VERY Worried!

[Sammiie]

Hi,
I'm a bit worried about my little baby Murray, he's a Peruvian guinea pig (we think) and i got him from pets at home. He lives with another guinea pig called Pig, who we got the same day from the same enclosure.
I'm worried because i've had Murray for nearly a week now, and recently, he has started to sneeze alot, also, he has what looks like dried snot on his nose (i'm slowly and gently wiping it off), but yeah, I'm very worried and already i'm very protective over him. Does anyone know why this might be happening? x

 

[Toffeewoffee]

Could be a UTI or respiratory infection, what bedding do you have them on? If its shavings this can bring it on. I'd get them both checked over by a vet ASAP, pets are home are well known for selling sick piggies.

 

[claremw92]

Sounds like a URI
Your going to have to see a vet to confirm and get treatment...
Good luck bab
I personally think septrin works better than baytril... They are both anti-biotics...
But again disguss this with your vet...
Hope everything goes well...!
x

 

[kat04kt]

That's weird, I have had my guinea pigs for just a week and one of them is starting to (at least I think) sneeze alot too! I checked them both over and their eyes and nose were clear.

Anyway to check the severity of any cold do the following:

Try to listen to the guinea pigs lungs, by pressing your ear against both sides in turn half way down its body.
If you hear a 'click' in the lungs at the point of exhalation and inhalation then that would indicate a mild infection.
If it sounds like a rasping rattle then this is far worse.

In these cases, Vet care should be seeked out immediately.

If the lungs are clear, no rasping or clicking - then it's more likely a straight forward cold. You can use oil of olbas and put a tiny dab on the nostrils twice a day - but stop as soon as the nose appears clear.

I'm taking all this advice from Peter Gurney's book 'the proper care of guinea pigs'. Which I have on my desk in work right now....(I'm such a geek!)

I guess alternatively if you don't like that idea of putting something on them directly, you could put some drops on a tea towel and leave it near to the cage. Or take a big dollop of vicks vapour rub put that in a bowl with hot water and leave that near the cage.

I'd check the guinea pig several times a day to make sure the cold isn't developing into a chest infection and also keep an eye on your other one.

Up to you whether you'd prefer to seperate them to make sure that the cold won't spread. On the one hand you've only had them a week and being removed from each other might stress the poorly one out even more and that wouldn't help him recover. On the other hand, you don't want both guinea's to fall ill.

As your the guinea-parent, personally I think it can only be your decision as you have witnessed their behaviour and how comfortable they are already this week in your home.

Good luck, I do hope he's ok. Let us know how you get on. If in any doubt at all, please do go to a good vet.

I have a number for a good guinea pig one in the Manchester and Northamptonshire, area. I know a few in London from research (but couldn't say if they were good or not).

Get well soon poorly piggie xx

 

[Amanda1801]

Piggies shouldn't have nasal discharge, best bet is going to see your vet.

Although when it comes to money v.s. health, their health is always the priority, pets at home should be paying your vets bills for this if the vet feels it may have started before you bought them, so keep receipts!

 

[Sammiie]

Thanks guys, i've actually just went to the vet and she said that he had a respiratory infection, he's now got some medication.. x

 

[Toffeewoffee]

I would get in contact with the pets at home you got them from and tell them what has happened etc, they will offer for you to take the pigs back for a refund, but all they will do is shove them in the rehoming section probably without any treatment, so tell them you want the vet bill cost re-imbursed and see what else you can get out of them too, they might chuck some free food or hay in aswell. Hope your lille piggie recovers soon, did they look over the other one aswell?

 

[Toffeewoffee]

I would get in contact with the pets at home you got them from and tell them what has happened etc, they will offer for you to take the pigs back for a refund, but all they will do is shove them in the rehoming section probably without any treatment, so tell them you want the vet bill cost re-imbursed and see what else you can get out of them too, they might chuck some free food or hay in aswell. Hope your littlle piggie recovers soon, did they look over the other one aswell?

 

[Toffeewoffee]

I would get in contact with the pets at home you got them from and tell them what has happened etc, they will offer for you to take the pigs back for a refund, but all they will do is shove them in the rehoming section probably without any treatment, so tell them you want the vet bill cost re-imbursed and see what else you can get out of them too, they might chuck some free food or hay in aswell. Hope your little piggie recovers soon, did they look over the other one aswell?

 

[Sammiie]

I would get in contact with the pets at home you got them from and tell them what has happened etc, they will offer for you to take the pigs back for a refund, but all they will do is shove them in the rehoming section probably without any treatment, so tell them you want the vet bill cost re-imbursed and see what else you can get out of them too, they might chuck some free food or hay in aswell. Hope your little piggie recovers soon, did they look over the other one aswell?

Yeah I might do that actually, but theres no way they are having my piggies back lol, yeah the vet looked over the other one too, he also had some signs of it! x

 

[Toffeewoffee]

You really should, they must cover the vet costs you've incurred.

 

[kat04kt]

So pleased you got it all sorted.

Again call pets at home, so they can check the rest of the piggies they have. Hope your little one gets better soon.

It's good he has such a caring Mummy to watch out for him - when I think about all those guinea's bought then left in a hutch outside atleast he has you to get him better xx

 

[TAN]

Hi
You might want to consider pet insurance - exotic direct (who are part of pet plan ) do a piggy insurance - its about £6.50 a month per pig - I know some owners put money aside weekly in a jar for such emergencies (check the exclusions on the policy - usually pregnancy and dental are excluded ) as sometimes vets bills can run into the hundreds of pounds if you are unlucky enough to have a problem - I have to say my 2 girls were from pets at home and are now 18months old and only 1 case of conjunctivitis since I have had them (I didnt know about rescue piggies back then )rolleyes

 

[Amanda1801]

Hi
You might want to consider pet insurance - exotic direct (who are part of pet plan ) do a piggy insurance - its about £6.50 a month per pig - I know some owners put money aside weekly in a jar for such emergencies (check the exclusions on the policy - usually pregnancy and dental are excluded ) as sometimes vets bills can run into the hundreds of pounds if you are unlucky enough to have a problem - I have to say my 2 girls were from pets at home and are now 18months old and only 1 case of conjunctivitis since I have had them (I didnt know about rescue piggies back then )rolleyes

Exotics direct will pay 50% of dental procedures (after you've paid your excess)

 

[woo]

I would definately contact PAH, when i had problems last year with sick pigs they refunded all vets bills but you do need reciepts, the vet can issue proof for you if you have lost them.

I got an online quote from exotic direct yesterday and it said £18 for one and £20 for the second piggie.

Tan, how did you get the £6.50 per pig and what does it cover?

 

[jammybaby]

hello, glad your piggy is being treated and is on the mend , my pig was the same, another pets at home pig, and there was no way i was giving her back, they did however pay the vets bills, first one came to £30 and second was £70 and they payed it all with no problems.