Sneezing / bunged up

[Lisanjake]

Hi all

So within the past week my 5 year old girl Erin has recently been sneezing alot and sounding bunged up on and off.
Discharge from both nostrils and quite a bit comes out when she sneezes.
so t seemed happy this morning and she had her veg this morning but since has been hidden away and not come out at all. well shes just popped out for a drink saying that and nibbling at a few pellets but seems very off for her.

went to the vets to see who i thought was GP savy, she said her lungs sound fine so more liking an upper respiratory issue.
So shes just given me Metacam (dog version) and some anti septic solution to put in each nostril (Which i thought was odd as she can just about breath as it is) i havent tried that yet!
Her front teeth look fine and she looked in her mouth with that long scope they use and said the back look fine?
She didnt give me anti biotics but has given a prescription if i need it (septrin or Enrofloxacin) which ill probably just go and pick up tomorrow but she said as her lungs sound fine she doesnt think she will need it?

Erin has always had watery eyes on and off for years and a previous vet thought she had blocked tear ducts but she seems fine otherwise.
could it be the new hay bag i got? should i try changing out? (i dont have any other meadow hay just some timothy hay. anywhere i can order next day delivery now?)
could it be a simple allergy or something more... has anyone else experienced this?

 

[Wiebke]

Hi all

So within the past week my 5 year old girl Erin has recently been sneezing alot and sounding bunged up on and off.
Discharge from both nostrils and quite a bit comes out when she sneezes.
so t seemed happy this morning and she had her veg this morning but since has been hidden away and not come out at all. well shes just popped out for a drink saying that and nibbling at a few pellets but seems very off for her.

went to the vets to see who i thought was GP savy, she said her lungs sound fine so more liking an upper respiratory issue.
So shes just given me Metacam (dog version) and some anti septic solution to put in each nostril (Which i thought was odd as she can just about breath as it is) i havent tried that yet!
Her front teeth look fine and she looked in her mouth with that long scope they use and said the back look fine?
She didnt give me anti biotics but has given a prescription if i need it (septrin or Enrofloxacin) which ill probably just go and pick up tomorrow but she said as her lungs sound fine she doesnt think she will need it?

Erin has always had watery eyes on and off for years and a previous vet thought she had blocked tear ducts but she seems fine otherwise.
could it be the new hay bag i got? should i try changing out? (i dont have any other meadow hay just some timothy hay. anywhere i can order next day delivery now?)
could it be a simple allergy or something more... has anyone else experienced this?

Hi

If the change happened very soon after you opening a new bag of hay, it could be that and may account for why your vet has been reluctant to step in immediately with an antibiotic since the indicators for a URI are not quite present?
See whether things improve if you remove the hay. It may take several days for symptoms to settle down as I know from one of my piggies with a sensitivity when I introduced not dust extracted hay.

Step in with an antibiotic if things get worse instead of improving gradually.

 

[Lisanjake]

Thank you, yes that’s true. Ive given a full clean out tonight and metacam. She did actually come running for her veg and ate all of that with a little hay so that’s a good start.
Will give her a few days and see how she goes x

 

[Lisanjake]

Step in with an antibiotic if things get worse instead of improving gradually.

I think she’s eating quite slowly this morning.. she came out for veg but barely touched hay.
What do you think? I had to upload to YouTube as it wouldn’t let me attach it as a video.

1 April 2023

 

[Wiebke]

I think she’s eating quite slowly this morning.. she came out for veg but barely touched hay.
What do you think? I had to upload to YouTube as it wouldn’t let me attach it as a video.

1 April 2023

If you feel that she is not improving and getting worse, then please see your vet again and opt for the antibiotic. She doesn't sound bunged up to me, though. A blockage in the nose is usually much more audible when eating.

Not being familiar with your guinea pig, I cannot tell you whether that is within their inidividual eating speed range or not. I am sorry.

If you have any concerns about her food intake, then please switch to weighing on your kitchen scales first thing in the morning for best day to day comparison. That will give some feedback you can work with better than just anxious hovering. We talk about weight loss from 50g onward.
If you weigh at different times in a day, you have to accept that the weight will swing within a 30-40g band depending on the digestive cycle. You also have to accept that the more often you weigh, the more the weight will jump around. If somebody else can do it for you, the better.

 

[Lisanjake]

If you feel that she is not improving and getting worse, then please see your vet again and opt for the antibiotic. She doesn't sound bunged up to me, though. A blockage in the nose is usually much more audible when eating.

Not being familiar with your guinea pig, I cannot tell you whether that is within their inidividual eating speed range or not. I am sorry.

If you have any concerns about her food intake, then please switch to weighing on your kitchen scales first thing in the morning for best day to day comparison. That will give some feedback you can work with better than just anxious hovering. We talk about weight loss from 50g onward.
If you weigh at different times in a day, you have to accept that the weight will swing within a 30-40g band depending on the digestive cycle. You also have to accept that the more often you weigh, the more the weight will jump around. If somebody else can do it for you, the better.

I must say she’s about 80% better since changing the hay out yesterday. Not bunged up (was a tiny bit first thing) so I’m praying it’s just that which set her off.
She seems to be a lot happier with the new hay I’ve given her as she’s happily digging in now. Still wiping the nose now and then it looks a little red.

I’ll defo be weighing everyday again and monitor how she’s doing thank you.

 

[Wiebke]

I must say she’s about 80% better since changing the hay out yesterday. Not bunged up (was a tiny bit first thing) so I’m praying it’s just that which set her off.
She seems to be a lot happier with the new hay I’ve given her as she’s happily digging in now. Still wiping the nose now and then it looks a little red.

I’ll defo be weighing everyday again and monitor how she’s doing thank you.

Just be patient. From my own experiences with an assortment of various allergic reactions, they come on very quickly but they take much longer to die down.

If your girl is already 80% better in just one day then you are definitely on the right track. Take heart from that and let things work themselves out; they will.

 

[Lisanjake]

Just be patient. From my own experiences with an assortment of various allergic reactions, they come on very quickly but they take much longer to die down.

If your girl is already 80% better in just one day then you are definitely on the right track. Take heart from that and let things work themselves out; they will.

She’s back to square one again over the weekend… very snuffly but only now and then. Wiping her nose a lot and eating a bit slower. I’ve attached a few vids hopefully you can hear the click. She coughed a few times
She seems to be happy to eat breakfast and nibble at hay but not totally herself.

I’m wondering if it’s teeth - simons on holiday until after Easter so I can’t get in with him or Kim this week.
I’ve booked in with my local vet so hoping they can help somewhat.

She’s been pulling that face at times (my other dental pig used to do)

Hopefully you can hear the click

3 April 2023

 

[Lisanjake]

She’s back to square one again over the weekend… very snuffly but only now and then. Wiping her nose a lot and eating a bit slower. I’ve attached a few vids hopefully you can hear the click. She coughed a few times
She seems to be happy to eat breakfast and nibble at hay but not totally herself.

I’m wondering if it’s teeth - simons on holiday until after Easter so I can’t get in with him or Kim this week.
I’ve booked in with my local vet so hoping they can help somewhat.

She’s been pulling that face at times (my other dental pig used to do)

Hopefully you can hear the click

3 April 2023

Been given septrin to give twice a day.
Basically her front teeth are slanted so no doubt back teeth issues I’m going to try and get booked with Simon maddock after Easter

 

[Wiebke]

Been given septrin to give twice a day.
Basically her front teeth are slanted so no doubt back teeth issues I’m going to try and get booked with Simon maddock after Easter

All the best. With the anibiotics.

Slanted teeth is an independent issue and means generally that there is a pain issue on side of the mouth, whether that is at the root of one of the incisors or of the back teeth so a piggy will mainly chew on the side that doesn't hurt. A developing abscess can make itself felt before it can be seen in my own experience. But it always happens at the most inconvenient of times...

 

[Lisanjake]

All the best. With the anibiotics.

Slanted teeth is an independent issue and means generally that there is a pain issue on side of the mouth, whether that is at the root of one of the incisors or of the back teeth so a piggy will mainly chew on the side that doesn't hurt. A developing abscess can make itself felt before it can be seen in my own experience. But it always happens at the most inconvenient of times...

Thank you, oh I know my last guinea pig has dental issues and I can see her slipping into the same habits she had

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you, oh I know my last guinea pig has dental issues and I can see her slipping into the same habits she had

Just book an appointment as soon as possible after their return. At least you are not all that far from Northampton.

If you are really worried, then book her in for a check before the Maddocks are back so if you can fee that she has a little lump on her jaw, it can be tidied over medically with zithromax and metacam if needed, like I had to do with my Dylan who developed a jaw abscess just before we were committed to a family Christmas in Switzerland and who we got through the whole Christmas period with two lots of it, only to find that the lump had actually disappeared and gone for good; his lump was not developed enough to be lanced and marsupialised yet before the Christmas break.
If the zithromax and high metacam had not done the trick, then the abscess would have come back up and we would have dealt with it in due time.

Just take a deep breath. There are ways and options to deal with the problem in the next two weeks if that is needed.

 

[Lisanjake]

Just book an appointment as soon as possible after their return. At least you are not all that far from Northampton.

If you are really worried, then book her in for a check before the Maddocks are back so if you can fee that she has a little lump on her jaw, it can be tidied over medically with zithromax and metacam if needed, like I had to do with my Dylan who developed a jaw abscess just before we were committed to a family Christmas in Switzerland and who we got through the whole Christmas period with two lots of it, only to find that the lump had actually disappeared and gone for good; his lump was not developed enough to be lanced and marsupialised yet before the Christmas break.
If the zithromax and high metacam had not done the trick, then the abscess would have come back up and we would have dealt with it in due time.

Just take a deep breath. There are ways and options to deal with the problem in the next two weeks if that is needed.

Earliest I can get in with Simon is the 22nd.. I’ll try and have a feel of her jaw later if there is a lump.
I only have septrin is that not strong enough really? I also have metacam that will last prob another week ish (I have tramodol left over which was for my girl Ellie bless her heart, only had that since Jan so should still be okay)

Oh wow! That’s really good to know, fingers crossed it goes with antibiotics! Glad Dylan got through it okay.
I know Zithromax is the go to one though x

 

[Lisanjake]

Would that cause her to have a runny nose though do you think?