My Guinea Pig is sick! Help!

Question
I dont know what to do!

My Peruvian guinea pig, Hermione, is sneezing, wheezing, her eyes are crusty and she's very warm and I dont know what to do. I dont have the money to take her to the vet, (I dont have 400 bucks to shell out) and I hate seeing her suffer. She is eating carrots, but I cant tell if she's eating her food or not, she's in there with another piggie but I'm afraid if I seperate them, they might become upset. She does eat some carrots when I offer them too her, but thats about it. And she was wheezing alot the other day, but the wheezing seemed to have stopped - now she's just sneezing a bit. I dont know if she has an upper respiratory infection or if its just allergies.

I had another guinea pig, a year or so ago named Patsy that wasnt eating and he was lethargic. I took him to the vet, and they gave him some antibiotics but it didn't do much because he died a few days later.

I just dont know what to do. Please help!

Answer
She does have an Upper Respiratory Infection, it may or may not have turned into bacterial pneumonia. She does really need antibiotics, but there are a few things that can be added to antibiotics or you can try using, but they are not guaranteed to work. You should however separate the two pigs, URI's are contagious and the other pig could catch it and die. First give her some Robutussin DM cough syrup, use 1/8 tsp twice a day, also put a dab of Vicks Vapor Rub on her nose about 4 times a day, these will help clear out any drainage, also if possible take her in the bathromm when someone is taking a shower, the steam also helps clear the lungs. If you have a Tractor Supply Company (TSC) near by they carry antibiotics that you can use on her, it is called Sulmet, a bag typically cost around $10, you just mix up 1/2 a pinch of antibiotic in 1/2 tsp of unflavored Pedialyte then place it in a syringe and give it to her directly in the mouth, do this twice a day, this antibiotic might also be available at other farm stores. If you do find the antibiotic you might also want to give the other pig a tiny bit once a day also to ensure it doesn't get sick. Petco also sells a liquid for Upper Respiratory infections for Rabbits that you could use, I have never tried it before but I would not use it with the cough syrup if you wanted to try that. Also increase her vitamins and keep her eating and drinking. Let me know if you have any more questions, good luck with your piggy.
Brittany