Sneezing While Being Handled

[Liz47]

Just over a week ago I adopted a young sow, Ellie, as a companion for Arnie. When we got her home I noticed she was sneezing and her breathing sounded slightly 'snotty'. The next day she began a course of baytril and metacam as an anti-inflammatory, which she has been on for about 10 days now (2 week course). I since have never heard her sneeze in the cage or run and her breathing sounds normal when she is going about her day, when I pick her up however she becomes snotty and sometimes sneezes which sounds very wet. So now I am wondering, can the sneezing/snotty sounding breathing be caused by the stress of being handled opposed to infection? I only handle when I have to as she does get stressed by it and will struggle and bite.

 

[Adelle]

The fact she has responded to antibiotics suggests there was an infection there. The reason she is fine until you hold her could just be it isnt fully away yet and the stress of being handled makes her have a little episode.

If it continues after the course is finished, maybe take her back to the vet incase she needs a longer course x

 

[Sue G]

Is it possible she's reacting to perfume you are wearing, or even if you've used scented soap? Just as people are sometimes allergic to this kind of thing, I wonder if piggies can be too. Just a thought, as it only happens when you handle her.

 

[DM030819]

I have a boar that has a nebuilser for his breathing problems. Sometimes he sounds worse or sneezes/blows out a bit of snot or bubbles when I pick him up. I think it's the stress of handling him, or maybe the pressure of my hands on him causing him to change his breathing.

Steaming your piggy might help. It sounds like you might need a longer course of antibiotics (Baytril) so it might be worse asking your vet about steaming her too. Which is basically holding her over the steam from a bowl of hot water or taking her into the bathroom if you have a steamy bath or shower. My vet swears by it.

There's also Bisolvon, which is a powder you give them that can help loosen up any mucus so they can sneeze it out. The vet will know if it's a good idea to try that.