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T-Bag's snot

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joe_stas

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Hello
I've written about this before but I thought I might write again in the hope someone might have found a cure :)

My guinea pig, T-Bag, is a year old now. For the last year he's been really snotty, on and off. Sometimes so bad I can't sleep at night for the noise.

We've been to three different vets numerous times and paid well over £100 trying to fix the problem. We've tried various medicines.. I'm sure there are no more to try! Nothing ever seems to work.

He doesn't have a rattly chest, he behaves normally and he eats all his food.

We've tried vetbed, sawdust, megazorb, card and hay - nothing seems to help the problem.

Anybody else had a similar experience? Any more suggestions?

Thanks

ps. - this is T-Bag - http://www.flickr.com/photos/victoriajones/3053943790/in/set-72157608283805979/
 
Awwww he is beautiful, I really don't know! Is he snotty all the time? it does sound like an allergy to me, either from the hay dust or maybe even something in the room he is in (if he is indoors?).
 
T-Bag is very handsome. :)

The CCT have devised a way of dealing with chronic rhinitis, involving dripping 1-2 drops of Baytril directly into the nostril, letting it run to the back of the nose for 2-3 minutes and holding the pig upside down for a moment to allow the loosened mucus to drip/be sneezed out. The success rate is said to be high in most cases of unexplained rhinitis, but it would need to be done by a vet/trained professional/under professional supervision.
 
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Thanks for the replies..

I assumed it was an allergy. He is an indoor guinea pig. It could jsut be house dust? Or maybe it is the hay? But I really don't know how to get around that.

That method of holding him upside down sounds scary :(
 
Dropping Baytril into each nostril, one side at a time, does not need to be done by a trained professional. Just hold the pig on his back, apply 2 drops to one nostril, sit him up and let him sneeze, just don't stand directly in ront of his nose!
Repeat procedure for other nostril.
In some cases no treatment has any effect, usually the problem resolves itself, this may take some weeks, rather as per a human being with hay fever. The noise produced by a snuffling hay fever pig can be out of all proportion to the size of the pig. A good diagnostic test for hay fever is to put a stethescope on the bridge of the nose where you will hear a snuffling noise, this sound is usually, but not always, not heard in the chest.
 
I had the same problem with my sow. I never got to the bottom of it and some days were worse than others. On her bad days I put a very small dab of vick vaporub on her nose and this really helped to clear he airways. She had no irritation from it and did not try and rub it off in anyway.
 
Thanks for the tips. I don't think it'll settle naturally though as he's been like it for a year.

RW339, was your sow always healthy besides this problem?
 
She was healthy until she got to around 8 years old when he had difficulty getting about as she has arthritis in her back legs and spine. I have read other similar post (regarding the mobility issues) and it may actually have been degenerative joint disease. She did have dental issues which were maintained with regular trims. The snotty problem did get worse as she got older. There were times when I had to clean around her nose as it became mucky.
 
Two years on and my guinea pig's nose is still snotty!

He's obviously not suffering and has been eating well every day, but all I can hear is his sniffly nose.

I've been to the vet loads of times, tried numerous medicines, tried every type of bedding etc etc etc and he still has the problem.

Anybody had something similar or have any advice? I worry it bothers him more than I think.

Thanks mallethead
 
Hi Joe, nice to see you back!

It sounds like he probably has an allergy. What beddings have you tried? Is the congested nose still the only symptom?

I have two pigs with such problems, although they each have more problems with crusty eyes and 'grumbly' breathing. I have found notable success with the use of Homeopet Nose Relief, given orally. It's a homoeopathic remedy so won't hurt to try.

There's more info on allergies and the Nose Relief in this thread:
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=32086
 
Thanks for the advice, will look through that thread now.

The only symptom he has is a runny, clogged nose. His eyes are fine and his chest sounds normal.

I've used Vetbed, Megazorb and sawdust with him. None of which seem to make a difference. I've changed his hay, dry feed and playthings too, which didn't help.

:(
 
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Hey Joe

I'm having a similar problem with my Gizmo and he is fine and healthy apart from his snuffly nose that he gets now and then!

I'm going to change the bedding as ive used megazorb and carefresh.

I'm going to try the nose relief on him as suggested by Laura as its homeopathic its worth a try. :)
 
Just to let you all know, I've been using Nose Relief for four or 5 days so far and his nose is more snotty than ever. I really don't know what to do anymore and have tried everything!

:S
 
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