Children's Benadryl

[vmorin918]

Has anyone had success with giving children's benadryl to their piggy? We have had Rosie for about a year, and she came with a congested nose. We took her to the Vet numerous times, tried all kinds of different antibiotic combo's, decongestants, and the Vet said if it's not clearing up with antibiotics it's probably allergies. She gave me nose drops to give her (yeah right, ever try to give nasal drops to a squirmy guinea pig? )

So my next thought is what about benadryl. I think I saw online it's 12mg/5ml. Rosie weighs only 700g (she's tiny and fast hahaha) and someone mentioned their Vet said 1mg per pound of weight (Rosie weighs 1.5lbs) which would be 1.5mg (my math is telling me her dosage would be 0.6-0.8mL of benadryl)

I'm curious, if anyone has tried benadryl and what their experience was. This is our last resort, the next step is the Vet said we could do an x-ray for $180... (we have spent over $300 on her already... while we love her dearly we also have to draw the line somewhere - we don't have Kardashian money.)

Other than her congestion she is perfectly healthy. Runs around all the time, eats poops and drinks water just like the others. It's just the nasal congestion.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Some things to look into, if you haven’t already, before medicines -

What type of bedding do you use?
is their hay dust extracted? Have you tried different types of hay to see if it eases the congestion?
I know you said she came with a congested nose, but are all irritants kept out of the room (candles, sprays, air freshners etc).

 

[vmorin918]

Some things to look into, if you haven’t already, before medicines -

What type of bedding do you use?
is their hay dust extracted? Have you tried different types of hay to see if it eases the congestion?
I know you said she came with a congested nose, but are all irritants kept out of the room (candles, sprays, air freshners etc).

We buy the Kaytee Timothy Hay. I shake it before I put it in their hay bag. It's not loose in the cage, and it's in a canvas hay bag with small holes they eat out of. Yes we don't use any sprays, on occasion there's a wax warmer on but it's very infrequent (Like once every few months if that, and only for a few hours) fleece is washed with unscented detergent.

 

[Wiebke]

We buy the Kaytee Timothy Hay. I shake it before I put it in their hay bag. It's not loose in the cage, and it's in a canvas hay bag with small holes they eat out of. Yes we don't use any sprays, on occasion there's a wax warmer on but it's very infrequent (Like once every few months if that, and only for a few hours) fleece is washed with unscented detergent.

I don't recommend using human decongestants or medications on spec unless your vet specifically asks you to. Guinea pigs have a different metabolism to humans.
Instead, I would strongly recommend to contact your vet over a mucus-thinning veterinary product; in the UK this is bisolvon powder but I don't know what the corresponding product is in the USA.

Can you try and see whether changing the hay brand can make a difference? The quality difference between various dust extracted hay brands can vary quite a bit.
How dry is the air in your rooms? (Air con and radiator heat are both creating a dry environment).
Check whether moister air is helping to easing the symptoms. You can do a trial by placing a bowl of steaming water next to the cage.

Allergies are rare in guinea pigs but they can occasionally happen. Sensitivities are more common. Once you have excluded an infection like sinusitis, then it is rather difficult to work out what is going on because it is such a wide field and very much a trial and error approach.

It can however be very frustrating; especially since a blocked nose is much more serious for a guinea pig than a human; they are not good mouth breathers and have very small and narrow airways.

 

[vmorin918]

I don't recommend using human decongestants or medications on spec unless your vet specifically asks you to. Guinea pigs have a different metabolism to humans.
Instead, I would strongly recommend to contact your vet over a mucus-thinning veterinary product; in the UK this is bisolvon powder but I don't know what the corresponding product is in the USA.

Can you try and see whether changing the hay brand can make a difference? The quality difference between various dust extracted hay brands can vary quite a bit.
How dry is the air in your rooms? (Air con and radiator heat are both creating a dry environment).
Check whether moister air is helping to easing the symptoms. You can do a trial by placing a bowl of steaming water next to the cage.

Allergies are rare in guinea pigs but they can occasionally happen. Sensitivities are more common. Once you have excluded an infection like sinusitis, then it is rather difficult to work out what is going on because it is such a wide field and very much a trial and error approach.

It can however be very frustrating; especially since a blocked nose is much more serious for a guinea pig than a human; they are not good mouth breathers and have very small and narrow airways.

We can try a different kind of hay. What would you recommend? We tried putting a humidifier near the cage, and putting an air purifier at the other end of the cage. Didn't change anything. It's just heartbreaking to hear her congested.

 

[PigglePuggle]

I would definitely agree with @Wiebke here, children's benadryl is not something I would ever consider giving to a guinea pig (and I have a doctorate in veterinary pharmacology so I do know a bit about these things) but the bisolvon decongestant powder she mentions is indeed extremely effective and more importantly is known to be safe and specifically prescribed for guinea pigs.

I would also point out that not home medicating, and instead seeking appropriate veterinary treatment and medicines is part of the forum terms and conditions that you signed up to here @vmorin918 and that the prices you are mentioning sound very reasonable and much like what anyone would expect to pay for routine veterinary care, hardly "Kardashian money" as you say, just what most of us would have saved up for a course of vet treatment!
If you have difficulties affording routine vet care perhaps you could negotiate a payment plan with your vet or contact local small animal charities or rescues who may be able to help?

 

[Wiebke]

We can try a different kind of hay. What would you recommend? We tried putting a humidifier near the cage, and putting an air purifier at the other end of the cage. Didn't change anything. It's just heartbreaking to hear her congested.

Here is our hay guide with information for several countries; perhaps that can help you?
A Comprehensive Hay Guide for Guinea Pigs (incl. providers in several countries)

The active ingredient bisolvon is bromhexine. Perhaps your vet knows a US brand with it? Brand names can vary massively from country to country, which can make giving recommendations rather difficult for us on occasion.