Guinea Pig Breathing (URI?)

[EdvnFvrm]

Hi everyone!

I am posting because I heard my newest piggie, Café, sneeze today. She’s been with us for a week now. She is from PetSmart, however she seemed to be under great care as the small pet specialist was extremely knowledgeable and showed great care for all the animals as I watched her clean and feed all the pets. I was told she showed no signs of illness before I adopted her.

I’ve heard a mix of things like “Guinea pigs should never sneeze” and also “Guinea pigs sneeze 1-2 times a day, as any other mammal”. I’m inserting a link to a YouTube short I posted of just her breathing while relaxed: August 20, 2023

Can anyone tell me if she looks labored in her breathing? I don't hear any clicking in her breathing and when i put her body to my ear, i can hear short little wooshes as she sniffs the air, but no like…bubbly or wheezing noises. She's eating and drinking normally. Her wheeking earlier today sounded perhaps a bit raspy. But I was not sure if that was possibly because she was screaming her booty off for a minute bc she had her head stuck in a toilet paper roll until I was able to help her. She is one of four piggies I own. No other piggy sneezes, and I usually can barely even tell they're breathing unless I stare extremely carefully.

 

[Piggies&buns]

It’s always best to have a vet check anything you are concerned about. It’s always a good idea to have new piggies health checked in any event.

Piggies do sneeze though, it is normal as any other animal or person. To clear airways or due to irritation.

Regarding the toilet roll tube, it’s best to cut them open long ways so heads cannot get stuck.

 

[EdvnFvrm]

It’s always best to have a vet check anything you are concerned about. It’s always a good idea to have new piggies health checked in any event.

Piggies do sneeze though, it is normal as any other animal or person. To clear airways or due to irritation.

Regarding the toilet roll tube, it’s best to cut them open long ways so heads cannot get stuck.

I have her being looked at by a vet through the PetSmart free vet policy. It made me so sad to part w her during this time . But it’s a relief to know she will be checked up by a vet then checked again after potential treatment. But thank you so much for the info! I did cut open the rolls after the incident bc I felt so bad for her . I’ll stop taking the occasional daily sneeze as a death sentence and look for other signs of URIs. I love being a part of this forum!