Mucus?

[Sarah Jane]

I’m back again.
Piglet has been great for months, I’ve taken her to the vet twice on account of some clicking from her nostrils (no discharge, putting on weight, eyes clear, eating, peeing, pooping, drinking, popcorning - all til present day). The other day she was wheezing very audibly (you could easily hear it and feel it) and I stressed out, I nebulised her with 10ml of sterile saline solution and she came out right as rain. Took her to the vet and the vet again said he couldn’t find any signs of a URI. He’s even checked her throat. When she had her URI when I first got her, she was on doxycycline for a month which should have knocked everything out of the park for her concerning URIs. She’s been fine since, as I said; just clicking sometimes. She also sneeze/coughs sometimes, both at the same time. At first I was concerned, but now it just kinda seems normal for her.

I told the vet that I wondered whether she may have allergies? He prescribed Benadryl but as her condition cleared for a while, I waited to see what would happen as I’m not too sure that it is allergies. I was cuddling her tonight and noticed she is popping slightly from her chest as well as her nose, but not the same kind as when she had her URI. Almost like it could possibly be the empty cavity of her nose sounding through her chest? Could this just be a sign of mucus? I’m thinking perhaps the coughing is a good indication it is mucus, as I know as humans, if we get mucus off our chests into our throat; we can kinda cough too.

I also heard a little clicking only from Flynn’s nose tonight too. None in the chest. He also does not sneeze or cough. Is this a possible hay allergy? Maybe I should switch out my grassy hay to my oaten hay and see if it’s that. The oaten hay is silkier and has more water content whereas the grass hay is dry and possibly has particles.

Sincerely, one very CONFUSED piggy owner. I don’t know what is going on!

 

[WobblyPiggy]

Hi, if you use sawdust bedding try switching to fleece or bathmats...and wash them with guinea pig safe detergent or on a very high temp (we do ours on a 90 degree wash with a small amount of baby detergent) with puppy pads under...as for the hay you could try switching it or you could try shaking it out before giving it to them...I personally put mine into a bag and shake it so the majority of smaller parts and dust have a chance to fall down to the bottom of the bag...if they're still seemingly sneezing etc then you could try a steam pot next to their cage to try clear the air similar to what we use to help with congestion...also check their surrounds...maybe a full clean of their cage and surrounding areas may be needed...weve recently had to do it where I have had to wash down all the cage with warm soapy water and their surrounding areas to account for dust...try also airing out their room for small intervals to make sure the room isn't too stuffy...these are all the things I have started doing after one of mine kept pulling his fur out...(he ended up having a sawdust allergy)

 

[Sarah Jane]

Hi, if you use sawdust bedding try switching to fleece or bathmats...and wash them with guinea pig safe detergent or on a very high temp (we do ours on a 90 degree wash with a small amount of baby detergent) with puppy pads under...as for the hay you could try switching it or you could try shaking it out before giving it to them...I personally put mine into a bag and shake it so the majority of smaller parts and dust have a chance to fall down to the bottom of the bag...if they're still seemingly sneezing etc then you could try a steam pot next to their cage to try clear the air similar to what we use to help with congestion...also check their surrounds...maybe a full clean of their cage and surrounding areas may be needed...weve recently had to do it where I have had to wash down all the cage with warm soapy water and their surrounding areas to account for dust...try also airing out their room for small intervals to make sure the room isn't too stuffy...these are all the things I have started doing after one of mine kept pulling his fur out...(he ended up having a sawdust allergy)

Thank you! Their substrate is towels and fleece so it’s not sawdust. I think I’ll maybe try the different hay in the meantime and see if it’s that! Thank you for such a detailed response

 

[Sarah Jane]

Someone? Anyone!?

 

[Piggies&buns]

All I can really suggest is another vet check.
Do you have any irritants in the room - candles, sprays, perfumes etc?

 

[Betsy]

Someone? Anyone!?

Please be aware that this is mainly a UK based forum. When you posted it was the middle of the night here.

 

[Sarah Jane]

Please be aware that this is mainly a UK based forum. When you posted it was the middle of the night here.

That’s okay! Sorry. I’m just stressing.

 

[Betsy]

That’s okay! Sorry. I’m just stressing.

Perfectly understandable. It is stressful having a sick piggie or any animal.

 

[Sarah Jane]

All I can really suggest is another vet check.
Do you have any irritants in the room - candles, sprays, perfumes etc?

She went for a vet check a week and a half ago. There’s no irritants in the room. I’m not sure. Maybe I should see the vet about a mucus mover or something.