Elvis, possibly sick or I'm paranoid

cavyslave8 · Post » Wed Apr 26, 2006 10:09 am

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!

Post » Wed Apr 26, 2006 10:13 am

What kind of bedding? Sneezing a couple times a day could even be due to pollen. If it is that infrequently, I would wait until you had clear indications he was sick (more frequent, snot, not eating, in any combination).

cavyslave8 · Post » Wed Apr 26, 2006 10:19 am

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!

Post » Wed Apr 26, 2006 12:16 pm

I have a coating of pollen on my porch. This could be the trouble. Like I said, look for other warning signs.

You can always see a vet to put yourself at ease (always safest). Just letting you know what I would do.

cavyslave8 · Post » Mon Jun 19, 2006 3:21 am

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.

cavyslave8 · Post » Mon Jun 19, 2006 3:41 am

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.

Mum · Post » Mon Jun 19, 2006 4:33 am

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.

cavyslave8 · Post » Mon Jun 19, 2006 4:35 am

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?

Mum · Post » Mon Jun 19, 2006 4:39 am

I've never had a culture done for a URI. If you get doxy (vibramycin) be sure it's dosed correctly at 5.0mg/kg for a minimum of 10 days.

cavyslave8 · Post » Mon Jun 19, 2006 4:42 am

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.

dgarriques · Post » Mon Jun 19, 2006 6:25 am

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.

Post » Mon Jun 19, 2006 7:59 am

Yes, it sounds bacterial. Good luck clearing him up.