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I think Patchy is having difficulty breathing?

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gp lover

gp lover

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Hi all,

My guinea pig is like hyperventilating (sorry for the spelling. :red ) He was fine earlyer today, we fed him and he ate like a horse! :p But we were going to give him a bath (he was in a really bad need of one) and put him in the tub. This wasnt his first shower/bath. I don't know why he could be breathing like this. His whole tummy moves in and out as he breathes. After we got done showering him, (we thought that he would calm down, and perhaps he was just in a panic, so we let him rest but he's still the same!) When being lifted he squeaks! When we put him down, he runs to cuddle with his "brother". I don't know what the sudden change could have been. :{ Can anybody help me with this? :(




UPDATE: Patchy is walking around now, as a matter of fact hes eatting! Although he seems fine now, when he lays down he still looks like he has some trouble breathing. :(
 
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Has he eaten something unusual? Is there something stuck in his troat? I'm just using my common sense but he sounds like he's in pain... or maybe he's just over-indulged... Keep an eye on him overnight and would take him to the vets tomorrow.
 
MrsM said:
Has he eaten something unusual? Is there something stuck in his troat? I'm just using my common sense but he sounds like he's in pain... or maybe he's just over-indulged... Keep an eye on him overnight and would take him to the vets tomorrow.
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(Thanks about the spelling)
We gave them their usual. He ate romain lettuce, celery, parsley, cucumber, apple, banana, had some water, pellets and hay! He ate alot! lol. It was just a sudden type of thing. Right now hes just laying in a box ("his house"). He walks around, but his body is long instead of curled. I really don't understand... 8...
 
I wonder if he had hiccups?
Over the years Duke would do some funny jerking motions and then be ok again......never found out what it was

Just a thought have you listened to his tummy? is it gurgling or anything?

So glad to hear he's up and moving around and eating again xx>>>xx>>>xx>>>
 
Glynis made a good suggestion about the hiccups. If it only lasted a few minutes, and it was like little "spasms" around the abdomen (as opposed to actual breathing troubles), it may well have been hiccups.

However, if the diaphragmatic breathing continues (heaving lower down the abdomen in and out with each breath) it may be worth getting him checked. A 'spook' can lead to a short period of this breathing (as can loony running around and popcorning!) but if it lasts a while and has no obvious cause then a URI might be to blame.

I will have to get a video of my serial-hiccuper Saffron. Much of the time she runs around after she eats, she gets hiccups! :))
 
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Well he was actually like this for about 30-1hr. But right now hes doing good. I've been trying to pick him up and listen to him, but he runs away. lol. He still popcorns and everything!
I heard about the hiccups thing, not sure exactly if it was that though. Anywho thank you all for the help! :)
 
CCC4 said:
I will have to get a video of my serial-hiccuper Saffron. Much of the time she runs around after she eats, she gets hiccups! :))
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Typical, they're just like kids.... :))
 
Uhm, I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that when a gp eats their poop its normal? I just saw Patchy poop, turn around then just eat his own poop. I've never seen him or Odie (the other gp) do this! I hope hes not trying to tell me something is really wrong. :(
 
I'm no expert - but yes it is perfectly normal for them to eat their poop (gross huh!). It is something to do with them re-digesting certain vitamins, i think.

I'm sure someone else will be able to give you more information - but i didn't know how many people would be online this time of night - so i wanted to put your mind at rest a bit.

Rach
 
Rae1508 said:
I'm no expert - but yes it is perfectly normal for them to eat their poop (gross huh!). It is something to do with them re-digesting certain vitamins, i think.

I'm sure someone else will be able to give you more information - but i didn't know how many people would be online this time of night - so i wanted to put your mind at rest a bit.

Rach
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Thank you so much Rach. I do however live in the United States lol, so for me its still kinda early. :p But as I can see that most of the people on here are from the UK or anywhere in Europe. ^_^ So thanks!
 
Yes, its totally normal. Kind of like recycling, getting the most of out everything they eat! I couldn't tell you what nutrients exactly they get from their "special poop" but I'm sure I've heard certain B vitamins are involved. It's 'official' name is coprophagy.
 
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