Pirate has a sneeze!

[sc00t]

As cute as it sounds, I don't want him to be ill!

He sneezes, mainly when he's digging around his cage to be honest. I'm using the recommended Pets at Home wood shaving things (not sawdust, the less fine stuff.) and he's got some hay in there to munch on.

Is it something irritating his nose or might he have a cold?

Thanks!
Scott

 

[alcesterpigs]

Guinea pigs can suffer from hay fever ie allergies from a variety of sources, not just hay itself. In Pirate's case I would not initially suspect this as his problem because
wood shavings and/or sawdust are not suitable for guinea pigs, even though most shops sell them as "suitable for small animals".
The resins from the wood, mixed with urine, are a respiratory irritant.
A gps nose is at ground level and inhalation of irritant fumes is inevitable.
I would remove the wood shavings and just use hay, which is a good bedding material as well as being an essential part of a pig's diet.
Wait and watch for a few days then, if there is no improvement, post again.

 

[rw3399]

Agree with the removal or any woodshavings. Piggies can sneeze just like we can when somethings goes up our nose. If it's the occasional sneeze then there's nothing to worry about. If he sneezes more often, like 3-4 per hour, then he probably has an upper respiratory tract infection (urti) which would need treatment at the vets.

 

[Stinklepig]

I'm using the recommended Pets at Home wood shaving things (not sawdust, the less fine stuff.)

I'll take a wild stab in the dark that by recommended, you mean recommended by the retailer of said shavings..?

Piggies can be prone to sneezing when obsessively trying to find treasue under the bedding (what piggie treasure actually is I don't know, but some are determined to find it!), but shavings are certainly far from ideal.

I know plenty of people will say they've had pigs for millenia on shavings, but I noticed a huge improvement in skin, breathing, eyes and general health when I moved to other beddings (currently using Magazorb myself). Dust isn't the only factor in a good bedding (though the best bedding will have the least dust), it's also the vapours released from the bedding and the chemical make up of the dust that's important. If you can smell the bedding, then there's substances being released into the air from it, that are going in the pig constantly. Pine shavings give off pine oils - Very aggressive compounds that are highly active biologically. So it's little surpirse a piggie gets a little sneezy if they've got a nose full of of the stuff!

 

[Charlotte]

I'd remove the shavings. Not good for piggie lungs.

Charlotte x