• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

Pale Nose...

Status
Not open for further replies.
Tigermoth

Tigermoth

Adult Guinea Pig
Joined
Jan 19, 2016
Messages
2,131
Reaction score
4,549
Points
1,175
Location
Suffolk, United Kingdom
Jenny's nose seems to be pale the last couple of days. She seems ok in herself I think. Eating fine. Weight stable (742g). Is this something that I should be concerned about? To me it has that slightly bluish colour that people's lips can take on when they are really cold if that makes sense. There's no sneezing or wheezing, her ears and feet look normally pink.

Any ideas?
 
If her nose/lips are pale and blue tinged then she needs to see a vet asap.. Its usually due to poor oxygen circulation and coukd indicate a heart or lung issue.

Even if she is fine- pale lips that arent normal for her and particularly the blue tinge is an emergency.

Try and get an appointment sooner rather than later!xx
 
Thanks @Adelle . I've just tried to get a photo to compare as I'm really unsure of myself now.

On looking really closely though, her nostrils are pink, the little septum between her nostrils is the discoloured bit. As is her top lip. And her chin. I am now wondering if rather than being about to collapse from heart failure, she might just be dirty. Oh the shame. How do you clean a piggy nose though? I tried to give it a little rub and obviously she didn't like that at all. I don't mind taking her to the vet, but the nearest cavy savvy one would be an hours drive each way and I'd rather not put her through that only to be told that she's just grubby.... I'll try and upload a picture.

I'm so rubbish at this pet lark. I'm barely managing with the kids but at least they can tell me what's up!
 
I know I shouldn't laugh @Tigermoth but I hear your pain.

Firstly I hope Jenny is ok - I use an old flannel with a bit of warm water on it to wipe guinea pig faces when needed.

Just last week I was convinced Eddi had an URI.
He seemed fine within himself, but all around his nose and mouth was yellowy mucus stains.
I was all set to fly off to the vet, only to be informed that the kids had fed him a sneaky piece of melon for afternoon tea, and his URI (diagnosed by myself) was actually just a dirty mouth....
 
dsc_0523-jpg.46185


And this was a few weeks back.
 
:D She looks fine to me. It may be a bit of ink from the newspapers has rubbed off on her nose, or it may be just a hint of dark skin pigment showing up.
 
Tigermoth said:
Jenny's nose seems to be pale the last couple of days. She seems ok in herself I think. Eating fine. Weight stable (742g). Is this something that I should be concerned about? To me it has that slightly bluish colour that people's lips can take on when they are really cold if that makes sense. There's no sneezing or wheezing, her ears and feet look normally pink.

Any ideas?
Click to expand...

Please see a vet asap re. potential heart failure!
 
I'm out at the mo so cant see colouring properly due to the sun but it would be impossible for me to tell- if shes more pale or blue tinged than her usual colour after uv wiped away any potential dirt then definately need to get her to a vet today. You know her colouring best but as i said, any blue purple tinge whatsoever then definately see a vet x
 
She is booked in later today at a local vet that a friend with 5 piggies has recommended.

I'm not sure if I'm being ridiculous but I'd feel awful if she dropped dead and I hadn't taken her.

So, what do I expect them to do? Listen to her chest? X-rays? Prescribe things? I don't want to walk out and find that they have been less thorough than you guys. I have never ever set foot in a vet so I have no clue where to start! (We had dogs as a kid but I never went with them and my hamsters just died, they were never seen. It was different in the 80s)
 
Tigermoth said:
She is booked in later today at a local vet that a friend with 5 piggies has recommended.

I'm not sure if I'm being ridiculous but I'd feel awful if she dropped dead and I hadn't taken her.

So, what do I expect them to do? Listen to her chest? X-rays? Prescribe things? I don't want to walk out and find that they have been less thorough than you guys. I have never ever set foot in a vet so I have no clue where to start! (We had dogs as a kid but I never went with them and my hamsters just died, they were never seen. It was different in the 80s)
Click to expand...

It all depends on their findings- they should listen to the chest to see if theres any mucous build up or fluid in there. If they suspect mucous they should prescribe antibiotics (usually baytril or sulfatrim/septrin), sometimes metacalm too (antiinflammatory.) if the chest sounds clear then they may want to xray the chest- make sure you ask for this to be done consciously if possible, as personally iv never had a piggy sedated for an xray or scan as i dont see the need if it can be done without.

If they detect a heart issue then the best option would be to trial fortekor/benazapril and diuretics (frusemide) if there is any fluid in the lungs.

Ofcourse they may think her colour is fine and be happy to just monitor her, but its definately better to be safe than sorry.

Apologies for overload of info but its best to be equipped.

Ps if antibiotics are prescribed for a URI then best to get probiotics too- fibreplex/avipro plus/pro-c as these will keep the bacteria in the gut balanced whilst recieving antibiotic treatment.

Wishing you luck x
 
How do they consciously x-ray? Just put her in a box and hope fear makes her stay still? The place does digital x-rays so do they tend to x ray straight away or is there more to it and they bring them back for that? The result will be instant if it is digital so I guess you get your answer straight away.

Probiotics, do they come from the vet or from pet shop?

Sorry for the questions, I'm sure there will be more too :/
 
Tigermoth said:
She is booked in later today at a local vet that a friend with 5 piggies has recommended.

I'm not sure if I'm being ridiculous but I'd feel awful if she dropped dead and I hadn't taken her.

So, what do I expect them to do? Listen to her chest? X-rays? Prescribe things? I don't want to walk out and find that they have been less thorough than you guys. I have never ever set foot in a vet so I have no clue where to start! (We had dogs as a kid but I never went with them and my hamsters just died, they were never seen. It was different in the 80s)
Click to expand...

@helen105281 is our heart specialist, but it depends on their findings. They will listen by stethoscope.

With heart issues you usually treat with a diuretic to prevent the build up of fluid either in the lungs or the chest cavity. Another medication that is given to heart piggies is vetmedin.

Please be aware that if you are dealing with acute heart failure (especially if your piggy is starting to show heaving breathing and/or apathy) there is not a lot a vet can do, but like you say, you do not want to feel like you missed a chance.

A bluish tint to nose and lips is an alarm sign for an emergency. The current warm and rather muggy weather is stressful for any guinea pigs with an underlying issue.
 
She doesn't seem to be apathetic and her breathing looks the same as Timmy's. I'm hopeful that it is just me being melodramatic and it turns out to be newsprint or something.

Hope it's nothing. (Don't tell Timmy but she is my favourite)
 
Tigermoth said:
She doesn't seem to be apathetic and her breathing looks the same as Timmy's. I'm hopeful that it is just me being melodramatic and it turns out to be newsprint or something.

Hope it's nothing. (Don't tell Timmy but she is my favourite)
Click to expand...

Better safe than sorry in these cases! Hopefully it is nothing.

I have lost two young guinea pigs that way, so it is not something I take lightly.
 
Wiebke said:
Better safe than sorry in these cases! Hopefully it is nothing.

I have lost two young guinea pigs that way, so it is not something I take lightly.
Click to expand...
:( Thanks all. I'll update when we are home. She has been flying about the pen for the last 20 minutes, pausing only to wolf down as much hay as she can cram in, doing her best to look the picture of health. Timmy is hiding in the box.
 
Tigermoth said:
:( Thanks all. I'll update when we are home. She has been flying about the pen for the last 20 minutes, pausing only to wolf down as much hay as she can cram in, doing her best to look the picture of health. Timmy is hiding in the box.
Click to expand...

In that case, I would not worry! it may have just been the hot weather.
Piggies can really give you the runaround, can't they? I don't know how often I have turned up with a piggy that suddenly had no longer any crackly breath, bloody urine or other symptoms as soon I arrived in the waiting room... :mal:
 
Definately worth a check to be sure!

I've been dealing with heart failure first hand with Fudge for a year and done alot of research, maybe thats why alarm bells ring more for me- doesnt make me an expert though.

Will keep an eye for the next update x
 
Glad you are getting her checked, though flying about is a good sign.

If you need any heart medication information just ask me or Adelle. Usually a diuretic is given alongside an ACE inhibitor such as Benazapril. Vetmedin can be added in later as it works differently.
 
We're back :)

Vet seemed pretty perplexed and we are assuming, for now, newsprint... She had a good listen to her chest and said it all sounded clear. Checked her all over, poked, prodded, and most importantly for me, looked in her mouth. Now I have a healthcare background and so had been looking for other areas that were discoloured but was struggling. The people I look at (generally) don't bite and don't have 4 feet that are all a different colour. I'd tried to look at her tongue but not been able to get beyond her teeth. The vet was able to do this and show me her lovely pink tongue. Which I found reassuring. She was also reassured that her weight is stable but she did acknowledge that her nose was discoloured and so I'm not imagining it.

We are going to weigh daily for a few days and keep an eye on that. Watch her general demeanour and if she goes off at all then reconsider. She did say we could x-ray, she said we could do front to back conscious but to rule out heart disease she would want to lay her on her side and said that she gives gas for that as it distresses them too much (is this standard or do other places do that conscious too?) She pondered ivermectin for mites but I declined that as she isn't itching and she didn't think mites would discolour her nose and not make her itch. A skin complaint crossed her mind too, but with just the colour, no scaling, no weeping, no signs of discomfort, she thinks probably not.

So we shall take out the newspaper and keep watch... thank you for the help guys. Speak up if you think that I have been falsely reassured mind you.

She did compliment me on how well they handled, so pleased with that, we have worked hard on it!
 
I would be wary about giving any pig that is suspected of having heart issues gas. There are ways of xraying conscious. My Nigel who was my first heart pig was taped to the table by my vets with masking tape. I wonder why she wants her on her side, as the heart can be seen on a front to back xray. They would need to check for the heart being enlarged and any fluid.
 
helen105281 said:
I would be wary about giving any pig that is suspected of having heart issues gas. There are ways of xraying conscious. My Nigel who was my first heart pig was taped to the table by my vets with masking tape. I wonder why she wants her on her side, as the heart can be seen on a front to back xray. They would need to check for the heart being enlarged and any fluid.
Click to expand...
I'll bear that in mind. She did seem to suggest that there should be sufficient information from the front view but that if they needed to they might need a different angle. We'll see how it goes and then if need be I can allow a conscious front on x-ray and go from there.
 
Good news! At least you can be on guard just incase. Keep an eye out for any further blue tinge or paleness, out of the ordinary cold feet/ ears, heavier breathing, wheezing/hooting/gurgling/ coughing and just general lethargy.

It is difficult to xray a piggy on their side when conscious, fudge has only ever had standing ones- they should be able to see whatever is there this way, and although they could see more heartwise on a lateral xray- the treatment is the same. Also a whiff of gas for a heart piggy (if they start to suspect this) would be too dangerous. X
 
Thank you. Hopefully it won't come to any of that.

They are both sulking, she was wheeking from underneath a pile of hay when the veggies came in. They came out, ate the veg and have stropped off back under there. I can hear some chuffing but they are seriously grumpy with me!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top