Why Is My Guinea Pig Coughing? Very Worried

[sam5862]

Hi everyone, I'm new here and have 2 guinea pigs, pink and ginge.

My problem is that ginge started coughing around 2 weeks ago so I took her to the vets. The vet listened to her chest and said she seemed fine. Since she has been coughing occasionally when eating and drinking. But tonight she started coughing and seemed like she couldn't stop. She was coughing every 20 to 30 seconds and seemed very uncomfortable. I rang the vet who said she couldn't do anything for ginge and so I haven't taken her to the vet.
Ginge has now stopped coughing but I am very worried about her.
What could be wrong with my girl? They live indoors at the moment and are on wood shavings and have hay and nugget food.
Thanks, Sam

 

[beckyxxx]

Hi, i had the same problem with one of my guinea pigs and it was due to him being on wood shavings as they can have dust that can cause coughing, so I switched to fleece bedding. Also it may be the hay you’re using, is it dust extracted?

 

[Kiko+Peanut]

I agree with @beckyxxx it could have something to do with the environment.

 

[beckyxxx]

Yeah I’m sure if it was something more serious the vet would of heard it when listening to her breathing, maybe switch to fleece bedding and change your hay and see if it helps? If it doesn’t maybe get a second opinion at the vets

 

[Kiko+Peanut]

Just look out for wheezing and trouble breathing.

 

[Merab]

Is your vet good with exotics?
Did the vet check nasal passages and temperature as well as Ginge’s chest?

Good advice given above but do keep a close eye on her and go to the vet again if you are still concerned.

Welcome to the forum and we look forward to pictures

 

[Wiebke]

Hi everyone, I'm new here and have 2 guinea pigs, pink and ginge.

My problem is that ginge started coughing around 2 weeks ago so I took her to the vets. The vet listened to her chest and said she seemed fine. Since she has been coughing occasionally when eating and drinking. But tonight she started coughing and seemed like she couldn't stop. She was coughing every 20 to 30 seconds and seemed very uncomfortable. I rang the vet who said she couldn't do anything for ginge and so I haven't taken her to the vet.
Ginge has now stopped coughing but I am very worried about her.
What could be wrong with my girl? They live indoors at the moment and are on wood shavings and have hay and nugget food.
Thanks, Sam

Hi! Coughing after eating and drinking too greedily is not worrying. A coughing fit can come from something stuck in the windpipe. it should die down after a while and not come back.

You need to worry about illness and have your piggy vet checked if your piggy is coughing regularly and persistently throughout the day (and that means more than 5 coughs in one day!), it is not food related and it doesn't stop after a little while. See a vet if you notice other signs of respiratory infection like yellow/greenish crusty eyes or nose, rattling breath, loss of appetite etc.

 

[sam5862]

Hi thanks for all the replies! And putting my mind at rest a bit. She has calmed down a lot now. I will try using different hay and bedding. I currently use the stuff from wilko, is this any good? I will keep an eye on her for the next few days and see how she is. The vet didn't do her temperature or anything else. Just listened to her chest.
Thanks again and here's a pic of them both

 

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

Hope she's doing better! I wouldn't use the Wilkos hay any more as I once found half a bird in a bag once

www.timothyhay.co.uk is where I get my hay from now, it's always lush and I've had over a years worth off them and not a single bad batch so far! It's not quite as green as usual as it's been a long winter but it's still a lot greener than most hays!

As for bedding I personally use fleece, but I hear Carefresh is good and I used it in their litter trays for a while and it stayed clean and odourless

 

[Merab]

How is Ginge today?
They are both very beautiful.