Sneezing - how often is too often?

[Jerrybelly]

Frankie is an 18th month old (approx.) boar. Since I had him, just over a year ago, he has been a sneezer. But he goes through phases. It's never excessive - at the most he might sneeze 6-8 times a day. This might continue for a day or two, and then I won't hear him sneeze again for a few weeks. He also hoots, on occasion.

This has been put down to allergies - an over-dusty bag of hay, a change in the hand soap that we use etc. - he seems to be far more sensitive to the changes than Marley (who I don't think I've ever heard sneeze).

When I figure out what is causing that particular 'episode' then I change it. Woodshavings were obviously a problem initially, so we changed to vetbed and there was a vast improvement. I changed their hay, he started sneezing, so I changed to a slightly more expensive, less dusty version and the sneezing became rare again.

He sneezed three times yesterday, and has done so again today. So I'm now racking my brain to figure out what it might be! They are down to the bottom of the bag of hay (I need to buy more today) so I'm wondering if it's slightly more dusty.

Anyway, my question is - does anyone else have any experience with guinea pigs with over-sensitive noses? Any advice/suggestions? How much sneezing is too much, and how much can be considered 'normal'? Is there a point (and how will I now if/when we get there) that I should stop thinking allergies, and start thinking URI?

Cath x

 

[Jerrybelly]

Any advice/thoughts/suggestions very gratefully received

 

[sport_billy]

Treacle is sensitive to soap on our hands and will hoot if we touch her having used any hand soap apart from one brand... It took us a while to work out what was going on.

Maybe worth a trip to the vets just to have a listen to Frankies chest rule out a URI and put your mind at rest, but maybe the hay is quite dusty? Our past few bags seem to have been - maybe something to do with the weather of late? Our girls will sneeze if they are snuffling around in the hay but they are on wood shaving also... x

 

[gogoguineas]

Yes I would get him checked out to rule out a URI but it sounds quite possible that he is simply very sensitive to changes in his environment

 

[Jerrybelly]

Thanks guys. We're on a new bag of hay today and so far so good...

 

[Pound Shilling & Pig]

Hi, if your piggy has allergies to dust, etc, i am thinking it is possible he may have food allergies too. i say this as in recent years i have develpoed food allergies/intollerances myself and have looked into it a lot, also other animals such as cats and dogs can have allergies to certain foods so perhaps piggies too?

if i eat foods i am intollerant too i will also start to develop hayfever, become more susceptible to colds and house dust will make me sneeze, when i cut out the foods these things no longer happen.

one of the most common food allergens is soya for both people and animals such as cats. as soya in one form or an other is contained in guinea pig nuggets and muesli i sometimes wonder if some piggies may develop intollerances to it. this is just a thought of mine, i don't think there is any research into it or anything but it maybe worth considering. my own piggies mainly have a hay, grass and veg diet and just get nuggets once a week in the winter.