What to do if your piggy is choking?

[AMMAH]

I gave my guineas their hay as normal last night but I think Naira must have got something stuck in her throat as she kept coughing. It was the normal piggy cough, but over and over again until I started to get frightened that she was choking.
I gave her a little syringe of water and I don't know if that helped or if it was just a coincidence but she eventually stopped and is fine now.

It made me wonder what you should do if you guinea pig is actually choking? Is there anything you can do to help?

 

[AMMAH]

Have I posted this incorrectly or is it just that no one has replied?

 

[Qualcast&Flymo]

Have I posted this incorrectly or is it just that no one has replied?

I think it just got missed by those who would know the answer, as sometimes happens. I don't know the answer to you question, but I'm glad your piggie was ok eventually.

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

I've had a guinea pig choke. It started with a few coughs and then he started to salivate and retch. I picked him up and held him with his head facing downwards and gently shook him. This dislodged what was causing the problem and it fell from his mouth.

 

[Hannah_xx]

Glad your piggy was okay!
It’s a great question as I’d have no idea what to do either!
In fact, Patrick coughs often when he’s eating (I think he scoffs )so I do worry sometimes that he could choke..

 

[artcasper]

Glad your piggy was okay!
It’s a great question as I’d have no idea what to do either!
In fact, Patrick coughs often when he’s eating (I think he scoffs )so I do worry sometimes that he could choke..

Daisy does the same... due to her scoffing it so fast!

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

True choking is very unlikely! It happened to the piggy in my care, due to him having very bad dental disease, with very misplaced teeth. In almost all cases, the guinea pig will clear the problem themselves.

 

[AMMAH]

Thanks so much for your comments everyone.
Naira absolutely loves her hay! When she was younger she always popcorned when I gave them hay. She doesn't do that now she's an old lady, but when I give them their veg, she eats it for a couple of minutes and then she's like, ok enough of the veggies, bring out the hay!

I feel reassured that real choking doesn't happen very often and if it does I know what to do now.

 

[Eriathwen]

This is generally the advice I see given out for true choking, although it describes rabbits it is also used for guinea pigs, once the item has been dislodged then a trip to the vet as soon as possible is always a good idea in case to make sure no harm has come from lack of oxygen to the brain etc.

http://www.vgr1.com/choking/