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Upper Respiratory Tract Infection

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jackiefoxpark

jackiefoxpark

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Hello everyone I need some advice please. I've just taken my piggy to vet and they think it's a URI. She's had an injection of antibiotics, a diuretic and I have to give her a 1/8th (bd)of a 20mg of ronoxan. She went about 2 hours ago and I have her in the house with me. She's just sitting breathing very fast and I can hear a noise as she breathes. She is eating veggies and I have given her some avipro. I've sat in steamy bathroom for 5 minutes or so with her. Anything else I can do to help her. I am desperate to save her as she has been so special . Thanks for any help .
 
What kind of antibiotic is she on? Ronoxan is new to me re. guinea pigs, but I think it is being used for other small rodents in connection with baytril, so I assume that it is to counter the often devastating effect of baytril on the guts. Your vet seems to be up to the snuff as she has prescribed a diuretic which should help to ease the congestion in the lungs.

You are doing all you can. It is still a good sign that she is eating and hasn't lost her appetite completely. Please weigh her once daily at the same time to make sure that her food intake is indeed adequate; just watching can be deceptive. If necessary, top her up with some mushed up pellets or recovery food; just as much as she will take. If you hand feed, please also offer her water.

Now you just need to let the meds do their work; I know the wait is the worst, but she will hopefully start feeling better within herself within a day or so.
 
I think Ronoxan is Doxycycline? my Nigel was on it when he arrived. Great that she has been given diuretic, has she also got tablets for at home?

Good idea on the steam therapy, it always helps. I would also ask the vet for Bisolvon which helps clear mucous.

If the Doxy does not help it may be worth asking about Zithromax (Azithromycin) as it is also very effective on URIs.
 
helen105281 said:
I think Ronoxan is Doxycycline? my Nigel was on it when he arrived. Great that she has been given diuretic, has she also got tablets for at home?

Good idea on the steam therapy, it always helps. I would also ask the vet for Bisolvon which helps clear mucous.

If the Doxy does not help it may be worth asking about Zithromax (Azithromycin) as it is also very effective on URIs.
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Thanks! I am familiar with doxycycline and know that it often works well for URI, but when I googled ronoxan, it didn't come up with that connection.
 
Thanks for reply. She is about the same. Breathing is still quick and noisy. I am going to vets again tomorrow x
 
Did they give you extra diuretic to give at home?
 
I have been to the vet's and she is a bit better. The vet says she is a lot more optimistic. Her breathing is better and not as noisy. I have to continue with anti biotic and also metacam. I'm hoping she's going to make it. xx
 
Glad she seems to be improving. Did the vet not think she needed any more diuretic or Bisolvon?
 
No I asked her and she said she didn't want to risk dehydrating her. I have been springing her avipro and a bit of the feed.( she has been eating some veggies and a bit of her normal pellet food) I am going back again on Monday.
 
Hello just an update. Binky is improving - she is still on ronoxan but still sounds noisy when breathing. She is due back to vets on Monday. I'm worried she will deteriorate once off anti biotics. Anybody any ideas? Thanks x
 
She may need a longer course of antibiotics if the symptoms have not cleared up or even a switch to something like Zithromax. When you say her breathing is noisy do you mean in her nose? or is her breathing laboured? If she still has any fluid she may need more diuretics, I know your vet was worried about dehydrating her but it is usual to give extra fluids while on diuretics such as Dioralyte which also helps the electrolyte balance.
 
I'm going to ask the vet for some diuretics on mon. Sounds almost like its in the back of her throat. She seems good apart from that. I'm desperate to get her better as she's just so special . Having her in the house with us has made me realise this even more. Thanks for reply xx
 
Sounds like its in the back of her throat. Ruttley is how I'd describe it. She's good apart from that . Thanks for reply xx
 
Just to update you. I took Binky to vets on fri as her breathing was still noisy. They didn't feel she had deteriorated just plateaued. They gave me baytril to give her as well as the ronoxan. She has made a lot of improvement and I went back today and they said that there was now only very slight noise - back to virtually normal. I have to keep her on antibiotics for a few more days. I hoping she won't relapse now. Thanks for everybodies help xx
 
Another update. Binky went to the vets again on Monday and although much improved her respiration was still slightly quicker and still a slight noise. She is still on antibiotics and due to go back on Monday. The noise has increased again when she is stationary for any length of time. She is eating well again. Any ideas?
 
Is it still in her throat?

Has the vet mentioned if there is any more fluid? if so she would need a longer course of diuretics

A Heart issue is also a possibility, I can list the other symptoms if needed but it can include rapid breathing.

Other possibilities are an allergy or some kind or dust.

Has she ever been given Bisolvon to clear any mucous?

An xray would be a good idea (conscious) to check the lungs and heart aswell as her throat area if possible.
 
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Has she got any diuretics or bisolvon to help get any remaining mucus out of the system? I would continue with the offering her steamed water to help ease her breathing.

A narrowed air way can make the breathing louder and more noticeable when a piggy relaxes; I see that in one of my sows, which has finally been diagnosed with lung disease (most likely from a not completely healed out URI I know she had earlier in her life before she came here aged 4 years old). It also doesn't take much, like a bit of dust or pollen to make the breathing worse if she is still somewhat congested.
 
Yes it did get worse after I have just sat with her on the lawn. It also was worse when I put her in the shed again. She is currently in the house again with no bedding(towels only) and dust extracted hay. But she doesn't seem to be responding to anti biotics - ronoxan and baytril. I am going to vet this afternoon now as she sounds worse. I will ask about anything to get rid of mucous/ fluid again as I have done before but they didn't want to give anything. I've done some steam treatment as well .
 
If there is no improvement, you may want to consider stronger antibiotics with your vet. Marbocyl is very good with respiratory infections according to an exotics vet with a specialisation in guinea pigs; zithromax can do the trick as well.
 
I took Binky to the vets on Friday and always she doesn't do the breathing that sounds all rattley in the back of her throat. The vet couldn't hear anything only a slight noise when listening with the stethoscope . She had put on weight as well. She gave me more of the baytril and ronoxan. I still don't feel that binky is right but they don't want to give her anything different. I am going on hols on sat and know I can't leave her. We are going in the caravan so I am planning to take her. I am just at a loss as to what else to do.
 
I think it may be worth seeing a different vet who would consider Zithromax or Marbocyl and also Bisolvon. She also needs an xray to rule out anything else such as a heart issue or fluid or something in her throat.
 
I have taken her to alfreton park and Ellie is now on maternity leave. Claire has been treating her. I've looked on the vet locator and that is the only one in this area. I'll google to see if any others. Thanks for the support xx
 
Sorry to start this up again but what happened with Binky? did the she get better - sounds similar to what Fluffy is going through.
 
I am just sat at the vets. She did get better but we have just collected her from our rels as we have been on hols and she has started with the laboured breathing all over again. She seemed fine when we collected her. I think it's the chest infection again - we are at out of hours vet and they have taken her from us at the min which I don't like at all. I'll update later x
 
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