Nasal discharge

Discharges from the nose can be clear fluid, mucus, pus, blood or a mixture of substances. The discharge can originate from the nasal area or from deeper in the respiratory tract, eg the lungs, or be as a result of dental disease. There are several causes of nasal discharge, not all of them are infectious. The prognosis varies depending on the cause and the extent of disease when treatment is sought.

Any of a number of fluids produced in the respiratory tract can drain from your guinea pig’s nose. This discharge may be seen on and around the nostrils and may look like crusting around the nose and along the cheeks, if they have attempted to wipe their nose.

Guinea pigs breathe through their nose, so any nasal discharge may detrimentally affect their breathing. Aside from the obvious discharge, clinical signs may also include difficulties breathing, anorexia, sneezing and weight loss. Even with lower respiratory tract disease, coughing is rare in guinea pigs.

Nasal discharge may be due to infectious or non-infectious causes.

Infectious causes

• Bacteria are a major cause of nasal discharge and the list of possible bacterium is vast, but may include:
  • Bordetella bronchiseptica.
  • Streptococcus zooepidemicus.
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae.
  • Streptobacillus moniliformis.
  • Yersinia pseudotuberculosis.
  • Haemophilus spp.
  • Klebsiella pneumonia.
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
  • Pasteurella multocida.
  • Salmonella spp.
  • Staphylococcus aureus.
  • Streptococcus pyogenes.
  • Citrobacter spp.
• Viruses are rarely a cause of nasal discharge.

Other causes

• Dental disease can obstruct the nasolacrimal tear duct which drains tears from the eyes down the nose. Secondary infection of the nasal cavity may also occur. Infection within the tear duct can drain into the nasal cavity.
• Trauma to the head, such as an attack by a predator.
• Nasal tumors.
• Foreign bodies, such as hay, hair or grass seeds, are common in guinea pigs, and can lead to infection and nasal discharge.
• Respiratory irritants, such as smoke, dust and high ammonia levels, irritate the nasal lining and secondary infection can occur.
• Allergic rhinitis is rare in guinea pigs.
• Other factors that are risk factors for respiratory tract disease include poor environmental conditions, eg poor ventilation or a dirty environment, overcrowding, other disease which reduces the guinea pig’s ability to combat infections, and stress such as transportation.

After examining your guinea pig, your veterinarian may suggest some other tests to identify the cause of the discharge and help determine the severity of the condition.

Blood tests can show the overall health of the guinea pig, in particular identifying signs of infection.

A deep nasal swab is useful to check for various infections. This is uncomfortable for the guinea pig so your veterinarian will need to sedate or anesthetize your guinea pig for this procedure.

Imaging, such as x-rays, endoscopy or computed tomography (CT) are useful to assess the structure of the nasal passages. CT scanning can be expensive but should be covered by pet health insurance if you have it for your guinea pig.

Biopsy of the nasal lining can help diagnose infections or tumors, but this is usually done under general anesthesia.

Some of these diagnostics procedures may not be available to your usual veterinary practice, so you may need to be referred to an exotic practice.

General treatments include cleaning the nostrils, nutritional support, oxygen therapy (if your guinea pig has difficulty breathing), nebulization (this can be used to moisten secretions and also to deliver some medications), and anti-inflammatories/pain relief.

More specific treatments may be appropriate for certain diseases, eg antibiotics for infections or surgery for dental problems.

As with most diseases, the prognosis depends on the cause and extent of the disease.

Some diseases are readily treatable while others carry a very poor prognosis. For example, if a nasal foreign body is removed and the associated infection treated early, the prognosis is good. In chronic cases or rhinitis, a complete cure may not be possible, and signs may recur. Nasal tumors are likely to need extensive surgery which may involve referral to a specialist surgeon and it may not be possible to remove them entirely, but may buy more time for your guinea pig to enjoy a good quality of life.

Good care of your guinea pig will help reduce the risk of many diseases. Provide your guinea pig with a balanced diet made up of 80-85% grass and hay, 5% extruded nugget and 15% fresh greens, with fresh water available at all times and an appropriate environment in which to live.

To reduce risks of respiratory disease, AVOID the following:

• Sudden changes in ambient temperature.
• Poor sanitation: ammonia from waste (urine and feces) irritates the respiratory passages, as can cigarette smoke and aerosols.
• Low humidity.
• Stress: young animals are especially at risk around the time of weaning; overcrowding can also lead to stress.
• Over crowding.