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Help possible respiratory problem!

MollythePiggylover

MollythePiggylover

Junior Guinea Pig
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I was holding our piggie pudding this morning when she started coughing it was one or two and nothing else for the rest of the day (keep in mind she was just eating and drinking). So later I was cleaning out the piggie cages when she started coughing again (this was after so new bedding) I think it was just the fact that I had just cleaned the cage and she coughs a little whenever I clean it. Maybe it was dust settling. She was also drinking when she was coughing but it was a little more than usual. Please help!
 
My advice would be to go and see a vet. My guinea pig Bear has been coughing occasionally for a while because it was occasional I always managed to link it to something. For example, Just opening the window, change of cage clean sometimes at random. There were no other symptoms so I presumed it was nothing. Turns out she has a URI and so does the rest of the heard (some without any symptoms) these things can get pretty nasty if not treated early. I'm hoping it's nothing, my herd have also been drinking more water than usual but wouldn't have associated that as a symptom. Have you noticed any changes in weight or off food atall? (I know I didn't with mine)
 
Well, it's only this one piggie she's eating and drinking fine nothing aside from a cough once or twice a week. She hasn't lost any weight either.
 
Same as bear then. The reason I didn't have her checked sooner is because it was very occasional and I had read that a hiccup /cough every now and then is normal what I didn't think about is I'm not there 24/7 so in reality she was probably doing it alot more than I invisioned. It's always better to be safe than sorry. I had a bad feeling about bear for some reason but I just let my boyfriend convince me it was nothing as it was so occasional. Sometimes you've got to go with your gut.
 
MollythePiggylover said:
thank you for the advice!
Click to expand...
You're welcome. I hope your Piggy is okay. They're just so good at hiding their symptoms. I also took my neutered boar to the vets today as I suspected hay poke and potentially dental issues ( that's what triggered the vets visit today) Thought I may as well bring a few others for peace of mind) turns out he has non of those things and infact as a URI with no symptoms atall - I've never heard him cough/sneeze! I'm hoping it's nothing with yours♥️
 
Guinea pigs have very narrow airways and any little piece of hay or bedding dust can irritate them and cause the odd cough. They can also cough if they eat or drink too fast.
If it is very occasional, happens when eating or drinking too fast and not accompanied by any other symptoms, then it’s possible not too concerning at this point but of course we cannot say for sure. If it becomes more frequent, symptoms or weight loss occur, then you do need to see a vet straight away.
 
I don’t think shavings always cause coughing/sneezing. I have used both in the past and now use shavings as they’re outside. I don’t notice any more coughing while I’m sat with them.
 
I use wood shavings and have never had any respiratory issues caused by them.
Hopefully the cough is just caused by greed but as others have said, keep a careful eye out and go to the vet if concerned.
I prefer a vet trip and being told there’s nothing wrong to the risk of missing a possible problem.
 
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