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Snotty New Pig

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skittlepower

skittlepower

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi Everyone!

I got 2 new pigs yesterday (from the pets at home adoption spot, not recommended I know, but they have been there for at least a month and they are so beautiful). They had the "health check" and were OK-d to come home. When I put them in their cage, I noticed one of them was breathing quite loudly and sneezing. I left him overnight to settle in, hoping it was just him getting used to the new environment, and when I've checked him after work tonight he has a bit of a snotty nose and his breathing is pretty crackly (not sure how better to explain it - sorry!). My partner who has been at home all day today has also said he's just been snoozing and not really pottering about like the other one.

I called P@H who advised they weren't aware of any health issues but if I took him to the vet they'd cover the costs. I've made an appointment at the vet for him tomorrow morning but I've (luckily) not had to take any of my other pigs to the vet yet so had a couple of questions..

Is there anything I can do to make him feel better / more comfortable in the meantime?
If he has been ill for some time whilst at P@H, is it likely to hinder his recovery if anything is wrong with him, having being left for so long?
Should I take his cage mate to the vet with him as well to keep him company - they've been at P@H for at least a month together and they lived together before that before being returned to the store.
If it ends up being a URI (hopefully I am just overreacting), is it contagious to my other pigs? They are all in the same room (separate cages). One cage is on top of the new guys and ones at the other side of the room.

We're not too sure how old they are, we think 8 - 12 months.

Thanks for any help or advice. I've attached a photo of the little guys, they don't have official names yet (they were called Salt & Pepper in store but I don't think they suit!). The poorly little man is the grey one.

Vicky

image.webp
 
Hi! they are gorgeous! How old are they?

Your piggy has very likely got a URI, a bacterial upper respiratory tract infection. They are not uncommon in shop piggies and can come out (after exposure in the shop) when the stress of the move to a new home temporarily lowers the immune system.

You can help ease the breathing by placing a bowl with steaming water near to the cage; if you wish add 2 drops of olbas oil (but not vicks, which contains ingredients that are noxious to guinea pigs). Keep changing that.

Start switching to daily weighing, ideally before their breakfast or dinner when tummy and bladder are empty. The need to breathe comes before the need to drink and thirdly the need to eat, so a severe URI is often accompanied by loss of appetite and you need to step in with syringe feeding and watering.
Here is our illustrated step-by-step guide for beginners. It contains all the necessary information, including recovery foods, probiotic brands and vitamin C, as well as tips what you can do with what you have got at home in an emergency. We generally recommend to have some stuff and a spare syringe or two at home.
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

Here are our tips for vet visits. Below are things you may ask the vet for in support of URI: Tips For Vet Visits

- If your piggy is rather bunged up (crusty eyes and nose), please ask your vet for bisolvon powder to make the mucus fluid and help clear the airways. Unlike humans, guinea pigs can't breathe through the mouth, which is why this can really make a difference. If the lungs sound congested, we recommend a diuretic for the same reason.
- You will be given an antibiotic, most likely baytril if it is a vet recommended by pets@home. This has often an appetite dampening or even killing effect, so please make sure that you also get some probiotics (which you can get from the shop) and be able to step in with syringe feeding if necessary.
Baytril tastes horrible, so I recommend to mix it with the same amount of ribena or fruit juice which generally makes it go down much easier.
- Give a pinch 1-2 hours after the antibiotic to help bolster the guts. You can also give 1/8 or 1/4 of a human vitamin C tablet (dissolved in 1 ml of water and then syringed in 2-3 mouthfuls).

You may also find our general tips for new owners helpful: " Starter Kit" Of Information Threads For New Owners

All the best! I would not separate your piggies as the companion will have already been exposed to the bacteria and the spearation can stress them out further.
 
:agr:
My toast has a URI recently it was so stressful for her, she was pulling her fur out and bullying her sister due to the pain it was causing.
I was given Baytril for it but Toast absolutely refused to take this, she would violently shake her head (it tastes horrible) so it was changed to Sulfatrim and she took that much easier:nod:

I also got a bowl of hot water with a few drops of olbas oil next to her cage to help clear her nose/airways.

After a week of the antibiotics the URI was gone and Beans didn't catch it off her and I was told by my vet to keep a window open for good ventilation.
 
Hi Wiebke,

Thanks so much for all of your advice! The vet I'm going to isn't the one pets at home told me to go to, but the vet I have my other piggies registered with who are pretty Cavy Savvy!

I'll pop a bowl of hot water next to the cage shortly :) they are both happily munching at some carrots and pepper at the moment so hopefully it isn't too severe at this stage and we can get it nipped in the bud.

Also, we aren't sure how old but we think 8-12 months. The grey one weighs 770g tonight and the white is 893g. I will weigh them daily until we get them nice and healthy again!

Thanks again!
 
Beans&Toast said:
:agr:
My toast has a URI recently it was so stressful for her, she was pulling her fur out and bullying her sister due to the pain it was causing.
I was given Baytril for it but Toast absolutely refused to take this, she would violently shake her head (it tastes horrible) so it was changed to Sulfatrim and she took that much easier:nod:

I also got a bowl of hot water with a few drops of olbas oil next to her cage to help clear her nose/airways.

After a week of the antibiotics the URI was gone and Beans didn't catch it off her and I was told by my vet to keep a window open for good ventilation.
Click to expand...

I was reading through your post earlier actually! So glad to hear Toast is feeling better.

I had a hamster who absolutely loved Baytril - if it's necessary hopefully my little man will be the same!
 
skittlepower said:
I was reading through your post earlier actually! So glad to hear Toast is feeling better.

I had a hamster who absolutely loved Baytril - if it's necessary hopefully my little man will be the same!
Click to expand...

You can always mix baytril with the same amount of ribena or fruit juice to make it go down better. I had to do the same with sulfatrim with Hywel, by the way. The latter is the new unflavoured pet version of septrin; it has about the strength of adult septrin.
 
skittlepower said:
I was reading through your post earlier actually! So glad to hear Toast is feeling better.

I had a hamster who absolutely loved Baytril - if it's necessary hopefully my little man will be the same!
Click to expand...
Thank you :nod:

Also, how strange to like the taste of baytril :eek:
 
Wiebke said:
You can always mix baytril with the same amount of ribena or fruit juice to make it go down better. I had to do the same with sulfatrim with Hywel, by the way. The latter is the new unflavoured pet version of septrin; it has about the strength of adult septrin.
Click to expand...

Excellent - thank you for the tip! I've written everything down so I'm prepared tomorrow morning :)

I've got a bowl with some olbas near to their cage now, I forgot how much I enjoyed the smell of Olbas!
 
Your piggies are gorgeous. Sorry one is poorly but these things happen and it's great that you are getting him sorted ASAP. Ask the vet about some Bisolvon powder. You sprinkle it onto cucumber slices, piggies eat it no problem. It's a mucolytic so helps break up,mucus and clear their passages.
Hope all goes well at the vets.
BTW what are they called ?
 
VickiA said:
Your piggies are gorgeous. Sorry one is poorly but these things happen and it's great that you are getting him sorted ASAP. Ask the vet about some Bisolvon powder. You sprinkle it onto cucumber slices, piggies eat it no problem. It's a mucolytic so helps break up,mucus and clear their passages.
Hope all goes well at the vets.
BTW what are they called ?
Click to expand...

They were called Salt & Pepper when adopted but I think we're going to change them to Sooty (white boy) and sweep (the lovely grey one). They're so friendly already, they were obviously well looked after wherever they came from, it's a shame they were given up :( but at least now I can spoil them silly! I'm on 6 pigs now - it's like a dawn chorus whenever I make my way towards the kitchen. :wub::wub:

Also, thanks very much for your advice! :)
 
Just thought I'd post a quick update on little Sweep.
I took him to the vet this morning and after listening to his chest she said it was the worst Guinea pig breathing she'd heard for a long time. He's on Baytril twice a day for a week and if there is no improvement by Monday then she wants to see him again on Monday and he'll possibly have to have an xray.
I'm so annoyed at p@h for having him for so long and not noticing anything was wrong, but at the same time glad that we took him in.
The good news is that his cage friend sounds fine, but I'm just to keep an eye on him.
 
Poor little man. Do you know if the vet found fluid on his chest? if so, he may need a diuretic in addition to the Baytril.

As he is on Baytril, do you know about giving probiotics too?
 
helen105281 said:
Poor little man. Do you know if the vet found fluid on his chest? if so, he may need a diuretic in addition to the Baytril.

As he is on Baytril, do you know about giving probiotics too?
Click to expand...

Yep, I'm on my way to buy him some probiotics now! I did mention to the vet about Bisolvon as suggested by Vicki above but she wants to see how he gets on over the weekend first. He's back in on Monday so I will see what she says and bring it up again :)
 
Sorry to hear he's so poorly. Hope he doesn't mind the Baytril. Just a thought - are P@H paying for or contributing to your vets bills? If not, I'd ask them to do so a they've sold you a poorly piggy.
 
VickiA said:
Sorry to hear he's so poorly. Hope he doesn't mind the Baytril. Just a thought - are P@H paying for or contributing to your vets bills? If not, I'd ask them to do so a they've sold you a poorly piggy.
Click to expand...

They are paying the bills I just have to take the vet receipts down with the purchase receipt. Just about to give him the first dose of Baytril - wish me luck!
 
I didn't mix it with anything, decided to try without first to see how it went down. Maybe he was attacking the syringe but it went down either way! He's currently having a little snooze on my lap. :)
 
Just another little update!
Sweep has perked up quite a lot, on Wednesday he was just lying down in the corner of the cage all day and this morning he's been chasing Sooty around and I even caught him popcorning :) His breathing still sounds absolutely dreadful, and his nose is still pretty wet and mucus-y. But the change just in him moving around and running has made me very happy.
He has still being drinking and eating his biscuits and veg although I don't know how much food he's been having (Sooty is a greedy boy) so I've been giving him some biscuit mush a couple of times a day as well as the Pro-C, to keep him topped up, which he absolutely loves! He hasn't lost any weight, still at 770g so hopefully things are looking up for my little guy.

image.webp
 
Just another little update on Sweep. He's been back to the vets this morning, she said he sounds much better than he did on Thursday. She's given me another weeks worth of Baytril and upped the dose as the little lad has put on 40g (0.2ml twice a day now). He hasn't been off his food but I've been topping him up twice a day just to be safe, boy do I hear about it if I'm a minute late doing that!
Thanks again to everyone for all the advice :)
 
Hey,
The saga continues for little sweep. His stomach feels a bit hard and he kicks me if I try to touch or massage it. I'm not sure it sounds hollow when tapped. He's been lapping up his critical care and the pro-c as well as his usual pellets, veg and water. Is there any other way I can check if it is bloat? I don't know if he is pooing or not, there is plenty of poo in the cage but it could be Sootys.
hopefully it's not going to be another vet visit for the poor guy
 
Can you pop him into a floor time play pen or other enclose for a while.
Even after an hour this should give you an idea if he is pooing ok or not.
But if you have any doubts or he seems to be uncomfortable I would take him straight back to the vets.
 
We have him and his friend quarantined in another room at the moment so are struggling for space to get them out for a potter in the bedroom. He has just been sat on me for an hour whilst having his critical care and probiotics with no poops, I could probably pop him into the carry basket for a little while to see if he does any while I'm not watching him. Thanks for the idea :)
 
Tapping for a hollow sound is usually the way to check for bloat, but if he is uncomfortable and tries to kick you it does sound like he has gut stasis if not full bloat. Do you have anything that vibrates that you could sit him on? this can sometimes help produce poos. I would give plenty of fluids too. If there are no poos by the morning though I would speak to the vet about a gut stimulant. The vet would need to ensure there is no blockage first though.
 
helen105281 said:
Tapping for a hollow sound is usually the way to check for bloat, but if he is uncomfortable and tries to kick you it does sound like he has gut stasis if not full bloat. Do you have anything that vibrates that you could sit him on? this can sometimes help produce poos. I would give plenty of fluids too. If there are no poos by the morning though I would speak to the vet about a gut stimulant. The vet would need to ensure there is no blockage first though.
Click to expand...

I have a toothbrush which I can pop on his belly (it's charging up for this purpose at the moment!). He has given up 5 poo's whilst he's been in his carry basket over the last half an hour or so, so hopefully that's a good sign. I will keep an eye on him and see how he is in the morning and go to the vet with him if he still seems a bit uncomfortable. He's currently munching away happily on some hay. He's got a good strong kick on him this one!

Thanks :)
 
Fantastic that there are poos and he is eating hay. The toothbrush should help too. The less is more approach would be better here if possible - fluids and vibration, I tend to only use gut stimulants when absolutely necessary.
 
Hey

Sorry to resurrect an older thread.

Little Sweep has been on Baytril for almost 4.5 weeks now and Bisolvon for a week. At the last visit the vet said his chest sounded clear and an X-ray confirmed there was no fluid on the lungs. But he is still sneezing and has mucus dried on his nose and also coming out of it. Is there anything else we could try? He doesn't seem bothered at all, he is still eating and drinking happily and hopping around.

Thanks!
 
I wonder if he has allergies? One of mine sneezes, I think it's the dust from the hay but not sure. I did speak to a vet the specialises in guinea's and asked if there was much a vet could do for him, she said not really.
 
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