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Guinea Pigs with allergies?

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guineapigs24

guineapigs24

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I wonder if anyone can help me....

All my pigs are fine and healthy except now and then they all seem to take a turn in developing a wheezing chest and sneezing. They don't get any discharge like with a URI and are fine in them selves eating, drinking, playing etc. I have been to see exotics specialist with one of them that i suspected a heart problem with but he was fine. I too am a keen pig owner and veterinary nurse so am quite savvy with various illnesses/symptoms. This is why i have come to think its an allergy they all have? I can't find anything about it on internet but would be good to know if anyone elses pigs have these symptoms now and then? I have had them on various bedding mainly vetbed,fleece and towels so i'm wondering if it is the washing powder?

Someone help me :D
 
They could have a lower respiratory tract disease possibly? But sneezing is a sign of URI regardless of no discharge. They can respiratory irritation usually from bedding like sawdust. Have your piggies ever had any antib's for the wheezing?

I have currently got a boar that kind of does simliar to this, but he has been trialed on different antibotics, had a scope and swab taken and heart scan and chest xrays and we're still at a bit off a miss with exact reason. Ive changed bedding etc. hes now on twice daily injections for possible underlying bordatella and if there is no resolve on this we're going to start an inhaler for possible asthma.

Where do your piggies live? Indoors? Outhouse etc? Is the hay you feed them very dusty at all? Sometimes also soiled bedding (urine) will release ammonia into the atmosphere causing respiratory upset too.

x.
 
I looked after a piggie who used to sneeze and sniffle on and off, but was otherwise well. I bedded her on vet bed and just put good quality dust free hay in a rack. It took about 2 weeks and she eventually stopped sneezing. When her owners collected her they put her in a box with hay in and she started sneezing immediately! They have kept her on vet bed ever since and she has been fine.
Her companion was fine throughout. A pig with hay fever how about that!
If more than one pig is affected I would be thinking more of a physical irritant rather than allergy, such as mould spores or dust/ particles in the atmosphere? It could cause variable symptoms depending on the temperature/ humidity etc.
Or I guess a low grade infection that flares up sporadically- a bit like rabbits that get that Pasteurella infection that can come and go?
 
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