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Tiger's making a funny noise this morning

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Briony_S

Briony_S

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I'm quite worried about him. It's almost like a whimpering noise. I heard the noise intially and couldn't find where it was coming from then I discovered it was tiger.

He was sat all huddled up under the hammock. I think he may be ill but need to find out what is wrong as don't think I can go to a vet saying he is making a whimpering noise! I picked him up and gave him a cuddle and he continued to wimper.

As far as I can tell his teeth are fine (can only see front ones though). He doesn't appear to have any nips / bites or anything and is walking normally.

The wierd bit is that when I put him back in he started rumblestrutting at amy and making the wimpering noise at the same time.

When I had him out his breathing did seem a bit loud but I was really listening for it so could have been my imagination.

Does anyone have any ideas as to what is wrong? I have to go to work shortly and am very worried!
 
There is a noise they make when they are unwell, which is kind of a whimpering noise. Was he sitting tucked up in the corner, is his hair standing on end or is he puffed up?

I'd get him to the vet I think, if so - is his bottom clean? Is he eating?

Hope he's ok

Sophie
x
 
His bottom is clean. Not sure about the eating this morning, he was yesterday! I think I'll go down and sit with him for a while and see if he will eat any veggies! I don't think he has had any of the pepper I gave him earlier but will find him some spring greens as he likes that and see if he will eat some!
 
Just went to check on him and he was all cuddled up. Normally he lays down all chilled but he didn't move when I stroked him or anything.

I broke out a leaf of spring greens to share between my gang and all the wheeking make him come out and wait for it but when he was eating it he was still making the noise. I'm wondering if it is his breathing, ie chest infection etc..
 
He is back huddled up again. so not like him. He normally lazes in the open with his legs spread out behind him. but he's sat like a little round ball!
 
Sounds like the position most piggies adopt when they are unwell. Does the whimpering noise sound like a grumbly/raspy noise as he breathes? A few of mine get this frequently due to hayfever, but given his other symptoms I would be concerned about a URI.
 
fingers crossed for you that he will get a clean bill of health or nothing too drastic! Thinking of you and your piggy, let us know how you get on?
 
i think maybe he sounds chesty almost like a chesty squeek but hard to tell. i'm am ringing vets now
 
typical! Tiger is now acting normal again. I went down again to get the phone and he was layed out in open as normal. I then got him some carrot and he wolfed it down and then started strutting around amy as normal ! rolleyes

Hopefully he is Ok. I rang vet anyway and said that he seemed to be acting normal again now, they said to keep eye on him and bring him in if it happens again. so fingers crossed! gonna come home on lunch to check on him!
 
Oh nooooooo Tiger you are so worrying your mummy :{
Do you think maybe he had something stuck in his toofies ? whimpering in a piggie is not normal they always hide their pain......unless you really know them intimately it's really hard to pick up on :( I think he was telling you something, your vets were good to say keep an eye on him, if this happens again i'd pop him straight over to them.
Have him out on your knee for awhile and feed him some little bits of food see if he poops or pees and if he has a problem with either of them, you'll also be able to see how he eats.......does he chew properly? just a few signs to look for :)
Whee are all sending lots of loves and wheeeeeeeeks for little Tiger xx>>>xx>>>xx>>>xx>>>
 
Keeping my fingers crossed that Tiger only had a scare!

They can put you through the wringer, can't they?
 
Pigs do have such a habit of doing that! This may seem a random question, but did you have any central heating on overnight? The first few hours in the morning were the typical times for my pigs to have the grumbly breathing, it was down to the dry air caused by the central heating.
 
I think he is ok! fingers crossed for him. I came home for an early lunch just to be safe. I was only at work two hours and then came back :)) He seemed fine at lunch time no wimpering and again now he seems normal again! it is very wierd!

I did check him over this morning and front teeth were ok (but can't see back ones). He hasn't hurt his legs or anything as walking fine and did check for any bites etc.. incase he and Amy had a scrap whilst I was upstairs but nothing.

I wonder if something upset him? Maybe Amy was mean to him or he had a bad dream? Do they dream? :))

He is back eating his veggies properly tonight and seems normal. I'm gonna get him and Amy out in the playpen right by me in living room tonight probably until I go to bed so I can watch him properly and see he is ok!
 
CCC4 said:
Pigs do have such a habit of doing that! This may seem a random question, but did you have any central heating on overnight? The first few hours in the morning were the typical times for my pigs to have the grumbly breathing, it was down to the dry air caused by the central heating.
Click to expand...

No not had heating on since may. It is always really hot in my house it is a small semi and think we must get some of nextdoors heat. At min it is about 22 degrees in front room! rolleyes I have to open windows in evening even in this rubbish weather!
 
The air may be a bit dry naturally then...might be worth draping wet (or very damp) towels on one side of the cage, or using a humidifier. The dry air really got to one of my past pigs breathing, the central heating was the cause for her though.

It could also be worth weighing him daily for a few days to make sure he is not losing any weight.
 
Thanks was going to weigh him this morning but didn't want to distress him further after messing with his mouth and then trying to examine him! I do keep a record of their weights normally (last time being 30/7) so I will know if he has lost a worrying amount. I'll do it tonight before he gets to play out in the playpen that way he won't be too bothered by it!
 
Thankfully I think I have my answer but correct me if I'm just completly wrong. Tia (George's wife) appears to be on heat. The last hour and 1/2 has been spent chasing and mounting like i have never seen before. I'm thinking maybe tiger could sense it this morning as was upset as couldn't obviously get to her or was given the brush off from Amy! Anyway I hope i'm right and he's ok. Him and Amy have been very quiet this evening like they don't know what to make of all the fuss :))
 
Hmmmmm I'm worried again. Got up late about 20 mins ago and Tiger was making the noise again and this time there was very obvious Wheezing. Vets are now shut so won't be able to do anything til Tuesday! arghhh! I'm quite worried. He seems to have stopped again now though. I'm going to use fleece I think for their bedding for a few days to see if that helps but he has been on fleece over night in the playpen anyway! I really want to take him to a vet but mine is shut and can't imagine any will be open on saturday afternoon!
 
emergency vets are so annoying - the phone has been engaged for about 1 hour, rang another vets who would not have me and they have chased up my emergency vets for me. anyway I should be getting a call and now he seems much better and is acting normally again rolleyes - being the second time it happened though is a bit scary as could be something wierd happening with his chest or throat or something!
 
Keeping my fingers crossed for you and George!

I know from my own experiences how frustrating and scary these things can be; ESPECIALLY over Bank Holiday weekends!

BIG HUG
 
Tiger is fine now and emergency vet hasn't botheed to ring back and it's been about 45mins since they were supposed to! I'm so cross because if he was in a state I would be so worried. Anyway going see about taking him to my normal vets on tuesday as it is twice it has happened now last time was on 13th so just over two weeks ago!
 
Poor Tiger. What bedding do you keep him on? It could be that he has a bit of an allergy to hay. Did his chest sound rattley of clicky?
If you have any baytril at home you could give him a small dose in case it is a chest infection - I have done this in the past when one of mine has been ill over the weekend, but I am not an expert!
Sometimes ours can sound a bit hoarse if they have been squealing a lot..

Is he still hunched up in a ball?
 
I understand the worry, but the fact that he is otherwise ok, eating, returned to normal etc is comforting at the moment. Is he maintaining his weight?

My Gwen has been doing the same for a few days, but luckily I know what is up with her! Mornings are the worst, and it eases up as the day goes on. One of my other pigs has the start of cystitis though - great timing, although it is another reason I am blessed to live by the CCT, no outrageous charges for bank holiday appointments!
 
Thanks guys he is normal most of the time and only shows symptoms when he starts making "the noise" It has happened twice now to my knowledge but guess it could have also happened when I am out etc.. I have been around the house most of the time since yesterday morning and nothing more has happened.

He starts with a funny noise and his breathing becomes loud and heavy and sounds rattly but as soon as the noise stops (almost like a whining) they symptoms stop and he starts running around and eating normally, pooing normally etc.. pretty sure his weight is still increasing although not weighed him for about a week but seems to still be going up! The actual symptoms only lasts about 1 1/2 to 2 hours each time but I suppose I don't know how long it has been going prior to my walking into the room!

It just seems wierd it has happened twice now!

he is bedded on megazorb normally which doesn't appear to be dusty and hay kept only in hay rack (him and amy don't seem to drop much on cage floor either).

When he started this time he had been on fleece over night so wouldn't have thought it was the bedding, the previous time he was on megazorb though!
 
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Make a note every time he does this. List:

- the date and time
- the duration
- all his symptoms
- consider if the cage was recently cleaned, the hay recently topped up or if you have had windows open when the pollen count was high etc. Also consider if you have had central heating on.

Hopefully you might spot a pattern of when it occurs, which should help you identify when and how often he is affected.

I ought to get a recording of my hayfever pigs' grumbly breathing, I can never get the right words to explain the sound but I often wonder how many other pigs do this and worry their owners so!
 
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