Snuffly Baby Pig

[Kit06]

I recently adopted a piggy from tameside rabbit and guinea pig rescue but when I got her home I realised she had a bit of a snotty nose. Nothing major just a bit of dried snot. I immediately took her to the vet who said as she was bright and eating well, leave it and see what happens. I left it a week or so and there was no change really. She is about 10 weeks old. She is bright, has a shiny coat, eats well and is putting on weight. I took her to a different vets who gave her a course of Baytril for a week. The Baytril made no difference, she still has a bit of dried snot on her face which I clean off regularly. She sneezes occasionally and you can hear there is snot in there sometimes if you listen closely (her chest has always been clear). I have called the vet back and they said the only thing left to try is to get swabs of the discharge but as there is nothing really leaking out in great quantities this would be difficult. Has anyone any experience of this kind of thing? Should I try and get swabs? I have included a photo of her with the snot on her nose. It's been weeks now and she hasn't got worse or got better which is frustrating!

 

[VickiA]

Did the vets give you anything to help break up the mucus? Sometimes if they are a bit snotty but it isn't on their chest a mucolytic powder can help break up the mucus. Perhaps you could speak to your vet about this.

 

[Wiebke]

Is the mucus yellowish or greenish or is it clear/whiteish?
The first indicates a respiratory infection and requires an antibiotic.

The second is usually caused by an irritation or allergy.

What kind of bedding/hay is your piggy on? Do you use air fresheners, perfumes or scent sticks?
Have you tried to see whether placing a bowl of steaming water next to cage helps ease the symptoms somewhat?

I second asking your vet for a mucus thinning powder (bisolvon) to help clear the airways. Has he checked whether there is something stuck in the nose?

 

[Kit06]

Thanks for the replies, I didn't get anything to break down the mucus so I'll ask. It's always been clear/ whiteish and I've never seen anything dribbling out. She's on cardboard bedding which is completely dust free but the hay is from a bale so I've ordered some dust extracted hay to try.

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks for the replies, I didn't get anything to break down the mucus so I'll ask. It's always been clear/ whiteish and I've never seen anything dribbling out. She's on cardboard bedding which is completely dust free but the hay is from a bale so I've ordered some dust extracted hay to try.

Thanks! No worries over respiratory infection then, but she may be reacting to hay dust. All the best!