Well earlier today I had to take one of my two Guinea Pigs to the vets as he seemed tired and his breathing was as if he was making strange noises like wheezing, rattling or even crackling, he looked and still looks as if his heart is racing. The vet had a listen to him and said she thought he has got Pneumonia but he has eaten a treat as well as just eaten some food.

I have obviously since then been looking up about Pneumonia in Guinea Pigs and seen that they need to be separated so that they do not pass the infection on, but seeing as he has eaten a treat as well as some food just a minute ago and the only signs of anything wrong are that of breathing problems/looking as if his heart is racing should I separate him from his friend or wait until tomorrow when I have taken him back to the vets?.

Its just that he does not seem to be off his food and he was given an injection earlier by the vet so what do I do for the best, I have not long read the advice about separating them so am now in two minds.

I look forward to advice.

Thanks in advance.

P.S: I will also add that he has also been having a wash/cleaning himself as usual although it might be that he has got Pneumonia but the very early stages in which case is he less infectious or the same?.

Hi,

Sorry, only just seen this. How did you get on? Mine struggled with pneumonia, but he was on his own. We thought it had cleared up after a few months, but unfortunately the infection was still there and was a factor in his further ill health. Hopefully your piggy is okay.

Hi,

Sorry, only just seen this. How did you get on? Mine struggled with pneumonia, but he was on his own. We thought it had cleared up after a few months, but unfortunately the infection was still there and was a factor in his further ill health. Hopefully your piggy is okay.

Well he is still eating and drinking and seems much livelier than he did this time last week, I took him back to the vets on Friday and they said he had one lung that seemed clear but the other one was still a bit blocked so to carry on the medication and take him back next week.

I don't want to be cruel to him but last week I had been wrapping him in a towel like the vets do but he took his medication with no problems until Thursday/Friday and now he is much better he has decided he was not happy taking it, I looked up on the internet for alternatives so I could get him to take his medication and yesterday decided to ditch the towel and instead lay the towel out on the settee and then lay him on it on his back between my legs and last yesterday and today he has taken the medication with no problems.

He also seemed to be getting a bit stressed by Thursday/Friday what with being wrapped in a towel so I made the decision yesterday to just give him one dose a day instead of two, I love him and want him to fully get over it but at the same time I just do not want him to feel and get stressed when taking his medication and touch wood he will happily take his medication all this week with the new way we are giving it to him by the towel on the settee and him on his back between my legs.

I would add that I'm very sorry to read about your poor piggy.

From the sounds of it, he seems to be getting a lot better which is good to hear. They do get stressed quite easily so anything that eases that is always good. Just make sure to keep an eye on him, just so that the infection goes properly.

Thank you. Yeah, I ended up taking the extremely difficult decision that you have to take at the vets once my little fella's back legs gave up the ghost. It just wasn't fair on the poor guy, he was just struggling getting around. That was about 9 months ago now and I just can't bring myself to get another one. We had 2, and he was the last one to go. He lasted just short of 2 years longer than my other one. They were my boys, and I miss them, but I had them sent to Whitley Brook and both their ashes are on my bookshelf and in between is a porcelain piggy that is the spitting image of my 2nd one.

when my adult 4.5 year old piggie started to wheeze,we took him to the vets.. who told me he had phenomena and the next 48 hours will be critical she was not eating or drinking nor pooing.. we had to hand feed the pig, with antibiotics,and special liquid food.. it was awful thing to do.... she just wanted to hide herself under the straw and die..
2 days later she died... her body was shutting days when we took her the vets.. all the vet wanted was his £40 fee.

Good that the OP's guinea pig got better (I hope he is still going strong!)

My 5 year old guinea pig got pneumonia a couple of years ago and sadly died. I noticed she seemed unwell on Friday, and booked a vet appointment for Saturday morning. When I came to take her out of her cage to go to the vet she was limp and just lying there trying to breathe. When she got to the vet the nurse realised she was really ill and took her off to be given oxygen until the vet was ready to see her. The vet felt she should be put to sleep as soon as possible. It was all quite shocking as she had been relatively normally the day before.

I felt guilty for not taking her to the vets on the Friday, but the vet reassured me that even if she'd been brought in sooner they may not have been able to save her. (The vet I go to is very good, it specialises in exotic pets/small animals, so they know what to do with guinea pigs - I'm sorry to hear about the callous behaviour from the vet above zoepaul). I'm glad she didn't suffer for long at least. She was a good age for a guinea pig, and I think she was struggling with the heat - it was July and very hot (for the UK). We live in a flat which we were struggling to cool down.

In terms of other guinea pigs catching it - her young friend who was about 6 months at the time was fine physically, although I did take her in to the vets a week or so later just to be sure. She obviously missed her friend though/didn't like living alone, so we bought a new guinea pig a little while later.