Sneezing Guinea Pig

[Kellyjennings]

Good evening,

I’m looking for others experience with the following and what they have done to resolve the issue.

I have kept Guinea pigs for a number of years. My most recent we got 4 years ago and have been incredibly lucky to have had no health issues, they lived in the lounge and were very much part of the family. Mid January, I went to feed them and to my shock one had passed away, shocked as there were no obvious signs of Illness.

Keen not to let the remaining pig become lonely we got a young boar. Within hours of getting him home he started sneezing. Just sneezing, no signs of anything else. No discharge or anything else, happy, chatty, bonded with the other piggy, to start I thought perhaps change from being outside, stress of travel and being with an older pig could have caused but no sign of being stressed.

Two days later I took to my vets who examined and weighed etc. said no sign of respiratory issue but prescribed metcam for 5 days for possible nasal irritation. ThIs didn’t work.

I kept a close eye and he is happy in himself gaining weight etc

Then two weeks later his cage mate started with a runny eye, which became sneezing and quick breathing, we took them both back to the vets and they were put on a 7 day course of co-trimoxazole. Older piggy went down hill quickly and sadly passed away 4 days later.

Baby piggy is still sneezing, as he has been for the last four weeks. But apart from the sneezing he is happy, chatty, eating, gaining weight.

I have been back to my vets who have pretty much drawn a blank and suggested an exotic vet. I have contacted them directly as my vet wanted a £126 referral fee and the exotic vets have pretty much said to back to who I got him from which is a garden/pet centre they deal with. They have been helpful speaking to the breeder and suggesting it might be an allergy but I am at my wits end as do what to do. I want to bond with another pig but won’t until I can get to the bottom of the issue.

Has anyone experienced similar and found the solution?

Many thanks in advance.

Kelly

 

[Siikibam]

I’m so sorry you lost two piggies in a short time.

I’ve no experience with URIs but didn’t want to read and pass. How was little piggy during the time he was on antibiotics? Did it improve at all?

The other thing to consider is whether the hay is dusty and if there are any irritants in the room he lives in.

In the meantime you could try placing a steaming bowl near his cage, or take him into the shower so he’s in that steam.

I vaguely remember it being mentioned that sometimes vets take a sample of the discharge to see which antibiotic would work best. Did the vet do that?

Hopefully someone with more knowledge will be along to answer your question soon. Please do consider getting new piggy a friend if he’s under four months. Hope he’s better soon.

 

[Kellyjennings]

thanks for commenting. He is currently on fleece bedding as we have been through different brands of hay. There is no nasal discharge to sample really.

I would have thought if uri he would have got worse. But really not sure, trying everything I can.

 

[Popcorns & Wheeks]

Hi, so sorry to hear you have lost two of your piggies . My piggie Susie suffered from respiratory issues since birth but her sneezing was accompanied by other symptoms such as a runny/crusty nose and laboured breathing.

I'm not sure if this may help your piggie but in the end we found a solution that certainly lessened her symptoms. We were advised by our exotic vet to nebulise her using F10 antiseptic solution diluted with water and it did work. I really do hope your piggie will be OK.