Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Small pets

Mumsnet does not check the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you're worried about the health of your pet, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Guinea pig with a chest infection

50 replies

PurpleDaisies · 03/02/2016 15:08

Mr Pig is having a tough time at the moment. He went off his food about a couple of days ago but seemed happy in himself so took him to the usual vet for a quick check for anything obvious (nothing to be seen) and we're off to the specialist teeth vet on Friday. I thought it would just be a case of syringe feeding him until then but today he's started breathing really noisily. We've been back to our local vet who thinks he might have a chest infection and I'm really worried about him. He's on antibiotics, probiotics and painkillers, as well as the syringe food, so I know he's on the right treatment but it's just so heartbreaking. I know you shouldn't really have favourites but this little guy that no one wanted is just lovely. I know pigs and chest infections don't really mix and I'm already feeling really sad.

OP posts:
FernieB · 03/02/2016 15:32

Poor Mr PigThanks. They can recover from chest infections and it sounds like you've got him early. Hopefully the medicine will kick in soon and do its job. They do love to worry us (it gives us something to do in between trips to the fridge to fetch cucumber).

My boys will keep their paws crossed for a speedy recovery.

Original poster
PurpleDaisies · 03/02/2016 16:03

Thanks Fernie, the wheezing is really horrible and o just feel really sorry for him. Hopefully the antibiotics will kick in really soon.

OP posts:
FernieB · 03/02/2016 16:55

Keep him warm and cosy. Perhaps an evening snuggled up in front of the TV and he might let you join him. Try and tempt him with his favourite snacks. It's horrible when they're sick.

EastMidsGPs · 03/02/2016 17:23

Sending positive vibes to Mr Pig. We've all got our paws crossed for him here. Mollie had what was diagnosed as 'guinea pig bronchitis' was very unwell, her breathing sounded dreadful - could be heard in the next county ... touch and go for a bit. She rallied and is fine now 8 months on. Although she still sounds snuffly and sort of groans sometimes when she breathes. At last visit Dr Chris said she seemed to be the fittest sick guinea pig she'd treated.
Where there is life there is hope ... come on Mr Pig ... get well .. spring is just around the corner.

Original poster
PurpleDaisies · 03/02/2016 17:28

Thanks all. It's really great to hear some positive tales of Guinea chest problems. He's got some grass which he's sort of sniffing at and he gets his next lot of slurry (syringe food) as soon as dh is home from work. I'll keep you posted.

OP posts:
Buttercup443 · 03/02/2016 18:17

Purple, sending your little piggy lots of get well soon wishes. Really, really keeping my fingers crossed Flowers

Original poster
PurpleDaisies · 04/02/2016 09:32

The news from the Mr Pig household is that his breathing sounds a lot better this morning. He still seems bright and alert (rumble strutting at the girls as usual). There is still no eating apart from tiny veg pieces but hopefully the vet will be able to sort out his teeth tomorrow.

I know things can change quickly but for now things seem OK.

OP posts:
EastMidsGPs · 04/02/2016 14:38

SmileSmile keep fighting Mr Pig .. we're all rooting for you

FernieB · 04/02/2016 17:09

Great to hear Mr Pig is rallying enough to keep his ladies in order and get you to cut his veg up really small specially for him.

It's great news. We'll keep paws and fingers crossed for him.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 04/02/2016 21:57

Aww MrPig, you need to rally old bean. You've been through a lot of changes and your duty bound to spoil your new Pig Wives.

It sounds like you caught it early so giving MrPig optimum chance.

This cold damp weather does no favours for guineas.

Paw holding from the 70 hogs

Original poster
PurpleDaisies · 04/02/2016 22:13

He's been a bit quieter today with less of an attempt to eat the grass than usual but he did manage to sprint around like Usain bolt when we tried to catch him. He was supposed to be out for a run around but he mainly sat next to the radiator. The breathing is definitely better and he's taking the syringe food really well. Off to the dentist vet tomorrow morning. Really hope it's just a case of teeth trip and back to normal.

Thanks so much for all the messages of support. Flowers

OP posts:
EastMidsGPs · 05/02/2016 07:02

Good luck at the vets Mr Pig.
EastMids GPs will be with you in solidarity ... we have a routine appointment this morning .... are we going to be mardy with the human later!! ... regardless of the treats/bribes she supplies Smile

Original poster
PurpleDaisies · 05/02/2016 12:03

I dropped him off this morning. Mr Pig seemed to enjoy the road trip and was squeaking to the other animals in the waiting room (including a big dog that would probably have liked him for dinner-Mr Pig has always been too inquisitive for his own good). The vet couldn't immediately see anything much wrong with his teeth but he's kept Mr Pig for an anaesthetic, X Rays and some filing down. Hopefully he should be home tonight. The Mrs Pigs are a bit subdued so I've given them extra grass.

Just waiting for the phone to ring now.

OP posts:
EastMidsGPs · 05/02/2016 13:22

We've been to vets and are currently sulking. Both had MOT and were pronounced fit and well. Sadie had cuddle with both vet and nurse and throughly enjoyed all the attention. As all this was going on .. a loud crunching noise could be heard from the carrier ..M was fortifying herself with celery ... well a girl has to eat Blush
Hope phone call comes soon and the news is good. All 🐾🐾 crossed 🐹🐹

Original poster
PurpleDaisies · 05/02/2016 13:24

Girl pigs do the best judgey looks! I've been in to mine to cheer them up and they're looking at me as if I'm the child catcher who's stolen their dear love away.

Glad yours are doing well EastMidsGPs. Shamrock

OP posts:
FernieB · 05/02/2016 17:33

Hope Mr Pig is okay after his dentistry.

I've not experienced the judgey looks of girlie pigs yet but girl bunnies give the most terrifying evil eyes. My dopey boy Current Bun can only manage a benign glance, but my previous girl was scary.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 05/02/2016 17:42

The teeth at the back are hard to see Purple they have very narrow little jaws (that can fit a load of food) and they aren't the most obliging patients.

YY to girl guineas evil looks. Add a Ruby Eyed Stare into the mix and you have my GP5 who can freeze the marrow in your bones Wink

Best of luck MrPig, be home soon.

Original poster
PurpleDaisies · 05/02/2016 18:51

Dh is on the way home with Mr Pig now. He had a spike on a very back tooth which had caused an ulcer. He also has middle ear infections on X ray but the vet thinks they're likely to be incidental. Bizarrely almost exactly the same as our dearly departed other Mr Pig (RIP)-I hope this little guy makes a better recovery. The vet says he's pretty confident he should be fine with a few days of syringe food, a longish course of antibiotics and painkillers. Fingers, paws and everything crossed for him.

70 Mr Pig is a ruby eyed Himalayan who can do the death stare when he's grumpy. The red eyes make it so much more effective!

OP posts:
Original poster
PurpleDaisies · 05/02/2016 20:29

He's back and looking thoroughly miserable Sad. I'm sure it's a normal reaction to having your mouth messed around with but it isn't nice seeing him look so pathetic. He's pulled all his hay out of the hay rack and has been trying to eat little bits of it which is a good sign. I really hope he looks better on the morning.

OP posts:
EastMidsGPs · 05/02/2016 21:07

Welcome home Mr Pig - for u 🍉🍇🍀🍏
Wishing you a speedy recovery .. but make sure you milk the sympathy, treats and cuddles for all its worth 😊 (if you need any pointers on this contact Mollie EastMids as she's got the 'pathetic me' look down to a fine art!)

EastMidsGPs · 06/02/2016 13:26

How's Mr Pig today?

Buttercup27 · 06/02/2016 13:31

I was just about to write the same op 2 baby piggies both on antibiotics with chest infections (but both still eating loads thankfully ) and big pig is on precautionary antibiotics just in case (he didn't go to vets as no symptoms ). Poor Percy Pig also needs eye drops as he had a piece of hay stuck in his eye which has caused an ulcer.
The vet has advised to dampen down all bedding to avoid hay in their eyes (but surely with chest infections this can't be good) cab anyone suggest any other type of bedding that won't get into eyes?

Original poster
PurpleDaisies · 06/02/2016 14:13

Mr Pig is doing really well this morning. He looks much brighter (still grumpy mind) and has started eating small, soft vegetables. He's having a go at the hay (I'm not sure totally successfully but he's been trying) and rearranged the newspaper in his hutch. No attempt at the pellets yet but the vet warned it would take a little while for the ulcer to heal so we're continuing with the syringe feeding. All positive so far. Smile

OP posts:
Original poster
PurpleDaisies · 06/02/2016 14:20

Sorry to hear your piggies have been under the weather buttercup. Eating loads is definitely a good sign though! Doc you get probiotics as well as antibiotics? Sometimes antibiotics can give them runny poo. Your poor Percy pig's eye-I've never hear of hay doing that before. Get well soon to him. I don't use it myself but I've heard megazorb is good for bedding.

OP posts:
Buttercup27 · 06/02/2016 15:48

Just antibiotics and a return visit to the vet next week. The hay was tucked deep under his bottom eyelid and must have been so sore. It was a little weepy yesterday so I had a look and bathed it. Went to check on him first thing and it was dry but struggled to open it. Luckily the vet had an appointment free this morning and found it. He has given him eye cream which needs applying 3 times a day, but the hay caused an ulcer 3/4 the size if his eye so worse case scenario he may lose his eye Sad but the vet said the cream is very strong and as he is young and still eating lots etc he has a good chance of it getting better.
Just off to do 2nd lot of cream and take more veg treats .