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Weird breathing?

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KingBoris&HisFollowers

KingBoris&HisFollowers

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Hi everyone,
I had Smokey out for some cuddles before and noticed that he has what i can only describe as maybe like a heavy athsma breathing.
I have gotten all my other piggies out to listen to them to make sure its not just me hearing things but he is the only one that sounds like this should i be worried?
and could it be associated with his weight? he has packed on quite a bit lately and i think he may be getting a little big
Also his cage mate Bandit seems to have gotten a little thin recently,i have tried the seperate bowls and they just keep eating out of the same one,its impossible no matter what i do Smokey is huge and Bandit a little thin,ive tried putting more food in for Bandit but it makes no difference,he eats it but doesn't gain any weight,its not visible in pictures as he is so hairy but i can feel his bones xxxxxxxxxxx
 
Best monitor his weight regularly by weighing your pigs weekly. If necessary take Bandit out and feed him separately. Loss of weight can be a lot of things from beig pushed out by a dominant pig, but other reasons can be teeth trouble (molars) or diabetes.

Keep an eye out on Smokey whether his breathing worsens, you can try dabbing a bit of vicks on his nose (have that tip from Peter Gurneys site).
 
thanks,
The scary thing is that Bandit is the pushiest to the food bowl and seems to eat more than Smokey,it use to be the opposite way around though,
Could it be that because Smokey is an American shorthair cross he is naturally bigger and that Bandi is a Aby cross that he is much finer built and maybe I'm wrong on the weight issues?
as for the breathing i will keep a very close eye on it;) x
 
No, breed doesn't make any difference. Check his back teeth, if you can and see whether there are sharp edges. - I'm not a tooth expert, so you better ask alcesterpigs!
 
Bonnie I do not want to scare you but as we know from Niki's Maddie thread then if there is a weight gain that is more than average then there could be a problem. I would, for your own peace fo mind contact your vet. I wouldn't just wait and see it's worth a check up.

Good luck! :)
 
alcesterpigs said:
Suspect hay-fever.
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how would i treat this?
Vickyt said:
No, breed doesn't make any difference. Check his back teeth, if you can and see whether there are sharp edges. - I'm not a tooth expert, so you better ask alcesterpigs!
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ill try have a look but i have never seen they back of a piggies mouth my vet normally does that x
SunshineAndTwinkle said:
Bonnie I do not want to scare you but as we know from Niki's Maddie thread then if there is a weight gain that is more than average then there could be a problem. I would, for your own peace fo mind contact your vet. I wouldn't just wait and see it's worth a check up.

Good luck! :)
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yeah i dont know if i can handle anymore major upsets right this minute,I will contact my vet but as you **** have read before my vets know half of what i do about piggies or even rodent animals in general,I'm truthfully better off trying to figure it out through here if possible x
 
Try letting him have a sniff of Olbas Oil.
Above all don't panic, as usual, easier said than done!
Just as a matter of interest, how heavy is Smokey and what is the air temperature?
 
Smokey and Bandit are still under a year and growing, aren't they?

I'm more worried about Bandit feeling skinny!
 
The problem is you need to know not only the weight of a pig but also the "feel" of it.
 
alcesterpigs said:
Try letting him have a sniff of Olbas Oil.
Above all don't panic, as usual, easier said than done!
Just as a matter of interest, how heavy is Smokey and what is the air temperature?
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as you said last time about the set temp in my house being to warm it now is between 20-22 degrees,as everyone freezes here if its any colder
Smokey is 5 1/2 months old and weighs 1150gm.,what sort of shop would i get Olbas oil from?
 
pharmacy. It's eucalyptus/menthol based.
 
You can use vicks as well - it works with my pigs.

You can get it in a pharmacy as well; just don't say you need either for piggies. They are both for humans with a bunged up nose or bronchia!
 
At moment it is 19C outside and 23C indoors, it is too warm here!
There is something else you could try with Smokey, Sudafed expectorant, having said that I would try him with the Olbas Oil/ Vicks first.
 
How is his breathing now Bonnie? Its difficult when you don't have a good vet on hand. Fingers crossed what has been suggested by others will help. :)
 
I'm refering to Peter Gurney here The God of all things piggy! :(|)

He suggests that the first warning of an infection is a rasping wheeze and guinea pig can get this without going through the running nose and sneezing problems.

Peter suggests using Vick of Oil of Olbas just a tiny bit at the end of the nose is enough.

Sudafed as you know can be used 0.2ml per day is suggested by Peter.

Really feel for you, it seems to all come at once doesn't it! (((hugs)))
 
Bonnie how's it going?
With our crazy weather at mo, being moist with some rain......do you think that might be affecting?
Being indoors i'd say no ......... but some piggies can be allergy piggies, for some reason, i found our Sully had the sneezes and reacted more to hay than Dukey did :{ They're like little humans......they all differ x)
I'd say too that you're going to be extra extra sensitive now to all there needs.......this is good.....but love settle down......xx>>>xx>>>xx>>>
Each one will go thru ups and downs.......if uncertain get to see Chris pronto and tell him the symptons and what you've researched......I tell you the piggies in Albury will in benefit from your wonderful research and knowledge good on you mate xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
What i try to do is think of my children...........aka Ava.......i try to relate their breathing noises.......you know how they should sound..if in doubt and more wheezy etc... refer to vet's :)
You're doing fab job love xx>>>xx>>>
 
Glynis said:
Bonnie how's it going?
With our crazy weather at mo, being moist with some rain......do you think that might be affecting?
Being indoors i'd say no ......... but some piggies can be allergy piggies, for some reason, i found our Sully had the sneezes and reacted more to hay than Dukey did :{ They're like little humans......they all differ x)
I'd say too that you're going to be extra extra sensitive now to all there needs.......this is good.....but love settle down......xx>>>xx>>>xx>>>
Each one will go thru ups and downs.......if uncertain get to see Chris pronto and tell him the symptons and what you've researched......I tell you the piggies in Albury will in benefit from your wonderful research and knowledge good on you mate xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
What i try to do is think of my children...........aka Ava.......i try to relate their breathing noises.......you know how they should sound..if in doubt and more wheezy etc... refer to vet's :)
You're doing fab job love
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thanks Glynis,
I'm not sure whether to be seriously worried or not,it could just be that in my opinion and everyone else who has met Smokey that maybe he is a little on the porky side,
it seems the sickness never stops here
we all had the flu,then Boris got ill,then i got gastro,now Smokey and i have just taken avas temp because she was very quiet and lethargic and its sitting on 40 degrees:...,I'm just wondering when all of this sickness will stop just for a minute
 
KingBoris&HisFollowers said:
thanks Glynis,
I'm not sure whether to be seriously worried or not,it could just be that in my opinion and everyone else who has met Smokey that maybe he is a little on the porky side,
it seems the sickness never stops here
we all had the flu,then Boris got ill,then i got gastro,now Smokey and i have just taken avas temp because she was very quiet and lethargic and its sitting on 40 degrees:...,I'm just wondering when all of this sickness will stop just for a minute
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OH HECK Bonnie :{
OK if Ava has high temp PRONTO to hospital or doc's xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx i'm sure you know that sweetie xx>>>xx>>>xx>>>
as for Smokey........porky mmmmmm no maybe just a bit cuddly i'd prefer a piggie with weight on than one without :(.........it could just be him ...maybe he's not happy on the bedding? like humans they too can have reactions to diff things..........

LOVES and HUGS from us ALLLLLLLLLLL xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
 
Glynis said:
OH HECK Bonnie :{
OK if Ava has high temp PRONTO to hospital or doc's xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx i'm sure you know that sweetie xx>>>xx>>>xx>>>
as for Smokey........porky mmmmmm no maybe just a bit cuddly i'd prefer a piggie with weight on than one without :(.........it could just be him ...maybe he's not happy on the bedding? like humans they too can have reactions to diff things..........

LOVES and HUGS from us ALLLLLLLLLLL xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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Ava has this problem all the time all the hospital do is tell me to give her another dose of nurofen 6 hours from the last and then send her home,the docs aren't open and by the time i get there her temp will have gone anyway.
i love my porky pigs but you might be right about the bedding they have been particuarly wetting the area inside the pigloo lately,there bedding is hay,i hope its nothing to do with the hay as the only other i can find atm is lucerne and its not the best with my older piggies as you know to high in calcium and its very poor quality hay right now anyway,i might convert him to fleece like i have done with Zanzi and Baker?
 
I understand the worry Bonnie, I've been through this problem with a few of mine as well! I found that central heating brings on such breathing in sensitive pigs - given it is winter over there, do you have your central heating on a lot? I found an air humidifier (or draping wet towels on the radiators) worked well to counteract that.

To directly deal with the raspy/allergy breathing, I find Sudafed Expectorant does the trick, just a one-off 0.2ml dose is normally enough, and they only need that once in a while since the 'symptoms' come and go intermittently.

Obviously, as others have said, seek vet advice etc. if you are at all worried it might not be a simple allergy/sensitivity.
 
CCC4 said:
I understand the worry Bonnie, I've been through this problem with a few of mine as well! I found that central heating brings on such breathing in sensitive pigs - given it is winter over there, do you have your central heating on a lot? I found an air humidifier (or draping wet towels on the radiators) worked well to counteract that.

To directly deal with the raspy/allergy breathing, I find Sudafed Expectorant does the trick, just a one-off 0.2ml dose is normally enough, and they only need that once in a while since the 'symptoms' come and go intermittently.

Obviously, as others have said, seek vet advice etc. if you are at all worried it might not be a simple allergy/sensitivity.
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Thanks Laura,havent seen you around much lately
yes i do have the heating on 24hours a day i set it to a certain temp so i never have to turn it off,it gets cold if i do.My mum has a humidifier for her dog who coughs and rasps and it does him wonders i might try that,it will benefit everyone too;) x
 
The one pig I had who really suffered with the 'dry air' was Lottie, she got very rapsy breathing once the heating had been on for a few hours - getting some moisture into the air did the trick with her. My others seem less affected but some do get a little raspy; hayfever is bugging them more than anything else right now!

I have been away a bit, been enjoying the gorgeous weather we have here and I am trying to cut down my forum time generally. And still working on my anxiety, that's taking up more time now. I think I'm learning a life outside the forum, lol. Hope you are ok now. xx
 
CCC4 said:
The one pig I had who really suffered with the 'dry air' was Lottie, she got very rapsy breathing once the heating had been on for a few hours - getting some moisture into the air did the trick with her. My others seem less affected but some do get a little raspy; hayfever is bugging them more than anything else right now!

I have been away a bit, been enjoying the gorgeous weather we have here and I am trying to cut down my forum time generally. And still working on my anxiety, that's taking up more time now. I think I'm learning a life outside the forum, lol. Hope you are ok now. xx
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That may be the problem I'm thinking.Will let you know how the humidifier goes.I'm glad you've been well,its good to get time to enjoy the sunshine;),i recieved Boris's last package today from you,thankyou and just wanted to check if you want me to send it back? x
 
No, not at all. I'm pretty sure the ointment is good for a long while yet, well into 2010, so you can keep it. I can get some much quicker than you if it is needed, so you keep hold of it in case you do ever need it (hoping, of course, that you don't!).
 
ccc4
"I think I'm learning a life outside the forum"
Excellent news, it will help you put pig problems into context which will help you and the pigs. However much any of are concerned about our gps. it is often necessary to stand back and take a detached view of their problems for the owners' benefit.
 
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AP, my problem is less with how I handle things regarding the pigs, more how I handle my own problems!
 
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