Newly Bonded And Rescued Pair - Worth A Vet Visit?

[Carrotyd]

After a bonding session at a local rescue, we brought home a new piggy friend yesterday for Seabass called Pugwall.

We got Seabass from the same place a couple of weeks ago and for the first day or so he sneezed every so often - usually when eating. That has since stopped.

We brought home his new friend yesterday, and he has been sneezing a fair bit too - particularly while eating hay.

Doesn't sound like a massive sneeze - just a sharp expulsion of air that sounds like a hiss, before rubbing his nose after.

Do you think it's worth taking them both for a quick post-rescue checkup at the vets in the next few days, just to get them both looked over?

Having lost two piggies in very quick succession recently (one to a stomach tumour and the other to suspected bloat), I'm feeling very super-sensitive/paranoid about anything that seems a little off with them at the moment, but worry the vet might think I'm a hypochondriac.

 

[Wiebke]

After a bonding session at a local rescue, we brought home a new piggy friend yesterday for Seabass called Pugwall.

We got Seabass from the same place a couple of weeks ago and for the first day or so he sneezed every so often - usually when eating. That has since stopped.

We brought home his new friend yesterday, and he has been sneezing a fair bit too - particularly while eating hay.

Doesn't sound like a massive sneeze - just a sharp expulsion of air that sounds like a hiss, before rubbing his nose after.

Do you think it's worth taking them both for a quick post-rescue checkup at the vets in the next few days, just to get them both looked over?

Having lost two piggies in very quick succession recently (one to a stomach tumour and the other to suspected bloat), I'm feeling very super-sensitive/paranoid about anything that seems a little off with them at the moment, but worry the vet might think I'm a hypochondriac.

You are always welcome to have your new piggies MOTed. It is more likely that they are reacting to hay dust, however, so I wouldn't panic.

 

[VickiA]

Although piggies in rescue are vet checked I always take any new arrivals /adoptees of mine to see the vet for a once over. It just helps reassure me that all is well, so I would echo what Wiebke has said that it's fine to get an MOT!

 

[Carrotyd]

Thank you - the pair of them are booked in this morning for a quick once over

 

[Claire W]

Good luck at the vets I'm sure your boys will both get a clean bill of health but its always worth a check if only for piece of mind x

 

[Carrotyd]

They're both fine. The vet said Pugwall's lungs and airways are clear, and the sneezing is likely down to the change in environment he's had in the last few days. She told us to keep an eye on both of them, but no meds needed

I don't think Pugwall is very happy with me, given the vet poked a thermometer up his bum just to be sure...

 

[Carrotyd]

Just a little update - Pugwall (1yr+) is still periodically sneezing, but it doesn't seem to be getting any worse and he's eating/pooping fine.

He has lost a little bit of weight since we got him 2-3 weeks ago, though, having dropped from 930g to 903g now. I've been weighing at all times of day to account for a full bladder, etc, and it does vary from around 903g to 923g, but it still has me a little concerned.

In the interests of context, we've had Seabass (4 months) a little longer (since the second week of January) and his weight is steadily increasing from 711g when we first got him to 850g today.

I'm trying to rationalize by remembering Pugwall came from a rescue where he was living alone, in smaller accommodation. He and Seabass spend a lot of time running around in a 5x2 C&C So, maybe Pugwall's weight is just levelling off a little because of the increase in his activity levels?

Also, Seabass does tend to bother him a bit (by squeaking constantly at him) when he's eating, which usually results in Pugwall wandering off and coming back to his veggies later (for example). In the rescue, he might have been getting bigger portions on account of the fact he was alone.

Sorry if this post sounds crazy, and like I'm worrying about nothing, but we've had a rough time of it with piggies recently, and I think it's made me a little hyper-sensitive to their health and well-being, which I know is not a bad thing to be, but I feel like I should be enjoying them more and worrying less.