Elvis, possibly sick or I'm paranoid
- cavyslave8
- I GAVE, dammit!
A little background: I have flipped out countless times and have rushed my piggies to the vet for what I thought was a URI. SmartyPants has an occasional crusty (clear snot) nose, it usually only lasts about a day. His breathing is also always clear.
Now Elvis (about 5 months old) has been sneezing a couple times a day, this just started yesterday. No yellow or green snot though. He's eating, pooing, and popcorning just fine. His eyes are clear also. I have tried to listen to his lungs, but he's a talker. Everytime I hold him he is licking me, talking, and playing in my hair. So needless to say, it's hard to hear his lungs. I think someone has a website with the "clicking" sound on it, I can't find it though. My mom is a nurse and will be sending me a stethescope to keep for my paranoid episodes with the pigs, but that'll be a few days.
I guess what I'm asking is: Should I take Elvis to the vet right now? Should I wait to see what he's like today? and Could someone give me the website name that lists all the guinea pig noises? Thanks everyone!
Now Elvis (about 5 months old) has been sneezing a couple times a day, this just started yesterday. No yellow or green snot though. He's eating, pooing, and popcorning just fine. His eyes are clear also. I have tried to listen to his lungs, but he's a talker. Everytime I hold him he is licking me, talking, and playing in my hair. So needless to say, it's hard to hear his lungs. I think someone has a website with the "clicking" sound on it, I can't find it though. My mom is a nurse and will be sending me a stethescope to keep for my paranoid episodes with the pigs, but that'll be a few days.
I guess what I'm asking is: Should I take Elvis to the vet right now? Should I wait to see what he's like today? and Could someone give me the website name that lists all the guinea pig noises? Thanks everyone!
- cavyslave8
- I GAVE, dammit!
The bedding is fleece and towels. The weather has been getting warmer here, so we've had some of the windows in other rooms open. Elvis never sneezed before, now it's a couple times a day. I know I've been reacting to the pollen and such outside, maybe he is too.
Thank goodness we don't have kids, I would lose my mind!
Thank goodness we don't have kids, I would lose my mind!
- cavyslave8
- I GAVE, dammit!
Ok, there's something new here. Elvis was sneezing a little too much for comfort, so I took him in to my new vet. The vet listened to his breathing for a bit and said he didn't hear anything out of the ordinary.
My hay had been a dusty, so I took it away for a day or so to see if it cleared up. When we got from VA a few minutes I ran to check on the pigs. I noticed that now he has some green snot around his nose.
I don't see any snot on his feet. I listened to his breathing as good as I could. It sounds a little "wet". If that makes sense.
He is very active, eating, drinking and pooping normal. He's actually gained a little weight. I'm calling the vet in the morning. What I need to know is, can antibiotics hurt him if he doesn't have a URI?
I tried searching for it, but am exhausted from the flight and couldn't find it.
My hay had been a dusty, so I took it away for a day or so to see if it cleared up. When we got from VA a few minutes I ran to check on the pigs. I noticed that now he has some green snot around his nose.
I don't see any snot on his feet. I listened to his breathing as good as I could. It sounds a little "wet". If that makes sense.
He is very active, eating, drinking and pooping normal. He's actually gained a little weight. I'm calling the vet in the morning. What I need to know is, can antibiotics hurt him if he doesn't have a URI?
I tried searching for it, but am exhausted from the flight and couldn't find it.
- cavyslave8
- I GAVE, dammit!
I just listened to him breathe again, I heard some clicking I think. Would you hear clicking when they breathe and clicking when they breathe out? Or only one way? The vet told me that I would hear it both ways if he were sick, but I have my doubts about that.
I don't think I'm making sense anymore, sorry.
Also I don't see any eye discharge. I saw a real tiny bit of crust under his eye, but I think that could be from he cleaned himself.
I don't think I'm making sense anymore, sorry.
Also I don't see any eye discharge. I saw a real tiny bit of crust under his eye, but I think that could be from he cleaned himself.
- Mum
- I GAVE, dammit!
Green snot is a sign of infection - he definitely sounds as if he needs antibiotics.
Something like doxycycline shouldn't hurt him if he doesn't need it (although it's not a good idea to use it if it's not necessary). I prefer it to Baytril since some pigs are sensitive to Baytril and will stop eating.
Clicking is not normal.
Clicking AND green snot is a problem.
Something like doxycycline shouldn't hurt him if he doesn't need it (although it's not a good idea to use it if it's not necessary). I prefer it to Baytril since some pigs are sensitive to Baytril and will stop eating.
Clicking is not normal.
Clicking AND green snot is a problem.
- cavyslave8
- I GAVE, dammit!
Thank you so much Mum. I've actually decided to take him to a specialist tomm, instead of this new vet I went to on Thursday.
Should I request a culture to be sure?
Should I request a culture to be sure?
- cavyslave8
- I GAVE, dammit!
Okay, will do. Thank you so much for your help.
I'm thinking now that I can't trust the last vet, so I will not be going back there. I should've gone with my insticts. It's a further drive to the specialist but it's worth it.
I'm thinking now that I can't trust the last vet, so I will not be going back there. I should've gone with my insticts. It's a further drive to the specialist but it's worth it.
- dgarriques
- Got Pigs?
Poor Elvis and you too. Cavyslave8 you sound stressed. I hope Elvis can get some help at the vet and he will feel better and so will you. Please let us know.