Noises when breathing

[Bonjourparis]

Hi everyone

My guinea pig stopped eating last week. We took her to the vets and she was given x rays, blood tests and was tested for a variety of things. All the results came back clear other than a build up of gas.

We have been giving treatment and she is very much on the mend. However, whilst giving her treatment through the syringe she began choking. Think I must have given her too much! Anyway, since then she has been making very weird sounds. This was 2 days ago and the sounds haven’t stopped.

We did take her to the vet this morning, however she didnt make the noise whilst there (typical!) and the vet could hear nothing on her lungs.

She is currently on marbocyl, as the vet gave it as a precaution as they could not find why she suddenly stopped eating. So I dont think it would be a uti, as surely this would be treating it? Or maybe the choking is just a coincidence and it is a uti?

She is still eating, drinking and seems happy in herself. Anyone have any ideas? Link to the sounds she is making

Thanks to anyone who think they can help!

 

[Mother Hubbard]

Hi,

Well having listened to the video yes it does sound like a upper respiratory tract infection. I suppose like humans, in certain situations we can start or stop coughing kind of thing - typical when going to the doctors and you need to do a urine test but can't go to the loo.

Marbocyl is used for treating URI. I suspect when syringe feeding it is possible to rush the process and of course forget to ensure a syringe of water to flush it down with.

Have you considered the type of bedding perhaps?

I'm sorry I can't be anymore help.

I've had one of my own at the vets today for a URI, being a 'Teddy' breed they are more prone to breathing issues.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi everyone

My guinea pig stopped eating last week. We took her to the vets and she was given x rays, blood tests and was tested for a variety of things. All the results came back clear other than a build up of gas.

We have been giving treatment and she is very much on the mend. However, whilst giving her treatment through the syringe she began choking. Think I must have given her too much! Anyway, since then she has been making very weird sounds. This was 2 days ago and the sounds haven’t stopped.

We did take her to the vet this morning, however she didnt make the noise whilst there (typical!) and the vet could hear nothing on her lungs.

She is currently on marbocyl, as the vet gave it as a precaution as they could not find why she suddenly stopped eating. So I dont think it would be a uti, as surely this would be treating it? Or maybe the choking is just a coincidence and it is a uti?

She is still eating, drinking and seems happy in herself. Anyone have any ideas? Link to the sounds she is making

Thanks to anyone who think they can help!

Hi! she sounds like she has got a respiratory tract infection (URI). Good that she is already on marbocyl, so that should take care of it. Be patient, it can take a week or more to clear. But if your vet can't find any sign of a congestion in the lungs, you have at least the consolation that it is not a very serious one!
Piggies are prey animals and very good at suppressing any symptoms when feeling in danger - and a vet visit is usually outside their comfort zone. I have been there often enough myself!

Please be very careful to not push any food into the mouth; too much can go down the wrong way and end up in the lungs. In newborn piggies syringe feeding can be fatal as any aspiration will cause pneumonia.

A mouthful in an adult piggy is about 0.3-0.5 ml (one third to half a small syringe full), but a very weak guinea pig may only be able to cope with 0.1 ml at a time. Always wait until your piggy has swallowed before giving more.

What you can do at home to help ease the breathing is to place a bowl of steaming water next to the cage and to change it as often as you can. The steam will help. Please do not add any vicks to the hot water; it contains substances that are not good for guinea pigs, but if you want to add 1-2 drops of olbas oil as well, you are safe with that.

 

[Bonjourparis]

Thankyou so much for the replies. The stress from staying at the vets over night probably made her vulnerable.

Will continue with the marbocyl. We are currently giving 0.3 once a day. Will this be enough to get rid of the URI?

 

[Freela]

Definitely sounds like a respiratory tract issue (sometimes aspirating a syringe feed can trigger aspiration pneumonia.) My pigs never make the telltale noise at the vet either, so I try to record an episode on my phone to show the vet. I would double check the antibiotic dosing with the vet to make sure it's adequate to cover for a URI as well, and to make sure it's a drug that will treat common respiratory pathogens, as antibiotics are not one-size-fits-all.