Passed on piggy:(

Question
Hi, I adopted two baby brother cavies a year ago from a local Petsmart and one of them has gotten really sick and died today:(. Mocha(the one that died) had a runny nose and discharge from the eyes for about a week. Then things got alot worse. Every time he took a breath he would make a muffled raspy sound that lasted a few days. He was still very active and was eating and drinking normally. Then the sound got louder as the days went on. The last two days you could see his body pumping as he breathed and he lost his appetite and thrist and no longer played and moved about his cage. On the last day(today) he layed in the corner of his cage on his side all day and wouldnt eat, drink or get up. I tryed taking him to our vet but they said that it would be alot cheaper just to buy a new guinea pig than to examine him and that guinea pigs are just to small to work on. Mocha died this evening. Mocha and his brother shared a cage their whole lives and I was wondering what do you think Mocha died from and do you think he gave it to his brother? Thanks for your time:)  

Answer
Callie,

I'm so sorry you lost Mocha. It sounded as though he was very ill, and the negligence of your vet must have been very upsetting and disturbing.

I would find a new vet ASAP and get Mocha's brother to the vet. It sounds very much like a resiratory infection, which left untreated is almost always fatal. Respiratory infections are contagious, and it is very possible that Mocha's brother has contracted the illness.

I would ring around all the veterinary surgeries in your area and ask them if they treat guinea pigs. Register with the one who has the most experience and make an appointment as soon as you can to have Mocha's brother checked over.

The vet you contacted about Mocha is obviously not a particularly caring vet towards smaller animals, so I wouldn't bother with him again. Some vets still seem to live in the dark ages where they think guinea pigs are untreatable and do not respond to veterinary treamtent - in fact it is always the vet who gives up and neglects, the pigs can recover from many illnesses if the vet knows how to treat correctly.
The illness Mocha had was very treatable even just a few days before his passing, and I am deeply sorry you lost him in such a way.

Best Wishes and my deepest sympathies,

- Laura