Possible breathing problems?

[elda14]

Hi! So I've had a few guinea pigs over the 4 years now, and I've noticed a few times that they seem to have gotten something stuck in their throat, had some harsher breathing noises, but then usually wretches later and the breathing noises go away. I have a guinea pig named Sunni, who does this every now and then, like it might go a few weeks before it happens again, or maybe 1-2 months.

I'm asking here cause it's not a pleasant sound to hear, and my first instinct is always to go see the vet, however, given a few hours it usually fixes itself, as well as my Sunni eats, drinks and sleeps normally, and it doesnt seem to affect him even when his breathing is harsher for that period. The harsher breathing can happen when he normally walks around in that period, but its more loud if I lift him up and put a bit of pressure on his belly.

He seems to have stopped for now, but I will update this forum if he starts making the noises again. Is this normal though, getting too excited and getting some food or something stuck in his throat, and then managing to clear it out later and being back to normal?

 

[Ramia]

Mine are greedy eaters and choke on their veg. But usually can clear it with a gag/cough.

 

[elda14]

Mine are greedy eaters and choke on their veg. But usually can clear it with a gag/cough

Usually I don't notice exactly what he got stuck in his throat. I'd assume it's just hay, it's just sounds really unpleasant while he's doing it, but then a few hours later the sound is gone, assuming he coughed it up again

 

[elda14]

https://streamable.com/c3yxgv
https://streamable.com/ueybih

I got it on video, apparently he didn't get it out yesterday when I thought he did. You can hear the weird breathing in the short and long video. The long video I took first, then the shorter one which had the nastier sound. 2 seconds after that video ended he wretched and the noise stopped, seemingly he got out what was stuck. So this is the dance that happens every 3 weeks to every 2 months, usually the exact same thing. I wonder if it's anything dangerous, or just my piggie being a bit of a goofball. I could imagine this is like when we humans eat popcorn, and one of those annoying flakes get stuck in our throat and is hard to get out, but eventually gets out?

 

[Truffolo]

I take my piggies for an annual vet check and get their back teeth checked, heart and lung sounds checked, and can discuss any other things which might be bothering me.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Piggies have narrow airways and it’s not uncommon for obstructions in the airways to cause audible breathing or for piggies to eat too fast and end up with this kind of thing happening. They can usually clear it themselves with a cough. However we cannot exclude there being a medical issue so we can only advise that you are a vet for anything that is concerning you

 

[elda14]

Piggies have narrow airways and it’s not uncommon for obstructions in the airways to cause audible breathing or for piggies to eat too fast and end up with this kind of thing happening. They can usually clear it themselves with a cough. However we cannot exclude there being a medical issue so we can only advise that you are a vet for anything that is concerning you

He's perfect in every other way. Eats normally, drinks normally, always eager for veggies or any other snack. He might've been a bit dehydrated the past few days as he made smaller poops which were slightly dry, but I gave more water and watery veggies and its not back to normal. With my research, it doesnt seem like there's a like issue with him, if this happens like once a month, and seems to fix itself every time he coughs?

I don't have a lot of good experience so far with vets, either they didnt care enough to diagnose, doesnt seem like a lot of vets near me has much experience with guinea pigs. Last time I was in, you all suspected ringworm, they tested it and said it wasn't that for sure. But then I got the circular rashes, so it was 100% ringworm and I got to treat them since I experienced it on myself.

Of course, I do get more careful when I see any issues with them, weighing them and looking out if things get worse and such. Thanks for any help so far, this forum is great!