Nebulizer advice

[Ekily]

Hello,

My guinea pig Vera was diagnosed with heart disease in December.

I took her to the vets as she was making a hooting sound occasionally in the evening. The vets started of with antibiotics (septrin), but this made no difference. They investigated and she is now on cardisure and frusol twice a day for the heart disease. She is still making the respiratory noise occasionally. Has anyone got experience with using a nebulizer with f10 for this.

The vets said that the same noise could be a URI or pneumonia as heart disease makes them more susceptible but the antibiotics I had didn't make it go and they mentioned about prescribing more which I am not keen on.

Thanks

 

[lauryn1289]

No advice but just want to wish you both the best! Hopefully you get to the bottom of it

 

[Popcorns & Wheeks]

Hello,

My guinea pig Vera was diagnosed with heart disease in December.

I took her to the vets as she was making a hooting sound occasionally in the evening. The vets started of with antibiotics (septrin), but this made no difference. They investigated and she is now on cardisure and frusol twice a day for the heart disease. She is still making the respiratory noise occasionally. Has anyone got experience with using a nebulizer with f10 for this.

The vets said that the same noise could be a URI or pneumonia as heart disease makes them more susceptible but the antibiotics I had didn't make it go and they mentioned about prescribing more which I am not keen on.

Thanks

Hi, I am sorry to hear Vera isn't well, I really do hope she will be OK. Fortunately, I do have experience and can offer you a little advice.

In August 21, my piggie Susie began showing signs of respiratory issues such as runny/crusty nose, laboured breathing and sneezing so I immediately took her to my general vet. The vet thought it may be the start of a URI and prescribed her baytril.

The baytril had no effect so once again I took her back. She was then prescribed a longer course of bayril but yet again, no effect. My Susie was then given sulfatrim which did work to some extent however symptoms quickly accelerated and soon her symptoms were back full throttle.

My general vet then referred me to an exotics specialist who prescribed her other various antibiotics, of one which was metronidazole which unfortunately, sent my poor girl into stasis. Susie was very lucky and managed to survive but after this I was very reluctant to try any other medication.

My exotics vets then performed various tests and thought she had finally solved what the problem could be. The vet explained to me what she thought the problem could be and described Susie's illness as a condition that could be managed but not cured. She told me it was similar to a human deviated septum and advised me to buy a nebuliser and prescribed me f10 antiseptic solution.

The vet told me to Dilute the solution down with water and nebulise Susie everyday, beginning at 5 minutes, working my way upto around 20 - 25 mins over the coming weeks. After 15 vets visits and months of worry, I couldn't believe that it actually worked. I wouldn't say Susie was 100% but her symptoms improved immensely. Her laboured breathing was still there but her crusty nose and sneezing was so much better.

I then booked her in with another exotics practice as I wanted her spayed, the poor girl also suffered from ovarian cysts. However on examination the vet told me that Susie had a heart murmur and it would be best to monitor her first over the coming weeks to see if it got any worse. The heart murmur did not progress so 3 months later I booked her in. Unfortunately, she passed away after surgery. Biggest mistake of my life.

Can I ask if Vera has any more symptoms? Similar to my Susie's?

 

[Popcorns & Wheeks]

Here is a picture of my other piggie Heidi on the nebuliser to give you an idea. I put a hole in one side of a plastic storage box for the nebuliser and a few air holes in the other side.

 

[Ekily]

Hello thanks for your reply.

I am so sorry to hear about susie. Such a shame we all try our best! Vera has ovarian cysts to unfortunately.

She doesnt have a runny nose or eyes or sneezing. Her breathing is a little laboured but I know this tends to happen with heart disease. My 2 pigs before both had heart disease in the end. Obviously I will take her to the vets if needed but I just feel they have been taking advantage of me for the past few visits. She is 6 this year so on the senior side now

Just wondered if the nebulizer would work, i feel like i have got nothing to lose in trying it, instead of pumping her full or unnecessary medications. I am not so sure its a URI/pneumonia. I know heart disease isn't curable so I want to do all I can to make her time comfortable.

Kind regards
emily

 

[Ekily]

No advice but just want to wish you both the best! Hopefully you get to the bottom of it

Thank you

No advice but just want to wish you both the best! Hopefully you get to the bottom of it

 

[Popcorns & Wheeks]

Hello thanks for your reply.

I am so sorry to hear about susie. Such a shame we all try our best! Vera has ovarian cysts to unfortunately.

She doesnt have a runny nose or eyes or sneezing. Her breathing is a little laboured but I know this tends to happen with heart disease. My 2 pigs before both had heart disease in the end. Obviously I will take her to the vets if needed but I just feel they have been taking advantage of me for the past few visits. She is 6 this year so on the senior side now

Just wondered if the nebulizer would work, i feel like i have got nothing to lose in trying it, instead of pumping her full or unnecessary medications. I am not so sure its a URI/pneumonia. I know heart disease isn't curable so I want to do all I can to make her time comfortable.

Kind regards
emily

Awwww poor Vera, I really do wish her the best of luck and hope the nebuliser helps. Also, sorry to hear about your experiences with heart disease with your other piggies in the past. It really does break your heart when they are ill. Yer, your right, we really do all try our best and that's all we can ever do.

I totally understand. To be honest I've had nothing but terrible luck with my piggies, I was in and out of vets like a yoyo for over a year and still lost 3 of my piggies, so young aswell. The vets certainly don't come cheap and I can also understand you wishing to avoid filling her up with unnecessary medications if you can help it.

Yer I agree, you could definitely give the nebuliser a try. Have you discussed it with your vet? Is it due to the hooting/respiratory issues you wish to try it?

Who knows, it could help. I was very skeptical about it at first but to my surprise it really did help. All I would say is make sure to get the f10 antiseptic and not the disinfectant as they come in very similar packaging, easy to mix up.

 

[Ekily]

Thank you, why do they have to have so many health problems the vets definitely do not come cheap. Just annoying as can't even get insurance for them.

aww sorry to hear about your bad luck. I feel like that to!

I havent talked to my vets about it. I have lost faith in them really. But because she's old I didn't really want to change practice, plus there's not that many exotic practices around. Yes the respiratory noise and her slightly laboured breathing as I know it will get worse. It happened to my other pig Vivian last year but she didn't take to the meds and went downhill very very quickly

I also think it's because I havent used a nebulizer before and don't know anyone else who has.

 

[Popcorns & Wheeks]

Thank you, why do they have to have so many health problems the vets definitely do not come cheap. Just annoying as can't even get insurance for them.

aww sorry to hear about your bad luck. I feel like that to!

I havent talked to my vets about it. I have lost faith in them really. But because she's old I didn't really want to change practice, plus there's not that many exotic practices around. Yes the respiratory noise and her slightly laboured breathing as I know it will get worse. It happened to my other pig Vivian last year but she didn't take to the meds and went downhill very very quickly

I also think it's because I havent used a nebulizer before and don't know anyone else who has.

I know, they are susceptible to so many illnesses. Due to my experiences, I am now a nervous wreck, I always think my remaining two are gonna become ill. I guess that's what happens when you have so much bad luck.

Yer, I can't get insurance either but I have heard apparently it's not worth it anyway due to certain illnesses and things not being covered. Whether it's true or not, I don't know.

Me too, I have lost all faith in my vets. To be honest since I started going there nothing has gone right. I was advised to spay my 4 girls and neuter my little boy Dexter to lessen the chances of health issues further down the line. Obviously I lost Susie post spay and then I lost Dexter, he survived the neuter but developed 3 abscesses post surgery and 2 hernias. He had so many surgeries poor boy then I had to make the heart breaking decision to put him to sleep, I just couldn't put him through anymore. I also lost my eldest Heidi due to cancer they thought, she was sent home from vets the day she died. I know exactly what you mean when you say you've lost faith.

Sorry to hear about Vivian, that's the thing with piggies, they go down hill so very quickly and hide their illnesses too well to begin with.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi

Please keep in mind that nebulising is not an all-heal and that it can in some cases make things worse rather than better; especially if you are considering doing it on spec without a vet consultation (which we do not recommend).

I would most strongly recommend to at least try a test with a bowl of steaming water next to the cage to see whether it makes a positive difference or not.

Unfortunately, older piggies don't come cheap and they often develop a whole range of issues as they become frailer.

 

[Ekily]

I know, they are susceptible to so many illnesses. Due to my experiences, I am now a nervous wreck, I always think my remaining two are gonna become ill. I guess that's what happens when you have so much bad luck.

Yer, I can't get insurance either but I have heard apparently it's not worth it anyway due to certain illnesses and things not being covered. Whether it's true or not, I don't know.

Me too, I have lost all faith in my vets. To be honest since I started going there nothing has gone right. I was advised to spay my 4 girls and neuter my little boy Dexter to lessen the chances of health issues further down the line. Obviously I lost Susie post spay and then I lost Dexter, he survived the neuter but developed 3 abscesses post surgery and 2 hernias. He had so many surgeries poor boy then I had to make the heart breaking decision to put him to sleep, I just couldn't put him through anymore. I also lost my eldest Heidi due to cancer they thought, she was sent home from vets the day she died. I know exactly what you mean when you say you've lost faith.

Sorry to hear about Vivian, that's the thing with piggies, they go down hill so very quickly and hide their illnesses too well to begin with.

Yes I bet teeth aren't covered haha. I always thought about spaying to prevent illnesses. It's hard to decided what's best with everything to be honest oh no sorry to hear about Dexter it always seems to be one thing after the other. Aw was she, did they give you anything for Heidi

 

[Ekily]

Hi

Please keep in mind that nebulising is not an all-heal and that it can in some cases make things worse rather than better; especially if you are considering doing it on spec without a vet consultation (which we do not recommend).

I would most strongly recommend to at least try a test with a bowl of steaming water next to the cage to see whether it makes a positive difference or not.

Unfortunately, older piggies don't come cheap and they often develop a whole range of issues as they become frailer.

Hi
Thanks for your message. I am just looking at my options at the moment. I didn't know about the steaming water I will give that a go. I know its not nice, especially when I have tried to look after all of them the best I can

 

[Wiebke]

Hi
Thanks for your message. I am just looking at my options at the moment. I didn't know about the steaming water I will give that a go. I know its not nice, especially when I have tried to look after all of them the best I can

The steaming bowl of water test can help with checking whether your piggy is struggling with dry indoors air (both from radiators or ari conditioning; but it can also be used for testing whether moister air will help alleviate URI symptoms or not without going to a lot of effort.