Unsure About Piggy Symptoms

[astrum1989]

Hi, guys. I'm sorry that my first post has to be a question but I regularly visit this forum and I know how great it is for advice.

Basically, a couple of weeks ago my guinea had slightly congested breathing when he ate. It only happened on a few separate occasions and for a short amount of time and he was displaying no other symptoms. I took him to the vet and she did his vitals and discussed the option of antibiotics but we decided to wait and see.

A couple of days later he made the noise again and I noticed that the inside of his nostrils looked a little bit wet. I realised that the reason he was making the noise was because he had a slightly runny nose and had to breathe through it when he ate. Obviously I took him back the vet and got some antibiotics and he has just finished a five day course of Baytril (I also gave him probiotics).

He's been fine over the course but tonight I noticed he sneezed a couple of times and his nostrils are wet again. He hasn't had congested breathing since before we went the vets and he's perfectly fine if every other way. I should also point out that I have never seen any discharge and can only see the wetness by looking into his nose very closely. I know allergies are rare in guineas but I'm really starting to think that might be the case. Should I change his hay before progressing further?

 

[theoretikos]

Which bedding are you using?

 

[astrum1989]

He's on Carefresh and hay and has been on this for a while.

 

[theoretikos]

I'm not sure about allergies to Carefresh but my piggies had wet noses and sneezed a lot when their hay was quite dusty.

 

[astrum1989]

I'm not sure about allergies to Carefresh but my piggies had wet noses and sneezed a lot when their hay was quite dusty.

I think changing his hay might be my next step then. Hopefully this will make a difference.

 

[theoretikos]

Good luck! My piggies also improved when I changed to fleece but you may not need to do that

 

[astrum1989]

Good luck! My piggies also improved when I changed to fleece but you may not need to do that

Thank you! I have actually been considering changing to fleece but I am terrified he'll eat it (He has a huge appetite for things he shouldn't). Might give it a go.

 

[sport_billy]

Hello, welcome to the forum.

Any weight loss at all? Can you hear any clicking noises or whistles when he is breathing?

 

[astrum1989]

Hello, welcome to the forum.

Any weight loss at all? Can you hear any clicking noises or whistles when he is breathing?

Thank You!

No weight loss and I often listen to his chest and have never heard clicking. His chest has been checked by the vet twice over this period and both times they said it was fine. Sometimes he makes a slight whistle noise but that is only when he is actively sniffing for food and I'm pretty sure he has always done it.

 

[Wiebke]

I would rather suspect a mild sensitivity/allergy to dust in bedding or hay rather than a URI (respratory infection), as it sounds mostly like a somewhat congested nose.

 

[astrum1989]

Just thought I would update you guys. I changed over to fleece which I'm find Okay, I don't mind the extra work but it's just so hard to keep it hay free! Anyway, he has bee showing the same symptom of a slightly congested nose. It doesn't happen all of time and when it does, it's only when he is eating. I'm getting worried again because I don't know what else he could be allergic to, his pellets? When he was on antibiotics, the vet gave us a sachet of Bisolvon to give him as well. When he was congested yesterday, I gave him a small dose of Bisolvon on his cucumber and the congestion seemed to disappear within 20 minutes. I'm almost certain it can't be an infection because he would have worsened by now and would be showing other symptoms. When he is breathing I can see his belly moving in and out at the sides, I'm just wondering if this is normal? I can't remember when I first noticed this because he has been doing it for a whole, or if he has always done it.