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Sneezing

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juliebee

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Hello. I know there are loads of threads on respiratory things but I've read conflicting reports online about sneezing and am new to pigs so have to ask everything! I'm like a paranoid new mother.

One of my two babies is sneezing a bit. I need to keep an eye on when it's happening (for instance, I changed bedding last night and someone is sneezing today) but I've read that a little sneezing is normal. They seem in fine form otherwise - eating plenty, very active, vocal etc.

I took them to the vet a couple of weeks ago to be checked and he said Fozzie's wee paws were a bit rubbed as if he'd had a respiratory problem before (he's only a few weeks old) but the fur was growing over so it was okay. Or words to that effect.

I've switched from Megazorb to Finacard cos the former seemed really dusty, and am using PaH Timothy hay. They sleep in fleece/cotton cozies. Suggestions/advice welcome, thank you. I'll happily take them to the vet but there's no discharge or other symptoms of illness.
 
I find that you usually need at least two symptoms from the Guinea Lynx list of URI symptoms - of course, loss of appetite, crackly, raspy breathing and listlessness warrant an imeediate trip to the vets.
http://www.guinealynx.info/uri.html

If the sneezing continues without other URI symptoms, it may worth looking into dust/hay allergies. Guinea pigs can have those!
 
Thanks, Wiebke, I've had a nosey at that site and I'm confident they're just sneezing. Having said that, I've not heard a single sneeze since I wrote that post!

I had a look at the PaH website but they seem to only sell Timothy hay. I might try another brand, just in case.
 
Unfortunately, hay should make 50-80% of a healthy piggy diet. Hopefully, they will settle down with your new bedding. I didn;t like megazorb either and have switched to fleece - but then mine are indoors.

Please do not try the dustfree hay company - I haven't heard good feedback on them.
 
They love the Timothy hay I give them and I think they're quite happy with the Finacard cos I find them chewing it sometimes. I certainly find it's less dusty. I have a bit of Megazorb underneath their water bottle to absorb drips and some more in the corner I think the tend to pee in.

They're indoor pigs, too.

I have little alfalfa hay bales for chewing but they're not very keen on them. I'll try getting a different brand of Timothy and see how I get on. Thanks for the tip about avoiding the dustfree company.
 
If necessary try to sift your hay outside if you can, so you can get rid of a good deal of the dust.

A hay refill is certainly welcome by the Tribe at any time of the day - or night... :))
 
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