guinea pig nostrils - definitive guide

[bessiehen]

Hello, I've had a good read of lots of different threads before posting this but couldn't find quite what I'm looking for.

Basically, I want to know what a healthy guinea pigs nostrils should look like! The reason I'm asking is because on 3 occasions I have taken mine to the vets when I have noticed a clear liquid coming from their nostril (just one nostril, just on one occasion). This is what happened:

1 - a cavy savvy vet, said to monitor, couldn't see any problems, sent us home.
2 - a non cavy savvy vet, couldn't see any problems, said to monitor, gave us antibiotics in case it continued (it didn't)
3 - a cavy savvy vet, couldn't see any problems, suspected nasal bacteria, gave antibiotics.

I hope people can see from my previous posts that I will always take my pigs to the vet if symptoms persist, but I wonder if someone who has had a pig with a URI could outline the difference between healthy / normal pig nostrils and otherwise.

Yesterday the boy's hay was a bit dusty, leading them to both to sneeze a couple of times, and clear liquid came out of Burt's nose. Today, Clive had clear liquid near his nostril, but it could have been water from his veggies as he'd just eaten. Usually up their nostrils looks a little moist, but nothing comes out apart from these occasions.

I'd appreciate any thoughts, thank you.

 

[Wiebke]

A clear fluid is often rather from dust or an irritation in the nose than a sign of URI, but see a vet if it persists - it could be something stuck in the nose. Always see a vet if the discharge is crusty or yellow/green - that is a sign of URI. I always hold a piggy to my ear and check the breathing in the throat/nose are as well as the lungs as an extra safety.

Generally, you need at least two symptoms from the list in the link to suspect a URI, but you need to see a vet as soon as you can when that is the case, as guinea pigs can go downhill very quickly depending on the strain.
http://www.guinealynx.info/uri.html

 

[George Baily]

Well. There is a website i can direct you to that has lists of different symtoms of illnesses in different parts of the body. http://www.guinealynx.info/

select nose as the part of the body you wish to read up on.

My pig George Baily has dry nostrils that do not produce liquid. although i am not an expert but when almost any animal has liquid coming from its nose it may be sick. does your pig feel warm to the touch? healthy pig will be warm but not hot. check out the link and you may be able to find some answers.

 

[bessiehen]

Thanks Wiebke. I love your pigs in GPM! Me and my husband want to come to your house and see all the piggy madness, he he.

 

[bessiehen]

Well. There is a website i can direct you to that has lists of different symtoms of illnesses in different parts of the body. http://www.guinealynx.info/

select nose as the part of the body you wish to read up on.

My pig George Baily has dry nostrils that do not produce liquid. although i am not an expert but when almost any animal has liquid coming from its nose it may be sick. does your pig feel warm to the touch? healthy pig will be warm but not hot. check out the link and you may be able to find some answers.

Thank you, I have had a look. No, there has never been any other symptom present (normal temperature etc), and these discharges have always been one offs.