Still Sneezing After 21 Days Of Marbocyl

[Kiboko]

3.5 weeks ago I bought two 7 week old male guinea pigs, The day the came home I heard one (han) sneezing a couple of times but not more. slowly this increased in frequency the next day and so I decided to make an appointment with an emergency vet as it was a public holiday. He has no other visible symptoms, was eating very well, playing, running, lots of energy, bright eyes etc etc. The vet prescribed a course of marbocyl. At the time Han weighed 400g and was given 0.2 of marbocyl daily via a syringe. He took this without any problems, As his weight increased steadily over the next 21 days his daily marbocyl dosage was increased gradually to 0.275. He completed a 3 week course on Sunday. I understand the potential issues with prolonged use of this strong antibiotic in such a young guinea pig and the vet suggested seeing how Han does in the next few days without meds and if he gets much worse to try him on another course of a weaker antibiotic but one that can be taken more long term. In the entire time since his treatment began his symptoms have never gotten worse. He eats well, continues to play, run, has lots of energy, gains weight etc but he still has sneezing which on some days is more frequent some days less with a very very occasional cough (often not more than once a day and sometimes this is when eating). I have probiotics for him, he has a good vitamin rich diet, fresh appropriate greens, regular bells pepper, occasional fruit, grass, dandelions etc etc, appropriate pellets, he is given access to a steam bowl twice a day. Only his left nostril ever shows any wetness (always only slight and clear, never streaming or running, never coloured) but holding him to my ear I can hear at times the familiar clicking when he breathes. His sneezing did improve a little when I switched him to a different brand of hay but is still so frequent to remain a real concern. He now weigh 652g and is 10 .5 weeks old. I want so much to get this little guy fit and well. Tomorrow I will take him to see an exotics vet who comes recommended as my local vet who previous appointment were with does not specialise in this and I desperately want a second opinion rom someone with a bit more relevant experience. Our vet has been lovely but it would give me more peace of mind to get another vets input too,. So tomorrow we're going on a much longer trip and hopefully will make a bit more head way with sorting this problem. Is there anything else at all I could be doing that might help my little guy? I have had 4 other guinea pigs (including Chewbacca who came with Han and has never displayed any symptoms at all of illness despite being housed with Han) but I have never experienced anything like this before and I don't want to make a mistake by overlooking something or missing something out that I could be doing.

 

[Adelle]

Hi!

It sounds like your little one could have some irritation in the nose rather than infection, possibly from allergies or something in the nose.

The fact antibiotics didnt help, yet he hasnt deteriorated points towards it not being an infection.

The fact he improved with a change of hay also points to irritation. There is a company that sells dust free hay (called dust free hay suprisingly!) that may be worth trying to see if it helps him.

He is a very good weight for his age so he must be developing finw despite this!

Low doses of metacam can sometimes reduce the inflammation in the nostrils, making it easier for them to breathe through and clear them. This may be something to discuss with your vet.

All the best x

 

[Kiboko]

Hi!

It sounds like your little one could have some irritation in the nose rather than infection, possibly from allergies or something in the nose.

The fact antibiotics didnt help, yet he hasnt deteriorated points towards it not being an infection.

The fact he improved with a change of hay also points to irritation. There is a company that sells dust free hay (called dust free hay suprisingly!) that may be worth trying to see if it helps him.

He is a very good weight for his age so he must be developing finw despite this!

Low doses of metacam can sometimes reduce the inflammation in the nostrils, making it easier for them to breathe through and clear them. This may be something to discuss with your vet.

All the best x

Thanks! I will give the hay a try and will ask about metacam/possibility of allergy or something in his nose when I see the vet in the morning,

 

[Kiboko]

Update on little Han

On 22 June, after my initial post about my guinea pig Han, I took him to the vet who came highly recommended. She checked his air flow for both nostrils which she said was fine, his lungs which seemed fine, heart seemed fine and she said there was no evidence of anything in his throat. She said apart from the sneezing he seems like a perfectly normal little guinea pig. Her suggestions were:
1. possibly he has a viral issue which he will grow out of.
2. he possibly has a blockage on the left side of his nose (as this is the only side to ever show any wetness)
3. he possibly has had an infection that has caused damage to his nose.
4. he has a currently mild infection but it is strange that it is only evident on left side of nose

She said she didn't think he has at present a nasty infection inside of him and the facts that he continues to gain weight each day, plays, is full of energy, looks well, has a good appetite are all very positive. She suggested that if I wanted to get to the bottom of the issue and wasn't happy with him in the next weeks he could be given an anesthesia so a swab sample could be taken from high in his nostril for testing and a an x-ray could be take of his head. I'd be really concerned/worried at the idea of this.

On the day of the vet visit and the day before Han actually sneezed less. In the afternoon of the vet visit after returning home he sneezed more and the sneezes became louder and more frequent over the next couple of days. His nose has never been runny or shown anything other than a slight clear discharge on the left nostril. Yesterday (sunday 26 June) he was a little quieter at breakfast time and became more quiet throughout the day, eating much less than normal and generally was not his bouncing all over the place happy little self. Then in the afternoon he projectile sneezed several very small pieces of 'snot' like substance from the left nostril (I will add a photo of this).

Once he sneezed this out his sneezes again reduced in frequency and he seemed very quickly much happier in himself and started playing and acting like little Han again. He ate very well in the evening and has continued as his nornal self this morning. Their has never been a visible discharge like the snot in the photo from his nostril, never any crustiness, never a runny nose, only ever some wet sounding sneezes and the occasional clear wetness on his left nostril.

Has anyone ever seen or experienced anything like this? I just desperately don't want to miss anything but also I'm wary of putting him through the risk of something like an anesthesia if it can be avoided.

 

[Kiboko]

sorry I think I failed to add the photo...here it is .. upload photos

 

[Elwickcavies]

I think you can be reassured that the vet doesn't think it is any serious and more importantly, perhaps, that Han is eating, running around and putting on weight. It could be any of the things the vet suggested. Perhaps this snot that he sneezed out indicates a blockage (which could well be something he was born with). I would keep an eye on his weight and look out for anything that might cause an allergy. Maybe he will always have this little issue, but the main thing is that he's happy and healthy otherwise.

 

[Kiboko]

I think you can be reassured that the vet doesn't think it is any serious and more importantly, perhaps, that Han is eating, running around and putting on weight. It could be any of the things the vet suggested. Perhaps this snot that he sneezed out indicates a blockage (which could well be something he was born with). I would keep an eye on his weight and look out for anything that might cause an allergy. Maybe he will always have this little issue, but the main thing is that he's happy and healthy otherwise.

Thank you

 

[Kiboko]

I sent the image of the mucus Han produced yesterday to both of the vets I have been consulting with on this issue this morning. They suspect a secondary infection. I kept the mucus from yesterday as a sample so we are going to have it sent off for testing to see if we can get any further with this. He produced more of this mucus today when he kindly sneezed on me as I was giving him his steam session before lunch.

 

[Adelle]

You could ask your vet for biosolvin, dosed at 1 small pinch per kg of body weight (only had it once and this was the dose recomended to me), it breaks up mucous and should help get it all out x