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Guinea Pig With A Cold?

beckyxxx

beckyxxx

Junior Guinea Pig
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My guinea pigs are kept indoors, at day the centeral heating is on at around 20-23 degrees and at night ive been turning it off as they are electric heaters, when i wake up the living room where the guinea pigs are kept is at about 14-16 degrees, i noticed a few days ago my guinea pig was sneezing more than usual, last night it was every 10 seconds or so, he seemed to have runny liquid coming out of his nose when he did sneeze. Took him to the vets last night to be on the safe side and the vet said his lungs sound clear and his nose looked fine and explained it could just be getting a little cold in the living room at night, and this could of caused him to get what he called a 'cold' and told me to keep the heating at 18-22 celcius at night as well as in the day to ensure there isnt a dip in temp. Hes acting fine, eating, drinking, he is sleeping a little more than normal but as i said hes still eating etc and seems pretty normal. But hes still sneezing a lot and the occasional cough :( really worried... but the vet has said not to worry as hes fine and the cold will go away .. is this the case? Thanks x
 
Mine cough now & again & ive put it down to dusty hay. Although they didn't have a running nose. Can you try changing the hay & see if that solves it.
 
I am not sure, to be honest. I haven't heard of guinea pigs with a "cold" that will clear by itself. It's good that his lungs are clear, but sneezing and a liquid coming from the nose is usually the sign of a respiratory infection. Sneezing alone can be an indication of irritation - have you perhaps changed bedding or any other environmental factors? If not, then I think I would seek a second opinion. Especially as you can hear a cough.
 
I havent recently changed anything, always used same hay and same bedding, they are on fleece. I will maybe try a complete new hay and see if that changes. Can i use timothy hay as bedding for them to also lay with? Is it not too hard? I'm doing as he says and keeping the temp of the room at around 20c constantly and ill change the hay to timothy maybe? As at the moment i give them herby havest feeding hay to munch on and pets at home hay for more as a bedding as its softer. There is no discharge in his nose just a bit wet when he sneezes but vet says no to worry? Maybe ill see how he gets on, if he becomes worse take him to a new vet? Just so worried haha
 
My Gladys sneezes not loads but she has little fits of it .. very irregular... no nose running tho.. . Our room is kept at 16 at night - other half won't let me have heating on any higher at nighttime....
 
I just had a thought that maybe it could be the washing powder i use to wash the piggies blankets? Is there a specific one i should be using? Not sure though as i never change it and they have been on fleece for a few months. He seems to go a few hours without sneezing and then can sneeze every minute or so for the next 10 mintues
 
So long as it's non-bio & you don't use fabric softener, everything should be fine. I tried Timothy hay in there boxes, but it was too expensive.
 
Ahhh i havent been using non bio, just the stuff i wash my own stuff in. Maybe thats something to do with it?
 
I agree with @VickiA that guinea pigs do not get viral colds; URI is a bacterial respiratory infection that can sit in the upper respiratory tract even though the lungs are clear. URI can develop into pneumonia and kill if left untreated. Please seek a second opinion!
 
Wiebke said:
I agree with @VickiA that guinea pigs do not get viral colds; URI is a bacterial respiratory infection that can sit in the upper respiratory tract even though the lungs are clear. URI can develop into pneumonia and kill if left untreated. Please seek a second opinion!
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I agree with Wiebke. I think it would be safest to get a second opinion to be honest.
 
I would be uncomfortable with a 'it's just a cold and will go away' diagnosis, simply because guinea pig illnesses can go from mild to severe very quickly. I would want an antibiotic to knock out any bacteria in the upper respiratory tract before they are able to move to the lungs. The fact that the lungs are clear is a good sign, but doesn't mean it doesn't need treatment.
 
Unfortunately, not all vets have experience with piggies. I would also weigh every day and keep records as weight is another indicator something is wrong. Are they located in draughty area of the house? Or is it the constant temperature change?
If you're trying to keep temperature down, but keep them warm try snuggle safe (zooplus has them cheap).
 
They are kept in the living room but i dont have the heating on at night and the temp can dip about 5 or 6 degrees , so he said this may cause them to become cold so ive been leaving it on. He hasnt sneezed in a few hours and seems his normal self, nothing in his nose and its clear. Shall i see how he gets on and if no better get a second opinion? Or you think i should take him anyway?
 
I was thinking about a snugglesafe , thanks for mentioning it. Will this be ok for my boys who live indoors through out the night instead of my heating being on?
 
If in doubt, take him to the vet. I'm yet to hear of a piggy that recovered from a URI spontaneously and without medications.

Regarding the heating, I should think you could get away with soft cozies and a snuggle safe, but I would still leave the heating on in the coldest nights. The big temperature amplitude can't be comfortable.
 
Hi guys he wasnt improving so i took him to the vets this morning for a second opinon and the vet gave him an anti biotic injection and has given me a 5 day course of antibiotics so hopefully this shall work.

Hes very quiet but i can imagine so after having that injection :(
 
beckyxxx said:
Hi guys he wasnt improving so i took him to the vets this morning for a second opinon and the vet gave him an anti biotic injection and has given me a 5 day course of antibiotics so hopefully this shall work.

Hes very quiet but i can imagine so after having that injection :(
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I'm glad that the second vet was willing to give him something. I hope this does the trick for him! Make sure to keep an eye on his food intake and whether he is pooping and peeing normally, with the intent to syringe-feed if he goes off his food. Some guinea pigs won't eat when they are feeling otherwise poorly, which causes the problem to spiral dramatically, so that's something important you can do to help him through this.
 
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