How fast can a URI form?

[Popcorn bby]

We just went to the vet today, where my guinea pigs' lungs were checked. The vet said they sounded completely clear and fine, so we took them back home and they were/and still are being amazingly active and themselves. However during floortime, one of my piggies sneezed twice hard-sneezes in a row (she was eating hay though, perhaps a bit of dust went in?), and then another more normal sneeze about a minute after. Then a few more minutes after, my other piggie sneezed as well. About ten minutes after, she sneezed for a second time. Keep in mind, she got checked at about 4:00 PM, and this all happened at a bit before 10:00 PM. Could they have gotten a URI this fast? I shall keep an eye on them. They are being very active and eating very well. I do not know if they really could have gotten a URI in six hours?

 

[Popcorn bby]

We just went to the vet today, where my guinea pigs' lungs were checked. The vet said they sounded completely clear and fine, so we took them back home and they were/and still are being amazingly active and themselves. However during floortime, one of my piggies sneezed twice hard-sneezes in a row (she was eating hay though, perhaps a bit of dust went in?), and then another more normal sneeze about a minute after. Then a few more minutes after, my other piggie sneezed as well. About ten minutes after, she sneezed for a second time. Keep in mind, she got checked at about 4:00 PM, and this all happened at a bit before 10:00 PM. Could they have gotten a URI this fast? I shall keep an eye on them. They are being very active and eating very well. I do not know if they really could have gotten a URI in six hours?

update: they are still sneezing, although way less compared to how they were sneezing when they did have a URI a few weeks ago. my mom refuses to take them to the vet. i will continue to monitor them both. please pray that my babies Popcorn and Pumpkin do not have a URI. Someone please answer my question above and help me.

 

[Swissgreys]

If they were both sneezing while eating hay then chances are it is just a dusty batch of hay.
It would be highly unlikely that 2 guinea pigs would both develop a URI at the same time less than 6 hours after a vet visit.
Maybe try changing the current bag of hay for something a little less dusty.
I had to bin a bag last week for the same reason.

 

[Wiebke]

If they were both sneezing while eating hay then chances are it is just a dusty batch of hay.
It would be highly unlikely that 2 guinea pigs would both develop a URI at the same time less than 6 hours after a vet visit.
Maybe try changing the current bag of hay for something a little less dusty.
I had to bin a bag last week for the same reason.

I agree with @Swissgreys .

A bacterial respitory infection is NOT at all the same as a viral human cold where sneezing is often one of the first sympoms of an onset
In guinea pigs sneezing - especially without any further symptoms - is mostly connected to a sensitivity to environmental factors (hay dust being the most common). Guinea pigs have a very small and narrow respiratory tract and cannot breathe through their mouths; this means that keeping the nose clear of any obstruction is very important. Guinea pigs often sneeze when they are giving themselves a piggy wash.

Crackly or raspy breething is generally the first symptom of a URI or another respiratory illness; followed by loss of appetite (the need to breathe comes before the need to drink and only thirdly the need to eat), apathy and very laboured breathing in ascending order of severity. If you notice any of these symptoms, please see a vet ASAP.
Gunky eyes/nose caked close with yellowish/green mucus and coughing are symptoms of a well developed untreated upper respiratory infection.

 

[Popcorn bby]

If they were both sneezing while eating hay then chances are it is just a dusty batch of hay.
It would be highly unlikely that 2 guinea pigs would both develop a URI at the same time less than 6 hours after a vet visit.
Maybe try changing the current bag of hay for something a little less dusty.
I had to bin a bag last week for the same reason.

Thank you for replying! So after their sneezing, they stopped sneezing for the whole day, but at night, one of them had a pretty big sneeze attack. She sneezed about 10 solid sneezes, plus one pretty big one. I monitored her more, and she had about three more sneezes within fifteen minutes after the sneeze attack. I have separated them just in case, and hope that the other one does not start showing symptoms. They both still are being their adorable selves, so hopefully it's nothing and I can put them back together soon. If we notice any further symptoms we shall contact the vet. Once again, thank you @Swissgreys and @Wiebke !

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you for replying! So after their sneezing, they stopped sneezing for the whole day, but at night, one of them had a pretty big sneeze attack. She sneezed about 10 solid sneezes, plus one pretty big one. I monitored her more, and she had about three more sneezes within fifteen minutes after the sneeze attack. I have separated them just in case, and hope that the other one does not start showing symptoms. They both still are being their adorable selves, so hopefully it's nothing and I can put them back together soon. If we notice any further symptoms we shall contact the vet. Once again, thank you @Swissgreys and @Wiebke !

Please do NOT separate! It is very stressful for piggies and will further lower their immune system. At the worst, it can lead to a permanent fall-out.

If it is an infection (which I really do not think), then transmission has already happened anyway.

I would strongly recommend to follow my advice and change the hay brand.

 

[Popcorn bby]

Please do NOT separate! It is very stressful for piggies and will further lower their immune system. At the worst, it can lead to a permanent fall-out.

If it is an infection (which I really do not think), then transmission has already happened anyway.

I would strongly recommend to follow my advice and change the hay brand.

@Wiebke

Oh okay! I put them back together again, and they seem to still remember each other so that is good. So far (although I've been gone for some hours) I have noticed one guinea has sneezed three times in a row (while giving herself a piggie wash though), and the other sneezed just once. I also did want to clear out now that the original piggie that I said had a sneeze attack was not eating hay when she had it, just in case that helps anything. Also, could you please define a crackly sound for me? How loud should it be, and how long should the each "crackle" be? My piggies do not make noises while breathing, although when they are sniffing, you can hear them. I believe this is normal?