Sniffly and sneezing piggies?

[Popcorn bby]

Hi everyone. So today I noticed one of my piggies was sneezing quite a lot, and she seemed quite sniffly. The hay they have been on for about two weeks now is quite dusty. So I cleaned their cage just in case (although I feel it would be odd for them to barely start sneezing). Now, my other guinea pig sneezed two huge sneezes in a row, then sneezed like two or three times in a row about one minute after. When I picked we up she seemed a tad sniffly as well. We used to have a leaky water bottle and cold AC on, so there were two-tree URIS all within a three month span, with the last one being a month or two ago. Since then we've removed the water bottle and the AC is no longer hitting them, and hasn't been on since we have the heater on now cause of colder days and nights. So if this is a URI, this is honestly my snapping point and I would begin researching about Chronic URI. There is no crackling noise in their lung area, I checked. I know sneezing is not the main symptom of URI, or is accompanied by crackling usually. And she was sniffly at a vet visit once when they were picking her up, but there was no URI. So I don't know if the sniffling is a symptom or not. Do you guys have any suggestions? I'll do updates, but please send kind prayers and wishes that my babies do not have URI. Any knowledge I could use, like just to keep an eye out or other symptoms? Thank you, God bless.

 

[Popcorn bby]

We also were at a guinea pig rescue about two weeks ago, where the lady recommended that if we suspected URI a lot, we could give liquid vitamin c. She didn't say anything else, as if that would help prevent it when it's suspected or something. Anyone heard of this?

 

[Piggies&buns]

If you suspect something is going on, then you need to go to a vet.

Liquid vit c (added to water) is not a good idea. It changes the taste of the water and can stop them from wanting to drink it. You also can’t be sure how much Vit c they are getting as they may not be big drinkers anyway. The best way give them vit c is by giving them good vit c veggies.

 

[Lady Kelly]

I think you need to change your hay if you know this one is dusty as it's much more likely that dust is irritating the airways. Also switch to weighing daily to keep an eye on any weight loss

 

[Darcey15]

Just a thought but do you have an air freshener nearby? 2 of my pigs were sneezing last week and I believe it may be due to an air freshner. Since I brought them inside because of the fireworks banging, and used the same hay & products theyve always had, the sneezing has stopped. May be a sensitivity to a smell or cleaning product perhaps...just another consideration but as others have said best to consult a Vet if you suspect something more.

 

[Popcorn bby]

If you suspect something is going on, then you need to go to a vet.

Liquid vit c (added to water) is not a good idea. It changes the taste of the water and can stop them from wanting to drink it. You also can’t be sure how much Vit c they are getting as they may not be big drinkers anyway. The best way give them vit c is by giving them good vit c veggies.

My mom absolutely refuses right now, she usually doesn't but we don't have any money right now. Also they didn't say to put it in the water, not that type. Literally just straight vitamin c. Just right now we were handling her a lot to investigate a wet, hard, spot of hair in her leg (which I don't know what it is) and she started sniffling and sneezing a lot. Although in general, the other piggie has stopped sneezing and other than when we are handling this Piggie, she isn't sniffly or overdramatically sneezing.

 

[Popcorn bby]

I think you need to change your hay if you know this one is dusty as it's much more likely that dust is irritating the airways. Also switch to weighing daily to keep an eye on any weight loss

We're done with that hay, and their cage is now clean with way less dusty hay, and like I said, the sneezing has calmed for the most part and only one Piggie is really sniffly and sneezy when we are handling her (but not when she is not being handled). Good I know that the hay is a more likely option that URI. Other than this, she currently has some pretty bad gas (not bloat, she's still eating and pooping and acting like herself for the most part so I'm treating at home), and just today we noticed she has wet, hard fur on her bottom, which I honestly have no idea what it could be? I'll keep an eye out on all three.

 

[Popcorn bby]

My mom absolutely refuses right now, she usually doesn't but we don't have any money right now. Also they didn't say to put it in the water, not that type. Literally just straight vitamin c. Just right now we were handling her a lot to investigate a wet, hard, spot of hair in her leg (which I don't know what it is) and she started sniffling and sneezing a lot. Although in general, the other piggie has stopped sneezing and other than when we are handling this Piggie, she isn't sniffly or overdramatically sneezing.

Oops, I wrote leg instead of bottom. The wet hard hair is on her bottom.

 

[Popcorn bby]

Just a thought but do you have an air freshener nearby? 2 of my pigs were sneezing last week and I believe it may be due to an air freshner. Since I brought them inside because of the fireworks banging, and used the same hay & products theyve always had, the sneezing has stopped. May be a sensitivity to a smell or cleaning product perhaps...just another consideration but as others have said best to consult a Vet if you suspect something more.

Now that I think about it, there was a strong perfume in the house yesterday, although two things: 1. I can't remember if the sneezing and sniffling started after or before the perfume, although I actually think it was after. 2. I didn't smell the perfume in the room the guineas are in
Hopefully it actually was that.

 

[Darcey15]

Maybe! Get rid of the perfume smell & dont wear any when handling (see if you can eliminate that as a problem). About the wet hard hair near the bottom, this sounds like matting to me (where the hair has got wet & twisted dry into a knot...it will feel hard). I have a long haired piggie who needs alot of grooming and sometimes gets the occasional mats. I normally bathe her and clean her behind gently but for stubborn ones, will combe or last resort, trim them out. Is your piggie long haired? (I havent seen matting in shorter pigs so if your pig is a short haired, it could be something else). Pigs are prone to sitting in their own wee and poo so its important to keep their pen clean & dry, if theres a wet patch your pig likes to sit in this could cause the matting & also maybe explain the sneezing too but again...matting is only really an issue (in my experience) with long haired pigs and any concerns should always be raised with the vet.

For bathing (& grooming) your pig there are good guides on here so have a root around.

 

[Popcorn bby]

Maybe! Get rid of the perfume smell & dont wear any when handling (see if you can eliminate that as a problem). About the wet hard hair near the bottom, this sounds like matting to me (where the hair has got wet & twisted dry into a knot...it will feel hard). I have a long haired piggie who needs alot of grooming and sometimes gets the occasional mats. I normally bathe her and clean her behind gently but for stubborn ones, will combe or last resort, trim them out. Is your piggie long haired? (I havent seen matting in shorter pigs so if your pig is a short haired, it could be something else). Pigs are prone to sitting in their own wee and poo so its important to keep their pen clean & dry, if theres a wet patch your pig likes to sit in this could cause the matting & also maybe explain the sneezing too but again...matting is only really an issue (in my experience) with long haired pigs and any concerns should always be raised with the vet.

For bathing (& grooming) your pig there are good guides on here so have a root around.

Yes, they have stopped sneezing and sniffling so much now! The wet bottom was cleaned up and hasn’t been back, in guessing it was from a wet spot in one of their hideys. Thank you for the kind advice xx

 

[DMS260820]

Yes, they have stopped sneezing and sniffling so much now! The wet bottom was cleaned up and hasn’t been back, in guessing it was from a wet spot in one of their hideys. Thank you for the kind advice xx

Wet bottoms are normal, unless you are seeing it everyday, mine sometimes sleep and then urinate, causing a wet bottom