URI and quarantine

[LydiaMinx]

Boris is ill...again!

He started making crackling noises this evening whilst breathing and this is the first time I've heard it. It's not constant but on and off, and he's acting fine in himself - still eating and drinking and everything he normally does.

I am taking him to the vets tomorrow first thing but wondered if he needed to be seperated from Badger? I have a spare cage so this isn't a problem for me, just wanted to check as I don't want Badger getting ill too

Also - could this be caused by them being housed on hay bedding? I know that this isn't ideal but they love foraging in it so much I'm also getting fleece tomorrow but again - wanted to know for peace of mind

Thanks!

 

[Rodentopia]

No there is no need as some guinea pigs have a resistance to it, if Boris is already poorly then Badger has already been exposed to the infection but there is every chance it not affect him. Take him to the vets with you to get him checked over but he might get the all clear. It might be an allergy but its better to be safe then sorry with snuffling, I have allergy piggies and the snuffling is inconsistent and comes and goes and worse when they have hay (despite me using dust free).

 

[Wiebke]

I wouldn't separate unless Boris was off his food and poorly or if Badger has a lowered immune system due to his own health problems. Most healthy piggies with a fully working immune system won't catch it.

Please have him checked; if it is just in the nose, then it is likely that it is just hay dust irritation. Some piggies are mosre sensitive than others. With URI you usually see at least two of the symptoms listed in the link.
http://www.guinealynx.info/uri.html

 

[LydiaMinx]

We are at the vets as we speak waiting for our appointment I did think of allergies but this morning he had clear fluid coming from his nose so I'm pretty much convinced its a URI! I will update on what the vet says

 

[Guinea pig slave]

I always find keeping piggies together helps recovery, they'd be stressed from the outing to the Vet and lonely if kept alone - unless it is contagious etc.
Any piggies I've had with URI's have gone back in with their buddies after the Vets

 

[LydiaMinx]

Well we are back and Boris is back with Badger, the vet listened to his lungs and couldn't hear anything out of the ordinary so we left with no medicine, hopefully it was just irritation from the hay :S

 

[Wiebke]

The clear fluid can be just from washing stuff out of the nose; guinea pigs don't have head colds like we do. I hope that it was just from Boris rummaging around in the hay!