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Sow Making Hiccup/cough Noise

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Suzy 77

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Hi there.

Our sow is about 2 years old and is quite laid back but is also fairly quiet (apart from wheeking when she can't wait for her food dish to be placed in the cage!). The last couple of days she has made a few hiccup noises which has never happened before. She seems fine as she is eating fresh food, nuggets and hay and is drinking water. She is also still going to the toilet.
Is this normal? Are these noises hiccups or maybe a cough? Just need a bit of reassurance about what to do as she seems fine but for the occasional hiccup/cough noise she is making.

Just want to say that this is a wonderful forum and we read so much on here before we got our 2 rescue piggies in November.

Thanks in advance
 
Hi and welcome!

Do they happen while eating or shortly after? That happens when guinea pigs eat very greedily and swallow air while gulping their food down. They can also get heaving hiccups, again from swallowing air.
 
Wiebke said:
Hi and welcome!

Do they happen while eating or shortly after? That happens when guinea pigs eat very greedily and swallow air while gulping their food down. They can also get heaving hiccups, again from swallowing air.
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Hi Wiebke and thanks for responding so quickly.

I wouldn't say that it is happening straight after gobbling her food down. It seems to be happening when she is having some quiet rest time. She seems to 'jump' when making the noise which is why I was wondering about hiccups.

We've had the piggies for 8 months now and it has never happened before. She started a couple of days ago and it seems that today the noises are more frequent.

I think if it continues we may have to take her to a vet just to get her checked over and make sure everything is ok. Seems strange that apart from the noises she appears to be absolutely fine. Will let you know what happens and thanks for your help.
 
Could it be a popcorning guinea pig? I understand some can make slight noises when they popcorn. Have a look at youtube popcorning videos as it might just be that she's really happy
 
Suzy 77 said:
Hi Wiebke and thanks for responding so quickly.

I wouldn't say that it is happening straight after gobbling her food down. It seems to be happening when she is having some quiet rest time. She seems to 'jump' when making the noise which is why I was wondering about hiccups.

We've had the piggies for 8 months now and it has never happened before. She started a couple of days ago and it seems that today the noises are more frequent.

I think if it continues we may have to take her to a vet just to get her checked over and make sure everything is ok. Seems strange that apart from the noises she appears to be absolutely fine. Will let you know what happens and thanks for your help.
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I agree with the above, I think she could be popcorning which is what Guinea pigs do when they're very happy.
 
Quick update.
Took her to the vet yesterday and we have a suspected uti.
The jumping was more like a hunch (definitely not like a popcorn) and she is doing it while making the noise. Vet said she seemed a bit tender in the ut area and has prescribed antibiotics and something to relieve the pain.Fingers crossed this does the trick as she is seeming a bit subdued now, although she is still eating, drinking etc.
Thanks for your help everyone!
 
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