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Sick Mochi's Medical Thread

MochiLover

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My guinea pig had labored breathing, coughing,ruffled fur,not eating much,almost always laying down, weird wheezing noises. Took him to the vet and the vet said it’s viral infection and to get a humidifier or nebulizer to help but wouldn’t give him any medication because he’s afraid of antibiotic resistance. We convinced him to give us diphenhydramine but he wouldn’t give us baytril. Is what the vet suggested a good solution? It doesn’t seem like it to me
 

Guinea Pig Papa

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Re: Guinea pig labored breathing and coughing

To be blunt, it sounds like you need a new vet. A proper exotic vet would know that it's more than likely a respiratory infection. If it is indeed viral, antibiotics won't help but they won't hurt either.

It sounds like he's already fairly ill. I would see about finding another vet asap.
 

bpatters

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Re: Guinea pig labored breathing and coughing

Yep, new vet. Exotic vet, not small animal. That means dogs and cats, not pocket pets.

And ditto [MENTION=35161]Guinea Pig Papa[/MENTION] about getting him there ASAP.
 

MochiLover

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Re: Guinea pig labored breathing and coughing

Okay, thank you both. I thought what he was saying was wrong. We’re on our way to an emergency vet since all other vets are closed now :(
 

bpatters

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Re: Guinea pig labored breathing and coughing

Good luck with that. Emergency vets are not known for being guinea pig savvy.

Let us know how he gets along.
 

MochiLover

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Re: Guinea pig labored breathing and coughing

They diagnosed an upper respiratory infection and prescribed baytril. They contacted an exotic vet for the dosage.
Mochi and I are very excited
 

Guinea Pig Papa

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Re: Guinea pig labored breathing and coughing

Glad you got him in and properly diagnosed. Keep us updated on how he's doing!
 

bpatters

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Re: Guinea pig labored breathing and coughing

Very good!

Watch him carefully for any signs of digestive upset. And if it were me, I'd get some BeneBac as soon as possible and give him some after every Baytril dose.
 

MochiLover

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Re: Guinea pig labored breathing and coughing

Yeah I always keep some BeneBac on hand just in case. He’s eating a little more hay but prefers to have vegetables so I’ve been letting him snack on some bell peppers and leaf lettuce
 

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Re: Guinea pig labored breathing and coughing

Don't let him overdo the veggies. They can make poop soft, and so can Baytril, and then all of a sudden he's in trouble. Better to encourage him to eat hay and pellets.
 

MochiLover

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Re: Guinea pig labored breathing and coughing

Okay, thank you for letting me know!
 

MochiLover

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Re: Guinea pig labored breathing and coughing

How fast should I be able to see improvements? He’s coughed twice today and he’s still wheezing/clicking and laying down a lot
 

MochiLover

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Re: Guinea pig labored breathing and coughing

(broken link removed)
here’s a video of him
his breathing sounds worse in the video
 

MochiLover

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Re: Guinea pig labored breathing and coughing

Also I was reading that lasix is good. Would anyone recommend it?
 

MochiLover

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Re: Guinea pig labored breathing and coughing

One more question, would a humidifier or sitting in the bathroom with hot water running help with the noises he’s making?
 

4boipigs

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Re: Guinea pig labored breathing and coughing

Also I was reading that lasix is good. Would anyone recommend it?

My vet gave us liquid furosemide for my CHF pig who had an incredible amount of fluid in his lungs, and it helped improve him greatly (for the short time I had him). It just depends if your pig truly needs it or could go without it. Up to the vet, of course.
 

Guinea Pig Papa

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Re: Guinea pig labored breathing and coughing

You should start to see some results in as little as 48 hours, depending on how sick your little one is. A cool mist humidifier would certainly help with his breathing, but DO NOT put anything like Vicks or any other chemical in it. Just plain old distilled water if you can get it, tap if you can't.
 

Guinea Pig Papa

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Re: Guinea pig labored breathing and coughing

(broken link removed)
here’s a video of him
his breathing sounds worse in the video


Poor little fella. Yeah, it may take a few days for him to feel better. Just make sure he's eating and drinking enough. I believe you already know the drill with a sick pig. Benebac, syringe feeding and the like.
 

MochiLover

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Re: Guinea pig labored breathing and coughing

Okay, we’ll get one of those then. I’ve never had a pig with a uri sound so bad, so it’s worrying me haha.
 

Guinea Pig Papa

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Re: Guinea pig labored breathing and coughing

How is he doing today? Any positive progress?
 
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