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Pompom funny noise

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Chrissy24

Junior Guinea Pig
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I have an appointment booked for 3 but what could it be? She makes a funny squeak when breathing. She's eating which is good but concerned. Going to also get the vet to double check their sex as I found it hard.

Blossom has been popcorning though which is great!
 
Chrissy24 said:
I have an appointment booked for 3 but what could it be? She makes a funny squeak when breathing. She's eating which is good but concerned. Going to also get the vet to double check their sex as I found it hard.

Blossom has been popcorning though which is great!
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Hi

Guinea pig airways are very narrow and small, so every little obstruction is always very audible and can cause quite a wide range of different noises. 'Funny' or 'Weird' unfortunately covers a rather wide field; especially without any access to your piggy.

Here is our Sexing Guide that aims to teach you how to learn exactly where to look and feel, and what to look and feel for with plenty of reference pictures of guinea pigs of all ages. The more owners are able to sex their opwn piggies, the better. It is not the worst life skill to acquire as you never know when it is coming in handy.
Please keep in mind that any vet who is not very familiar with guinea pigs may not be able to sex a piggy properly; we have seen cases on here. You will still want to double-check for yourself.
Here is the link to our Sexing Guide. Illustrated Sexing Guide

All the best for your vet trip. Please take the companion, too.
Tips For Vet Visits
 
Well unfortunately she has a bad chest infection. She's been given antibiotics a steroid injection for inflammation and something else I've forgotten. She's also got a very low temp. She may not make it but I'm going to do my best. Been told to contact the shop as its likely she has had it before I got her.

Any tips on keeping her tempted with food? What's your piggies faves? Thank you. Really gutted
 
I'm sorry to hear she is unwell.

Its important you switch from routine weekly to instead weighing her daily so you can keep a close eye on her hay intake and also so you can know you are syringe feeding her enough to keep her weight stable. Poorly piggies will often reduce their hay intake, which will result in weight loss. It is essential you step in and syringe feed her while she is unwell to support her and this is as important a step as medication.

The guides below detail how to syringe feed.

Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
Weight - Monitoring and Management
 
Chrissy24 said:
Thank you I will read up on all of that! I'm going to get a heat pad too for extra warmth
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BIG HUGS

Good that you have seen a vet promptly! But I am very sorry that you have go the worst possible news. Without a recording (ideally on a public setting on youtube and then copied across into your post) we can unfortunately not comment on what it could be and whether it is serious or not.

Pneumonia and serious chest infections can unfortunately come full on right out of the blue and can at the worst kill within hours; nothing to do you with your good care, so please do not feel guilty or like you have failed a piggy of yours.
We call these things 'walking pneumonia' but they are generally caused by one of the real nasties - pneumococcus, streptococcus, bordetella etc. They can happen to anyone and are what I call 'cosmic bad luck': not something you can prevent and you just being unlucky if they hit a piggy of yours. Most long term owners come up against health issues like this sooner or later. :(

Please warm the heat pad only to half-heat but so more often so it is always just comfortably warm but not too hot. Low body heat is unfortunately not a good sign but keeping her warm and snug is one of the best things you can do for her.

Step in with syringe feeding, little but often; making sure that the previous lot has gone down. The Emergency Guide tells you exactly how to do it and what to look out for; especially when a piggy crosses the line and is no longer able to process feed.

I am keeping my fingers very firmly crossed that your little one can make it through.
 
Today there's not much improvement. I've given her medication and recovery food but only managed 2ml before she struggled. She seemed to like the taste though. Her friend Blossom licked it off her fur where it got a bit messy.

I'm going to try again in 2 hrs. Poor thing is going to hate me before I even get to know her. 😔 but I'm trying to keep everything as calm as I can.
 
Chrissy24 said:
Today there's not much improvement. I've given her medication and recovery food but only managed 2ml before she struggled. She seemed to like the taste though. Her friend Blossom licked it off her fur where it got a bit messy.

I'm going to try again in 2 hrs. Poor thing is going to hate me before I even get to know her. 😔 but I'm trying to keep everything as calm as I can.
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Fingers VERY firmly crossed.

I am never happy having to link this guide in, but it helps you to know whether your piggy has crossed the line of no return and what supportive measures you can take before and afterwards so you can make the whole process as easy and kind on your poor piggy as possible and not feel as helpless and overwhelmed yourself: A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs
 
Thank you. It is very helpful although sad too. Pompom has separated herself a bit. She's in a corner so I'm watching her carefully. It's so heartbreaking
 
I’m really hoping the medication starts to work soon. It can take a few days before you notice a difference. Carry on with the syringe feeding as this will keep her going until she is well enough to eat for herself. Good luck
 
I’m so sorry that you are in this position. You are giving her the best chance by having medication and syringe feeds. Everything crossed for her.
 
Chrissy24 said:
Thank you. It is very helpful although sad too. Pompom has separated herself a bit. She's in a corner so I'm watching her carefully. It's so heartbreaking
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HUGS

It always is and it never gets any easier. Just keep her warm but not hot and as comfy as can be. You are doing all you can.
 
Chrissy24 said:
She's willingly taken 2ml of feed in the cage. Very slow but had it all so I'm going to try more in a little while. She's had some water from her bottle too.
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Just hang in there. All you can do is ride the tiger to wherever it takes you. It is a tough time because of the constant change in emotional highs and lows with the inevitable sleep deprivation and exhaustion not helping, either. Make sure that take the time for yourself to snatch some sleep and have some rest, too!

HUGS
 
We got through the night but now she's got gunky eyes . Not eating on her own . 😪
 
You are doing absolutely all you can. I hope you see an improvement soon 🤞
 
Her breathing isn't as loud so I'm taking that as a good sign. She had hay in her eye so I got it out and her eye is fine. She's sniffing about the hay so I'm hoping she'll start eating
 
Sorry I have another question. When should I see real improvement if she's going to improve at all?
 
Chrissy24 said:
Sorry I have another question. When should I see real improvement if she's going to improve at all?
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I’ve not had to deal with this issue myself. But I don’t think you can put a time on it. Each case is different. The antibiotics will take a few days to kick in. All you can do is give the meds and syringe feed her. Sorry I can’t be more helpful.
 
Yes I understand. Always hard to tell. In the meantime here's some pics. Blossom fed from my hand today fir the first time. She's been popcorning and is a funny little girl. Pompom just sitting in the hay 😔
 

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Chrissy24 said:
We got through the night but now she's got gunky eyes . Not eating on her own . 😪
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Please contact your vet clinic and ask for bisolvon (mucus thinning medication) to help free up the upper airways. Also enquire about nebulisation; generally any mild antiseptic added, like saline or F10, will help with killing bacteria but you may enquire about their advice. In a pinch, you can steam up your shower or bathtub and have your piggy in there for half an hour.
A regularly replaced bowl of steaming water with 2 drops of olbas oil (NOT vicks) may also help as an emergency measure to help ease the breathing. The need to breathe comes before the need to drink and only thridly the need to eat; that is why any serious respiratoray infection is always a double whammy on the gut in combination with an antibiotic.
First Aid Kit: Easily available non-medication support products for an emergency

All the best.
 
She is still eating on her own but us very slow and still not moving much

Blossom has been mounting her today and they keep putting noses together. Pompom gets a but annoyed and pushes her nose away with a little nip.

Should I be concerned ?
 
Well she's made it through the week! She is no longer breathing heavily and is drinking and eating. Not eating loads so am going to top up 4 tines a day with the syringe feeding as advised by my vet today. She us however starting to fight me more with the antibiotics and got excited for some pepper today. Its slow but I'm hoping she will recover.
Blossom is definitely a girl but probably trying to assert her dominance. Or maybe coming into season .? Pompom still manages to tell her when she's had enough. Their noses touch and pompom nips Blossom away. Blossom seems to be a bit of a diva!
 
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