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Frequent Sneezing?

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Blossom15

Blossom15

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My three week old guinea pig who arrived two days ago is sneezing a lot. Is it anything I need to worry about? She's living with another baby guinea pig and in the same room as two adults. What can I do to help? Thanks.
 

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Blossom15 said:
My three week old guinea pig who arrived two days ago is sneezing a lot. Is it anything I need to worry about? She's living with another baby guinea pig and in the same room as two adults. What can I do to help? Thanks.
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Please have both new arrivals seen by a good vet. URI (bacterial upper respiratory tract infection) is one of the opportunists that can hit young piggies that are stressed in new surroundings after several major upsets to their short lives if they have been exposed to the bug, typically at a shop or breeder. URI is well treatable if seen promptly, but can kill if that is not the case. Babies can go downhill very quickly, unfortunately.

Here is our recommended piggy savvy vets locator. The pet shop should reimburse you for any vet cost that originates for an issue found in the first two weeks after purchase if you present all receipts (including the original purchase).
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/pages/guinea-pig-vet-locator/

Alternative causes can be dusty hay or bedding, especially if the sneezing persists after treatment, but the most important thing is a vet trip as soon as you can get an appointment!

Please also ask your vet for a probiotic or get one from a pet shop. any antibiotic kills off not just the bad bacteria but affects also the good ones in the guts. You give a pinch 1-2 hours after the antibiotic, either on a piece of favourite veg or dissolved in 1 ml of water (ca. three mouthfuls in small piggies).
Weigh your ill piggy daily at the same time in the feeding cycle and contact your vet promptly if you notice loss of appetite/weight and/or lethargy.

PS: We have got lots of tips for new owners, so you are welcome to ask any questions you may have or browse our New Owners section.
 
Wiebke said:
Please have both new arrivals seen by a good vet. URI (bacterial upper respiratory tract infection) is one of the opportunists that can hit young piggies that are stressed in new surroundings after several major upsets to their short lives if they have been exposed to the bug, typically at a shop or breeder. URI is well treatable if seen promptly, but can kill if that is not the case. Babies can go downhill very quickly, unfortunately.

Here is our recommended piggy savvy vets locator. The pet shop should reimburse you for any vet cost that originates for an issue found in the first two weeks after purchase if you present all receipts (including the original purchase).
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/pages/guinea-pig-vet-locator/

Alternative causes can be dusty hay or bedding, especially if the sneezing persists after treatment, but the most important thing is a vet trip as soon as you can get an appointment!

Please also ask your vet for a probiotic or get one from a pet shop. any antibiotic kills off not just the bad bacteria but affects also the good ones in the guts. You give a pinch 1-2 hours after the antibiotic, either on a piece of favourite veg or dissolved in 1 ml of water (ca. three mouthfuls in small piggies).
Weigh your ill piggy daily at the same time in the feeding cycle and contact your vet promptly if you notice loss of appetite/weight and/or lethargy.

PS: We have got lots of tips for new owners, so you are welcome to ask any questions you may have or browse our New Owners section.
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Okay, thank you. Will try see a vet as soon as possible. I'm a little worried about the two older piggies, as I have handled them without washing my hands/in the same area. Do you think they will be ok as they're older and less stressed though? Maybe I'll wait to see what the vet says about the babies :( also is there anything I can do in the meantime as I can't see a vet until tomorrow.
 
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Blossom15 said:
Okay, thank you. Will try see a vet as soon as possible. I'm a little worried about the two older piggies, as I have handled them without washing my hands/in the same area. Do you think they will be ok as they're older and less stressed though? Maybe I'll wait to see what the vet says about the babies :( also is there anything I can do in the meantime as I can't see a vet until tomorrow.
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Your older guinea pigs should be OK as long as they are healthy. Just keep an eye out and have them seen in case there are any symptoms (i.e. more than 5 sneezes in the course of a day or a short one-off sneezing fit).
 
Wiebke said:
Your older guinea pigs should be OK as long as they are healthy. Just keep an eye out and have them seen in case there are any symptoms (i.e. more than 5 sneezes in the course of a day or a short one-off sneezing fit).
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The babies are now on antibiotics until Friday for a URI and are now doing a lot better, however I noticed today one of the adults has discharge from its eye which I've never seen in any of my piggies. Is this a common symptom of URI or is it probably something else?
 
Sometimes they do discharge stuff from their eye (white discharge), I had to clean one of our sows eye's because she had white around it. I've never noticed eye problems when mine have had URI's, they can get conjunctivitis and things caught in their eyes.

I'm sure @Wiebke will come back and advise :)
 
Kerrie74 said:
Sometimes they do discharge stuff from their eye (white discharge), I had to clean one of our sows eye's because she had white around it. I've never noticed eye problems when mine have had URI's, they can get conjunctivitis and things caught in their eyes.

I'm sure @Wiebke will come back and advise :)
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Okay, thanks. I've been watching them and the other adult is making a crackling noise when breathing so think I will call the vet and see what they advise to do (will prob have to make an appointment).
 
Glad to know they have antibiotics and they can start getting better now :)
 
@Wiebke my guinea pig is on Septrin, which happens to be banana flavoured (the only fruit/veg that can safely be said she HATES it!). It took me at least half an hour to get 0.62ml down her (including down her chin) this evening. She never bites or scratches but is now doing everything to avoid it. I've tried wrapping her in a towel and also how the vet showed me but the more I hold her head still the more she screams and has a huge panicking fuss. I was wandering if it's worth trying to mix it in with some strong leaves (eg basil, spinach) as she had a bit on some cucumber until I put some more on and then it was suddenly on the floor. Would this work at all? I now have medicine stuck to my trousers with a fair amount of hay pasted on me! Thanks and sorry for the long reply.
 
Blossom15 said:
@Wiebke my guinea pig is on Septrin, which happens to be banana flavoured (the only fruit/veg that can safely be said she HATES it!). It took me at least half an hour to get 0.62ml down her (including down her chin) this evening. She never bites or scratches but is now doing everything to avoid it. I've tried wrapping her in a towel and also how the vet showed me but the more I hold her head still the more she screams and has a huge panicking fuss. I was wandering if it's worth trying to mix it in with some strong leaves (eg basil, spinach) as she had a bit on some cucumber until I put some more on and then it was suddenly on the floor. Would this work at all? I now have medicine stuck to my trousers with a fair amount of hay pasted on me! Thanks and sorry for the long reply.
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It can be really tricky to get medicine into an unwilling piggy, especially if you don't have the practice. If it is the taste that she hates, try mixing the septrin with some ribena to cover the taste. If she has got a dislike to syringes, then there is not much that you can do.
Not every piggy likes the pediatric septrin although thankfully many like it a lot better than baytril.
 
Wiebke said:
It can be really tricky to get medicine into an unwilling piggy, especially if you don't have the practice. If it is the taste that she hates, try mixing the septrin with some ribena to cover the taste. If she has got a dislike to syringes, then there is not much that you can do.
Not every piggy likes the pediatric septrin although thankfully many like it a lot better than baytril.
Click to expand...
Thanks I will give it a go!
 
Just got back from the vets for a follow up with all four piggies now that they've finished their antibiotics. She says as far as she can tell they are all looking very healthy apart from one with a slightly inflamed eye.

How long do you think before I can introduce the two pairs?

Also do I need to anything in terms of disinfecting - this is difficult as most of their hideys are edible and can't really be cleaned. I did a thorough clean and disinfect of both cages yesterday. Thanks :)
 
Blossom15 said:
Just got back from the vets for a follow up with all four piggies now that they've finished their antibiotics. She says as far as she can tell they are all looking very healthy apart from one with a slightly inflamed eye.

How long do you think before I can introduce the two pairs?

Also do I need to anything in terms of disinfecting - this is difficult as most of their hideys are edible and can't really be cleaned. I did a thorough clean and disinfect of both cages yesterday. Thanks :)
Click to expand...

As you have given a clean bill of health, you can pretty much introduce anytime. I would perhaps wait a few days more until the inflammation of the eye has gone down.

As you leave the hideys out during intros, it is not quite as important if you cannot disinfect them. Just make do without them during the first 2-3 days until things have settled down somewhat and the mew hierarchy is taking shape. it takes generally around 2 weeks for the dominance phase to run its full course.
 
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