? This is the most important part of his diet and to maintain his weight and dental health. If not, you may need to step in and syringe feed him a recovery food like critical care.
It's good he is eating something!

I would also get in touch with the pet shop again. They need to take responsibility here. Take along the vet's bill and tell them they need to cover it if you can, although I understand you might not be in the right frame of mind at the minute with a poorly piggy. They shouldn't be allowed to get away with it ☹️
 
I have a question I have two female guinea pigs, who were with a male about two months ago, and I woke up this morning and I found blood in their cage. I did not hear any screeches like they went into labor or anything.
 
twixpiggy said:
Looking for advice. We bought 2 guinea pigs last Sunday they are 8-10 weeks. Straight away one started coughing I went back to the shop and was told it's okay he's just greedy with his food.
On Friday he was laid still struggling to breathe I took him to a vet who said he has pneumonia and started him on strong meds. Today he is still fighting but his breathing still sounds awful he eats but moves very little. This is my son's first pet and I'm hopeful that as time goes on he will get better but don't want to get hopes up as he doesn't look better.
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Hi

BIG HUGS

I am very sorry.

Please step in with syringe feeding support. The need to breathe comes before the need to drink and only thirdly the need to eat. Unlike predatory pets, guinea pigs cannot afford to fast. Yopur feeding care could make all the difference in the outcome.
Our very comprehensive practical how-to guide contains a chapter on how to improvise but also how to recognise when your support care is coming too late.
Here is the link: All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

Information on your customer rights for refunding your vet cost and the sales bill can be found in here: New Guinea Pig Problems: Sexing & Pregnancy; URI, Ringworm & Parasites; Vet Checks & Customer Rights
Insist on seeing the manager and do not let yourself be fobbed off again.

My thoughts are with you. How is the companion doing?
 
Lexi the Guinea pig said:
I have a question I have two female guinea pigs, who were with a male about two months ago, and I woke up this morning and I found blood in their cage. I did not hear any screeches like they went into labor or anything.
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Hello. Please start your own thread about this. Then you will receive specialist advice from the pregnancy experts.
 
twixpiggy said:
Looking for advice. We bought 2 guinea pigs last Sunday they are 8-10 weeks. Straight away one started coughing I went back to the shop and was told it's okay he's just greedy with his food.
On Friday he was laid still struggling to breathe I took him to a vet who said he has pneumonia and started him on strong meds. Today he is still fighting but his breathing still sounds awful he eats but moves very little. This is my son's first pet and I'm hopeful that as time goes on he will get better but don't want to get hopes up as he doesn't look better.
Click to expand...
I’m so sorry your piggy is poorly. I hope they are soon on the mend. 🤞🏻. Sending healing vibes.
 
Wheekallweek said:
So sorry your piggy is poorly. I'm presuming the meds are antibiotics? Keep going with them, they can take a few days to work.
Keep him eating plenty - is he eating hay? This is the most important part of his diet and to maintain his weight and dental health. If not, you may need to step in and syringe feed him a recovery food like critical care.
It's good he is eating something!

I would also get in touch with the pet shop again. They need to take responsibility here. Take along the vet's bill and tell them they need to cover it if you can, although I understand you might not be in the right frame of mind at the minute with a poorly piggy. They shouldn't be allowed to get away with it ☹️
Click to expand...
Hi he's on antibiotics, pain meds and recovery food he seems to be up and down but today he just wants to left to lay in his bed. I've just got him out for another feed but he only took two bits and then started to bite me several times and drew blood which he hasn't done before I think he's fed up.
I contacted the pet shop and have given them the vets bill they said they will get one of there vets to look at it and go from there but your right they can't get away with it it's not fair to the animals themselves or the fact my son has gone from excited to have a pet to distraught watching the little thing go through this.
 
Wiebke said:
Hi

BIG HUGS

I am very sorry.

Please step in with syringe feeding support. The need to breathe comes before the need to drink and only thirdly the need to eat. Unlike predatory pets, guinea pigs cannot afford to fast. Our guide contains a chapter on how to improvise but also how to recognise when your support care is coming too late.
Here is the link: All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

Information on your customer rights for refunding your vet cost and the sales bill can be found in here: New Guinea Pig Problems: Sexing & Pregnancy; URI, Ringworm & Parasites; Vet Checks & Customer Rights
Insist on seeing the manager and do not let yourself be fobbed off again.
Click to expand...
Hi, I've been syringe feeding since Friday and yesterday he started eating off a spoon but today he's now just wanting to bite me.
 
twixpiggy said:
Hi, I've been syringe feeding since Friday and yesterday he started eating off a spoon but today he's now just wanting to bite me.
Click to expand...

Please look up the chapter on feeding uncooperative guinea pigs. Are you weighing him daily first thing in the morning to check whether you are feeding enough or to see when he is actually starting to put on weight by eating enough hay by himself? I am just checking to make sure.

If he is not any better in himself by tomorrow please give your vet a call first thing in the morning.
 
Wiebke said:
Please look up the chapter on feeding uncooperative guinea pigs. Are you weighing him daily first thing in the morning to check whether you are feeding enough or to see when he is actually starting to put on weight by eating enough hay by himself? I am just checking to make sure.

If he is not any better in himself by tomorrow please give your vet a call first thing in the morning.
Click to expand...
Hi, thank you for the response. I feel so let down by the shop with the poorly piggie and they've sold us a cage that I now know isn't correct. It's so wrong they get away with this.
We weren't told to weigh him so I've not been but il start as I know what he weighted Friday at the vets. Thank you for that advise. He's been eating all the recovery food given, some veggies and hay up to today but has gone off everything now.
 
twixpiggy said:
Hi, thank you for the response. I feel so let down by the shop with the poorly piggie and they've sold us a cage that I now know isn't correct. It's so wrong they get away with this.
We weren't told to weigh him so I've not been but il start as I know what he weighted Friday at the vets. Thank you for that advise. He's been eating all the recovery food given, some veggies and hay up to today but has gone off everything now.
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Hopefully it’s just the antibiotics that have knocked his appetite. 🤞

You are doing all you can.
 
I'm sorry you are going through this. You need to be persistent with the feed.maybe wrap the piggie in a towel to help with co operation .
You are doing all you can.good luck at the vets
 
twixpiggy said:
Thank you. I'm about to give him his food and meds but I'm going to lift him out in his bed to avoid picking him up so if he is hurting I'm not aggravating him and hopefully he won't bite this time
Click to expand...

Hi

Please look at the picture in the chapter on medicating/feeding uncooperative piggies: All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

You can also always make an official complaint to your local council over trading standards. Selling infected/ill guinea pigs nd giving incorrect advice is decidedly not good business. You can unfortunately not complain about selling too small cages since there is no official regulation, only a recommendation by the RSPCA.
 
twixpiggy said:
Looking for advice. We bought 2 guinea pigs last Sunday they are 8-10 weeks. Straight away one started coughing I went back to the shop and was told it's okay he's just greedy with his food.
On Friday he was laid still struggling to breathe I took him to a vet who said he has pneumonia and started him on strong meds. Today he is still fighting but his breathing still sounds awful he eats but moves very little. This is my son's first pet and I'm hopeful that as time goes on he will get better but don't want to get hopes up as he doesn't look better.
Click to expand...
Sorry you are dealing with this.
Holding you in my heart ❤️
 
twixpiggy said:
Looking for advice. We bought 2 guinea pigs last Sunday they are 8-10 weeks. Straight away one started coughing I went back to the shop and was told it's okay he's just greedy with his food.
On Friday he was laid still struggling to breathe I took him to a vet who said he has pneumonia and started him on strong meds. Today he is still fighting but his breathing still sounds awful he eats but moves very little. This is my son's first pet and I'm hopeful that as time goes on he will get better but don't want to get hopes up as he doesn't look better.
Click to expand...
Poor piggy and your poor son. When my piggy was poorly I wrapped him in a towel to help him feel secure. On Amazon they sell fleece pouches…this really helped Ollie as a baby it made him feel secure. I really hope your piggy gets better. And if he isn’t keen on critical care add juice from a grape or tomato it helped Ollie eat it.
 
Hi thank you everyone for all your help. Little one started eating and drinking on his own last night and today. Breathing seems better and he's much happier he has started to climb and explore again slowly. I've ran out of rescue food so soaked pellets which he eats off a spoon as this is the only thing he still hasn't eaten. I hope we are over the worst now and he just needs time to recoup his energy xx
 

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twixpiggy said:
Hi thank you everyone for all your help. Little one started eating and drinking on his own last night and today. Breathing seems better and he's much happier he has started to climb and explore again slowly. I've ran out of rescue food so soaked pellets which he eats off a spoon as this is the only thing he still hasn't eaten. I hope we are over the worst now and he just needs time to recoup his energy xx
Click to expand...

That is wonderful news! Keep on weighing first thing in the morning so you can chart his recovery and know when you can stop support feeding.
 
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