Sneezy GP

[FernieB]

Just that really. Any advice?

Scruffy has sneezed a couple of times in the last few minutes. He's being a bit 'middle aged' at the moment - nothin really wrong but just not as lively as he has been.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Have you changed anything in his environment?
Is their hay different or a bit dustier than usual ?
Have you washed their blankets or fleeces in anything different - or has the formula changed? It might be something you have used on your clothes that he's reacting to?

Or it could be that pesky moulting rabbit

When they get respiratory problems you can tell , they get all tucked up and 'woe is me' , snuffly and a weirdy clicking noise in their airways.

Hopefully as you say nothing more than getting to be an old duffer

[FernieB]

Wish us luck I'm going to try and get him in at the vets today. He's not eating, not even cucumber or parsley. He just looks all sad and small. Poor boy.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Oh poor ScruffyPig

Sad and Small isn't good for guineas is it.
Hopefully your vet can shed some light (he'll likely come home with antibiotics if he's got a respiratory, but ask for Critical Care Fine Grind and some feeding syringes in case you need to 'persuade' him)
Our vet gave probiotic granuals (they won't harm the other pigs) but there is a probiotic content in the Critical Care.

Good Luck Scruffy

[FernieB]

He remained sad, small and pathetic whilst he was examined. He sounds a bit snuffly and has come home with antibiotics and critical care. As soon as he gets out of his case he runs round and chomps on some celery . I've just been explaining how he's not been eating.

I have them both in the kitchen with me so I can keep an eye on them now. I'm actually waiting to see how much comes out the other end. He's had some critical care and Smooth kindly followed him round and licked up the bits that had dribbled down his chin .

Actually I've just heard a wheezy noise so hopefully the antibiotics will do the job.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

How is the little boy?
They are little blighters when you try to medicate them, you'll need three hands to hold, open mouth and administer the very ££ medication without choking him or him wearing it (unless it's the painkiller that GP3 practically guzzled )

Hope he has a restfull night

[FernieB]

Thanks 70 - he's fine. He's had his antibiotics with no issues. Was not impressed with the critical care at all but I wanted to boost his intake and appetite so I syringed some into him and then put the rest in some celery - he's licked it off (and Smooth polished off what was left - he loves the stuff). They could both do with putting some weight on so have had some of Current Buns biscuits tonight. So he's eating now but still sounds a little snuffly. He's back at the vets tomorrow.

[millimat]

Our gp3 has been sneezy ever since we got him tbh. When we took him for the check up at p@h vets he was given baytril and something like calpol for gps. Back a week later and they've repeated the baytril for another 2 weeks. P@h pay for all the vet stuff as it was within 4 weeks of us buying him.
He's definitely not as sneezy but I'm wondering if he has a dust type allergy so have been extra careful with bedding etc. He's happy enough - eating, drinking, playing hard to catch even though he enjoys cuddles but probably thinks oh no it's her with the syringe
Hope your gps sneezes stop soon.
what is critical care?

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Critical Care is a soft, fine mash (I bought the Fine Grind , it's easier to administer) that you can syringe or spoon when a pig goes off food,. Though TBH once they've gone that way, sometimes you're hard pressed to get them to turn a corner
In an emergency, pellets mashed with boiled water will keep them going. (They need to eat to prevent gut stasis)

Pigs can be sensitive to things, it's right under their sensitive little noses.
My GP2 sneezed at Readi-Grass, all the other pigs are fine.
GP1 had a grass induced clear nasal drip but no sneezes.

Hay can be dusty .
Process of elimination sometimes to find out what (though you might never find) Or in the case of GP1 , cannot eradicate.
He saw the Rodentologist , we kept a check on him. Even giving him a handful of cut grass would start him off.

YY to keeping a note on weight (off to start a new thread on that very subject...........................)

[millimat]

He's piling on the weight

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

How is MrScruffy doing? Hope he's responding to the antibiotics and spoiling.

millimat - your pig sounds like it is something external (allergen type) rather than respiratory infection.
If he's had a week + 2 weeks of treatment and it's no different, then they need to think outside the box.

Maybe try one of those cubed hay/ hay cookies rather than loose hay if there's a risk of it being dusty.
Some hay is very dry and dusty though.

[millimat]

We're back at vets on fri so will see what they say then. Going to try different makes of hay.

[FernieB]

Scruffy is perking up. I put them in the big indoor run but separated them so I could check their 'output' was normal. After an hour Scruffy had managed to get round to play with Smooth! It was long enough to be able to check though.

He's still a little sneezy but is eating hay and nuggets now. I'm just monitoring his weight and have let both pigs have some of Current Buns biscuits to help pile on a few pounds.