Does a one off incident warrant a vet visit?

[Poppyanddarcy]

I’ve had Poppy for 2 months. We got her to bond with my current piggy after her friend died in July.
Got home and she was making a “hooting” type sound. So I got her out and she did a cough. Thought, okay, seems fine. Then about 10 minutes later, sound comes back, and managed another cough after a while and all is fine again.

After extensive googling, I saw this could be caused by heart problems, pneumonia, URI etc. but all of these issues suggest it is a long term “hooting” rather than the short term hoot she did for all of 5-10 minutes maximum.

She’s been eating, drinking fine, so I have no other reason to feel concerned. My other guinea pig Darcy has been exhibiting some dominant behaviour towards her but I think she’s possibly “in heat”.

Annoyingly, I am going on holiday on Sunday for a week, with family members coming in to feed/ clean them. I am concerned that this is something they wouldn’t particularly notice. And they’ll have long periods of being alone.

I am planning on getting a camera to watch them from to check up on them. But as I’ll be out of the country, there’s little I’d be able to do.

Any advice, related stories etc welcome. Hooting on Google told me I should immediately take her to the vets, however she hasn’t done it since, so I’m not sure what I’d be spending my money on if I took her

 

[Claire W]

Hi, although hooting can be caused from heart problems and URI, a quick hoot followed by a cough is generally due to an obstruction in the nose such as hay dust.

I wouldn’t worry unless she does it more often and displays other symptoms such as a runny nose and / or watery eyes etc.

You could mention your concerns to the family members looking after her while you’re on holiday and give them your vets details ‘just in case’

 

[Poppyanddarcy]

That’s quite reassuring, thank you for your response.