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Frog In Her Throat?

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Pippy & Daisy

Pippy & Daisy

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi, it's been a while since I've had a big worry!

This morning we've woken up and Daisy sounds a little bit wheezy - but it doesn't seem to be when she's breathing, only when she's wheeking or making any noises. I've taken her out and had a listen to her chest and it definitely seems to be just her noises as I couldn't hear her breathing unless they can hold their breaths, I suppose. Usually I'd be rushing her to the vets but of course it's Good Friday so nothing's open! I could take her to the emergency vets but I've been there before and I really don't trust them so I'd rather not take her there. The usual vets are open tomorrow but I'm worried about waiting. Any advice? I'm even looking at other vets at the moment but obviously her usual vet is preferable.

Thanks
 
Is she wheeling and losing her voice as she's doing it? Is this what you mean?

I have a few who do this but if she has never done it and your worried then perhaps a check over in the next day or two would be a good idea. If she is not struggling with her breathing then I would not panic too much right now and tomorrow should be ok but if your worried in any way about her breathing I would suggest seeking a vet out some time today.

Hope all goes ok.

X
 
Is the wheek just hoarse? Please monitor the eating (weigh daily at the same time) and if things are not back to normal by tomorrow, have her seen by a vet. Some piggies can lose their big wheek as they get older without being ill, but you want to make sure.
 
Thank you both! I ended up finding a vets not too far away that was open, so I didn't take her to the emergency vets and took her to this one instead - and they turned out to have plenty of experience with guinea pigs which was an added bonus! I knew I'd worry too much if I left her and waited until tomorrow, and these vets were only open for a couple of hours so I decided we were better safe than sorry.

Anyway, the vet had a good look at her and listened to her lungs and couldn't hear anything (of course she'd also stopped making the noise by the time we got her there!) so he said it was likely that she'd had a bit of hay or something lodged in her throat that had eventually dislodged, so that was a relief. I'm still monitoring her of course and will probably take her and Pippy to our regular vet through the week for checkups but it's a relief to know there doesn't seem to be anything wrong. She's still eating as usual and she was having a good run around today, plus I haven't heard her making any unusual noises since before we went to the vets. She's breathing normally as well. I am definitely glad I took her to get checked though, otherwise I'd be up all night with worry still :eek: haha.

I initially described it as a wheezy sound but actually wouldn't describe it like that now. It was kind of like a hoarse wheek - or kind of sounded like how people sound when they speak when they need to clear their throats (which probably fits with the theory of her having something in her throat). That's the best way I can describe it!

Thanks so much for the help :)
 
I think poor Daisy is getting sick of me checking on her constantly :whistle: I went to check her and she was having a nice sleep in the pigloo and mean old Mummy woke her up! She always turns the pigloo when she's sleeping so she's hidden, so it's hard to check her. I thought I could hear her breathing loudly again and had a bit of a freak out but it seems it was just her normal noises echoing from inside the pigloo as when she came out she was perfectly fine still - a bit grumpy with me though!
 
Sometimes my Milo wakes and his squeak sounds more like a silent hiss. I put it down to central heating as it goes away fairly quickly and only ever seems to appear in the morning.

Glad she's OK.
 
Hi guys, so we're having this problem again :( I woke up just before and went to get a drink and could hear such a racket coming from the hutch - I actually thought a frog or something had somehow gotten in there until I realised it was Daisy making this strange sound again. She was deep asleep so I wondered if she was snoring or something, as she stopped after I woke her. But then she did it again so it's obviously not that. I've had a listen to her chest and it's just like last time - she's not making the noise constantly when she breathes, and it sounds like it did last time so I wonder if she has something caught in her throat again, but now I'm worried.

I took them to the vets over the weekend and the vet did a really thorough checkup and said they're both perfectly healthy. She's fine in every other way, obviously breathing and she went to get food after I'd checked her. The sound is just on and off. I'm sure it's the same sound as last time, it just baffles me! I'll try and get her to the vets tomorrow if need be, but it costed me and arm and a leg just the other day so I don't really want to take her if it's not necessary.

I wish I'd recorded the sound. Like I said last time, it's not a wheeze, it's just like a frog in her throat, as though she needs to clear her throat. It's almost 5am so I'd like to get a bit more sleep before having to be up again but I don't know I'll be able to now!
 
The noise Daisy makes is pretty much identical to these!

Just to reiterate - when I listened to her chest it doesn't seem to be constant as she breathes. She is doing it pretty much constantly now, but I could also hear her breathing without making the sound. Please help!
 
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This is upper airway noise, ie in the nose or throat. It sounds a lot worse than it is! The only thing you have to watch out for is her breathing getting distressed. I found giving metacam and bisolvon, to reduce inflammation and mucus production is very helpful.
One of my pigs gets this intermittently and she remains well, just noisy sometimes! I think damp weather can aggravate it too. Try and keep cage as clean as possible and avoid sawdust/ woodshavings, and use dust free hay. Hope that helps!
 
pig in the city said:
This is upper airway noise, ie in the nose or throat. It sounds a lot worse than it is! The only thing you have to watch out for is her breathing getting distressed. I found giving metacam and bisolvon, to reduce inflammation and mucus production is very helpful.
One of my pigs gets this intermittently and she remains well, just noisy sometimes! I think damp weather can aggravate it too. Try and keep cage as clean as possible and avoid sawdust/ woodshavings, and use dust free hay. Hope that helps!
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Thank you so much! She doesn't seem bothered by it so that's good. I think I still have some metacam so I'll give her some in the morning. I have bisolvon as well but the human version - is it the same?
 
Pippy & Daisy said:
Thank you so much! She doesn't seem bothered by it so that's good. I think I still have some metacam so I'll give her some in the morning. I have bisolvon as well but the human version - is it the same?
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Ooh, l don't know, you had better run it past your vet before you start the treatment. Just give them a call tomorrow? X
 
Pippy & Daisy said:
Hi guys, so we're having this problem again :( I woke up just before and went to get a drink and could hear such a racket coming from the hutch - I actually thought a frog or something had somehow gotten in there until I realised it was Daisy making this strange sound again. She was deep asleep so I wondered if she was snoring or something, as she stopped after I woke her. But then she did it again so it's obviously not that. I've had a listen to her chest and it's just like last time - she's not making the noise constantly when she breathes, and it sounds like it did last time so I wonder if she has something caught in her throat again, but now I'm worried.

I took them to the vets over the weekend and the vet did a really thorough checkup and said they're both perfectly healthy. She's fine in every other way, obviously breathing and she went to get food after I'd checked her. The sound is just on and off. I'm sure it's the same sound as last time, it just baffles me! I'll try and get her to the vets tomorrow if need be, but it costed me and arm and a leg just the other day so I don't really want to take her if it's not necessary.

I wish I'd recorded the sound. Like I said last time, it's not a wheeze, it's just like a frog in her throat, as though she needs to clear her throat. It's almost 5am so I'd like to get a bit more sleep before having to be up again but I don't know I'll be able to now!
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It sounds like a blocked nose to me, too. Have you checked for possible allergens/hay dust etc. and could you try to play around with an air humidifier to see what is causing it?
 
Wiebke said:
It sounds like a blocked nose to me, too. Have you checked for possible allergens/hay dust etc. and could you try to play around with an air humidifier to see what is causing it?
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The hay I put in tonight was a bit dusty actually, but I didn't think too much of it at the time and was planning on topping up from the new bag this morning as I'd left it in the car and it was too cold to go out. Could that be the problem? I haven't got an air humidifier unfortunately so can't try that. I'm going to see if I can drop past the vets when they open and show them the video to see what they think. At this stage I'm planning on staying home from uni to keep an eye on her, but I am feeling a little better knowing it's not an emergency.
 
My Erika sometimes makes that noise but she has done since she was a baby (since before she came to me). She has had a thorougher vet check including her heart but nothing was found. We have found dusty hay sets her off. We keep the air vent open in their room constantly and that helps her too as well as a dehumidifier when we have wet washing around. It may sounds strange but I think damp weather used to set her off too as they used to live in a free range shed but since moving them indoors all year round beginning of 2014, she has been doing better.
 
I have/have had two piggies that were very sensitive to dust in the hay.
 
A dehumidifier is a great idea, especially as we are getting into warmer and more humid weather. I find it really helps my pigs, especially the ones with heart issues. I also have an air purifier which helps minimise dust and allergens a bit.
 
Showed the video to both vets who were on today and both said it was nothing to worry about, so I'm happy! I will definitely make more of an effort to avoid the dusty bits of hay though, in case that is what does it. She's still doing it a bit today but it's much quieter. I suppose it's just another odd quirk of hers :)
 
Claire W said:
My Erika sometimes makes that noise but she has done since she was a baby (since before she came to me). She has had a thorougher vet check including her heart but nothing was found. We have found dusty hay sets her off. We keep the air vent open in their room constantly and that helps her too as well as a dehumidifier when we have wet washing around. It may sounds strange but I think damp weather used to set her off too as they used to live in a free range shed but since moving them indoors all year round beginning of 2014, she has been doing better.
Click to expand...
It's such a relief hearing that healthy piggies make the sound! That's where I was confused, it wasn't even a week ago she was checked over. Dusty hay is seeming like it might be the culprit for Daisy as well. I might have to look into a dehumidifier now!
 
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