My piggy, Ben is about 2 years old, the last 24 hours or so he has been making a small noise almost like a squeak when he is breathing. I checked his nose and
eyes and all seem clear and normal and he is eating and going to the bathroom normally, he is my 1st pig and he has never made this noise before...(I have only
owned him for 2 months) should I be concerned, any ideas???? Thanks
0 Kudo
Concerned about noises
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 lovemyben |
Concerned about noises |
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Posts: 5 10/05/08 09:10 AM |
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PooksiedAnimals |
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Posts: 4114 10/05/08 06:08 PM Moderator |
Like a hoot or a wheeze?
It could be lung congestion, which is often caused by a URI, or as a byproduct of heart disease. You should bring him to a cavy-savvy vet to have him looked over. If its a URI, a course of antibiotics should cure him. If its heart disease, lasix can get the fluid off of the lungs, and a heart medication should help with his heart and his breathing. The sooner he can be looked at, the better - both can cause a guinea pig's health to decline rapidly. |
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lovemyben |
Hard to describe | #2 | ||
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Posts: 5 10/05/08 07:25 PM |
The noise he is making is hard to describe, its not really a wheeze, its almost a grunt and he is now making it with every breath....I am so worried...I have
yet to be able to locate a vet it my area that takes guinea pigs....I am really nervous........
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PooksiedAnimals |
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Posts: 4114 10/05/08 08:10 PM Moderator |
Stuff like this is so hard to even take a stab at over the internet. Have any of the vets in your area recommended one that will take guinea pigs? That's
how I found mine (when one place said they wouldn't see guinea pigs, I asked where I could take them). Does the yellow pages list any exotics vets, or ones
that specialize in reptiles or birds? You're most likely to find a guinea pig vet there.
Grunting could be from pain. But it could be anything. Best you can do is keep him warm, make sure he's eating and pooping/peeing. And keep calling around! I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you. Hopefully you can find a vet that will take him! |
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lovemyben |
Good New | #4 | ||
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Posts: 5 10/06/08 07:08 AM |
I checked superpages.com last night and found a vet who takes guinea pigs, she was not in the area lat night but recommended me to an animal hospital who was open 24 hours a day..it was expensive but worth it. We tool him in last night and the vet diagnosed him with the beginning of pneumonia, we caught it in time!!!! He was given a shot of antibiotics and something to ease his discomfort. He was then put in an oxygen tank for awhile. I am glad to report that this morning he is breathing normally and running around and eating!!!! He will be on antibiotics for 10 days but then he should be fine! Thanks for your advice! |
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PooksiedAnimals |
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Posts: 4114 10/06/08 08:05 AM Moderator |
Thanks for the update. That's great news. Guinea pig illnesses are easier to treat when caught early.
What kind of antibiotic is he on? He should be feeling a lot better now. You may want to watch his appetite for the next few days. Some pigs are sensitive to antibiotics, and will lose their appetite or get diarrhea. Giving them a probiotic can help with this (such as crushed acidophilus tablets sprinkled on food). |
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lovemyben |
Thanks | #6 | ||
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Posts: 5 10/06/08 11:05 AM |
Thanks for the advice, so far lettuce is all he seems to want, he is not into his carrots and tomatoes as usual. In the "ER" last night he was given
Enrofloxacin injection meloxciam and lasix, also .01 ml of terbutaline....he was also in oxygen tank for awhile. I have to follow up with enroflox for 10
days. He also said to supplement with organic baby food if he is not eating or if I need it to help with his meds.
He is feeling alot better...any advice on what foods I should offer him??? |
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PooksiedAnimals |
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Posts: 4114 10/06/08 11:54 AM Moderator |
If you can get your hands on some Critical Care (should be available at the vet), that would be a good thing to feed him if he stops eating on his own.
Do you have a scale? Weighing him daily, especially when he's sick, goes a long way in knowing if he's getting better or not (a steady drop in weight is not good). Basically, keep offering him the foods he normally eats. If he's refusing his favorite treats, its a little worrisome. The important thing is that he keeps his weight up. |
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AmeliaDaisy |
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Posts: 1601 10/07/08 08:39 PM |
Congratulations on your quick action-it definitely saved your pig! Keep up the antibiotics and feeding.
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MaineShutterbug |
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Posts: 82 10/13/08 06:43 AM |
 wow I am so excited your ER vet know what to do! I know they are a
wonderful team, but when my last pair of pigs were in distress in the evening, I rushed the sick one in to the ER and all they could do was give her fluids
& send her home. She had a grand mal seizure & died in my arms on our way home. Our ER vet clinic doesn't usually have an exotic specialist on
staff. UGH
Hurray for feeling good pigs! Nothing else makes the human heart feel better 
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