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Sniffly Noses

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chesca_27

chesca_27

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Hi

Oreo has consistently had a very sniffly nose since October. I have been to the vet many times about (to Simon and my regular vets) but nothing has been diagnosed. It's not a URI as he would have gone downhill by now. It's unlikely to be heart related as the only other symptom Oreo has is slightly heavier than normal breathing, which is down to his sniffly/runny nose. Simon listened to his heart and lungs and said he didn't sound particularly bad. He said to keep a bowl of steaming water by his cage.

He does sneeze when he washes himself but that's all. I'm running out of ideas for the cause!

Fast forward to the last few days. I adopted another piggie (yet to introduce him on the forum). He was completely healthy and vet checked before he came home with me. Now he has a sniffly nose too! He has exactly the same hay and bedding that he had at the rescue, so I can rule that out. I don't know what else it can be!

I think it is probably environmental since they both have exactly the same thing. Any suggestions? Also, apart from steaming water, what else can help with sniffly noses?

Thanks :)
 
Where are they housed? In what room if indoors? Do you have any air fresheners near them, or scented candles etc?
 
I keep them inside in my lounge, because it only really gets used in the evening unless I play with them.

My mum occasionally lights candles in there, but not since we brought our new piggie home.

I don't have airfreshners because the cage never smells and they never work for us anyway.
 
Since October my boar Mo has been sneezing though he hasn't had a runny nose apart from once where there was clear discharge. I took him to the vet fearing it was a URI but she also said it wasn't and said he seemed fine with no fluid on the lungs etc etc. His breathing is a little louder but not too much so she suggested it was an allergy. I think it's hay but so far it still hasn't cleared up despite trying different kinds-though I shall continue. I was confused because he has always had hay since I got him so I didn't understand how it could just come on? He was on sawdust at the time so I took him off that thinking that could be the cause but now on fleece he still has the odd sneeze.
At least you can rule out anything serious but maybe going to another vet or returning and saying that now the new piggy has the same symptoms might turn something up? :)
 
chesca_27 said:
Hi

Oreo has consistently had a very sniffly nose since October. I have been to the vet many times about (to Simon and my regular vets) but nothing has been diagnosed. It's not a URI as he would have gone downhill by now. It's unlikely to be heart related as the only other symptom Oreo has is slightly heavier than normal breathing, which is down to his sniffly/runny nose. Simon listened to his heart and lungs and said he didn't sound particularly bad. He said to keep a bowl of steaming water by his cage.

He does sneeze when he washes himself but that's all. I'm running out of ideas for the cause!

Fast forward to the last few days. I adopted another piggie (yet to introduce him on the forum). He was completely healthy and vet checked before he came home with me. Now he has a sniffly nose too! He has exactly the same hay and bedding that he had at the rescue, so I can rule that out. I don't know what else it can be!

I think it is probably environmental since they both have exactly the same thing. Any suggestions? Also, apart from steaming water, what else can help with sniffly noses?

Thanks :)
Click to expand...

Have you checked for air fresheners, perfumes, scent sticks etc.; dry air/proximity to a radiator?

Sneezing when washing themselves is an integral part of piggy hygiene. That is a voluntary sneeze to clear the nose.
 
We don't use candles or air freshness of any sort. My mum said she will stop using candles in the room, but hasn't since we brought the new piggie home.

Thank you! They live next to a radiator, but I had this problem even before Oreo was next to the radiator. It is slightly above their level and the cage does block most of it. I will attach a photo so you can how close it is. It is a set up photo from a few weeks ago, before I had the pair.IMG_2934.webp

I didn't know the last part!
 
Are they kept on wood chips? Or paper bedding? Either way I would personally try replacing it with fleece instead. A hay allergy is extremely rare in piggies :)
 
I keep them on a dust free paper bedding called Fitch. Oreo had been kept on it for many months before he developed a sniffly nose. The rescue I got my new pig from also used Fitch bedding and he was fine there.

I don't know if this has anything to do with it, but it started right after Toffee died.

Unfortunately, I am not allowed fleece bedding (too much washing) and I really can't afford to buy it myself because I already owe my mum money for my new cage and I have to order correx for it which is a priority.
 
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