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Coughing (or Is It Sneezing?) Guinea Pig

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Elliegirl

Elliegirl

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I have been hearing over the last week or so a strange noise, it was obviously one of my gigs but could never catch them at it to know who it was (7 to pick from)! Today I actually found out it's Merry, approx 18 months old female, eating like the pig she is and has a glossy coat and bright eyes but has lost a touch of weight. She has good teeth and no drooling or nasal discharge. She sounds mildly wheezy (minimal) and looks a bit huffy.

Firstly she HAS been to the vet tonight as soon as I heard her cough and was sure it was her, her temperature is normal and the vet says she sounds 'vaguely' crackly. She's on metacam and antibiotics and on returning to her hutch she tucked straight into her tea. I am a veterinary nurse and have many years of experience but this sound is a new one to me. My concern for the vets knowledge flared when she suggested that although they like to snuggle in hay dampening ir would ensure no dust! REALLY!? sadly I've just moved and am still trying to find a competent local vet is proving a problem. I will go out shortly, strip the hutch and give a completely different hay and they are bedded on megazorb already.

I'm sure someone on here has heard this before and I just want your thoughts and opinions. All her hutch mates are fit and well and are showing no obvious signs of a cough. The link shows a link from youtube showing eaxactly what it sounds like it's approx 40 seconds in

 
Have your noticed whether your coughing is related to eating? Greedy piggies usually make this coughing sound during or soon after dinner because they are eating too quickly.

Or is the coughing all day round?
 
she does love her food but when I caught her no she hadn't just eaten, she'd just been put back in her hutch after snuggles. I thought it was a stress/anger response but had no reason why she would be showing those emotions.
 
I hope that the antibiotic will do the trick!
 
One of my girls coughs exactly like that when she eats too quickly, that's the only time she does it when food is around. I was told to feed her less food, more often so that she isn't rushing to eat it all at once and it seems to work because I haven't heard her cough in a while.

I'm sure sure why yours is doing it if it's not food related :(
 
Just one thing to keep at the back of you mind, if nothing else helps. Coughing, including after eating can be one of the symptoms of a heart issue. Usually there are other symptoms too, so just let me know if you need me to confirm what they are. Heart issues can be easily treated with medication.
 
helen105281 said:
Just one thing to keep at the back of you mind, if nothing else helps. Coughing, including after eating can be one of the symptoms of a heart issue. Usually there are other symptoms too, so just let me know if you need me to confirm what they are. Heart issues can be easily treated with medication.
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There are no other apparent symptom, she's lively, active and it's only because I caught her actually coughing I knew it was her x
 
Elliegirl said:
There are no other apparent symptom, she's lively, active and it's only because I caught her actually coughing I knew it was her x
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My 9 month old sow does this at least once every other day- it sounded like a sneeze to me. She has always had a clear nose and no other symptoms. She forages in her hay and food bowl alot and this is normally when she does it. Harmless in her situation :)
 
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