Piggy wheezing

[sammichiaki123]

About 2 1/2 weeks ago my guinea pig Poppy (5 years old) started making noises when she was sleeping (we only hear it when shes asleep or she's just woken up). It sounds like wheezing, she seems more lethargic than usual and she doesn't 'wheek' as much as she used to. She's still eating plenty and although lethargic seems to still get around.

We took her to the vet a few days after noticing and he said her heartbeat was strong and she was in good condition generally, but her breathing sounded labored. He diagnosed her with pneumonia and gave us baytril and a probiotic. After the treatment was finished she showed no sign of improvement. So I'm thinking now was it even pneumonia in the first place?

We've found a more experienced vet and we're taking her at the end of the week, BUT I'm still curious on what it could be? Especially as it only happens when she's sleeping. I also heard her coughing this morning

Anyone have any ideas on what it could be, similar experiences or advice?

Thank you <3

 

[Suzygpr]

You may find this thread useful. I would suspect heart/lung problems - the lack of arrhythmia does not rule it out. Where are you located as a cavy savvy vet can hopefully be recommended.

http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=79477

Suzy x

 

[Abi_nurse]

Without a full vet examination its hard to tell exactly what it is. I would keep a very close eye on your piggie, if she has any kind of laboured breathing she needs to see a vet asap, out of hours or not. Piggies are good at hiding illness.

Just because she didnt repond to the baytril doesnt mean it wasnt pnemonia at all, it could simply be resistant to the antibiotics. She may have asthma, an allergy to the bedding she is on, a heart condition, respiratory infection... any number of things. For now keep a very close eye on her. May also be useful to try changing the bedding to see if it makes a difference. What is your piggie on now?

Good luck. I hope she feels better soon.

x.

 

[deeandnick]

I had a very similar experience with my little boy recently. He finished one course of Baytril and made no improvement, so was given another course and some bisolven powder to put on his food to help clear the mucus on his lungs.

This still didn't really help so I changed vet and took him back, where they then said he had pneumonia. He said they would always give baytril first, but since he had already completed two courses he would try something different and gave me two medicines (which had been recommended by lovely people on here too) Septrin and Flagyl. I have to give him 0.5ml twice per day which he hates but it has def helped. He's not rattling when breathing anymore, he's running round a lot more and he is now eating double what he has been before.

I'm not sure if you're lil piggie has the same illness as mine, but if so don't be disheartened other medications are available! x

 

[paulag]

I would take her back to the vets as they will try the most straightforwards thing first - i.e. a course of baytril, but if it's not worked they need to try something else.


I have an elderly girl on furosemide as she has a touch of heart failure we think and gets very wheezy without it. I know that sometimes this is used in addition to antibiotics but I am no vet.

Paula