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Can guinea pig have allergies?

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Joey&Gizmo

Joey&Gizmo

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Ive noticed that Gizmo always sounds as if he has a 'blocked' nose. He does not have any mucus on his nose, no sneezing, no runny eyes and his chest sounds fine. No clicking etc. I weigh him every week and no changes he also has no problems eating and is passing urine/pooping normal. He has been like this every since Ive had him, could it be his bedding? I did use carefresh but now i use megazorb. His friend Joey seems fine. Do some guinea pigs just breath louder than others? I wouldn't say he had any breathing difficulties abd when they visited the vets last year she said there chest etc were fine. Should I just take him to the vets for a yearly check up?
Any advice would be much appreciated to help put my mind at rest.
 
They can have allergies but if you've changed your bedding and he's stayed the same I'm not sure if that's what it is....
 
The hay very often causes mild "snuffles" and allergies, as does bedding - both CareFresh and Megazorb has been known to irritate some pigs. Try and note down when he has his worst bouts of snuffling - write down things like the date, time, how long since the cage was cleaned, what bedding is in, when the hay was last refreshed. If he is an indoors pig, write down whether the central heating has been on too - that's one thing I find can get to some of my allergy pigs (easily dealt with by putting wet towels on the radiators, or using a humidifier).
 
So you don't think it is a start of a URI as he has had it since ive had him from the rescue centre a year ago? I must say I only now notice it more because i think I'm getting paranoid as I read about heart problems and thought oh no i hope he ain't got that. I also looked up the normal respiratory rates and he is in the normal range. Ive just got new hay too from a farm and they do love it and love jumping head first into it so maybe that's whats causing it.
Should i take him to the vets just for a cheak up or leave him be as he hates the vets!
 
Forgot to add he is a indoor piggy and lives in our living room and we have a coal fire which is on all the time now.
 
If you're really worried, I'd take him to the vets. At least that way, you're not missing anything and your mind will be put to rest knowing that your lovely piggie is well and healthy!

A couple of years back we had a beautiful teddy type piggie rescue, she was sadly only with us for a couple of months but she was also a wheezy and sniffly guinea pig. We were told she had always been that way and thats just the way she was. But sadly she died a couple of months later, otherwise healthy apart from the sniffling (as far as we knew). It was a very sad time because it was so sudden, and she had become a lovely part of a gorgeous threesome. Poor Lucky has outlived three of her friends now.

So, my advice is... Get it checked out.
 
I'm just paranoid as they are such a big part of the family I always worry about them. He is definitely not chesty and seems fine today! He is out now for floor-time. But i think i may book an appointment for next week just so they can both have a check up.
 
Hiya there neighbour! I'm not that au fait with hay fever or allergies, but the Sudafed you want is the one in the orange bottle, not the blue (although I gave that by accident to previous pigs and it didn't seem to bother them.)

Not sure which vet you have, but although it's a little bit further up the M4, I'd definitely recommend Mark Bridges at Pugh's Garden Centre near Morganstown and the Real Radio studio (Junction 32, exit for Castel Coch off the A470.) I think I put his details on the recommended vet thread but I can look them up if you need them.

Can't praise the guy enough!
 
Hi! My Kim has has had loud breathing for nearly a year now.She was first diagnosed by the Blue Cross as having a chest infection,although she was perfectly well in herself and eating like a horse,and they put her on various courses of antibiotics,to no avail. I changed vets when i was finally offered penicillin or euthanasia!
I now have a guinea pig savvy vet,who diagnosed an allergy,although we don't know what she is allergic to.After trying everything:Piriton,Sudafed,change of bedding ,elimination of all aerosols etc,the vet suggested using an inhaler,which they use on cats and dogs.This involved using a face mask,and,after trying for ages to get her used to this,i had to give up,and,on the vet's advice made a "gas chamber" from one of those plastic boxes you get from pound shops,with a hole in to introduce the inhaler.
Kim will quite happily sit in this for three minutes twice a day,as long as she has some grass for company.It is too early to say if this will help,but at least we are exhausting all possibilities.Kim remains perfectly well,apart from noisy breathing.
 
Thank you ever so much for sharing your experience with me it certainly puts my mind at rest. Gizmo seems less noisy today and i used the olbas oil last night and it seems to have worked! I will continue to let him sniff the olbas for now and then decide in two days whether to take him to the vets. Ive been given the number of a very good piggy vet from 2 members on here so will visit him if i have too.
Gizmo like your Kim is a very good eater and loves eating in fact! I'm just happy that i have a number of a good vet if i need one as his breathing hasn't worried me that much but on sunday it was so noisy i was worried,but i have been reading about hay-fever on here and it does say that some days can be worse than others.
 
I use Olbas oil too,on top of the cage.
Believe me, KIm has been so loud sometimes that you would think she was about to expire at any moment,but it doesn't appear to bother her at all.The vet says she is very well,and i am sure her quality of life is very good.I just want to try and ensure that this continues.
It is really reassuring to have a vet who knows about guinea pigs,so i know you will get good advice.
 
Yes,i am still using the inhaler twice a day.I can't say i have noticed any difference yet.Her noisy breathing has always varied in intensity,sometimes very loud and rattly,and sometimes only a small wheeze,and that pattern is continuing.
I have only been using the inhaler for three weeks.The vet said use the inhaler till it runs out,and it is still three quarters full,so i'm hoping she may still show an improvement.
 
Is she rattly all the time? Gizmo does not have any wheezing or rattles just very noisy when he eats and earlier he was sleeping so soundly! Its strange as his chest sounds fine and when ive been observing him he is just worse when he is eating and not when he is still or exploring. Just so baffled!
I have my fingers crossed for you that the inhaler will start working for Kim.
 
"Yes,i am still using the inhaler twice a day.I can't say i have noticed any difference yet"

You, as well as your pig!?
 
Sometimes she is quiet,but most of the time she has the noisy breathing,although,as i said,she varies in loudness.When she is loud,she seems to get even louder when eating,and the noise seems to come more from her nasal passages than her chest.The vet said it is difficult to tell exactly where the noise comes from,because of the vibration.
Actually i do have a problem with my sinuses,but am using a Sinex spray,and don't need to borrow Kim's inhaler !
 
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