Noisy breathing, hay dust

[Little Ones]

Our 6 year old Digby has had noisy breathing for a few days now. I’ve been putting it down to hay dust as it clears once he coughs. It’s been happening a few times a day though. I haven’t noticed any symptoms of URI, just the noisy breathing which leads to a cough. I’m not sure if this would even be a symptom of URI, or if it’s something that’s indicative of hay dust.
I’ve put his hay in a hay bag today which I’m hoping may help, but he’s never used a hay bag/rack in his entire life and he’s not very bright lol, so I’m hoping he eats well with it in there. He’s eating from it right now which is a good sign.
Anyway, I guess what I’m wanting to know is whether this points to hay dust or could also potentially be something else? It might be that the current box of hay we have is dustier than usual, the other piggies are all perfectly fine though.
And if it is hay dust, what can I do to help him out? I assume a hay bag is the best way to go, maybe not give him his carrot cottage either? I’m just not sure what’s best.
Our other senior pig who passed away several months ago also became more sensitive to hay dust with age, most days he’d have one noisy breathing/cough from sleeping in the hay but Digby’s noisy breathing/cough is happening at least 3 times a day so it’s a bit concerning.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi!

Please have him vet checked to have a good look at the respiratory system as to where the issue is actually located and then take it from there. Switch from the usual once weekly weigh in to weighing daily at the same time in the feeding cycle. Airways can narrow and become more lax in old age, but the coughing rather sounds like something could potentially be stuck further down than the nose?

See whether a bowl of steaming water next to the case is easing the symptoms a little as a tester.

 

[PigglePuggle]

As @Wiebke says its always worth a vet check to see if there is a respiratory infection or something stuck in his airways before you assume dust irritation, especially if its going on a few days.
You could try a different hay brand too perhaps if yours is noticeably dusty?

 

[Little Ones]

Hi!

Please have him vet checked to have a good look at the respiratory system as to where the issue is actually located and then take it from there. Switch from the usual once weekly weigh in to weighing daily at the same time in the feeding cycle. Airways can narrow and become more lax in old age, but the coughing rather sounds like something could potentially be stuck further down than the nose?

See whether a bowl of steaming water next to the case is easing the symptoms a little as a tester.

As @Wiebke says its always worth a vet check to see if there is a respiratory infection or something stuck in his airways before you assume dust irritation, especially if its going on a few days.
You could try a different hay brand too perhaps if yours is noticeably dusty?

Thank you both. I’ve been trying to get a vet appointment for about 25 minutes. Our exotic vet has no appointments and their emergency vet isn’t exotically trained, we’ve tried another branch but they’re in the same situation. They can get us in for an emergency appointment on Tuesday so we’ve booked it just in case.
Hopefully I can manage to get something somewhere before that

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you both. I’ve been trying to get a vet appointment for about 25 minutes. Our exotic vet has no appointments and their emergency vet isn’t exotically trained, we’ve tried another branch but they’re in the same situation. They can get us in for an emergency appointment on Tuesday so we’ve booked it just in case.
Hopefully I can manage to get something somewhere before that

Any decent general vet should be able to assess the respiratory tract if symptoms get worse.

 

[Little Ones]

Any decent general vet should be able to assess the respiratory tract if symptoms get worse.

Right, okay. Thank you