URI or allergies? Help!

[Piggiesbaby23]

Hi there, so I have two piggies and one of them sounds ‘stuffed up’ when she is breathing. I took her to the vet almost 2 weeks ago and they put her on antibiotics. She doesn’t have crusty or goopy eyes, no runny nose, she’s eating like normal, going to the bathroom like normal and she is still super active. I’ve changed the bedding to Aspen bedding and I’ve changed there food and hay to Oxbow (vet recommended that brand) but none of that seems to work and I’m not sure what else to try. Any tips will be very helpful!

 

[Piggies&buns]

Do you have anything scented in the room - Reed diffusers, plug in air fresheners, candles, deodorants/perfumes etc? As those items can cause respiratory issues in piggies

 

[Piggiesbaby23]

Do you have anything scented in the room - Reed diffusers, plug in air fresheners, candles, deodorants/perfumes etc? As those items can cause respiratory issues in piggies

I don’t, but I do light candles in my living room and the scent of it does travel throughout the house.

 

[Dixiebaby3]

One of my 3 pigs has the same problem. She sometimes sounds like she is wheezing (but can squeak at the same time so the wheezing seems involuntary). This happens to her anywhere from every other month to every other week. I don’t know what is wrong.
She will start wheezing and then cough/sneeze it out after around 10-30 minutes. It usually only happens around nighttime.

Maybe she has a weak respiratory system... when I adopted her from a pet store one year ago she had URI. (The vet gave her antibiotics and she got better a year ago.) Just like you said above, she has no other symptoms just every once and awhile she has wheezing fits.

I use pet safe and/or soy candles. And I use fleece bedding. I’m wondering if maybe she has an allergy to something outside? Is it possible that she accidentally inhales the dust/pieces of Timothy hay? I always have my fan on in my room and sometimes fill up a diffuser with ONLY water. It helps clear the air and be able to breathe easier. (I haven’t used essential oils in it for over a year)

It’s not urgent that she sees a vet, because as I said above it’s on and off. Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

[Siikibam]

One of my 3 pigs has the same problem. She sometimes sounds like she is wheezing (but can squeak at the same time so the wheezing seems involuntary). This happens to her anywhere from every other month to every other week. I don’t know what is wrong.
She will start wheezing and then cough/sneeze it out after around 10-30 minutes. It usually only happens around nighttime.

Maybe she has a weak respiratory system... when I adopted her from a pet store one year ago she had URI. (The vet gave her antibiotics and she got better a year ago.) Just like you said above, she has no other symptoms just every once and awhile she has wheezing fits.

I use pet safe and/or soy candles. And I use fleece bedding. I’m wondering if maybe she has an allergy to something outside? Is it possible that she accidentally inhales the dust/pieces of Timothy hay? I always have my fan on in my room and sometimes fill up a diffuser with ONLY water. It helps clear the air and be able to breathe easier. (I haven’t used essential oils in it for over a year)

It’s not urgent that she sees a vet, because as I said above it’s on and off. Does anyone have any suggestions?

It’s always better to start your own thread rather than replying to an old one.

I wouldn’t use any candles near them, they have very sensitive airways and strong sense of smell. And make sure the fan isn’t pointing directly in the cage.

With regards the URI I’m not too sure. Is the hay dust free? Any other irritants in the same room as her?
Irritants to Avoid Around Guinea Pigs

 

[Dixiebaby3]

It’s always better to start your own thread rather than replying to an old one.

I wouldn’t use any candles near them, they have very sensitive airways and strong sense of smell. And make sure the fan isn’t pointing directly in the cage.

With regards the URI I’m not too sure. Is the hay dust free? Any other irritants in the same room as her?
Irritants to Avoid Around Guinea Pigs

Oh ok! I’m still new to this forum.

The fan is not facing their cage and I can’t think of any other irritants in the room with them. I don’t think the hay is dust free. Is that a common problem for guinea pigs?

 

[Piggies&buns]

Oh ok! I’m still new to this forum.

The fan is not facing their cage and I can’t think of any other irritants in the room with them. I don’t think the hay is dust free. Is that a common problem for guinea pigs?

Their narrow airways means hay dust can irritate them. They can’t breathe through their mouths so you hear things much more clearly when there is an obstruction. It would be sneezed out and they would then be fine. It can also happen if they eat too fast
But, I would still have her checked out even though it is a sporadic issue. Just to be sure.