Allergy or URI?

[effyastrid]

Hello, one of my guinea pigs Astrid has been sneezing/coughing more than usual. It sounds harsher than a sneeze yet not as harsh as an actual cough that they do when they occasionally choke on food. She made this noise about 5 times in the span of 10 minutes when she was trying to lie down and rest. I have the fan on (not hitting directly) but on a high setting since it's quite hot today. I check her nose and eyes pretty much everyday and theyre clear. Her breathing is also very clear and she's very active and eats/drinks normally. I'm wondering if the breeze of the fan could be blowing particles into her nose/mouth? Their hay isn't dusty and their cage is very clean. I use fleece and white vinegar to wash. I can't really think of any other factors that would cause her to sneeze/cough that much? Any help would be appreciated. (Also I took them both to the vet a while back for the same issue and they said they were fine.)

 

[Wiebke]

Hello, one of my guinea pigs Astrid has been sneezing/coughing more than usual. It sounds harsher than a sneeze yet not as harsh as an actual cough that they do when they occasionally choke on food. She made this noise about 5 times in the span of 10 minutes when she was trying to lie down and rest. I have the fan on (not hitting directly) but on a high setting since it's quite hot today. I check her nose and eyes pretty much everyday and theyre clear. Her breathing is also very clear and she's very active and eats/drinks normally. I'm wondering if the breeze of the fan could be blowing particles into her nose/mouth? Their hay isn't dusty and their cage is very clean. I use fleece and white vinegar to wash. I can't really think of any other factors that would cause her to sneeze/cough that much? Any help would be appreciated. (Also I took them both to the vet a while back for the same issue and they said they were fine.)

Hi

Please see a vet. If you do so within a certain time of purchase with new piggies, you should be able to reclaim the vet cost from the pet shop you have bought your guinea pigs from.
New Guinea Pig Problems: Sexing & Pregnancy; URI, Ringworm & Parasites; Vet Checks & Customer Rights

Before you can diagnose sensitivities, you always have to exclude a respiratory infection. Even a low load of un- or undertreated bacteria that is allowed to develop unchecked can create big and potentially fatal problems later in life (lung disease or calcified bulla (i.e. middle ear capsule)). With a new link to long term severe damage, our advice on this point has emphatically changed.

True allergies are rare in guinea pigs but they do occasionally happen. Sensitivities to other environmental factors in the home can also happen. The quality of dust extracted home can also vary massively. You may also want to consider washing the fleece with something stronger than vinegar for once. Air conditioning can dry out the air.
Irritants to Avoid Around Guinea Pigs

Right now, the sneezing is not at the stage where you would necessarily think of a URI or an allergy but it also be worth to see whether a different hay brand could change the sneezing within a few days (it won't be instant).

How long have you had your guinea pigs?

 

[effyastrid]

I've had them both for about a year now, the current hay I use has low to moderate dust so I might just look for another brand of hay with less dust.