What Should Be Used In A Nebuliser

[Lily & Rose]

My two year old guinea pig, Rose, has chronic respiratory problems and we were advised by my vet to buy a nebuliser to help with her lungs. I bought a nebuliser about a month ago and initially I was using F10 with water (1:250), but this made Rose very ill. I read on another thread that F10 can cause adverse reactions if there is a lot of inflammation on the lungs. I contacted my vet about this and she advised me to use just water, which I have been doing for the past few weeks. A couple of days ago I was re-reading the instructions which came with the nebuliser and it says don't use just water. I looked online and in humans this can cause narrowing of the airways. I'm really worried about using water in the nebuliser now. I have read that some people use saline water and I just wondered whether people make their own or is this something that I should get from the vets? Any help would be much appreciated. Thank you.

 

[DM030819]

What reaction to F10 did your piggy have? My boy has been fine on it for about 7 months of on and off use.

My vet did ask me if I didn't mind using saline solution next time, just to see if F10 makes a visible difference. I've not needed to try it yet though.

Whenever I can I'll buy pre-mixed just so I don't run the possibility of mixing it wrong. My F10 is pre-mixed.

If your pig has bad respiratory problems antibiotics can be used in a nebuliser too. It might be worth asking about that.

Good luck with your piggy.

 

[Lily & Rose]

Thanks for your message! After Rose's first use with the nebuliser using the F10 solution, she laid down and was breathing very heavily. That week before using it, she had finished her antibiotics and seemed so much better - she was so lively and happy. I continued using the F10 solution for a couple more days and she became so ill that we thought she was going to die. She made crying noises when she breathed and couldn't seem to swallow. I stopped using the nebuliser for a week and she slowly got better. That was when the vet suggested to use just water. I hate using the nebuliser now, as I'm always worried that it's going to make her ill. If she gets really ill again, I will ask about using antibiotics in the nebuliser. Do you use the nebuliser just when your boy's breathing is bad or do you try and use it everyday?

 

[DM030819]

Bless her, it sounds really scary. I'm not surprised that you don't want to use it again!

My pig only has a go with the nebuilser when he needs it. The vet and I can't work out what exactly is wrong with him. He can have noisy breathing one day and be fine the next, and it doesn't match the colder weather. We've found that on a bad day, if we nebulise him 2-3 times he's okay again. If not then it's off to the vet to see if it's a URI. The vet think it might be an allergy or simply a bit of mucus getting caught in his airway somewhere as their airways are tiny and the nebuilser helps loosen it so he can sneeze it out.

 

[amy104]

Saline on its own can have good effects, you can also add medication to the saline if vets advise it. In bunnies I've added baytril (injectable is best as the oral stuff foams like mad in the nebuliser).

 

[Lily & Rose]

Bless her, it sounds really scary. I'm not surprised that you don't want to use it again!

My pig only has a go with the nebuilser when he needs it. The vet and I can't work out what exactly is wrong with him. He can have noisy breathing one day and be fine the next, and it doesn't match the colder weather. We've found that on a bad day, if we nebulise him 2-3 times he's okay again. If not then it's off to the vet to see if it's a URI. The vet think it might be an allergy or simply a bit of mucus getting caught in his airway somewhere as their airways are tiny and the nebuilser helps loosen it so he can sneeze it out.

That sounds just like our Lily. She had a very mild respiratory infection in April and since then every now and again she sounds blocked up for a few days. I have some bisolvon, but I only want to use that if it gets very bad. Although, I think I will try using the nebuliser first with her.

 

[DM030819]

I have noticed that with my pig that sometimes he can sound worse after the first nebulisation. I had a chat to the vet about it and she said it can happen as it's loosening up any mucus build up. It's common for them to sneeze out snot or cough afterwards.

You could always try having her in the bathroom with you when you have a steamy bath, when she's a bit snuffling, if you're still wary of the nebuliser. Ask them vet to see what they think. Nebulising is kind of the same thing.

 

[Lily & Rose]

Saline on its own can have good effects, you can also add medication to the saline if vets advise it. In bunnies I've added baytril (injectable is best as the oral stuff foams like mad in the nebuliser).

Hi Amy, do you know where I can get the saline? Do you buy it from the vets? Thanks

 

[Mackers]

I used contact lens saline solution in mine. Ready mixed and sterile until opened. Available pretty much anywhere.

 

[Guinea-pigGaga]

Absolutely only when necessary/during an exacerbation. Have you had a culture performed etc? Or considered an underlying condition? For example, a heart condition?

 

[Lily & Rose]

Absolutely only when necessary/during an exacerbation. Have you had a culture performed etc? Or considered an underlying condition? For example, a heart condition?

Rose has had various tests and x-rays. She started with a URI last December and it never really went away. She appears to be very healthy most of the time, but when she rests, her head moves as she breathes. Rose had another respiratory infection in July which caused her to be bloated. Her lungs looked very cloudy on the x-ray. Her infection has gone now, but she still breathes funny when resting. We see a guinea pig specialist and she said that Rose will probably need to use the nebuliser everyday for the rest of her life. I did wonder before about her heart, but she regularly runs laps around the lounge and her hutch, so I'm not sure if it would be that. What do you think about using water alone in the nebuliser? Thanks.

 

[Guinea-pigGaga]

Do not think that using a nebuliser on a daily basis is a good idea. Would have a culture performed. Would be discussing steroids.

 

[Tiamolly123]

I have noticed that with my pig that sometimes he can sound worse after the first nebulisation. I had a chat to the vet about it and she said it can happen as it's loosening up any mucus build up. It's common for them to sneeze out snot or cough afterwards.

You could always try having her in the bathroom with you when you have a steamy bath, when she's a bit snuffling, if you're still wary of the nebuliser. Ask them vet to see what they think. Nebulising is kind of the same thing.

Hi Amy, do you know where I can get the saline? Do you buy it from the vets? Thanks

I agree with Jaycey on a steamy bathroom, I know my son had a bad chest & it worked on him. Trouble is with a piggy it may be to hot. It may be OK if you put Rosie on a covered ice block.

 

[Lily & Rose]

Do not think that using a nebuliser on a daily basis is a good idea. Would have a culture performed. Would be discussing steroids.

Thank you for your advice. Rose had cultures taken in March. The vet didn't mention doing some more. What would they be looking for in the cultures? Also, what would steroids be used for? Sorry for the bombardment of questions!

 

[Lily & Rose]

I have noticed that with my pig that sometimes he can sound worse after the first nebulisation. I had a chat to the vet about it and she said it can happen as it's loosening up any mucus build up. It's common for them to sneeze out snot or cough afterwards.

You could always try having her in the bathroom with you when you have a steamy bath, when she's a bit snuffling, if you're still wary of the nebuliser. Ask them vet to see what they think. Nebulising is kind of the same thing.

Yes I think I will try that with both Rose and Lily in their pet carrier, as it should help them both.

 

[Guinea-pigGaga]

Steroids reduce inflammation (Steroids also suppress/weaken the immune system - Hence, one should be sure the recipient is otherwise healthy). Should only be prescribed if the potential benefits of treatment outweigh the risks.

 

[amy104]

I used contact lens saline solution in mine. Ready mixed and sterile until opened. Available pretty much anywhere.

This. I nebulised a rabbit daily for a year with vets permission. He was of course investigated for cause, but as there was some allergy element it was agreed this was safe to do in order to keep him comfortable.

 

[Lily & Rose]

This. I nebulised a rabbit daily for a year with vets permission. He was of course investigated for cause, but as there was some allergy element it was agreed this was safe to do in order to keep him comfortable.

I used contact lens saline solution in mine. Ready mixed and sterile until opened. Available pretty much anywhere.

Thank you for letting me know. I will have a look in Boots tomorrow.

 

[Lily & Rose]

Steroids reduce inflammation (Steroids also suppress/weaken the immune system - Hence, one should be sure the recipient is otherwise healthy). Should only be prescribed if the potential benefits of treatment outweigh the risks.

I ended up phoning the vet and she doesn't think steroids will be necessary, as Rose is doing so well and they might not be suitable due to the condition of her lungs. The vet has also told me that I don't need to nebulise everyday now, that was just if I was using an F10 solution. She has said that I can just use the nebuliser when her breathing gets bad and saline would be good to use. Thank you again for your help.

 

[Lily & Rose]

Bless her, it sounds really scary. I'm not surprised that you don't want to use it again!

My pig only has a go with the nebuilser when he needs it. The vet and I can't work out what exactly is wrong with him. He can have noisy breathing one day and be fine the next, and it doesn't match the colder weather. We've found that on a bad day, if we nebulise him 2-3 times he's okay again. If not then it's off to the vet to see if it's a URI. The vet think it might be an allergy or simply a bit of mucus getting caught in his airway somewhere as their airways are tiny and the nebuilser helps loosen it so he can sneeze it out.

Hi, I was just wondering whether you wash the nebuliser apparatus after each use when you nebuliser your pig 2-3 times in a day, or do you just wash it at the end of the day? Also, how long do you use the nebuliser for each time? Rose is having breathing problems again. I nebulised her for 10 minutes this morning and was wondering whether to try it again later. But in my nebuliser instructions it says to wash the apparatus and leave to dry fully after each use. If I did that it wouldn't be dry until tomorrow. Thanks

 

[Tiamolly123]

My two year old guinea pig, Rose, has chronic respiratory problems and we were advised by my vet to buy a nebuliser to help with her lungs. I bought a nebuliser about a month ago and initially I was using F10 with water (1:250), but this made Rose very ill. I read on another thread that F10 can cause adverse reactions if there is a lot of inflammation on the lungs. I contacted my vet about this and she advised me to use just water, which I have been doing for the past few weeks. A couple of days ago I was re-reading the instructions which came with the nebuliser and it says don't use just water. I looked online and in humans this can cause narrowing of the airways. I'm really worried about using water in the nebuliser now. I have read that some people use saline water and I just wondered whether people make their own or is this something that I should get from the vets? Any help would be much appreciated. Thank you.

Saline is probably the best, that's all my son had in his nebuliser

 

[Lily & Rose]

Saline is probably the best, that's all my son had in his nebuliser

Thank you. I have bought some saline from the vets and used it for the first time this morning with Rose. It seemed to be a lot more effective than using just water alone, which was what my vet said to do.

 

[DM030819]

I just wash the little bit that the liquid goes in each time. I usually wash the pipe/tube out every couple of days and then switch the nebuliser on without the attachment to blow any water left in it through.

Once I needed to use it desperately and it was still wet so I quickly gave it a blast with the hairdryer.

I had a word with my vet and the company I bought it from and they both said a 30 minute session is fine if you're just using F10 or saline. You can use it for as long as you like as long as the liquid doesn't run dry.

If you're using medicine in it then you can only use it for as long as the vet says.