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Can A Uri Drag On For Months?

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Dilly's Piggies

Dilly's Piggies

Teenage Guinea Pig
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I have 3 piggies that all regularly get a snuffly nose and crackly lungs (when I place my hands around their chest I can feel crackling), with my 2 younger piggies (Lottie and Harriet, 11 months old) it's very intermittent, they will get a short episode of it and then it goes away, I'd say every 3-4 weeks they get like this, it usually lasts 1-24 hours, nothing ever comes of it but because it keeps coming back is why I'm asking, the snuffly sounds can be relieved by a cough or sneeze.

Now my older sow Aspen, she is 1.6 years old, she has done this since she was 6 months, around the same age Lottie and Harriet started doing it too, but with Aspen she gets this almost daily, always relieved by a sneeze never a cough so I wonder if she has allergies. They all present exactly the same symptoms it's just that Aspen has it almost constantly and Lottie and Harriet get it intermittently, I've heard allergies in Guinea Pigs is quite rare so I'm not sure of the odds that all 3 have allergies, it always starts when they have their heads buried in the hay or maybe I just hear it more at that time because they are smelling and sniffing. They can get tiny crusties on their eyelids and the eyes can get a little puffy, in Lottie's case as she has pink skin around her eyes they look slightly red too. I've never seen eye or nasal discharge, when I look the nose is completely clear. Lottie has been rather quiet for the past few days also but no symptoms are progressing for a URI like it typically would, she has actually stopped snuffling now.

Harriet is my smallest piggy, she is not losing weight but she's not gaining either, she's sticking around 950g which isn't that bad but all my others are over 1000g so I feel she should be heavier than she is. Lottie's weight is good and Aspen's weight is VERY good lol! Aspen sticks around 1450g and my biggest pig, she obviously has no problems with eating. All of them are bright and alert, Lottie is just sleeping a little more and seems cold and tired, she's also more willing to be cuddled when usually she'd be off exploring, she could just be maturing but it's still different behaviour for her. Harriet hasn't snuffled for a month but her weight and body condition is my main concern, and obviously Aspen's daily snuffles.

What do you guys make of this situation, could they have URI's that drag on for 6-12 months, can a URI clear itself up without the need for antibiotics and then come back and so on?! (My sow Tizzie used to do this and she was put on antibiotics for a urinary tract infection and has not done it since, makes me wonder) I've also had another piggy do this and she had an enlarged heart.
 
Have you had them all xeayed to check rhe condition of their heart and lungs?

They all sound very much like my Anselmo was. He had a URI when he was younger, snotty nose and all. It was quite persistent and took quite a while to clear.

Later in his life he started with the noisy, honky, huffly breathing. There was no discharge and antibiotics did nothing. He could be huffly for a few hours or a couple of days.

My vet told me about how tiny a guinea pigs airways are. And having a bad URI earlier in life could easily have compromised it. And so, any irritant could cause the airway to block or swell making his breathing noiser and/or more laboured.

Also, that would be why antibiotics did nothing, there was no infection.

We managed the condition using a nebuliser and antibacterial solution. Sometimes it made him sneeze and the huffling would cease immediately, sometimes it would take a few rounds but it did seem to ease it.

My vet also wondered about genetics, are your pigs related, or from the same rescue/shop/breeder?
 
Jaycey said:
Have you had them all xeayed to check rhe condition of their heart and lungs?

They all sound very much like my Anselmo was. He had a URI when he was younger, snotty nose and all. It was quite persistent and took quite a while to clear.

Later in his life he started with the noisy, honky, huffly breathing. There was no discharge and antibiotics did nothing. He could be huffly for a few hours or a couple of days.

My vet told me about how tiny a guinea pigs airways are. And having a bad URI earlier in life could easily have compromised it. And so, any irritant could cause the airway to block or swell making his breathing noiser and/or more laboured.

Also, that would be why antibiotics did nothing, there was no infection.

We managed the condition using a nebuliser and antibacterial solution. Sometimes it made him sneeze and the huffling would cease immediately, sometimes it would take a few rounds but it did seem to ease it.

My vet also wondered about genetics, are your pigs related, or from the same rescue/shop/breeder?
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None have had xrays but they've been checked by my vet about this, Aspen and Lottie were clear at the vet (obviously!) but Harriet did have some crackling and was prescribed antibiotics for a URI for 2 weeks, however this was a while ago when it first presented at 6 months old, she hasn't seen the vet since, the antibiotics did clear it but obviously it's coming back intermittently. I'm really struggling financially at the moment so money is the sole reason they haven't had chest xrays yet, I've forked out near £1000 recently for Tizzie who has still unresolved bladder troubles, it's just very hard and my vet is reluctant to do payment plans on this as they consider it 'optional', I am so desperate at this time to get everyone sorted out and my pigs are my utmost priority, I'm just struggling at the moment sadly with everything happening at once. :(

Aspen came from a small pet store so is not related to them and Lottie and Harriet are sisters, Tizzie is their Mum, I got them from a breeder
 
I completely understand when it comes to finances. It always happens all at once, and you're doing your very best.

When one of them is snuffling try moving them into a washing basket and putting a hot steaming bowl of water next to her, see if that makes a difference. You can always try it next to the cage, but I usually find that the pig is too far away for it to have any real benefit.

If it eases the snuffling a little then I would definitely consider asking the vet about other options, such as a nebuliser.

Before I got mine I used to take Anselmo into the bathroom with me with his dinner whilst I had a hot steamy bath.

It wasn't a miracle cure as sometimes he needed a few rounds and it never completely went away but if it is something in their airways then it unfortunately never will.

I wonder whether it could be genetics as the two little ones are sisters and have the same issue.
 
Jaycey said:
I completely understand when it comes to finances. It always happens all at once, and you're doing your very best.

When one of them is snuffling try moving them into a washing basket and putting a hot steaming bowl of water next to her, see if that makes a difference. You can always try it next to the cage, but I usually find that the pig is too far away for it to have any real benefit.

If it eases the snuffling a little then I would definitely consider asking the vet about other options, such as a nebuliser.

Before I got mine I used to take Anselmo into the bathroom with me with his dinner whilst I had a hot steamy bath.

It wasn't a miracle cure as sometimes he needed a few rounds and it never completely went away but if it is something in their airways then it unfortunately never will.

I wonder whether it could be genetics as the two little ones are sisters and have the same issue.
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I've noticed it's much worse during cold weather, Aspen has it regardless but simply turning up the heating really helps her, the same for Lottie and Harriet too. I wrote a post asking about air purifiers and humidifiers as I've heard they help piggies with breathing troubles but I didn't get much response so I'm not sure still on that. The nebuliser sounds like a good thing, but I bet it's expensive lol! I have tried the steaming bowls of water next to the cage as well as turning the heating up and that did help them, but as you say they're too far away from the steam to really get a benefit from it. For some reason the windows in the room they are in let a lot of draft through, I've been keeping the curtains closed the last couple of days to keep the draft out and that likely helped, I have no idea what's wrong with the windows, they're double glazed but I can't pin point where the draft is coming through, it seems to be everywhere! I really feel like Aspen has allergies, Lottie has a URI and Harriet possibly a heart issue, but obviously I need chest xrays to find out. :( I've even applied for a loan so hopefully that'll come though soon and I can get everyone sorted, driving myself crazy here lol! :mal:
 
CavyConnoisseur said:
I've noticed it's much worse during cold weather, Aspen has it regardless but simply turning up the heating really helps her, the same for Lottie and Harriet too. I wrote a post asking about air purifiers and humidifiers as I've heard they help piggies with breathing troubles but I didn't get much response so I'm not sure still on that. The nebuliser sounds like a good thing, but I bet it's expensive lol! I have tried the steaming bowls of water next to the cage as well as turning the heating up and that did help them, but as you say they're too far away from the steam to really get a benefit from it. For some reason the windows in the room they are in let a lot of draft through, I've been keeping the curtains closed the last couple of days to keep the draft out and that likely helped, I have no idea what's wrong with the windows, they're double glazed but I can't pin point where the draft is coming through, it seems to be everywhere! I really feel like Aspen has allergies, Lottie has a URI and Harriet possibly a heart issue, but obviously I need chest xrays to find out. :( I've even applied for a loan so hopefully that'll come though soon and I can get everyone sorted, driving myself crazy here lol! :mal:
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That is EXACTLY like Anselmo was. I could only have the window open during summer and every time he went to the vet he would be snuffly for days after wards, no mattee how well protected his carrier was.

My nebuliser was quite expensive, around £70 but I went for the easy option and bought it from the same company that sells F10 (a solution to use in it) as the company was 10 minutes drive from work.

There are cheaper option on Amazon.

I'd have a try with a bowl of steaming water and holding them near it with some veg. And if it helps them see what your vet thinks about using.a nebuliser.
 
I have insurance now I have 3 little piggies it works out at about £15 per pig and their covered for £2000 each. It's called exotic pets and from what I know is the only company that insures guineapigs x
 
ChloeCee98 said:
I have insurance now I have 3 little piggies it works out at about £15 per pig and their covered for £2000 each. It's called exotic pets and from what I know is the only company that insures guineapigs x
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Is that exotic direct? I've looked into that very seriously but from what I see you're only allowed to insure 3 pets at a time and I'm not sure they cover pre-existing illnesses, do they? I also have 8 piggies so that'd be £95 a month on the basic cover, ouch! :eek:
 
CavyConnoisseur said:
Is that exotic direct? I've looked into that very seriously but from what I see you're only allowed to insure 3 pets at a time and I'm not sure they cover pre-existing illnesses, do they? I also have 8 piggies so that'd be £95 a month on the basic cover, ouch! :eek:
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Yes it's exotic direct. Oh bless you :( I'm not to sure tbh as my pigs don't have pre-existing illnesses (touch wood). But I insured 2 them put Hudson onto that plan so I think you can just keep adding. I pay £48 a month but mines the premium one. I'd rather pay that than have to fork out £1000 per pig on a routine check up at the vets that turns into a nightmare :(

It's something we all have to take into consideration when we buy pets :( maybe it would work out better if you set aside a bit of money each month for them instead?

Hope you get this sorted x
 
ChloeCee98 said:
Yes it's exotic direct. Oh bless you :( I'm not to sure tbh as my pigs don't have pre-existing illnesses (touch wood). But I insured 2 them put Hudson onto that plan so I think you can just keep adding. I pay £48 a month but mines the premium one. I'd rather pay that than have to fork out £1000 per pig on a routine check up at the vets that turns into a nightmare :(

It's something we all have to take into consideration when we buy pets :( maybe it would work out better if you set aside a bit of money each month for them instead?

Hope you get this sorted x
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Yes I do have a vet fund account but it all went on Tizzie recently lol! I put aside some money every month as it is but it's hard when it all goes like that, I would even get insurance for 8 of them if they funded pre existing illnesses as that's the problem I'm having atm, it starts with one problem then it snowballs into others and constant back and fourth from the vet for meds and check ups, it all adds up :( I will get them sorted one way or another, we do anything for our babies, it's just very stressful when it happens like this and you're a bit stuck, I'm pretty sure we've all been here, just nice to have others here to talk to at these times so I don't feel so alone and terrible, thank you for your kind words :)
 
CavyConnoisseur said:
Yes I do have a vet fund account but it all went on Tizzie recently lol! I put aside some money every month as it is but it's hard when it all goes like that, I would even get insurance for 8 of them if they funded pre existing illnesses as that's the problem I'm having atm, it starts with one problem then it snowballs into others and constant back and fourth from the vet for meds and check ups, it all adds up :( I will get them sorted one way or another, we do anything for our babies, it's just very stressful when it happens like this and you're a bit stuck, I'm pretty sure we've all been here, just nice to have others here to talk to at these times so I don't feel so alone and terrible, thank you for your kind words :)
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Do they live indoors ?x
 
ChloeCee98 said:
Aww hopefully I can have a set up like this one day! Have you got a dehumidifier? My partner is going to get one for me, maybe that could clear their breathing up?c
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I don't have any machines like that but I have asked about them, I suffer with asthma and allergies so it would benefit me as well as them so people say, since I have so many piggies in one room I feel like I should have an air purifier at least, that's probably one of the causes. I'm hoping to buy one once the loan comes through after the piggies get their vet care, fingers crossed! Lots of people like my set up but if I'm honest I think it's a touch small, particularly the bottom cage, I'd like for it to be at least 6x4, it's 2 grids short of that so of course I'm not perfectly happy with it lol, but there are 5 sows in the bottom and 3 in the top. If I had room their cages would be double this size but as you can see we don't have much more room so we make do! :)
 
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