Bubbly breathing

[h.h.lovecraft]

When I first got my piggies as babies a few months ago, their noses were a little crusty, they were sneezing a lot, had an obvious skin issue and bladder problems. Since they had a horrible case of ringworm, the vet and I decided to treat it first in hopes that the other issues would get better as their immune system improved, since they were so young. We also couldn't give the meds that would help their stuffy noses as it would make their already severe ringworm worse. During the course of the antibiotics for the ringworm, I was also giving them a few natural supplements for their other issues. It has been a few weeks since I stopped giving all the meds and I am happy to say they are doing much better now. We are ringworm free, no more bladder issues, and they no longer have runny, crusty noses.

The only small issues that seems to remain is that they both make a bit of noise while breathing still. One piggy, Hexi, has a more obvious issue than the other. She has had persistent bubbly nose since we stopped everything. I wanted to wait a while after the meds to make sure it wouldn't clear up on its own and it hasn't. It's a bit hard to describe the noise, it's kind of like when you press your lips together and make a bubbly noise, but softer. It also sounds louder on some days than others. Sometimes she doesn't make the noise at all, but the noise is there more often than it isn't. Her sister seemed fine, but I also noticed a tiny bit of noise in her breathing the other day. It's not the same noise however, it sounds a bit more wheezy. She also doesn't do it all the time, only occasionally.

I have read into URIs and they seem much worse and very extreme compared to what the girls symptoms are. They are otherwise very active, energetic pigs and seem to have no issues beyond this. The vet suggested we take them back if their other issues don't get better and I am probably going to make the call tomorrow. I just don't know what it could be and I don't look forward putting them through the stress of going to the vet.

 

[Wiebke]

When I first got my piggies as babies a few months ago, their noses were a little crusty, they were sneezing a lot, had an obvious skin issue and bladder problems. Since they had a horrible case of ringworm, the vet and I decided to treat it first in hopes that the other issues would get better as their immune system improved, since they were so young. We also couldn't give the meds that would help their stuffy noses as it would make their already severe ringworm worse. During the course of the antibiotics for the ringworm, I was also giving them a few natural supplements for their other issues. It has been a few weeks since I stopped giving all the meds and I am happy to say they are doing much better now. We are ringworm free, no more bladder issues, and they no longer have runny, crusty noses.

The only small issues that seems to remain is that they both make a bit of noise while breathing still. One piggy, Hexi, has a more obvious issue than the other. She has had persistent bubbly nose since we stopped everything. I wanted to wait a while after the meds to make sure it wouldn't clear up on its own and it hasn't. It's a bit hard to describe the noise, it's kind of like when you press your lips together and make a bubbly noise, but softer. It also sounds louder on some days than others. Sometimes she doesn't make the noise at all, but the noise is there more often than it isn't. Her sister seemed fine, but I also noticed a tiny bit of noise in her breathing the other day. It's not the same noise however, it sounds a bit more wheezy. She also doesn't do it all the time, only occasionally.

I have read into URIs and they seem much worse and very extreme compared to what the girls symptoms are. They are otherwise very active, energetic pigs and seem to have no issues beyond this. The vet suggested we take them back if their other issues don't get better and I am probably going to make the call tomorrow. I just don't know what it could be and I don't look forward putting them through the stress of going to the vet.

Hi!

Could you please hold your ear against her to try and figure out whether the sound is coming from the nose, the throat or the lungs?

Ultimately, it is up to your vet to decide whether they want to give another course of antibiotics or - depending on the location of the noise - whether it could be a sensitivity (like to hay or house dust etc.), some damage to the airways or something else.

 

[h.h.lovecraft]

Hi!

Could you please hold your ear against her to try and figure out whether the sound is coming from the nose, the throat or the lungs?

Ultimately, it is up to your vet to decide whether they want to give another course of antibiotics or - depending on the location of the noise - whether it could be a sensitivity (like to hay or house dust etc.), some damage to the airways or something else.

My husband and I both think it sounds the loudest near her nose. I can hear it when I put her body up to my ear, but I think I am just hearing a more muffled version that's coming out of her nose. I kind of wish I had a stethoscope right now I checked the other piggy and she wasn't making any noise at the moment. I know piggies can have hay allergies and I wouldn't exclude that. My hay only gets a little dusty at the very bottom of the box, but she does love to stuff her little nose right into the hay piles. Since they did have all of those other health problems in the beginning, I wouldn't be surprised if there was a pulmonary/respiratory issue going on either. I really hope not, but I guess I will just have to make the vet appointment and see.

They have been so strong and have had such great attitudes throughout all of this despite essentially being sick from the time they were born. I think I will finally be able to relax once we get this last little issue solved!

 

[PigglePuggle]

Sometimes piggies who have recovered from serious respiratory issues have some residual constriction and scarring in their airways and are also more prone to allergies and irritation. Our Blodwen who had almost a year of bad respiratory infections that were finally treated successfully as a chlamydia infection pneumonia and also has a very flat face is always going to be a bit of an intermittent wheezy honker, but the vet advised to manage her more long term symptoms with loxicom to reduce inflammation and bisolvon decongestant for symptom relief. We do this on honky wheezy days on the vets advice and if things improve in 48 hours and she is still zooming around and eating fine, no antibiotics needed in her case.
Not all piggies are the same of course, and new respiratory symptoms should always be investigated as a possible new infection- but increasingly it seems that some of us here have piggies who have mostly recovered from longer term slower progressing URIs that are tricky to find the right antibiotic for, and we have some residual symptoms. Especially in piggies from bad backgrounds.
Always ask the vet, but sometimes what sounds like infection may just be previous respiratory damage playing up a bit?

 

[h.h.lovecraft]

Sometimes piggies who have recovered from serious respiratory issues have some residual constriction and scarring in their airways and are also more prone to allergies and irritation. Our Blodwen who had almost a year of bad respiratory infections that were finally treated successfully as a chlamydia infection pneumonia and also has a very flat face is always going to be a bit of an intermittent wheezy honker, but the vet advised to manage her more long term symptoms with loxicom to reduce inflammation and bisolvon decongestant for symptom relief. We do this on honky wheezy days on the vets advice and if things improve in 48 hours and she is still zooming around and eating fine, no antibiotics needed in her case.
Not all piggies are the same of course, and new respiratory symptoms should always be investigated as a possible new infection- but increasingly it seems that some of us here have piggies who have mostly recovered from longer term slower progressing URIs that are tricky to find the right antibiotic for, and we have some residual symptoms. Especially in piggies from bad backgrounds.
Always ask the vet, but sometimes what sounds like infection may just be previous respiratory damage playing up a bit?

This could be a possibility given her background. It does seem a bit too mild to be a bad infection or anything like that, but I will definitely feel better once my vet can confirm it's not a serious issue. Hexi also has a very tiny flat face, which I'm sure doesn't help things!