Baby Guinea Pigs Sneezing

[beckyxxx]

Hi, Looking for a bit of a advice, I'm a new guinea pig owner over the past week noticed both my guinea pigs have been sneezing, they can go through bursts of not sneezing and then sneezing quite a bit. I noticed when giving one of them a treat I could hear a slight clicking noise as he sniffed the treat, don't know if that's something to be worried about? They are currently being treated for ringworm and into the second week of their medication so wondering if that could be a possible indication ?
They are both eating and drinking fine, seem a little quiet here and there but think that's just their personalities. Only had them just over 2 weeks so think they are still getting used to me and their new home! We have got an appointment for them to see the vet tomorrow. but still cant stop worrying about them, so looking for a little reassurance

 

[Wiebke]

Hi, Looking for a bit of a advice, I'm a new guinea pig owner over the past week noticed both my guinea pigs have been sneezing, they can go through bursts of not sneezing and then sneezing quite a bit. I noticed when giving one of them a treat I could hear a slight clicking noise as he sniffed the treat, don't know if that's something to be worried about? They are currently being treated for ringworm and into the second week of their medication so wondering if that could be a possible indication ?
They are both eating and drinking fine, seem a little quiet here and there but think that's just their personalities. Only had them just over 2 weeks so think they are still getting used to me and their new home! We have got an appointment for them to see the vet tomorrow. but still cant stop worrying about them, so looking for a little reassurance

Hi! Please have them checked over by your vet. he may decide to treat them for respiratory infection to be on the safe side. URI is an opportunistic illness that hits especially those with lowered or not yet fully developed immune systems (i.e. the young, the old and the frail) or piggies in stree situations like after a move to a new place or a bereavement.

However, there is a good chance that the sneezing could be related to hay dust. You may want to see whether a change in the brand you feed can do the trick. Dust extracted hay can be very different in quality depending on the provider.

Guinea Pig airways are very narrow so you can hear any little obstruction. The clicking happens when a nose is slightly bunged up in connection with a sneezing fit.
The breathing sounds that you really need to act fast on are the crackly and raspy breathing that come from the throat and chest area, as is any heaving breathing from the diaphragm (you really see the sides moving) - latter is an emergency and usually happens with apathy and not eating.

When treating for ringworm, please be very careful with the hygiene and please invest in a disinfectant that kills fungal and fungal spores - the only one proven to do that is F10. Ringworm is the single most transmittable illness between all mammals (including humans). Sadly, shops really struggle to get on top of it.
You may want to read our guide; the tips in there have been learned the hard way, but that means that they really work!
Ringworm: Hygiene And Pictures

 

[beckyxxx]

thanks yeah they seem fine in themselves and breathing is normal, no discharge coming from their noses and when the vet checked them out for their ringworm she had a listen to their chest and said it was clear so I personally think it could be an allergy. I put bundles of hay in the corner of their cages which they love to burry themselves in could that play a part in it? Feel bad taking it away as they really enjoy snuggling up In it. They are only 10 weeks so feel so sorry for them with the ringworm and possible infection, only had them for 2 weeks so not really sure if they came from the pet store with the ring worm

 

[Julie M]

I would tell the pet store they have ringworm they may cover the cost of their treatment as they shouldn't be sick in space of 2 weeks. It's worth a shot.

 

[Wiebke]

thanks yeah they seem fine in themselves and breathing is normal, no discharge coming from their noses and when the vet checked them out for their ringworm she had a listen to their chest and said it was clear so I personally think it could be an allergy. I put bundles of hay in the corner of their cages which they love to burry themselves in could that play a part in it? Feel bad taking it away as they really enjoy snuggling up In it. They are only 10 weeks so feel so sorry for them with the ringworm and possible infection, only had them for 2 weeks so not really sure if they came from the pet store with the ring worm

Yes, they have come from the pet store with ringworm and you can reclaim your vet cost from the shop by presenting the vet bill together with the sales receipt. Ringworm takes 10-14 days between infection and outbreak, so exposure and infection must have happened at the shop.The same goes for any URI (respiratory infection) treatment within the first two weeks - again, exposure to the bacteria must have happened at the shop.

Please be VERY careful when handling ringworm piggies and with your hygiene - ringworm is very unpleasant if you catch it yourself and the thousands of spores that are shed during an outbreak can stay live for up to 18 months! Our ringworm guide also gives you the name of a suitable US disinfectant brand.

It would be good if you tried another hay brand and looked for dust extracted hay. Burrowing and playing in the hay is one of the main joys in piggy life.

You may also find our new owners' guide collection helpful; we have lots of information for new owners from understanding guinea pig behaviours and instincts to how to use a spot of guinea pig whispering as well as learning what is normal and what not in a guinea pig body, and lots more!
New Owners' Online Starter " Booklet" For Really Helpful Advice

Since we have got members from all over world, we find it very helpful if you please added your country, state/province or UK county to your details, so we can tailor any advice to what is available and relevant where you are straight away. Please click on your username on the top bar, then go to personal details and scroll down to location. This makes it appear with every post you make and saves every body time. Thank you!

 

[beckyxxx]

thanks guys yeah , they covered the vet bill with the ring worm and the treatment costs, I will try and get them to pay for the visit tomorrow as well, as you said if it is an infection it has been caught from the shop. The ring worm is pretty bad, one has lost fur from around his eye it looks so sore but the vet seems to think this liquid medicine will help it. Ive bought some spray to clean the cage with but the vet said there isn't any point doing it until the ring worm is practically gone and towards the end of next week when the medicine course is nearly finished as she said its pointless as they still have it.

Didn't even get an apology of the pet store and to be honest I'm pretty annoyed about it. If they do have an URI will they recover from it with being so young? I hope so. They do seem fine in themselves and breathing seems fine from what I can gather, eating fine and stuff. Just the clicking noise in the nose when sniffing and the sneezing, I will order some hay extracted dust and see how I get on with that. We are using wood chippings for bedding as I cant seem to find any paper bedding for them was wondering if that could be dusty also? They are still getting used to me and get rather scared so I know it sounds stupid but I don't even pick them up as I know they don't like it and just use tunnels etc to transport them for floor time and lap time, which they seem more comftable with. They come to me for treats and take food out of my hand and one lets me pet him whilst feeding him so think we are slowly bonding

 

[Wiebke]

thanks guys yeah , they covered the vet bill with the ring worm and the treatment costs, I will try and get them to pay for the visit tomorrow as well, as you said if it is an infection it has been caught from the shop. The ring worm is pretty bad, one has lost fur from around his eye it looks so sore but the vet seems to think this liquid medicine will help it. Ive bought some spray to clean the cage with but the vet said there isn't any point doing it until the ring worm is practically gone and towards the end of next week when the medicine course is nearly finished as she said its pointless as they still have it.

Didn't even get an apology of the pet store and to be honest I'm pretty annoyed about it. If they do have an URI will they recover from it with being so young? I hope so. They do seem fine in themselves and breathing seems fine from what I can gather, eating fine and stuff. Just the clicking noise in the nose when sniffing and the sneezing, I will order some hay extracted dust and see how I get on with that. We are using wood chippings for bedding as I cant seem to find any paper bedding for them was wondering if that could be dusty also? They are still getting used to me and get rather scared so I know it sounds stupid but I don't even pick them up as I know they don't like it and just use tunnels etc to transport them for floor time and lap time, which they seem more comftable with. They come to me for treats and take food out of my hand and one lets me pet him whilst feeding him so think we are slowly bonding

Please invest in F10 disinfectant and follow the advice in our ringworm guide. You can also see pictures of the different stages of it, as it needs to run its due course. F10 is widely available online; there is also a hand gel.
Itrafungol is by far the best treatment; much more effective and less stressful than the previous dips and fungals baths every three days. it is good that your vet is clued up!

You can find our bedding guide via the new owners' booklet link; it takes you through all the currently available types. Wood chippings are no longer recommended. Many members have switched to fleece for their indoors piggies. You also want to check the cage size - pet shops still sell substandard cages for premium prices.

Please take the time to read the links I have given you; you will find them very helpful.
We cannot tell you everything in the same details in just one post.

 

[beckyxxx]

yeah they sold me a 100cm cage but after a day I realised it was too small so bought a 160cm one, they seem much more happier in their as they have lots of room to run around etc, if I changed to fleece bedding would that just be buying fleece blankets ? just thinking wouldn't that mean washing them every day as they pee and poop on them ? I will read the handbooks now and order the disinfectant you recommened, thanks

 

[Wiebke]

yeah they sold me a 100cm cage but after a day I realised it was too small so bought a 160cm one, they seem much more happier in their as they have lots of room to run around etc, if I changed to fleece bedding would that just be buying fleece blankets ? just thinking wouldn't that mean washing them every day as they pee and poop on them ? I will read the handbooks now and order the disinfectant you recommened, thanks

That is a great cage - and it really makse such a huge difference for ground roaming animals like piggies!

You need to use some kind of absorbent underlay (like puppy pad or cotton towels) and never wash the fleece with softener, as that is sealing the surface. That way, you change the cage twice weekly.
Most people have a hay area tp prevent everything going straight onto the fleece and some prefer to wash their fleece in a bag to protect the washing machine. Our fleece guide will give you all the relevant tips. I use acrylic bed spreads or anit-pil fleece from an online fabric shop for my own pens, but you can also buy made to order fleece liners.
What you need to do is poo patrol daily. Most piggies love fleece; they are junkies for creature comforts!

It you prefer a more natural bedding, hemp based fitch is the most recommended alternative by our forum members.
Bedding For Guinea Pigs - Overview
You can find lots of pictures with bedding ideas in our various member cage galleries at the top of our Housing section. Take the time over the next days to research; as long as your piggies are not over their ringworm, would continue with what you've got. You are welcome to ask any questions you may have in our various Care sections at any time; we will do our best to answer them all.

Here is my own fleece and C&C grid setup - but then I am in need of something that accommodates a larger number of piggies and a very flexible layout. I could not do this without fleece.

 

[beckyxxx]

aww they look so well looked after and love the cage thanks for all the advice x

 

[beckyxxx]

hey guys just a quick update! The boys went to the vets and he couldnt hear anything, said no discharge and lungs sounded clear and that there wasnt anything that looked like an infection so he suspects allergies and told me to change the bedding. They have been on fleece for the past 2 days but still sneezing and cant think of anything else that could cause it. He has given me some metacam for them to take if the sneezing didnt stop and seen as it hasnt shall i try that? He only has given me enough for 5 days so will this help stop the sneezing long term? Really unsure what to do, they have the vets next wednesday for the check up on their ringworm (which hasnt got any better yet ) so i suppose its something i could mention to them...

 

[VickiA]

Metacam is a pain relief and anti inflammatory. I don’t think it will help stop sneezing. Are there any particular times you notice them sneeze? Is there something in particular that prompts it?

 

[beckyxxx]

Not sure why he prescribed me that then. Sometimes if I'm hand feeding them and they eat too fast they start having sneezy fits but then other times they are just in the cage and i hear them sneezing

 

[VickiA]

Mine sometimes cough/splutter if they have stuffed their faces too fast. I wonder if that’s what your piggies are doing too.

 

[gizzy]

Fellowes Allergy AeraMax DX55 Air Purifier with True HEPA Filter | eBay

An air filter is a useful way to get the dust down, if you go on to ebay there are some real bargains ! Though pre loved is were I got mine from!
Also buy a hand held mister the type they use in hairdresser,s and take you're pigs out of the room! Then mist the room! The water mist will attach itself to the dust Particals and they will drop to the floor