Smoothpig help please!

[FernieB]

My piggie boy, Smoothpig, is not looking well. He's been looking a bit scrawny and elderly for about 6 months but has been behaving normally.

This morning he seems to be breathing a bit heavily, as though he is panting. He is still eating and pooing/weeing as normal. Has just polished off some celery leaves and is eating hay at the moment. There is a poo pile in his house.

Not sure whether to try to get him to a vet this weekend, or monitor him and take him to our regular vet when they're open on Monday.

Advice welcome please.

Ahh poor Smoothpig

Does he sound raspy in his throat, if you hold him up to your ear?
He might have a respiratory infection, (we've had warm/cold/dreary damp weather) and given his veteran years , it might be best to have him checked. (? antibiotics)
Is your vet closed over the weekend? Do they have cover or is it one of those Emergency Vet covers

Is he too warm ?

Our GP2 started looking middle aged in his last few months - it's like they shrink, lose their cuddly fat and their hip bones stick out a bit.
But most noticeable was his eyes, instead of being popped out and round, they seemed to be a bit hollower looking and oval, gave him a wordly wise look. The ole' devil still ate and poohed.

Guineas can suffer heart problems, even strokes in older years (like humans)

Bless his cotton socks, hope he picks up.

Thanks 70. He doesn't sound raspy but he does look a bit hollow eyed. Over the last few months he's just become 'old'.

Our vet is closed over the weekend and their emergency cover is a fair distance away. My only option would be the instore vet at P@H. I would rather go to my own vet, but want to do what's right for him.

He seems quiet and is curled up with some parsley. I may just monitor him. I don't want to start ferrying him around to vets with all the stress that would cause him if I can avoid it. It's so difficult to know what to do. He doesn't appear to be in pain and I can stroke him without him squeaking - when he's been injured before, stroking caused squeaks (normally he is a silent pig). I think I'll wait for my vet in Monday unless he goes dramatically downhill.

Aww poor boy, give him a stroke from me. Why do they choose the weekend to be ill. In your shoes I'd do the same as you're doing.

Fingers crossed he is just snoring

Just checking in on SmoothPig, how is the little boy doing today?

Thanks 70. He's had a handful of spinach and some cucumber and one of Current Buns biscuits. He's still panting a bit though, but in all other ways is fine.

We had them on the sofa with us for ages yesterday and Smooth had lovely cuddles with everyone else and seemed very happy. I held naughty Scruffy who is a known wriggler/biter. He escaped under the sofa and had to be chased out with a stick and then wee'd on me twice .

Think I'll take them both to the vets tomorrow for a check. Smooth just doesn't look 'right', although it could just be age.

Trust your instincts, it'd be a weight off your mind to get him checked over.

Could be age related as you say , without doubt , guinea-pigs do change when they get middle-aged, it's unavoidable.

Heavy breathing/laboured breathing could be the heart becoming less efficient , more fluid building up in his lungs?
Your vet can listen to his chest with a steth, and may well suggest antibiotics to cover (then you have all the joy of dosing them)

It's always heartening to know that they're eating, once they lose the desire to eat, it's not good news for piggies.

GP4 and GP5 send paw-holding (and they had their claws trimmed this morning so they won't pinch him )