Uri?

[mestes1999]

Question about possible upper respiratory infection...

I got my new GP about two weeks ago. When I got her, her fur kinda smelled like pine, so when I got her home I gave her a bath and acquainted her to her new cage.

She also had some crusties on her nose, seems to breathe loudly when she's sniffing me, and coughs/sneezes. She coughed alot more when I got her, now I only really hear her sneeze sometimes. And doesn't make ANY noise, unless the other pig gives her a little nip.

So does/did she have a URI? Possibly from pine bedding or something? In proper conditions like she's in now, will it get better on its own or do I need to treat it somehow? Or does she have something altogether different?

Thanks.

[Percy's Mom]

Personally, I would have her checked out.
If she was allergic to the pine, you cleaned her up, put her in better conditions, and she's better now.
If the pine caused a respiratory infection, she's hiding her symptoms now because your other pig is showing dominance and she's intimidated being in a new environment. An infection will not go away on its own.

[mestes1999]

Okay, any home remedies or anything I can do that won't cost me more than what the pig cost me? Yeah, I know I'm gonna get yelled at for that question...

[Percy's Mom]

If it IS a URI, nothing is going to cure your pig except antibiotics, and for that you have to go to a vet. Maybe you'll be lucky and it was a passing allergic reaction.

You're right, someone is probably going to yell at you for asking that. Why do you have a pet if you're not willing to get him medical attention?

[mestes1999]

I'm not going to answer that because I certainly will get yelled at for it.

I'll give her another week and see her progress. She's definitely better than she was. Mainly now she just still breathes 'loudly'.

Thanks for your help.

[Percy's Mom]

If she has a URI and you give her another week, she'll most likely be dead. You said you had her a couple of weeks now correct? You may have gotten lucky and she was having an allergic reaction that she is now almost over. Typically, guinea pigs go downhill extremely quickly and with an untreaded URI, she would have been dead in a matter of days.

[mestes1999]

Excellent, guess I don't have to worry about it then.

[Susan9608]

Okay, any home remedies or anything I can do that won't cost me more than what the pig cost me?

You could at least *call* your vet and get a professional opinion. No matter how much experience and/or how knowedgeable the members of this forum are, the fact remains that none of us are veterinarians, and it's impossible to get the full story without actually seeing/hearing your guinea pig.

Making a phone call to your vet will cost you nothing except a little time.

If you aren't willing to provide the necessary care (which includes medical attention) why do you have a pet? It's really not fair to the animal to have one, if you can't - or won't - commit to caring for it.

[PiggieMom]

EDIT: I reread the posts and I think I just read something wrong. I'm leaving this thread to you mods. It's upsetting me too much.

[Jennicat]

Or it could be a particularly nasty URI that you'll have to deal with at length. I had a pig with recurring bordetella that lasted over 6 months. I'm not sure why you brought an animal into your home since you seem to be bent on not shelling out a dime on medical care.

Another tip, the sooner you go, the cheaper it'll be. A $40 vet fee and $20 antibiotics is a heck of a lot cheaper than a nebulizer treatment, an emergency vet, etc.

[CavySpirit]

mestes1999: I have no idea why you are even bothering with a pet forum. CLEARLY, a stuffed animal would have cost you about the same as the poor guinea pig you purchased, and it's shelf life would have been significantly longer than the sad living creature depending on you for it's life and well-being. You have absolutely no purpose for being on this forum and I am banning you from posting anymore. If you need any more info, that's what the search button is for, if you can be bothered. I find your attitude both pathetic and reprehensible.

[rabbitsncavyluv]

I would bet your pig is sick. You got her at a pet store and you said she has been oddly quiet. I said she was likely sick and asked you about that, yet you ignored my question. She most likely is going to get your current pig sick since you are not quarantining.

Please do not get anymore pets if are not going to be responsible.

[Ly&Pigs]

Excellent, guess I don't have to worry about it then.

This statement makes me absolutely ill to my stomach and very, very angry. How in the world could a person NOT care enough about their animals as to just let them die instead of taking them to the vet. Be lucky that mestes will never meet me face to face.

[PiggieMom]

Originally Posted by Ly&Pigs

This statement makes me absolutely ill to my stomach and very, very angry. How in the world could a person NOT care enough about their animals as to just let them die instead of taking them to the vet. Be lucky that mestes will never meet me face to face.

My sentiments exactly. I started to cry with anger when I read it, which is why I edited my post. I usually do not write things in anger. That poor pig.