Oscar - rapid breathing...

I'm having a slight panic. Got home tonight and Oscar hadn't eaten any of his greens that I gave him this morning before I left. He's really lethargic and seems to be breathing really quickly. He has eaten some dried pineapple and a little bit of parsnip but he's not himself at all. I have put a fan next to his pen to blow some air around.... any ideas please?

Has it been warm with you today? Bun maybe needs to cool off a little. Are his ears hot? Make sure he has some water and try to bring him into somewhere cooler.

Do you know if he has poo'ed and pee'd today? If not, you may need to be prepared for a vet visit.

hiya

Thanks for your reply. Yes, it has been really hot here today, hubby said it was reading 25c on his car temperature gauge! Oscar's ears are quite hot but he won't let me put a cold flannel on them. I now have the fan going in his room, don't know what else to do. He had been pooing and peeing today and he's got water but he doesn't tend to drink lots. Hopefullly he's just a bit hot, do you think that would put him off his food a bit?

Its good he has poo'd and wee'd.

Are you able to get some water into him?

Yes and he's just been to the loo again just now. He's tucking into some parsnip, coriander and parsley at the mo so at least that has moisture in it. I don't want to stress him out by syringing water at the mo. He seems to have perked up a little with the fan on him. Thanks Katie.

Its really good he is going to toilets and nibbling.

Has the breathing slowed at all?

You can give him leafy veg but wash it first so it is quite wet, that way he gets some water without drinking. You could also soak some pellets so that gets some water in too. If he is feeling too hot, he might not feel like eating or drinking. It's good he is peeing, but you need to help him to replace the water.

Sorry to hear this. How is he now?

It's good that he's been eating and going to the toilet. Is he still breathing really quickly all the time? Rosie used to breathe quickly sometimes when it was warm, but it would come and go, and she was fine otherwise.

If you feel Oscar's still breathing unnaturally quickly, it might be best to speak to the emergency vet on the phone.

Good luck, let us know how he is. x

Is he okay now? When Luna gets too hot I dip my fingers in some water and just rub it on her ears and it cools her down a bit....I don't think she'd tolerate a towel either!
Hope things improve tomorrow xx

Hope Oscar is ok, have you an ice pod that he could use for keeping cool or a big 2 litre empty pop bottle fill half with water and put it in the freezer and when its frozen wrap it in an old or unused pillowcase and put near him.

Hoping he is feeling better sending Vibes xxx

Morning everyone!

Thanks for all of your replies last night.

Oscar seems to be back to normal again this morning thank goodness. He had eaten all of the veg I left with him when I went to bed and he had been to the loo lots overnight. He ate his spring greens this morning and some pellets so hopefully he was just a little overheated last night. Their room is quite cool today and I have left the black out blinds down with the window open to keep the sun out. I will get some big bottles of water into the freezer tonight so that I can put those in with him.

He does breath more quickly than Bertie and Daisy normally but last night was really worrying.... I dread the summer every year (I know, I am weird!).

Glad to hear he's feeling better.

Oh i missed this, glad to see he is brighter. it does sound very much like he was too hot, like what happened to Pebbles the other week. In the hotter days it probably worth closing the curtains/blind in their room in the day, will help stop the heat a bit.

I did notice oscar chose to sit in the shade all the time when he was hear, he is quite fluffy so i expect it doesnt take long for him to get hot.

Great news - really glad to hear Oscar is back to normal.

SarahJane wrote:Oh i missed this, glad to see he is brighter. it does sound very much like he was too hot, like what happened to Pebbles the other week. In the hotter days it probably worth closing the curtains/blind in their room in the day, will help stop the heat a bit.

I did notice oscar chose to sit in the shade all the time when he was hear, he is quite fluffy so i expect it doesnt take long for him to get hot.

No worries, you have enough on your plate at the moment!

I did have the black out blinds down in their room and the velux windows open but as you say, he obviously got too hot. Once I had put the fan on him for a while he seemed to cool down. I have a fan that I can leave on a timer during the summer months.

Thanks everyone...