Could My Boar Have A Hay Allergy?

[Jesse's pigs]

I recently posted a thread on whether my piggy had a URI as he keeps sneezing. I had many responses which put my mind at ease as you all said that it was unlikely with what I was describing,as well as the vet who said he was fine. Now he was on antibiotics but they did nothing but put him off his food and give him diarreah so I stopped. Apart from sneezing he is fine: eats basically everything,popcorning, sleeping,wheeking and drinking. I did bed him on sawdust but changed after the vet said it could be the cause. Now he is on fleece. However now I'm wondering is it his hay? He will be 1 in January and it is only since October that he has been sneezing. I always give him a mix of meadow hay and some from my local petshop. Before he was having Timothy but I changed because it was expensive and my rabbit doesn't eat it(they don't live together).


So if it is a hay allergy- is it deadly? I have got new hay that I will try but he is still sneezing and it is more notable at night. I know guinea pigs have to have hay so I can't just stop giving him it. Any help or anyone else who has experienced this? Thank you.

 

[JenniferG]

Could it be that the hay is dusty? I use a good quality meadow grass hay, from untreated meadows, and since I changed to fleece bedding, we haven't had any rattling breathing or sneezing. Which is the new hay you've bought?

 

[Jesse's pigs]

Could it be that the hay is dusty? I use a good quality meadow grass hay, from untreated meadows, and since I changed to fleece bedding, we haven't had any rattling breathing or sneezing. Which is the new hay you've bought?

This hay is from a fellow guinea pig owner who has a farm. I bought some to try and see if there is any difference. I do see that this hay is in more little bits- not as long as his last. He eats it as he has all the others but still sneezing.

 

[Jesse's pigs]

Could it be that the hay is dusty? I use a good quality meadow grass hay, from untreated meadows, and since I changed to fleece bedding, we haven't had any rattling breathing or sneezing. Which is the new hay you've bought?

It doesn't seem to be as dusty as the one from the pet shop and there is less dust in the hay rack once it's all gone. I always give it a shake and pick out the longer bits before giving it to him.

 

[JenniferG]

I do prefer long hay. I wonder if that hay has been treated with pesticides and how it has been dried. This is the hay that I buy for example -

"Bunny Fresh Grass Hay is a hand-picked mixture of the first and second crop of untreated meadows from the southern German Allgäu. The hard-structured, coarse consistency provides excellent help with tooth abrasion and general dental care. A large proportion of healthy herbs and green foliage plants add rich variety.

Bunny Fresh Grass Hay is dried carefully in a barn to avoid nutrients being destroyed by persistent rain or exposure to the sun.

Especially careful, traditional harvesting processes ensure an optimal content of important nutrients and fibres."

Bunny Fresh Grass Hay at zooplus

 

[JenniferG]

It doesn't seem to be as dusty as the one from the pet shop and there is less dust in the hay rack once it's all gone. I always give it a shake and pick out the longer bits before giving it to him.

I'd be concerned by the dustiness.

 

[Wiebke]

I recently posted a thread on whether my piggy had a URI as he keeps sneezing. I had many responses which put my mind at ease as you all said that it was unlikely with what I was describing,as well as the vet who said he was fine. Now he was on antibiotics but they did nothing but put him off his food and give him diarreah so I stopped. Apart from sneezing he is fine: eats basically everything,popcorning, sleeping,wheeking and drinking. I did bed him on sawdust but changed after the vet said it could be the cause. Now he is on fleece. However now I'm wondering is it his hay? He will be 1 in January and it is only since October that he has been sneezing. I always give him a mix of meadow hay and some from my local petshop. Before he was having Timothy but I changed because it was expensive and my rabbit doesn't eat it(they don't live together).


So if it is a hay allergy- is it deadly? I have got new hay that I will try but he is still sneezing and it is more notable at night. I know guinea pigs have to have hay so I can't just stop giving him it. Any help or anyone else who has experienced this? Thank you.

It is likely hay dust he could be reacting to; some piggies are more sensitive than others. Please try a range of dust extracted hays, one after the other and see whether one of them makes a difference. Keep in mind that it takes a while to clear all dust/pollen, so give a bit of time unless the sneezing gets worse instead of better.

And no, it is not lethal; just an inconvience!

The other aspect that you have to consider - did you start heating indoors around that time? Dry air can also contribute to potential issues. In that case, a humidifer may be the solution.

 

[Jesse's pigs]

Thank you both for your help. I will try more hay and hopefully he's sneezing will cease- I'm glad to hear it's not deadly especially after worrying he had URI so close to his first Christmas. And I will definitely buy some Bunny Fresh Grass hay and Timothy hay once more. It doesn't seem to be getting worse and although he does it in the day,it is at night that he does the most. Not sure if that's because the air is thicker. And we have had the heating on due to the cold weather.

 

[Poppy'sMum]

I don't keep my hay in racks; it could be that the dust is dropping when he pulls the bits out of the rack, then he is inhaling the dust & also there is a higher risk of hay pokes in his eyes. Try shaking any hay out in a black bin bag or clean duvet cover & then pick off the large bits off the top & give him those bits but on the floor of his cage rather than above head height. Any little bits & dusty bits will be at the bottom of the bag which you can just tip out onto the compost heap or put in your garden bin.

 

[Jesse's pigs]

I don't keep my hay in racks; it could be that the dust is dropping when he pulls the bits out of the rack, then he is inhaling the dust & also there is a higher risk of hay pokes in his eyes. Try shaking any hay out in a black bin bag or clean duvet cover & then pick off the large bits off the top & give him those bits but on the floor of his cage rather than above head height. Any little bits & dusty bits will be at the bottom of the bag which you can just tip out onto the compost heap or put in your garden bin.

I will definitely do this aswell. I think it is bothering me more then him haha he just stares at me as I fuss over him. I'm getting him a bigger cage very soon so he'll have more space and can have a separate compartment for it.

 

[TheCavySlave]

Just noticed the dust falls to the fleece from our rack, though it doesn't pose a problem.
Except to me, I once managed to inhale some ()and kept sneezing

 

[Poppy'sMum]

I use a litter tray; line with newspaper & put (shaken) hay in that. I've never had a problem with eye pokes or sneezing so far (touch wood!)

 

[JenniferG]

Hay just shouldn't be dusty.

 

[Celine298]

If you can believe it, it might be Hayfever. I remember growing up on the farm that we had a cow with hayfever, triggered by grass/hay! She was perfectly healthy though, aside from snorting and sneezing a lot!

I'm not sure if allergy tests exist for guinea pigs but it might be worth a shot?

 

[Adelle]

The only way to rule out a hay dust allergy is to go for complete elimination and see if there's results. Switching to potentially other trigger hays won't give you an answer. Most hays say they are dust extracted- some of the dust has been removed but they are not dust free.

There is a company called dust free hay company- this is truelly dust free hay. The only way of ruling out a hay allergy is to put him on this and no other type of hay for a few weeks. Change all bedding, wash it and Hoover living area thoroughly when you start on the new hay. Best give it to your rabbit too if they are in the same airspace.

If he stops sneezing, you have your answer.

All the best x

 

[Jesse's pigs]

Thank u all I do think it's the hay- and I will definitely try that and see if he stops. There still isn't any further decline in his health so I'm not dwelling over the thought it could be a URI. He is still sneezing but hopefully the new hat will sort that out. Thank you all for your help.

The only other thing I can think of is the fact we've had our heating on these past few moths- which is roughly when it started. I just pray it isn't anything sinister.