Ongoing Respiratory Issues

[MunchMummy]

Hello all.

I posted a while ago about one of our rescue boars Mickey. Since around Feb he has been a bit snotty and snuffly. He initially had a long course of Baytril which seemed to make it better but not clear it up completely.

Our vet suggested another course of Baytril and possibly xrays and other investigations that would require anaesthetic. I posted here because he has otherwise been the picture of health the whole time...since Feb and I was concerned about putting him through risky procedures. You all gave some wonderful advice. He hasn't lost weight, he eats well and is sprites, poocorning and zooming. Always comes out and asks for food and is alert and energetic.

The last course of antibiotics seemed to help and the vet suggested we carry on monitoring him. Well late last night he seemed a little wheezy but still very spritely and wolfed down his veggies. We called our vet anyway and they booked him in for this morning. This morning the wheezing is gone but he did have a sneeze and some creamy snot (nice) came out. He has ravaged his red pepper and now has his snout in his hay.

We are taking him to the vet at 11am...and will ask if a swab can be taken to determine if another antibiotic may be better. But I wanted to check...I remember some posts talking about an antibiotic which some vets give which is dangerous for piggies and whilst our vet is amazing, I want to be armed with all the knowledge I can to make sure. If anyone can tell me which antibiotics are safe and which aren't before the appointment I'd be so grateful. And any other wisdom on how to handle this. I'm so worried about xrays for him as I know it can be risky...but am prepared to do and pay whatever we need to to get him back to 100% health. Thank you all!

 

[Claire W]

Hi, it is good news that he hasn’t lost weight and is acting normal. A swab would be my next move too.

There is an antibiotic beginning with C (sorry, I can’t remember the name) that can be fatal if given to a guinea pig but it isn’t widely used anymore. X-rays can be done consciously or with just a small whiff of gas to keep piggy relaxed and still. My own vet doesn’t give a full GA for X-rays as it isn’t needed.

Sorry I’m not much help but I hope the swab provides some answers

 

[MunchMummy]

As a quick update...Mickey now in with vet but we had a chat before. She said they don't like to do major diagnostics on pigs that are otherwise healthy...and her initial observation of Mickey was (as he bounced around in front of her) was "guinea pigs are VERY good at hiding illness...but they aren't THAT good!"

She said that because it has been going on so long it may be that they are looking at a piggy that has a long term condition (a bit like asthma) rather than an infection as he is otherwise so healthy. She thinks it could be that he is very sensitive to changes in the environment, new foods, new pigs in the room, that kind of thing. But she also thinks that maybe another course of Baytril combined with Metacam this time might be what's needed. She also said they can do a swab but they are reluctant to use most other antibiotics because of the effect on their little guts etc from trying too many...but she isn't ruling that out. So he's in there now getting a thorough check. Fingers crossed

 

[tabelmabel]

Good luck! I'm going through this with my piggy but she is too young for baytril so has had septrin and now doxycycline but still very snuffly (but, like your pig, active and eating)

We go back to vet monday. I'm really worried as my vet suggested penicillin via injection as a next step for my pig and i want to avoid penicillin at all costs.


I have been nebulising f10 solution too - you might want to run that by your vet as it can help kill bugs in the upper airway and clear crusty snot. My vet said it cant harm.

 

[MunchMummy]

Thank you! So after almost an hour he is back in the car with us! The great news is that they said he is one of the healthiest, cleanest piggies they have ever seen (proud owner here...thats my boy!) There were two vets examining him and they checked heart and lungs and even poop! Apparently he is also one of the most fun pigs they've seen and spent time playing with him because he was so spritely! His lungs and chest are clear, they examined his nasal passages...also clear!

So they have settled on either it being the very end of whatever was going on before OR because he wasn't kept in the best conditions with his previous owners and prior to going to RSPCA which has led to perhaps him not being very fit! When he came to us he bunny hopped a bit and I think he was kept in small housing before. Luckily now it's fleece, C&C and floor time galore!

The other possibility is that as he loves to dive face first into his hay, that he ends up inhaling little bits of it or that he is just sensitive to changes (maybe in things like hay from a different field or a slight change in laundry detergent for the fleece). So we are looking at what we can do to reduce the possibility.

But he has a short course of baytril in case it's the tail end of something but otherwise a clean bill of health!

 

[tabelmabel]

Fantastic news

 

[Claire W]

That’s brilliant news x

 

[MunchMummy]

Good luck! I'm going through this with my piggy but she is too young for baytril so has had septrin and now doxycycline but still very snuffly (but, like your pig, active and eating)

We go back to vet monday. I'm really worried as my vet suggested penicillin via injection as a next step for my pig and i want to avoid penicillin at all costs.


I have been nebulising f10 solution too - you might want to run that by your vet as it can help kill bugs in the upper airway and clear crusty snot. My vet said it cant harm.

Aw...I hope your piggy is feeling better soon x