Hooting audio recording, heart disease?

[Mags00]

So my little guy Marlin has been making this hooting noise that clears after a cough/sneeze. This happens maybe once a day or or every few days. The exotic vet cleared him after a check-up. Said she hears nothing in his lungs or heart, no tooth problems, healthy weight, generally perfect.
This is the audio of him making the sound (first from a distance, then I move the speaker up to his nose):
guinea pig hooting, Marlin

He has no other symptoms. Very happy healthy piggie. Popcorns, eats, poops, drinks, eats hay, interested in us and his environment. He's only a bit over four months old. I'm thinking heart disease?


I currently cannot afford taking him to the vet again immediately so I booked another appointment for the 24th.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Often a hooting sound is made when there is irritation such as hay dust in the air way. Piggies have narrow airways and even the smallest piece is dust can cause noises when breathing and irritation. They can clear this by sneezing.
If a vet has said he is healthy, then consider the type of hay you are using, whether it is too dusty etc and try changing your hay source

 

[Mags00]

To anyone encountering a similar problem - I have what may be a useful update to you. After going to a different exotic vet today (the first one cleared him after a simple physical exam, no tests) she discovered that Marlin does indeed have a type of URI. His URI has not spread to the lungs but has instead stayed in his throat - which is the cause of the hooting sound that clears after a sneeze/cough. She noticed this after taking a look at x-rays of the throat and palpating his lymph nodes (which he reacted to due to them being inflamed). It is therefore absolutely possible for a guinea pig to have basically zero symptoms of sickness except for a strange noise once in a while or a hoarse wheek, and still have an upper respiratory infection. According to the vet, the chances of recovery for Marlin are very good, especially due to the fact that his lungs are not infected. He will be on some medications for two weeks and is scheduled for another x-ray in ten days to make sure there has been improvement. He is still his normal happy self, eating, popcorning, running around and begging for food, even gaining weight.

I'd like to put it out there that this can be the difference between an "affordable" exotic vet (which we originally went for, due to financial struggles) and a highly skilled more expensive exotic vet. The health and safety of your piggy. If we followed the advice of the original vet, his URI would've most likely spread to his lungs.

 

[Bill & Ted]

I hope Marlin is better very soon. It’s great this exotic vet has diagnosed what is causing his hooting and with AB’s this should clear up very soon Finding an experienced guinea pig vet is one of the best things you can do for them. Vets In general don’t always have a lot of experience when it comes to guinea pigs, they are either too exotic or not exotic enough and fall through the cracks. I’m so glad you found a good one

 

[Lady Kelly]

To anyone encountering a similar problem - I have what may be a useful update to you. After going to a different exotic vet today (the first one cleared him after a simple physical exam, no tests) she discovered that Marlin does indeed have a type of URI. His URI has not spread to the lungs but has instead stayed in his throat - which is the cause of the hooting sound that clears after a sneeze/cough. She noticed this after taking a look at x-rays of the throat and palpating his lymph nodes (which he reacted to due to them being inflamed). It is therefore absolutely possible for a guinea pig to have basically zero symptoms of sickness except for a strange noise once in a while or a hoarse wheek, and still have an upper respiratory infection. According to the vet, the chances of recovery for Marlin are very good, especially due to the fact that his lungs are not infected. He will be on some medications for two weeks and is scheduled for another x-ray in ten days to make sure there has been improvement. He is still his normal happy self, eating, popcorning, running around and begging for food, even gaining weight.

I'd like to put it out there that this can be the difference between an "affordable" exotic vet (which we originally went for, due to financial struggles) and a highly skilled more expensive exotic vet. The health and safety of your piggy. If we followed the advice of the original vet, his URI would've most likely spread to his lungs.

That's great that you trusted your instinct and got him help. Catching it early definitely gives him the best chance.

I agree there is a huge difference between vets, not necessarily indicated by price but the label "exotics vet" does not mean experience with guinea pigs. At least now you know a good one should there be any future concerns