Wheezing Guinea Pig

[Kace Matthews]

My guinea pig Gepetto is five years old. I heard him wheezing about a half hour ago. Its 8 o'clock at night so I can't take him to the vet until tomorrow. He has a cage that is pretty large in the downstairs area of the house. However, the entire downstairs (honestly the whole house) can be drafty in the winter. He has always been very strong and I have always made sure to keep him comfortable during the winter. However, I heard him wheezing this evening. I want to move his habitat upstairs for the night where it is warmer. But I am nervous that if he is in a weakened state, moving his habitat upstairs to an unfamiliar room would be detrimental. I'm also afraid that if he is moved upstairs to a bedroom, the seclusion would be bad for him. I would leave the door open and visit him upstairs a lot, but he is used to being in the family room at the center of everything.

The other option is to move his cage to a different part of the family room that is further away from the windows but closer to the door! I don't know what to do. I'm relatively young and I rent a really crappy house that is drafty. Please tell me if you think a move to a warmer but somewhat secluded area of the house is the best option. I don't want him to become depressed by not being in the family room and I don't want the move upstairs to shock him. B

 

[Wiebke]

My guinea pig Gepetto is five years old. I heard him wheezing about a half hour ago. Its 8 o'clock at night so I can't take him to the vet until tomorrow. He has a cage that is pretty large in the downstairs area of the house. However, the entire downstairs (honestly the whole house) can be drafty in the winter. He has always been very strong and I have always made sure to keep him comfortable during the winter. However, I heard him wheezing this evening. I want to move his habitat upstairs for the night where it is warmer. But I am nervous that if he is in a weakened state, moving his habitat upstairs to an unfamiliar room would be detrimental. I'm also afraid that if he is moved upstairs to a bedroom, the seclusion would be bad for him. I would leave the door open and visit him upstairs a lot, but he is used to being in the family room at the center of everything.

The other option is to move his cage to a different part of the family room that is further away from the windows but closer to the door! I don't know what to do. I'm relatively young and I rent a really crappy house that is drafty. Please tell me if you think a move to a warmer but somewhat secluded area of the house is the best option. I don't want him to become depressed by not being in the family room and I don't want the move upstairs to shock him. B

Please place a bowl of steaming water next to the cage to help ease the breathing; the air can get very dry during cold spells. Cover the cage with fleeces or blankets overnight and buy a microwaveable snugglesafe to keep him warm overnight. You can bring him upstairs in his carrier overnight if you wish you.

See a vet if the wheezing persists.