Rattling Chest

[Splat n Dexter]

Hi,

My oldest girl, approx 6 yrs old at an estimate (she's a rescue), has always been sensitive to dusty hay etc.

At the weekend we spotted running lice on two of our pigs. Both were treated with advantage from the vet on Saturday; our third will get some tomorrow when the vet gets more delivered. Splat was one of those treated.

Same day we bought new hay. Kids topped up the hay, but it wasn't till later I spotted that the hay was usually dusty and musty. Removed it all immediately. That evening I noticed Splats breathing was a little rattley. Following morning she seemed fine.

This evening she's rattling again. Do you think this is a result of the hay or maybe the Advantage?
She's eating and drinking fine and coming to me wheeling for treats. But def breathing is taking more of an effort and some rattling going on. The rattling seemed to ease when I was holding her up against my chest with head pointing up to my shoulder ; but maybe coincidence.

Suggestions please. We do not have a guinea pig savvy vet nearby.

 

[Wiebke]

Is the rattling in the chest or in the nose/throat area? She can just be allergic to hay dust.

If it is definitely in the chest, then she needs to be seen by a vet for URI. URI is an opportunist illness when the immune system is a bit lowered. I would have her seen as soon as you notice at least two symptoms from the list.
http://www.guinealynx.info/uri.html

 

[Splat n Dexter]

Hi,

Sorry I never replied on this thread Wiebke! I didn't get notification of any replies.
It was a nose/throat thing and she was all clear by the following evening, thank goodness. I was so worried that it was the Advantage having adverse effects on her lungs or something, I was so relieved it was just the hay allergy!

 

[Wiebke]

I have a couple of sows that are very sensitive to hay dust, too, so I am always checking carefully.

You may profit from getting a cheap stetoscope from a place like ebay if you haven't yet!