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Possible URI, hopefully more likely an Allergy...

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sdalby

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Hi All,

I am a new guinea pig owner, having got them from a local club around 2 months ago. I have Flash (named because of the stripe on his side and his speed), and Gordon (for the obvious reason).

Flash has always been what looks like the bigger, stronger pig, and seems to have no fear of anything. Gordon is smaller and more timid, but hopefully isn't weak.

Gordon has recently been sneezing, but only in patches. He had a bit of a crusty nose, which I couldn't tell if it was a scab or crusty mucus. I took him to the vet who said he looked perfectly healthy and he couldn't hear anything on his chest. He prescribed a wide spectrum anti-biotic just in case which was a drop twice a day for a week. Following the medicine, he is still sneezing in patches (possibly 5-6 times in a 10 minute period, but then not again for several hours). He also has a slightly runny nose (in one nostril only), but this is only noticeable after he has had a sneezing fit. He is still eating and drinking plenty, and is also still just as active as he has always been.

I am hoping that this is more likely just an irritant, or possibly a slight allergy to something in the cage. I will be changing the lining (wood shavings), and bedding (hay) to see if that makes a difference. But I just wanted to check whether anyone would suggest taking him back to the vet?

Any help would be massively appreciated?
 
Hello, Welcome to the forum. Sorry to hear that Gordon has beeen poorly. How is his weight? What antibiotics has he been having? If the vet can't hear anything on his chest or lungs that is a good sign. Some piggies do have allergies or it is possible he is getting dust up his nose. Have you thought about trying Fleece?

How is he if you put him in his indoor run for a while? This wood removed the wood shavings from the equation for a while...
 
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I have a piggy with a similar problem I had him at the vets twice and it turned out to be an allergy, pretty sure its pollen. He is worse on days when the pollens higher. As above if the vet can't hear anything then that's a good sign, have you weighed him as its the first sign anything is wrong, monitor his weight weekly will let you know how well he is eating etc.... I would try removing the shavings they are renowned for causing respiratory problems so might be the cause. Try him on fleece of paper bedding, also try shaking out the hay to remove any dust before giving it to him.
 
Thanks for the replies, I have been shaking the hay but it still seems quite dusty, maybe I should try a better quality brand. I can't remember what the anti-biotics were called, just that the vet said they were wide spectrum. They are indoor all the time but when I've had him outside he hasn't sneezed, but as I say, the sneezing fits are infrequent so that might have been coincidence. Because he is fairly young and was so small to begin with he is visibly bigger each week so I won't start weighing him just yet. I'll continue to monitor him and hope that I can find a solution for him.
 
I know it soudns daft but weighing is the best thing you can do for piggies, so even though you can visibly see I would advise by starting it quite soon and recording weights weekly in a little book - it will be an advantage in the future. Scales like this are perfect to use http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/8422996.htm - Weight loss is sometimes the only indication of illness at first.

I would take him off the wood shavings for a day maybe on a fleece or blanket in a run and see if there is any difference.

You can get some good hays online, we are currently using http://www.dustfreehay.co.uk/
 
Couldn't agree more I weigh from day one so I have a record of their weights and I can tell if something is wrong. My babies I have were weighed when I got them at 6 weeks and for the first couple of weeks I weighed them twice a week and now they are down to once a week. It enables me to keep a record of weight gain and see if they have lost any too. Weight loss is a good indication of illness and can be the first sign :)
 
One of ours has an allergy and when we moved them from sawdust to fleece it helped no end. We recently put some dandelion forage mix in as a treat and that set them off, so no more of that for him!

It could be worth trying a better quality hay aswell - it might be a bit more expensive but if it is causing issue then the saving in vets bills and the increased quality of life for Gordon make it a worthwhile investment.

Good luck with him and keep us updated.
 
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