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Sneezing Guinea Pig?

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Pippy & Daisy

Pippy & Daisy

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Hi,

I'm a bit of a worrier, so I tend to panic about little things but I've just been wondering how much sneezing is normal for guinea pigs? My girls are about two-years-old and they're very healthy, but one of them has always been a bit more sneezy than the other. Not excessive sneezing, I only hear her sneeze probably once or twice a week on average (more when she dives in the fresh hay!) but it's enough to send me into a panic about URIs.

Tonight, especially, she's been sneezing more than usual. Again, not excessively but I've heard her sneeze probably 2 or 3 times in the past half hour. She doesn't have any other symptoms - no crusty or watery eyes or nose, no trouble moving, she's looking happy as usual, hasn't had any trouble weeing or pooing, hasn't been hunched up in any corners, she's been drinking water, and I just gave them a big bowl of food and she's scoffing it down like she always does, so she's definitely not off her food. I just worry a little more because it's winter - their hutch is warm and blocked from draughts as well as being filled with extra bedding and their pigloo so I think (and hope) it's warm enough in there for them.

Is sneezing alone something to worry about? My guess is that she probably just has a bit of hay or something up her nose so I'm just going to keep an eye on her, but I can never be too cautious and was hoping to get some advice on the matter. I'm endeavouring to get them to a vet for a general check-up soon anyway, but is a bit of sneezing something I should rush to the vet for? I was just hoping to avoid taking them while it's so cold here!

Thanks in advance, everyone :)
 
Hi welcome to the forum, please could you add your location to your profile so we can tailor our advice accordingly.

Like you have said it can be a sign of a URI so it is good to be on alert, however, it can also be allergy related, have you changed their hay at all recently? are they on shavings?
 
You know your piggies best. My gut feeling is that the occasional sneeze, with no other signs of anything is probably nothing to worry about. As @helen105281 says, it may be an allergy, or just a bit of dust. I would keep an eye on her, and if things worsen take her to see a vet. It's good that you are so attentive, I'm sure if a URI does rear it's head you will be on it quickly before it becomes a problem
 
Thanks everyone! I haven't heard her sneeze since last night (a few more times last night but that was when I put more hay in more them). I've been watching her like a hawk and haven't heard anything so I'm thinking she must have just had something up her nose, but it's a relief to hear that I don't have to worry about the occasional sneeze! The only time I usually hear her sneeze is when new hay is first put in so I'm assuming she's just a bit sensitive to fresh hay - maybe the dust in the hay? Either way, she's been fit as a fiddle all day so I'll try and stop stressing about her for now :)
 
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