URIs?

[RubyPiggie2]

I think Pippy has an Upper Respitory Infection. He has harsh breathing (usually when he looks up at me and tries to squeak, or just breathe... It dosen't happen all the time), and is pretty much lethargic. Are URIs deadly? I've been told they are, and contagious. Right now, he's with Chubby.
Before anyone says "Take him to a vet ASAP!!!", I am, don't worry. Tonight I can't really do it (vets is closed right now, I just called), but tomorrow I am coming home from my cousins house, calling the vets, and seeing if they have an appointment for that very day (Saturday). But if they don't, it's going to have to be an emergency vet (oh dear..) or Monday. . . But I don't think I'll be able to wait that long without something worse happening. My father has already agreed to taking Pippy and Chubby tomorrow to the vets office.
Is there anything I can do before tomorrow? I'm not going to be here tonight, so I'm going to ask my sister to go in their room tonight and tomorrow morning to check up on him.
Thanks for any help... I really need it now!

 

[pookczek]

Is there any way you can take him to the Emergency Vet/Pet hospital now? From what I understand, time is of the essence with URI's.

 

[dagwellismypigy]

I think tommorow would be good, as early as you can though, make sure he is eating and drinking.

 

[cavylover_76]

You need to act as QUICKLY as possible!!!
My gp died last weekend from an URI and it happened FAST. Like a matter of hours kind of fast.

I'm not trying to scare you, just save you from a loss like mine. I hope your piggy feels better.

Best wishes,
Marie

 

[RubyPiggie2]

I called the vets office the next morning to see if there were any appointments on Saturday. I was going to take Pippy and Chubby in that day, but there were no free appointments. I was at my cousins house. I was just about to go home and take Pippy to the emergency vet when my sister called.
Pippy died before I could get him anywhere, to the emergency vet or the regular vet. I had already scheduled a Monday appointment (still taking Chubby) at 2:00pm, and was going to take Pippy to the emergency vet when I got home. It really does happen fast... almost too fast. I just hope the rest of my pigs don't end up with URIs.
Chubby is SO scared.. he's not used to being alone. He darts everywhere in my arms, in the cage... It's very abnormal of him. He's usually so people-friendly.
I had Pippy in a fleece blanket on Friday.. I shook it out after I was done and put it in the laundry basket.. half of it hanging on the ground. I forgot about it and my girls got floortime, and were sniffing it and trying to pull it down. Can they get URIs too? God, I hope not, then that means a trip to the vet for everyone.
I just don't get it. . One minute he was there, the other he wasn't. I was going to get him to the emergency vet as soon as possible, but it was too late.
So what I'm going to do now is take Chubby on Monday, then periodically throughout the week take all my other pigs (5 more) in to make sure they don't have URIs. Does this sound OK? I've checked all my pigs and they don't have any difficulties breathing right now.. Can the vet appointments wait till Mon/Tues/Wed? Of course, can't do it tomorrow... Easter Sunday...
I'm going to disinfect the entire cage, grids and coroplast... hidey houses... water bottles... With 1/2 vinegar and water, isn't that right?
Hopefully no one yells at me this time... because I was trying as fast as I could, I called home numerous times for check ups on Pippy, was ready to leave in case he got worse.. I scheduled 2 appointments(had to cancel 1 because it was the wrong time), told my dad and mom that we needed to take him to the emergency vet... Tried everything that I could to help Pippy, but it didn't help at all..

 

[cavylover_76]

I'm sorry to hear about Pippy. My George died as quickly. My other GP is fine, and did not catch the URI. He was lost, too. I adopted a new pig around 5 days after George died. I wasn't really ready, but Superman needed someone.

I would see about just taking everyone in at once. The doc may cut you a break in price considering the situation.

Again, I'm sorry for your loss.
Marie

 

[pookczek]

Hopefully no one yells at me this time... because I was trying as fast as I could, I called home numerous times for check ups on Pippy, was ready to leave in case he got worse..

No one's going to yell at you - we totally understand and share in your sorrow. I think it's a great idea to take everyone else in. You're doing the right thing
I'm very sorry for your loss. *hug*

 

[Denise]

So sorry for your loss, Ruby.

 

[critterlover]

URIs are very contagious. Pneumonia is transmitted quickly through bacteria. Weight/monitor your other pigs twice daily. If they have breathing difficulties, this means pneumonia. Best not to wait until they get to this stage. Other symptoms are crusty eyes, watery eyes, sneezing, wheezing, weight loss etc.

Vinegar is not good enough. According to my vet you need to use bleach:water, 1:40. Rinse the cage extremely well after using the bleach.

 

[lindsey's boys]

I'm sorry. It seems like a lot of pigs are dying from URIs. I think Shaggy died from a URI, Rodney was in the same cage at the time and he's fine. I wouldn't worry too much if I were you. Just don't put the pigs in that fleece, ect.

 

[Slap Maxwell]

Thank you so much for posting this. (How sad it is)

It saved my pig Maia's life.

 

[*Piglets-Angel*]

:'( Im so sorry for your loss ruby it seems like everything is fading away, Hammer&Sarahs hamsters died like this January, Hammer and Sarah were their names as you can see her username they were awesome lil critters, then my baby piggie Piglet died ="( this is a sad year me and Hammer&Sarah are having, everything is leaving us, ever since her hamsters died, we have been so miserable, bad things are happening, its just terrible, so as you can see, we know how you feel, so me and Hammer&Sarah say, "feel better soon"!!!

 

[Cherryrosed]

I feel awful about your piggy dying. I am going to watch my girls very closely for signs of illness.

 

[Ly&Pigs]

I'm very sorry for your loss Ruby, I know you loved Pippy.

 

[RubyPiggie2]

I'm taking in all 6 of my pigs to the vet, once I convince my mom to let me take trust money out. It's going to cost about $170 for check ups alone, then antibiotics will probably cost way more, so I'm begging my mom to let me take out $300. Does anyone know if this will be enough? I'm really concerned, Simon sneezed once today and so did Chubby(Pippy's cagemate). I'm going to try to get Chubby in the earliest (in a few days MAX), then Simon, then all the girls at once. I'm just so... worried.
So, to break me once more, today I got into a fight with the previous guardian of Pippy. OK, she never spent a freaking penny on Pippy or a minute. I brought her supplies and food for him, because I was concerned. And then she wanted Pippy to be "hers", even though I was taking care of him, in my house, with my money. Anyways, that was a few days ago. Today she asked me how Pippy was... So I told her. We were too late to the emergency vet, and he died. So then she goes, "YOU KILLED HIM." .... Yadda yadda yadda. She went off, called me an f***ing b**ch, said I was a murderer, and kept reminding me that I killed him, saying I watched him die. It really got me going, really got me mad.
So I have questions. Before becoming another "murderer", how can I totally disinfect the cage? In VERY simple terms... I'm not too good at understanding sometimes.
Am I doing everything OK right now? As in terms of vet stuff... How early? I want to get it all done by Monday. Is that quick enough? Too long? Thanks everyone...

 

[wuany]

I'm sorry to hear of your lost. I had a similar situation. Don't let anyone harass you and call you that. You tried and unfortunately things didn't go so well. You were the one who cared in the first place. She has no right to be that way. I wouldn't speak to her anymore if that were me.

 

[RubyPiggie2]

Thank you so much for posting this. (How sad it is)

It saved my pig Maia's life.

Is Maia ok?

 

[*Piglets-Angel*]

Sheesh, Pippys previous owner was a jerk, I feel so sorry for you for what she said to you. I think $300 should be enough. Yes your doing everything ok now, im afraid this is all i can help you with, its up to the other users now.

Good Luck RubyPiggie2!

 

[RubyPiggie2]

I'm sorry to hear of your lost. I had a similar situation. Don't let anyone harass you and call you that. You tried and unfortunately things didn't go so well. You were the one who cared in the first place. She has no right to be that way. I wouldn't speak to her anymore if that were me.

She tried to come over after our fight, asked me to come over. Definately no... I'm not going to talk to her again, I don't want to at all.

 

[Ly&Pigs]

Don't let her make you believe that you killed him because you didn't. To disinfect, use a bleach solution of 1 part bleach to 10 parts water. That will clean and disinfect everything.