Coughing

[Louise's Zoo]

Eileen often coughs after eating or drinking. She has no signs of illness. No crusty noise or eyes or any breathing issues and it's always over after a few seconds. Some days she will do it a couple of times and sometimes she can go a week without doing it.

I gave them all a few sprigs of coriander today and she was coughing on and off for about 10 mins afterwards. I got her out to have a look at her and she's fine. Can't see any food stuck in her mouth or teeth and she's popcorning around as usual. She's stopped coughing now.

Why does she do it? Is it worth seeing a vet or is it just her being a greedy pig and not chewing her food properly?

 

[Kallasia]

Binky is the same. Usually after drinking rather than eating though. He'll have a couple sips and be fine but sometimes he will literally drink 100-200ml in one sitting and then does a very high pitched cough.
I'm not sure why it happens, I've just assumed it was because he's a guzzler, but if anyone knows different then I'd love to know!

 

[Wiebke]

Eileen often coughs after eating or drinking. She has no signs of illness. No crusty noise or eyes or any breathing issues and it's always over after a few seconds. Some days she will do it a couple of times and sometimes she can go a week without doing it.

I gave them all a few sprigs of coriander today and she was coughing on and off for about 10 mins afterwards. I got her out to have a look at her and she's fine. Can't see any food stuck in her mouth or teeth and she's popcorning around as usual. She's stopped coughing now.

Why does she do it? Is it worth seeing a vet or is it just her being a greedy pig and not chewing her food properly?

In most cases it is down to greedy eating. If it is persistent and there are other indicators for a heart problem, then it is worth having the heart checked out. On its own - like with the case of hooting - it is NOT indicative of heart issues.

 

[Swissgreys]

Ruby also does this occasionally (maybe once a week that I hear).
She does it after eating something very quickly - usually her favorite fresh veg.
I did mention it to the vet and she said exactly what Wiebke said - it is a greedy piggy noise

 

[Amy Barton]

Don't worry about coughing if it's after she's been eating. I would be worried about coughing if it was happening everyday for no reason or was accompanied with sneezing, sunken/watery eyes or laboured breathing. Just try cutting her vegetables up into smaller pieces and hand feeding her or spreading the food out in the cage so she can't eat it as quickly. Maybe it's worth a trip to the vet to get her back teeth checked to make sure there is nothing that is caused my her to not chew her food properly.

 

[Powerpigs]

My Voltti does this too - usually after evening veg. I've always thought it's because he's being greedy. I hear it maybe once or twice a week, sometimes it's just one cough, sometimes it's few coughs back to back.
It does sound horrible if it's a loud cough, and sometimes I actually have to go and check he's still breathing! And every time I find him stuffing his face with more veg

 

[flowerfairy]

Jingle has been known to cough after being over enthusuastic with her eating speeds!

 

[Louise's Zoo]

Thank you for the replies. That's great to hear that she's not alone with this. She never coughs when she isn't eating so I assumed it must be food/drink related.

I hand fed her a sugar snap pea earlier and she was fine, no coughing so it probably is just that she is very greedy!

None of the other 4 have ever done it, just Eileen. Aren't they funny little creatures

 

[Lady Kelly]

They certainly are funny creatures. My late Peter used to do it pretty much everyday when the veg was given. Before his neuter he made his veg last ages and I am assuming that when he was put in with the girls he realised he would never have veg if he tried that again so went to the opposite end of the spectrum!