Occasional Retching Movement

[Dilly's Piggies]

One of my sows, her name is Willow, she's 1 year and 3 months old, has been doing this retching movement, her whole body rocks back and fourth and she looks like a cat coughing up a hairball, to describe it at best I can. There's no noise when she does this, the movements are very fast and it lasts for about 10-15 seconds. Nothing ever comes up that I can see, but she does usually cough or sneeze afterwards. There are no after affects, she goes completely back to normal and resumes what she was previously doing. She's eating and toileting fine, not poorly at all. This happens roughly once every month or two, it's not regular.

I just wondered what this could be, is it just what it looks like, she has something stuck in her throat and is just coughing it up, like a hairball in a cat? She is a piggy and does eat her food too fast, she was eating her cecotropes from her bottom (ew, gross!) just before doing this retching movement yesterday, and afterwards continued to finish the job, maybe she swallowed it too fast.

I'm not overly concerned as she always sorts herself out and goes back to normal very quickly, I'm just curious as to what's causing it, if it's normal, and if any of you have seen this behaviour before?

2nd Question: Hiccups
I've also noticed a few of my others get hiccups sometimes, normally after popcorning and being crazy, they will rest and hiccup. I've seen elsewhere that Guinea Pigs can get hiccups, just like humans, when they eat too quickly or exercise on a full stomach, I just wanted to ask here to clarify that this is alright, and nothing to be concerned about?

TIA!

 

[Wiebke]

Guinea pigs can get heaving hiccups from swallowing air.

The retching may be worth having a word with and a check up by vet in case there is an obstruction somewhere. Guinea pigs, like other rodents don't have a vomit reflex.

 

[Beans&Toast]

Toast used to get really bad hiccups and it looked like she was retching like you said. I was terrified the first time I seen it it lasted about 20 seconds then she'd just go about her day like normal.

But like Wiebke said, if it's worrying you, have it checked to be on the safe side

 

[Adelle]

My mallow used to get typical hiccups quite often bless her- this isnt something to worry about.

The heaving is something that crunchie and mallow both used to do, it can be quite alarming. Its like they are trying to vomit (but obviously cant). From my experience with them, its similar to an acid reflux response- fruit is what caused it in them, due to the acidity. It can be managed with zantac in long term, regular cases of retching, but in your case i would suggest keeping a little food diary and seeing what they have had when the retching begins. It will more than likely be fruit!

Crunchie is now on a strict diet for her bladder issues, and doesnt recieve fruit anymore- there has been no further retching episodes. Apple was the worst trigger for my 2!

All the best