Sudden hay fever? Or URI?

[SpinningNickel]

It's official. Yoshi is sneezing. A lot (or so it seems to me).

I'm hearing him sneeze 4-6 times a day, for the past week. However, he has no other concerning symptoms AT ALL, and I'm trying to decide if he has suddenly developed hay fever (he's been on the same bale of hay for 8 weeks with no problems), or if this is something more sinister. My preferred cavy-savvy vet is a fair drive away and it's difficult to arrange appointments around work etc. He is 3-3.5 months old. Would a sudden appearance of hay fever symptoms this time of year be typical? Is sneezing alone ever a serious concern?

- nose/eyes/ears all look clear, bright, and normal
- appetite is fine, no weight loss (weighing every couple of days w/ steady gain)
- he drinks a lot, a couple of times an hour, but this is typical for him
- activity levels are fine, tearing about as usual and playing with his cage mate
- can't hear any wheezing, coughing, laboured breathing, etc... But it's hard to hear anything but chewing!
- symptoms DO seem worse after fresh hay is laid down, but I'm often not home during the day between feeding times so can't be entirely sure
- yet to hear a sneeze outside the cage or during lap time and only the odd one when on fleece; it seems to happen mostly in the hay loft
- hay, detergent, etc. have not changed the whole time he's lived with me (2 months)
- bottom of cage is fleece over mattress protector/newspaper; top level is newspaper and hay.

They LOVE snuggling down in the hay but been considering switching to that foam roll and using a hay rack/ball again to see if that alleviates symptoms. Would that help hay fever significantly? Or is it better to let them burrow in my cold cold house?

 

[SpinningNickel]

Anyone? Two more whilst in hay rack after dinner this evening. :/

 

[Claire W]

I can't really offer much advise but could the hay be dusty at all?

I had a problem with Eleanor a few weeks back where her breathing sounded funny. I had an appointment made at the vet but before I could take her, her breathing had returned to normal. I rang my vet and explained and he said to keep an eye on her and take her in the next day if it started up again. It didn't.

She has had it once again since but shows no other symptoms. Even where she has this funny breathing, her chest sounds clear. I and my vet are pretty sure it happens when she comes across dusty hay or a batch that doesn't agree with her.

I did take all four girls to the vet on Monday for nail clipping and check ups and they are perfectly healthy.

I suspect that if Yoshi had a URI, he would have other symptoms too but if you are concerned, I would definitely make an appointment with your vet or at least phone for advice.

P.s her funny breathing never lasts for more than half a day.

 

[Wiebke]

I would suspect that they are rather caused by hay dust than a URI. For a URI you generally need at least two symptoms from their list.
http://www.guinealynx.info/uri.html

Some of my piggies just love to stick their head deep into fresh hay and root around; that can make them sneeze quite a bit.

 

[Pebble]

Hay seed either stuck up nose - or in the eye....needs through vet investigation.

My Tamarind developed multiple sneezles out of the blue- then her eye went gunky and we found a hay seed stuck in her eye...the sneezes/nose rubbing etc were obviously an early warning that this had happened.......

HTH
x

 

[SpinningNickel]

I don't know. It's the same bale of hay and he hasn't had issues up to now. But I suppose this PART of the bale could be dustier..? It seems fine to me but I don't really know how to judge unless it's giving off ridiculous dust clouds! I'll try a hay rack/ball once I get some foam stuff. I hate to do it to them though as they love it so much!

Thanks Pebble, I'll keep an extra eye out for any irritation, nose rubbing etc.