How is a hay allergy treated?

[Sue_P]

In September I noticed that my black rodent had a big lump of dried snot by a nostril, thinking back I think he sometimes had a bit of a snotty nose at times before then too but never lots, anyway it went away and he looked fine again but 2 months later I noticed he had a proper problem cos he had lots of crustiness around his eyes plus snot so I took him to the vets who gave me baytril incase it’s a URI but that made no difference. I finished the baytril at the start of last week and my rodent has the same symptoms, what he looks like changes from day to day, on Sunday he had quite a lot of snot but this morning he looked like a healthy rodent, there wasn’t much to see. If he’s had these symptoms for a long time and it hasn’t gotten worse (i.e. if it’s a URI surely he’d have gotten much iller by now?), if it is an allergy what is the treatment for that? Is there no treatment? Does he just have to put up with getting a snotty nose and runny eyes?

He’s a fat rodent, isn’t losing weight, has great appetite, is acting totally normal and lives indoors. I changed my bale a month ago in case he particularly didn’t like that one, it made no difference though. I’ve never heard him breathing badly, the vet used his stethoscope a month ago and compared his breathing to my other rodent’s breathing and after a long time trying to decide he said my black rodent does sound different to the healthy one. But like I say, I can hear nothing and I stick my head right up to him every day just to check he’s not getting worse.

Opinions please.

 

[piggyfan]

It does not sound like the vet is very good. I think you really need to find another vet and have your piggy checked out. The symptoms you describe are very worrying.

 

[Sue_P]

Well he said he had to prescribe baytril as it’s the vet practice’s policy as first port of call for things like that as it’s the only drug licensed for guinea pigs. (I’ve had it 2 or 3 times in the past for cystitis / bladder stones too, didn’t work for that either.) I’ll be speaking to him tomorrow actually to ask what the next step to take is if any, just thought I’d see on here if any people who know about this sort of stuff has any good info. & if they think it’s a URI or just an allergy.

 

[piggyfan]

You need to take your piggy to a good vet as soon as possible. If he has crust around his eyes or nose it is serious. Why not call a local one and ask if they treat guinea pigs?

 

[Sue_P]

He is a local one and they do treat guineapigs.

Why do you think the vet is bad? He gave the rodent a thorough checking over and like I’ve said, he doesn’t look obviously ill like he’s dying or anything. I sorta think it is an allergy seeing as my rodent has displayed symptoms for so long, perhaps he can live with it without any treatment? But that’s why I’m here, I’m researching. I’d like to know if the symptoms could just be warning signs and phenomena is going to develop and is inevitable and if anyone here has had a similar experience of a rodent showing symptoms for months, thinking they can live it but then had theirs die. Are all upper respiratory infections quick at developing and quick at developing seriously or do symptoms simmer away for a long period of time? If they do come on quick and strong then surely a URI can be ruled out?

 

[piggyfan]

The reason I think the vet is bad is because they have not done anything other then give antiboitics and they should not be given out too soon as they can have bad side effects. You have to be careful as they can effect kidneys. With anything guinea pigs are so good at hiding things and can be very unwell without us realising. I just think it would be good to get a second opinion. Crust around the eyes or nose is a warning sign to me.

 

[Connie]

I'm not a vet, so i have no way of knowing if its an allergy or not. IF it turns out to be an allergy, then changing his bedding to something not dusty like hay, and only having hay up in racks should reduce the symptoms for him.