Breathing

Question
Hi.Our pig called Bubbles has suddenly started to pant.She has become very inactive but she still seems interested in food and water.
She seems to be struggling to get her breath,you can see her body really wobbling/moving when she breathes in and there is a strange popping noise coming from her nose similar to us when we have a bunged up nose.
She has always been healthy and active,we always give her a varied diet and generally she gets treated better than i do.
Her sister Pearl is fine but seems very quiet as if she knows somethings wrong.
Bubbles is about four and a half so not really that old.
I have checked her for visable signs of any thing and she isnt sensative when you touch her but i know she isnt right !!
Any help/advice would be greatly received.
Many thanks
John  (and family)

Answer
sounds like a respitory problem.

do you use sawdust
if the hay a little dusty
does she live in a fairly humid enviroment?

these are the three biggest causes of a respitory problem.
cold weather
allergeis
these are also fairly common

other signs

laboured breathing as you described
discharge from the eyes and nose, usually crusty looking stuff.
lathargic nature, as you descirbed.

shake hay and ruffle it about outside of the cage before you place it in, this way dust falls out and stays outr of the hutch or cage.

if possible aviod using shavings, at least for a while.

if and when you start using shavings give it a light layer of hay on the top, this keeps dust from the sawdust fluttering up when they move.

if she is in a cold or humid place, then obviously move her

with these changes she should eventually go back to normal if her eyes look a little sore, or her ears a little crusty then treat it with some drops. if she does not improve then you'll have to take hr to a vets to be perscribed a drug to help her get better.

as for allergy it is unlikely, especially given that she has likely been fed the same food for the last few years.

all the best, sam