Sneezing Sneezing? Sighing? What??

[kourt1313]

Finally having some lap time with Matisse. About 4 times in the last 15 minutes he's let out this "huff"... I can't really call it a sneeze, it's kinda like a sigh or puff of air out his nose, usually after he's settled or switched positions. Normal? Eyes are clear with the exception of some of that milky stuff he excretes to clean himself (if he doesn't get it all the way off some is left). Nose is clean and clear. Breathing is normal. He just let me hold him up to my ear and I didn't hear anything. He's really very relaxed.

Finally got some new photos too...

 

[kourt1313]

In that last photo of his eye, that's the milky stuff from his eye I was talking about. This eye tends to excrete more of that than the other. Thoughts?

 

[Delaine]

He is so cute...... I don't know what could cause the eye problem but I know pine bedding used to make one of my girls sneeze so I changed to fleece and only use a little pine in the littler boxes covered with shredding unprinted newsprint. Could he be reacting to something?

 

[kourt1313]

I'm kinda wondering that. As far as the eye I know it's the milky stuff for grooming, but I can't figure out why he's not cleaning it all the way off. For the bedding I use fleece in the main area and Carefresh in the kitchen. I'm not sure what the bedding was at the rescue but I know it wasn't Carefresh. The only time I notice this little "puff" in the cage is when he's at the hay rack.

 

[Crystalkate]

Sounds like a bit of allergies to something. My girl has be sneezing a little as well. It's very dry in KY right now.

 

[kourt1313]

Ok cool, that's kinda what I was wondering. The weather has been bipolar here in CA as well (cold one day, 80 the next, raining after that lol) and the shelter was in very dusty horse country. I'll keep an eye on him =) Anyone have any thoughts about the eye excretion?

 

[bpatters]

He might have blocked tear ducts. Since you've noticed him sneezing, it may be time for a vet visit. It's far easier to get things healed up when you catch them quickly than after the pig gets really sick.

 

[pinky]

That eye looks really wet and that's not normal. I'd definitely have it checked by a vet.

 

[kourt1313]

Ok. When I checked him before work this morning his eye was dry and normal but I'll put in a call. My vet's probably so sick of me.

 

[foggycreekcavy]

Usually pigs groom away all of the liquid. It's not normal for a pig to have any crusts around the eyes. I would make a vet appointment.

 

[kourt1313]

Since you've noticed him sneezing, it may be time for a vet visit.

Well that's just it though, as stated in my original post, I don't know that it's a sneeze. I mean, I know what a GP sneeze sounds like and it doesn't sound like that at all. You know how when a dog or cat are getting comfortable, they let out that little sigh when they find a good spot, it sounds like that. Either way I've left a message for the vet to call me back for an appointment as they aren't open yet.

 

[kourt1313]

Usually pigs groom away all of the liquid. It's not normal for a pig to have any crusts around the eyes. I would make a vet appointment.

Yes I've put in a call to the vet, will try and get in tonight.

 

[Cogni]

What a fine handsome piggie! I love those pics, they show up his lovely coloring very well.

You are asking all the right questions and I am glad you are taking him in for a check-up. Good luck, hope it is something very simple.

 

[kourt1313]

Thank you =) My vet is not available today and neither is the exotic vet the rescue recommended, but I did get a hold of another local exotic vet who said even though they were booked to bring them both in (just in case), drop them off, and he will have a look at them, so I was able to leave work to take them in and I'll be picking them up after. Let's hope everyting is ok. The tech who looked at Matisse has GPs and she said he looks perfectly healthy to her but no harm. She also knows the woman from the rescue where I got him and had been looking at him on her site (small world!). His eye was nice and dry still, she didn't seem concerned, but I'll still be glad to have the vet look him over. I'll update when I know.

 

[kourt1313]

Update! Matisse and Shelby just spent the day at the vet and both are perfectly healthy (he had me bring Shelby in case Matisse was sick, he would know how to treat him). He said while Matisse has been there there has been no discharge from the eye and no sneezing, everything sounds good. He said the "puff" of air I'm hearing out his nose is what I thought it was, just a little sigh of "found my comfy spot" (he is a very big pig lol)... He did say Matisse has a servatius cyst on his elbow, he drained that and he said it may come back and just to be aware of it. He is removing a duclaw (sp?) for me from Matisse and I will be able to pick them both up in a couple hours. Thanks for the advice everyone!

Edit: I should note that at some point in the evening Matisse did remove any extra eye discharge that was shown in the photo because this morning as said in another post it was all cleaned off. Just wanted to make that known, his eye isn't perpetually crusty or wet (never crusty as a matter of fact, just wet from the discharge).

 

[foggycreekcavy]

Glad you were able to get them in. So Matisse had an extra digit? Was it on a front or back foot?

It's great that they are okay.

 

[kourt1313]

Glad you were able to get them in. So Matisse had an extra digit? Was it on a front or back foot?

It's great that they are okay.

Yup it was on his back left foot. I noticed it the day after I got him, just kinda dragging there. I'm still concerned though. That puff/sigh sound I guess is a snort? I noticed Shelby do it twice at Matisse this morning during one of their tiffs and he did it to Shelby last night when he wanted him to go away, but he also does it when I hold him... I will say I removed the Carefresh from their kitchen area and put fleece back in because the only times I've ever noticed Shelby sneeze is when the Carefresh is anywhere near him. He sneezed last night and I removed it immediately, so maybe that sound will stop now, perhaps it was irritating Matisse also (it seems pretty dusty, it's no wonder)?

But that eye was wet again this morning. Could it just be a morning "sleepy eye" thing? He had removed it all at some point throughout the day yesterday and last I checked before bed it was still dry. I know it's just the milky grooming fluid, I'm positive on that. Could be he just produces it a little too much in the night? I may have to email the rescue and find out if this is something he's had all along and if so I'll stop worrying.

 

[kourt1313]

Actually I just found this video on YouTube that describes the snort sound perfectly. It's about 20-25 seconds in, just a little puff of air. If this is a dominance thing, why does he do it when I hold him?

Rumblestrutting and Dominance Guinea Pig Behaviour - YouTube

 

[foggycreekcavy]

Interesting. Perhaps he thinks he has to establish dominance over you? I have had male pigs rumble and burr at me.

 

[kourt1313]

Interesting. Perhaps he thinks he has to establish dominance over you? I have had male pigs rumble and burr at me.

lol Maybe?! Like "Hold on, I got this little twerp trying to boss me around, guess I'll just boss mom around!" haha... These kiddos are wearing me out!