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Concerned about my guinea pig

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astroboy

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I'm getting concerned about my guinea pig. I was up all last night with her because I believe she had something stuck in her throat. Probably food or hay since she eats so fast and it has happened a few times in the past. She has been this way before and acted similar, the same noise and sort of arching forward then once she's had a big cough, the food/hay is released and she's fine.
Last night she was making like short cooing (don't know how else to explain it) noises, like she's crying (the same as in the past), occasionally getting a bit more high pitched and faster like she's in more pain. She is doing the same thing right now and has been for around half an hour. She is her normal self and completely fine during the day. She's eating and drinking well, running around and still being her bossy self (even while this is happening). I have noticed her bobbing her head up and down, quite high in the air a couple of times in the last few days and rubbing her nose with her foot. She could possibly be smelling but I have never noticed her doing this before.
When I picked her up just now, her breathing sounded a bit chesty while she was making the noise. It is worrying because I can't do anything but comfort her. I am wondering if it has happened a lot more than I've realised though because currently I am staying at my parents house. This means their cage is in my bedroom - at my house it is in the living room so I don't hear them much during the night.
Do you think it is just some stuck food and she's having a bit more difficulty to release it this time or do you think it could be something else? Any input or advice would be appreciated. If it continues tomorrow I will take her to the vet.
Just to let you know, my other guinea pig who shares a cage with her is completely fine.
I hope my explanation makes sense.
She has now gone to sleep and seems to be fine. Maybe I am just worrying?
 
Gvien your description - I think She needs a visit to a cavy savvy vet. She's probably got a hay seed stuck up her nostril which will need removing and medication but she may also be developing a respiratory infection or abcess. Only a (cavy savvy) vet can tell following a proper examination

Whereabouts are you ? perhaps we can recommend good vet?

x
 
Thanks Pebble. She is sleeping but whimpering at the moment.
I am in South Wales. We have a local vet but I'm not sure if they have one who's cavy savvy.
 
When I was keeping mine in hay in their cages, Redemption would cough sometimes, especially if there was more urine in there than I realized (sometimes he'd pee a lot and since I kept absorbent material under the hay and it would be wetter than I thought). Now that the hay is gone and they stay just on newspaper on top of an absorbent pad, Red doesn't cough.

So I would say it is something up the nose like Pebble said, or maybe dust from the hay which is very irritating, or maybe just more guinea pig pee than you realize they can produce in a day is causing ammonia irritation. I would think this especially if it occurs always at the end of the day and before you clean the cage.
 
Bear with me - there are at least two cavy savvy vets in your area but I need to consult.......



OK - your nearest dedicated guinea pig rescue is Glynneath

http://guinearescue.blogspot.co.uk/

Suzy can help with a lot of things including mites/fungal/pregnancy etc

and their recommended vets are as follows:
Lance Jepson - Neath, Swansea and West Wales
http://www.vet4dragons.co.uk/

Mark Bridges vets - Cardiff
http://www.any-uk-vet.co.uk/bridges-morganstown/hours.htm


Sarah Cook - Newport
http://www.budgetvets.co.uk/index.php/about-us/our-staff/newport/sarah-cook/

If you can get an appointment (stress it's an emergency) today this would really help your piggie

Hope this helps

x

x
 
She has just had a big cough and something came up - she ate it before I could check! She has stopped the crying and is eating hay now.
She eats her food so fast, maybe she's not chewing it up properly?

Thank you Pat Shields. I hadn't thought of that. I use wood shavings for them. I've tried many alternatives and was happy with this one but recently even though it says dust free, it seems to be very dusty. I think I'll have to switch to something else.
 
Thank you for the information Pebble! That's really helpful, I will also keep it for future reference.
 
Given everything you;ve said - there is still a possibility there might be an underlying dental problem that will cause more serious probs in the future,

A check up at the vets won;t go amiss....

cccc
 
Yep, I will still take her to the vet to be sure. Thank you for your help.
 
Hi Astroboy

I would advise going to see Lance Jepson if you can, as it does sound more than just a bit of food stuck. A one off thing is usually nothing to worry over but this repeated problem and now this more severe episode is a cause for concern.

Please give the vet the detailed description you have given us as there are lots of clues that will help pin point the problem.

Mark Bridges is good as a general piggy vet, Sarah Cook for more complex and surgical issues. Lance is the top exotics specialist in Wales and the only vet I use for the trickier cases.

HTH

Suzy x
 
Thank you suzygpr. I have an appointment this afternoon with a local vet who deals with guinea pigs. She asked for details so I explained and she said she will give her a good check up when I get there. I'm hoping it's just nothing since I found a video on another guinea pig website. The guinea pig in the video was making exactly the same noise as mine and they said it was due to heart/breathing problems.
 
A quick update. I took her to the vet earlier today and she gave her a good check up and she's fine - no heart or breathing problems, nothing in her nose, nothing stuck in her throat, very healthy. It's good to know. The vet thinks it's where she eats so fast so to keep an eye on her and go back if need be. She also said if she does it again to record it and go in to show the vet so she can see exactly what is happening. She was great.
 
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