Hooting on and off

[hayethusiasts]

I'm so sorry to be disturbing all of you, asking for advice. I just wanted to see if you have some insight with regards to one of my guinea pigs.

He was on antibiotics for what they think was bronchitis last month. To be honest it is a bit questionable because my sister took him to vets and she reckons even the vet sounded unsure. He was given abx for 5 days with loxicom. His symptoms were proper wheezing. Tbh, after he was injected a stat dose in the vets he never had any more wheezing after that so we thought maybe we caught it really early.

Then some time after that he has started hooting. It is on and off. I noticed it more when giving him forage so took him off it completely and there was no hooting at all. I gave him apple leaves and some of the leaves from the respiratory blend I had left and he was fine. So i decided to order just leaves forage. When I gave the leaves to him earlier he started hooting as soon as I sprinkled it in their enclosure.

Now I find it hard to believe it is the forage. So anyway I called vets and they asked me bring him. We went earlier and his breathing was fine. Vet said she could not even hear his breathing at all and that's how clear his lungs sounded.

I have always found Kreacher to be really quiet. When he chuts he does not chut in a normal way - he chuts in an airy way, like a really silent chut (i hope i am making sense lol) so what I was thinking is the hooting comes from the fact that he was so excited with the forage that instead of loud chutting, a hooting comes out. Maybe he is genetically different? Because we even find sometimes he hoots when him and Dobby are talking.

I just wanted to ask please if you have looked after a guinea pig where it's normal for them to hoot instead of chut?

He was not lost any weight, no changes in apetite, no changes in mobility.

Thank you so much.

 

[Lis-piggysteve]

Aww sounds like it could be due to excitement. My older piggy used to try to wheek sometimes and it would almost come out like he had lost his voice!
If anything else changes maybe take him for a second opinion but as long as he’s not loosing weight and is eating/pooping maybe it’s just the way he is. Love the names but the way

 

[piggieminder]

I would keep a close eye on him and his weight for now and see the vet again if you become worried. Hooting can be an early symptom of a URI but if it's on and off and he's had ABs then it may be small particles of forage or hay getting into his airway.
My vets (exotics) no longer give ABs to guinea pigs for less than 14 days due to past experience so it may be that he either had the wrong one for the type of infection or he didn't have it for long enough and the infection is still there.
I've not heard of piggies hooting instead of chutting.

 

[hayethusiasts]

Aww sounds like it could be due to excitement. My older piggy used to try to wheek sometimes and it would almost come out like he had lost his voice!
If anything else changes maybe take him for a second opinion but as long as he’s not loosing weight and is eating/pooping maybe it’s just the way he is. Love the names but the way

Thank you. This is where it gets odd, he is very silent when it comes to chutting but very much a proper wheeker!

They have prescribed him another course of antibiotics (the vet we went to earlier is now a different vet from before).

And thanks for the compliment re: their names

 

[wheek!guinea]

I'm so sorry to be disturbing all of you, asking for advice. I just wanted to see if you have some insight with regards to one of my guinea pigs.

He was on antibiotics for what they think was bronchitis last month. To be honest it is a bit questionable because my sister took him to vets and she reckons even the vet sounded unsure. He was given abx for 5 days with loxicom. His symptoms were proper wheezing. Tbh, after he was injected a stat dose in the vets he never had any more wheezing after that so we thought maybe we caught it really early.

Then some time after that he has started hooting. It is on and off. I noticed it more when giving him forage so took him off it completely and there was no hooting at all. I gave him apple leaves and some of the leaves from the respiratory blend I had left and he was fine. So i decided to order just leaves forage. When I gave the leaves to him earlier he started hooting as soon as I sprinkled it in their enclosure.

Now I find it hard to believe it is the forage. So anyway I called vets and they asked me bring him. We went earlier and his breathing was fine. Vet said she could not even hear his breathing at all and that's how clear his lungs sounded.

I have always found Kreacher to be really quiet. When he chuts he does not chut in a normal way - he chuts in an airy way, like a really silent chut (i hope i am making sense lol) so what I was thinking is the hooting comes from the fact that he was so excited with the forage that instead of loud chutting, a hooting comes out. Maybe he is genetically different? Because we even find sometimes he hoots when him and Dobby are talking.

I just wanted to ask please if you have looked after a guinea pig where it's normal for them to hoot instead of chut?

He was not lost any weight, no changes in apetite, no changes in mobility.

Thank you so much.

I'd definitely keep an eye out on it and report any significant changes to your vet for further guidance. My guinea pig has not been sick but he made hooting sounds occasionally. I found out it was from his hay being too dusty. I know your situation is completely different, but in my experience he made that sound because of the hay dust irritating his lungs. If possible record with your phone when he makes this sound, that gives the vet the best chance at knowing what you're hearing. I'm glad that he is doing a little better, and hope he continues to be on the road to recovery! Sending best wishes

 

[hayethusiasts]

I would keep a close eye on him and his weight for now and see the vet again if you become worried. Hooting can be an early symptom of a URI but if it's on and off and he's had ABs then it may be small particles of forage or hay getting into his airway.
My vets (exotics) no longer give ABs to guinea pigs for less than 14 days due to past experience so it may be that he either had the wrong one for the type of infection or he didn't have it for long enough and the infection is still there.
I've not heard of piggies hooting instead of chutting.

Thank you. He now has 7 days abx prescribed (he was on 5 days abx before) i am hoping the longer course would do it. He has been hooting on and off for i would say 3 weeks now.

Is it possible then to have a guinea pig who is very sensitive to forage? The forage i gave earlier was pure leaves and did not think it was dusty at all.

 

[hayethusiasts]

I'd definitely keep an eye out on it and report any significant changes to your vet for further guidance. My guinea pig has not been sick but he made hooting sounds occasionally. I found out it was from his hay being too dusty. I know your situation is completely different, but in my experience he made that sound because of the hay dust irritating his lungs. If possible record with your phone when he makes this sound, that gives the vet the best chance at knowing what you're hearing. I'm glad that he is doing a little better, and hope he continues to be on the road to recovery! Sending best wishes

Thank you so so much. May I ask please how far apart did you start giving this hay he is allergy to, to the time he started hooting?

I did wonder as well if it is the hay. Although i do not find it dusty at all.

I am just at a loss to be honest i just want him better

 

[piggieminder]

It's not necessarily that he is sensitive to the forage as such but that it's dried and can have small pieces in it especially at the end of a bag. Hay can be the same, not particularly dusty but small bits. I have a piggy who gets noisy breathing from time to time and has been on ABs a lot which have not helped. This piggy sleeps in the hay and we are beginning to think he inhales bits of hay into his airway sometimes.

 

[hayethusiasts]

It's not necessarily that he is sensitive to the forage as such but that it's dried and can have small pieces in it especially at the end of a bag. Hay can be the same, not particularly dusty but small bits. I have a piggy who gets noisy breathing from time to time and has been on ABs a lot which have not helped. This piggy sleeps in the hay and we are beginning to think he inhales bits of hay into his airway sometimes.

Thank you. Maybe I have a really sensitive piggy. It is so hard isn't it.

 

[hayethusiasts]

It's not necessarily that he is sensitive to the forage as such but that it's dried and can have small pieces in it especially at the end of a bag. Hay can be the same, not particularly dusty but small bits. I have a piggy who gets noisy breathing from time to time and has been on ABs a lot which have not helped. This piggy sleeps in the hay and we are beginning to think he inhales bits of hay into his airway sometimes.

I hope you dont mind me asking, so now are you letting him be or you still give him abx whenever he breathes noisy?

 

[wheek!guinea]

Thank you so so much. May I ask please how far apart did you start giving this hay he is allergy to, to the time he started hooting?

I did wonder as well if it is the hay. Although i do not find it dusty at all.

I am just at a loss to be honest i just want him better

Honestly he started doing it when I switched to a new brand of hay. We used a sifter to help make it less dusty as well. But after we go through this batch of hay I'm switching to another brand like Pet Select or Oxbow which have never been overly dusty.

My boar that passed away last year dealt with health issues pretty much his whole life, he was sick for the first 6 months of his life, which required medication twice a day every 12 hours. He had conjunctivitis and an upper respiratory infection. The URI went away for a month then came back before it finally went away. But after that he lived a happy life until the very end when he developed early arthritis and spine issues which impacted his mobility. But when he was sick, I felt like he was never going to get better, so I know exactly how you feel. I learned how resilient guinea pigs are. These little guys have a lot of fight in them, and I think whenever they get any illness it's hard of their system and it can take awhile to recover. It sounds like you're really attentive to his needs and symptoms as well which is great.

 

[hayethusiasts]

Honestly he started doing it when I switched to a new brand of hay. We used a sifter to help make it less dusty as well. But after we go through this batch of hay I'm switching to another brand like Pet Select or Oxbow which have never been overly dusty.

My boar that passed away last year dealt with health issues pretty much his whole life, he was sick for the first 6 months of his life, which required medication twice a day every 12 hours. He had conjunctivitis and an upper respiratory infection. The URI went away for a month then came back before it finally went away. But after that he lived a happy life until the very end when he developed early arthritis and spine issues which impacted his mobility. But when he was sick, I felt like he was never going to get better, so I know exactly how you feel. I learned how resilient guinea pigs are. These little guys have a lot of fight in them, and I think whenever they get any illness it's hard of their system and it can take awhile to recover. It sounds like you're really attentive to his needs and symptoms as well which is great.

Ok thank you. I can breathe now because if you said it took a while after introducing the hay to the time your piggy became symptomatic then maybe it is their hay. But they have been having the same hay since august.

Thank you for the reassurance. I just love them so much. I cry every time he has to go to vets I worry so much.

 

[piggieminder]

Thank you. Maybe I have a really sensitive piggy. It is so hard isn't it.

It's hard to know the reason for these things sometimes but he's been to the vet, he has no other symptoms, he's eating well, maintaining weight and is happy. Try not to worry too much. Worrying will take away your enjoyment of having piggies (talking from past experience!). Try to relax and enjoy your boy, just be aware in case any other symptoms arise (they probably wont).
My hooting piggy is happy so now I just keep an eye on him, trying to be aware just in case but not over worried.

 

[hayethusiasts]

It's hard to know the reason for these things sometimes but he's been to the vet, he has no other symptoms, he's eating well, maintaining weight and is happy. Try not to worry too much. Worrying will take away your enjoyment of having piggies (talking from past experience!). Try to relax and enjoy your boy, just be aware in case any other symptoms arise (they probably wont).
My hooting piggy is happy so now I just keep an eye on him, trying to be aware just in case but not over worried.

We have hooting piggies then thank you so much. I would give this course of antibiotics they have prescribed and see how he goes. Fingers crossed.

 

[wheek!guinea]

Ok thank you. I can breathe now because if you said it took a while after introducing the hay to the time your piggy became symptomatic then maybe it is their hay. But they have been having the same hay since august.

Thank you for the reassurance. I just love them so much. I cry every time he has to go to vets I worry so much.

Totally understandable. It is so stressful when they do not feel well, especially when you love them that much. It's good that the hay has been the same since August because that makes a reaction much less likely. You are doing everything you can for them and it really shows

 

[hayethusiasts]

This is Kreacher btw this was just before I stopped giving them forage lol. He probably knew this was his last day with the forage mat that's why he decided to make the most of it and decided to lay down on it

 

[wheek!guinea]

This is Kreacher btw this was just before I stopped giving them forage lol. He probably knew this was his last day with the forage mat that's why he decided to make the most of it and decided to lay down on it

Oh my goodness what a cutie you have! Love your setup too. His look says it all

 

[hayethusiasts]

Oh my goodness what a cutie you have! Love your setup too. His look says it all

Thank you. Do you have a photo of your resilient guinea pig?

 

[hayethusiasts]

Thank you again everyone for your support. I was not convinced with our second opinion so I went and booked my guinea pigs with an exotics vet (it was quite a distance from us - i should not have let distance stop me and should've gone there first instance) but i am so glad I trusted my gut and booked it as their lovely doctor thinks they may both have a bacterial respiratory infection (i dont remember what it is called now) that Dobby may be asymptomatic to (i did point out Dobby does the occassional sneeze that's why she is convinced it is that bacteria) so now they are both on 14 days antibiotics and 3 weeks nebuliser.

Fingers crossed it is that

 

[piggieminder]

It's good you have got a diagnosis and the correct treatment, always follow your instinct, you know your guinea pigs as no one else can.
We are lucky to have an exotics team 15 minutes away.

 

[Merab]

Glad you have a proper diagnosis now.
Good for you going with your instincts.
Hope the treatment will work quickly

 

[hayethusiasts]

Thanks @piggieminder @Merab fingers crossed. Now this is where the real challenge comes as before, kreacher was only prescribed 0.4 of the antibiotic and i always thought he could tolerate it well but now i'm finding out it's too small a dose to give and they are now on 0.9 mls. So i am hoping they would both tolerate it well. I will give pro-c and will do daily weight checks starting tomorrow

 

[piggieminder]

It depends on the strength of the particular AB you have been given how much is needed. I've had Baytril in at least 4 strengths the poultry one I think being the strongest when I had to give .11 then the same piggy got a different strength and needed .5, it can all get confusing sometimes.
Fingers crossed they do well and tolerate it well without needing too much syringe feeding.

 

[hayethusiasts]

It depends on the strength of the particular AB you have been given how much is needed. I've had Baytril in at least 4 strengths the poultry one I think being the strongest when I had to give .11 then the same piggy got a different strength and needed .5, it can all get confusing sometimes.
Fingers crossed they do well and tolerate it well without needing too much syringe feeding.

Thank you so much.

 

[hayethusiasts]

Thank you so much.

It depends on the strength of the particular AB you have been given how much is needed. I've had Baytril in at least 4 strengths the poultry one I think being the strongest when I had to give .11 then the same piggy got a different strength and needed .5, it can all get confusing sometimes.
Fingers crossed they do well and tolerate it well without needing too much syringe feeding.

Would you give syringe feeding straight away or do weights first to gauge?

Thank you so much

 

[wheek!guinea]

Thank you. Do you have a photo of your resilient guinea pig?

here he is, Glacier. Miss him he was such a personality! What's the name of your piggy?

 

[hayethusiasts]

here he is, Glacier. Miss him he was such a personality! What's the name of your piggy?

His name is Kreacher

 

[hayethusiasts]

Hi everyone just wanted to double check. Meloxicam 1.5mg/ml. Does 0.42 mls 2x a day for 7 days sound about right? I know I need to trust vet but I just wanted to double check. This is for URI

Thank you so much.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Would you give syringe feeding straight away or do weights first to gauge?

Thank you so much

I’m sorry to hear this

If the weight has been stable between Wednesday (when you made this post) and today then you can afford to wait until tomorrow morning weight check without feeding.
Make sure you are weighing daily from now on and then use that to determine whether and when you need to start feeding.
If weight has been lost since between Wednesday and this morning, then start feeding now (a respiratory infection itself can cause them to not eat enough, without the addition of the risk of antibiotics making their tummies upset)

 

[hayethusiasts]

I’m sorry to hear this

If the weight has been stable between Wednesday (when you made this post) and today then you can afford to wait until tomorrow morning weight check without feeding.
Make sure you are weighing daily from now on and then use that to determine whether and when you need to start feeding.
If weight has been lost since between Wednesday and this morning, then start feeding now (a respiratory infection itself can cause them to not eat enough, without the addition of the risk of antibiotics making their tummies upset)

Thank you so much. Their weight has been stable and tbh no more hooting from Kreacher since Wednesday. Both were asymptomatic with it but with the occassional sneeze i mentioned that's when the vet thinks they are carriers of the URi bacteria. I am hoping the antibiotics would not affect them much