Sneezing!

[Kimmy619]

As some of you may know, I lost my beautiful Chip a few weeks ago. I think that his brother is poorly and I want to know if I am worrying unnecessarily in light of my recent loss.

Dale has been sneezing quite often over the last few days. He looks otherwise healthy, but I am a little concerned. Am I over reacting? Is there anything I can do? He lives inside so I am not sure how he would have caught a cold.

 

[piglet_and_rogers_mama]

you could try adjusting his bedding or hay if you don't think he's ill. he might be allergic to whatever he's sleeping on, or if the hay is dusty that could make him sneeze. look at his eys, nose, and ears to see if there is any discharge, that is an indication something is amiss. if there is anything "off" in conjungtion with the sneezing i would say vet!

 

[Squigle]

If it helps, I have 7 piggies, and they all sneeze occasionally. Some more then others, I read somewhere that in the Rex (and another breed I can't remember) is isn't out of the ordinary for them kto sneeze as their noses are shorter, it has soenthing to do with their breething. My rex often sneezes when I clean his hutch/cage out

 

[Kimmy619]

I came downstairs this morning and his breathing was really loud and raspy so we took him to see the vet. It is just a cold (the noise which we thought was breathing was a snotty nose!). They gave him a jab and sent us home wig baytril. Luckily, his chest sounds clear. I apologised to the vet for calling her out on a Sunday, but it's better to be safe than sorry.

 

[Kimmy619]

Despite starting his Baytril course, Dale is sneezing more than ever. When he sneezes now, snot comes out of his nose (which he proceeds to wipe with his paw ). His nose is so sore where he keeps rubbing it. Any suggestions?

 

[Pebble]

I can understand why you are worried. More sneezing, more snot, sore nose......It sounds like his condition is getting worse despite the baytril over the last 4 days..

Please go back to the vet tomorrow...i.e. immediately. Baytril as prescribed is not working....you should see signs of improvement within 2-3 daysand you have not.

What colour is the snot (sorry to be a bit gross). Often, if it is yellow/green it is a bacterial infection which is treatable with the right antibiotic; if it is clear/white then either it could be a viral infection (unlikely) or allergy (tree pollen rife atm) or; if clear, he might have some type of fluid in his lungs from heart/kidney or other condition.

He may just need a different antibiotic such as septrin....or a higher dose of baytril (what dose is he on and what does he weigh?)

Personally I would ask for a sample to be taken from his snot/nose/throat and get it cultured with antibioitic sensitivity done. All my pigs now carry baytril resistant bugs (and some are also septrin resistant) so these days we need to choose antibiotics more carefully for piggies. However results can take some days so I would in any case change to (or add) another antibioitic.

If the culture is negative this would then signify a different problem which antibiotics won;t be effective against (although they may prevent secondary bacterial infection occurring in an already compromised piggie)...and at least then you will know if it is an allergy or something else.


Is he still eating properly? - please weigh him daily and consider the possiblity you may have to feed him critical care to keep his weight up/guts moving (especially in view of his snotty nose which reduces his sense of smell and therefore his apetite for food).

HTH

x

 

[Kimmy619]

His snot is pale yellow/green ao must be infected. He is definitely eating hay and veggies but it is hard to tell about pellets as he doesn't live alone.

He has been taking 2.5ml Baytril twice daily and weights 1.3kg so is a healthy weight.

I'm going to take him back to the vet tomorrow for a check up, just to put my own mind at rest.