I got my GP yesterday at a store. He is a long-haired est. 2 month old piggy. I have gone to the medical emergency site and everything else but nothing seems to be giving me answers! I even called the local vet and they couldn't tell me anything! He sneezes a couple times an hour, when I put him up to my ear I don't hear wheezing, but almost like a bubble popping in his nose. His sneezes are not harsh but small, sometimes sounds like he is puffing out some air. He is also breathing fast. When I put him in his cage I hear him sneezing SOMETIMES, but when I take him out he does sneeze quite a bit. He seems to be eating his hay, but I am unsure if he is eating his food or drinking his water. He also seems to be peeing a pooping just fine. When I take him out, I see small fabric like particles, possibly from the bedding I am using (care fresh complete) and I am not using aspen or wood. There is no discharge coming from his nose or eyes.
Is this just me freaking out? Is there something I should be SERIOUSLY worrying about? Or is it just that he is regularly sneezing like humans do. Please answer!
Normal looking poos means that your boy has been eating enough until yesterday; they are always some hours to a couple of days later than the actual food intake depending on how well the guts are working. But you can stop worrying on that score! If you worry about the food intake, which may take some days to sort itself out, place plenty of hay and water close to his hidey - unlimited hay should make up to 80% of the daily food intake, so he won't go hungry and is getting the most important nourishment. If necessary, place a towel over the cage to give him an added feeling of protection until he has got his bearings.
As to the sneezing: a guinea pig cannot breathe through its mouth, so you hear any obstruction or irritation a lot more. Do you have air conditioning, as the dry air can sometimes irritate the nose, as can bedding or hay dust/pollen?
It doesn't not look like fully developed URI, so I would see a vet tomorrow if the frequent sneezing does not subside, sooner if there is a deterioration. Your vet may still want to treat for URI first because it can be a killer. Is your piggy an only piggy or has he got a companion?
What you can do now to help ease the breathing is to place a bowl of steaming water next to the cage and keep replacing it from time to time. See whether that will help to calm down the nose.
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