coughing

[Lucinda]

Dr coughs a lot. This is nothing to do with his recent illness. He always has. the vet has listened to his chest so many times and says his lungs are fine, and he certainly didn't have any anaesthetic probs when he had his teeth done. Sometimes his coughs are really violent, but afterwards he just shakes himself and gets on with life. Any other coughing piggies out there?

 

[Michele]

could it be asthma?

 

[Lucinda]

The vet says his lungs are fine. Dr does love going under the hay a lot - I thought maybe he gets hay stuck in his throat, or because he has long fur a bit of fur?

 

[Michele]

what bedding do you keep him on? just looking at my books to seeif i can shed any light on this for you

 

[Lucinda]

that's really kind. I use newspaper, sawdust and hay. I know sawdust isn't that good but when I tried without it got so wet and messy.

 

[Michele]

You are going to find that sawdust is the reason why he is coughing. Is there no other bedding you could use? megazorb, carefresh, vetbeds. towels, newspaper and hay, you will find as soon as you change there will be an improvement. its the dust in the sawdust thats giving your piggy an allergic reaction. If you dont want to change then try woodshavings which is slightly bigger its still not a good bedding but it might help.

 

[Michele]

have a look at this it may give you ideas on an alternative. http://www.rspcareadingguineapigs.co.uk/index_files/bedding.htm

 

[Lucinda]

Ok, thanks. I will look into it. I want the best for Dr!
x

 

[Michele]

i know you do. Good luck. and let us know how his weights doing

 

[cutecavy]

How about Vet Bed? That's a very good, comfy and easy bedding for piggies!

 

[starshine]

It probably is the shavings although it is normal for pigs to cough sometimes just as it is for us.

I use this bedding and I love it

www.aubiose.co.uk