Heart problems, asthma or allergies?

[Josie_lg]

Good evening,
I hope everyone everyone is doing well.
I have been on here before regarding my guinea pigs, it seems to be never ending with them. And I have spent more money on vet bills with my four girls than the 7 years I had my first two combined :/ but it is more than worth it.
One of my guinea pigs, the heaviest of the group began honking last summer. We decided it was a bit of trapped hay in the nose, but it came back. It got worse and became crackly and after speaking to 3 differant vets we finally did x rays and treated for a lower respiratory infection. The crackling went but she still honks every now and again. She will go one week of honking on and off all week and then weeks and weeks with nothing.
we did x rays two weeks apart. And the vet couldn’t see anything bad on the heart, but we didn’t sedate her for it (too risky) so we couldn’t get a lateral view. As always I do still worry as to what is causing this honking. She’s a healthy weight (biggest of the group) very bright active eating and pooping. No crackles discharge or sneezing.
could this be something like asthma? Heart issue, or scarring in her lungs ?
How are heart problems diagnosed as we had a great exotic vet look at her and didn’t suspect heart problems. If Anyone who has experianced this has any advice please share! I am a very paranoid piggie owner! x

 

[Wiebke]

Good evening,
I hope everyone everyone is doing well.
I have been on here before regarding my guinea pigs, it seems to be never ending with them. And I have spent more money on vet bills with my four girls than the 7 years I had my first two combined :/ but it is more than worth it.
One of my guinea pigs, the heaviest of the group began honking last summer. We decided it was a bit of trapped hay in the nose, but it came back. It got worse and became crackly and after speaking to 3 differant vets we finally did x rays and treated for a lower respiratory infection. The crackling went but she still honks every now and again. She will go one week of honking on and off all week and then weeks and weeks with nothing.
we did x rays two weeks apart. And the vet couldn’t see anything bad on the heart, but we didn’t sedate her for it (too risky) so we couldn’t get a lateral view. As always I do still worry as to what is causing this honking. She’s a healthy weight (biggest of the group) very bright active eating and pooping. No crackles discharge or sneezing.
could this be something like asthma? Heart issue, or scarring in her lungs ?
How are heart problems diagnosed as we had a great exotic vet look at her and didn’t suspect heart problems. If Anyone who has experianced this has any advice please share! I am a very paranoid piggie owner! x

Hi!

I am very sorry that you are so worried. I have experienced honking in one or two of my elderlies where is has been mostly down to narrowing/ flabbier airways as both lungs and heart did check out without any obvious issues.

Try and see whether a bowl of steaming water next to the cage can bring relief; dry indoors air can contribute to making the honking worse. Just to see whether that is the case with you.