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Severe Allergy

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amy104

amy104

Teenage Guinea Pig
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My eldest piggie Fudge has a dust allergy. His hutch is lined with lino and vetbed, I use shreaded paper as bedding and confine hay to the racks for eating only. Despite this he is forever sneezing with a runny nose. Lately tho he has been suffering more than normal so I am wondering if the pollen count that affects so many people is having an affect on him too. He definately doesn't have a URI, he see's the vet regularly. I've tried enchinea to boost his immune system which I found helped but he's started leaving it so I guess it doesn't taste very nice. The only thing my vet thinks I could do better is to soak the hay before feeding but I doubt he'd touch it if I did that. If he's really bad I use a bit of vics as per piggy potions but worry about doing this too often as its pretty strong and I wouldn't want to burn his nose. Anyone have any other suggestions as to how I can make him more comfortable. He is pretty jolly in him self, eats and drinks normally I just feel bad for him when I see his stuffy little nose.
 
Have you tried dust free hay? If you google it they have a website. Its not dusty at all. :) I feel for fudge I have hayfever although only an itchy nose and burning throat so I'm not too bad but it is a pain!
 
amy104 I posted a thread on this titled Dust Free hay/Sawdust in this section - only added to it today and awaiting some help from these great people!

My guinea pig suffers badly too, i bought dust free hay and fleece but hasnt really helped with his sneezing and runny nose. I have noticed some days its worse than others, and I reckon pollen count could have something to do with it!

I did notice that having the dust free hay in the hay rack did help a little, so i would definatyely fgive it a go. pro fleece is fab too!

your not alone amy! if i have any other tips or my piggy improves from my methods, i shall let you know!
 
Thanks. I've never used sawdust and already use dust free hay. Even my vet is at a loss.
 
i think its one of those things they may have to live with, like us humans!

does he get outside alot? I find after mine has been outside for a big, his nose does clear for a bit, until i take him back inside and it gets really runny again.

My vet put him on antibiotics and everything but nothing seemed to work. they just said he must have allergy to something, most likely hay and sawdust, but again like you, i havent seen much change since ive used dust free hay.

Is your guinea still well in himself?
 
Poor Fudge. Our Huxley was like this for a while, we tried all sorts of alternative bedding, and the vicks seemed to help too, then it suddenly cleared up... do you have airfreshners/use sprays like fabreze where Fudge is? They might be irritating him..
 
No, he is an outdoor piggy anyway so it wouldn't be air freshners or the like. It doesn't seem to phase him so I'll just have to keep at what I'm doing.
 
You could try baby sudafed 0.3mls daily for 3 days. This usually helps with stuffy noses.
 
would that be ok on a guinea pig though? I dont want to give him things that would be bad for him as hes only 5 months:...
 
Hmmmmmmmm...........

Hmmm. I might try that with Bubbleberry. Are you sure its safe?
 
I'm sorry, I don't know if it can be used on a piggie that young. MaryH or one of the admisitrators would probably be able to help you.
 
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