new to piggies and need advice

[kcstevensk]

Hi guys

We got our first piggie 2 weeks ago now and every thing is fine but i have noticed that over the last 2 days she has been sneezing about 2-3 times a day (that i have noticed so it maybe more) and was wondering if i am panicking for no reason about this?

she is eating fine, running, playing, no discharge or crusting from ears, nose or eyes, no wheezing or laziness, not drinking a vast amount but is drinking is this normal?

i have had her out and around me all day today and have noticed only 3 sneezes,

i have her booked in for a general health check for june 11 as we got her from pets at home and want to get her all checked just in case and also i am on holiday from work that week and thought it would be an ideal time to do it as she would be settled with us for a month and it shouldnt stress her out to much, as i am i little worried about stressing her out so soon after her settling in, also I'm not sure how old she is but i am presumming about 8-12 weeks as she is only little

bedding is timothy hay and using wood shavings for cage flooring

i may just be being a worried new owner and am stressing over nothing but all help and advice would be appreciated

many thanks

 

[Toffeewoffee]

Try doing away with the shavings, i would imagine this will help a great deal, shavings can cause URI's and also dry this skin out therefor causing dandruff.

Good luck, xx

 

[kcstevensk]

what should i use instead?

pets at home told me to use the shavings as thats what they use and on the packet it says suitable for guinea pigs?

 

[sport_billy]

Hi, Welcome to the forum.

It is possible she may be getting some wood shavings or hay up her nose... Is she doing it while rooting for hay? It may be worth giving her some run time on an old curtain ofr some fleece for an evening and seeing if she is doing it then? It's good news there is no hooting sounds (which could indicate URI) or discharge.

It is important to weigh your piggie weekly, as weight loss is often the first indication on health problems. You can get some cheap digital scales http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Produ..._3/3|cat_14418477|Kitchen+scales|14418488.htm and pop piggie in a tupperware on top to get her weight...

 

[sport_billy]

One of our girls is bedded on Fleece, the other 2 are on 'Helmes' dust extracted wood shavings which tend to be less dusty than the 'Pets at Home' ones..

 

[kcstevensk]

i noticed it when she was out aswell (both on carpet and on a towel)

no hooting sounds just like churpping when walking around the house which i pressume is just her communicating?

 

[Toffeewoffee]

Pet shops just want to make money. You could just use newspaper and hay, or change to fleece, timothy hay used as bedding is going to work out very expensive, if you'd like to carry on using hay as bedding you could just buy a big bale of meadow hay £3.09 from jolleys or a bigger bale £3.99 from the range, and just give timothy hay to eat.

I'll be honest, i use a layer of newspaper, then shavings, then soft fiinely chopped russell rabbit or barley straw on top, (people say straw is bad for piggies as it can cause eye injury's like pokes etc - which i do not deny) but in the 4 years of having piggies i can honestly say i have had no eye injury's or URI's from the shavings, but all piggies are different and owners preferences differ.

There are a number of different bedding option's. xx

 

[sport_billy]

i noticed it when she was out aswell (both on carpet and on a towel)

no hooting sounds just like churpping when walking around the house which i pressume is just her communicating?

It may be worth a check up at the vets to put your mind at rest. Where abouts are you? Someone may be able to suggest a good piggie vet near you.

Yes the Churpping and chuntering are just her talking away...

 

[kcstevensk]

I'm in kings heath, birmingham

i have a local vets in hall green (fivelands) that have dealt with all my hamsters very well in the past so i go there

 

[sport_billy]

I know there is a good piggie vet recomended by a Birmingham member on here at Manor Vets, the branch on Hagley Road, Edgbaston. Should you ever need it.

Let us know how your little one gets on, hope her sneezing stops soon.

 

[Toffeewoffee]

Its always a case of trial an error when you first start out, just basics to remember is, a good quality dry food, if you are using muesli and they leave bits then this is called selective feeding where they are not getting all vitamins and nuetrients needed, so it could be an idea to slowly change them to a pellet form, where everything they need is in one pellet popular brands such as Burgess excel - particularly blackcurrant and Oregano. Wagg (harringtons optimum) Pets at home nuggets, Obxow.

Unlimited access to hay weather it be timothy or dust free meadow hay as i suggested above, this should make up 80% of their diet, but fresh eating hay must be supplied even though they are bedded on hay as they wont eat what they have layed, pee'd and poo'd on.

And Fresh salad, veggies daily, fruit occasionally, if you need help on what veggies to feed please just ask.

And as Sport_billy said weekly weighing is a great way of knowing they are not ill.

xx

 

[Abi_nurse]

Toffeewoffee has said most that i would have said. Just to add...

I have a sow that sneezes and wheezes continuously when housed on shavings. Shes now on fleece and has no problems. I would suggest changing bedding if you can.

PS. Dont listen to PAH, you'll soon learn a lot about that place if you stick around on here.

x.