Guinea Pig Bronchitis

Question
Hello,
I have a 2 year old guinea pig who has recently been wheezing and has a runny nose, etc.  We took her to the vet, where she has been diagnosed with bronchitis in her left lung.  We were given antibiotics for a week, but while they seemed to have some effect, never comepletely worked. Now, about a month later, she still wheezes and sneezes.  However, she remains highly active and eats well.  My questions:  are there other things that could help cure her bronchitis?  Will/could it eventually cure itself, or get worse?  Could she die from it?  
I'd really appreciate your input.
Thank you.

Answer
Hi Christina,

    It sounds to me like your guinea pig may be suffering from an upper respiratory infection (URI) if the medicine for bronchitis hasn't worked.  URI can be fatal if not immediately treated, while symptoms include labored breathing, loss of appetite, lethargy, weight loss, and extra discharge from the eyes.  I suggest that you contact a veterinarian who is experienced in the area of guinea pigs to possibly take an x-ray, listen for fluid in the lungs, check the heart, and perform any other cultures necessary for the diagnosis and prescription of medicine.  If the medicine you are using now continues to be ineffective, then the sickness may progressively become worse and sometimes there is not much you can do about it.

    Thank you for your question, I hope I have been of some help to you.  If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to ask.  Good luck with your guinea pig (=

                                                 - Nicole