My Guinea Pig Sneezes

[Mishatoe]

I've had a baby guinea pig for about a month now and the whole time I've been noticing she sneezes. It's usually never excessive, but yesterday she sneezed four times close together. Today it was once. She doesn't seem to have any other symptoms of a URI. She eats like a horse and drinks. She has no other symptoms of a URI but I'm still quite worried. Is she guaranteed to have a URI? Or am I just paranoid?
Extra: I also think her hay could be the culprit. It makes me sneeze from time to time as well, so could it make her sneeze too?

 

[Mishatoe]

She also doesn't sneeze everyday from what I can remember

 

[Lexipiggie]

She also doesn't sneeze everyday from what I can remember

My piggie Oki sneezes occasionally but very rarely, have you had her checked at the vet because sneezing a lot isn't that normal ( I'm no expert though)

 

[Jesse's pigs]

What hay brand do you use? It sounds like it could be the hay or an allergy to something else in her cage. I'd try a dust free hay brand

 

[Mishatoe]

What hay brand do you use? It sounds like it could be the hay or an allergy to something else in her cage. I'd try a dust free hay brand

It's Oxbow hay. Western Timothy to be exact (she likes the little fuzzy things)

 

[Mishatoe]

My piggie Oki sneezes occasionally but very rarely, have you had her checked at the vet because sneezing a lot isn't that normal ( I'm no expert though)

I'll keep an eye on her and if it gets worse I'll take her to the vet. She seems to be okay despite the occasional sneeze.

 

[Wiebke]

The occasional sneeze is fine (many piggies for instance sneeze when they piggy wash to clear their noses). The occasional short therm sneezing fit when some pollen or hay dust has got stuck inthe nose is also nothing to worry about about.

Sneezing in connection with URI needs to be checked when your piggies sneezes continuously and persistently over several hours/days or when a sneezing fit doesn't subside again. That means a lot more than 5 sneezes a day or within an hour with nothing happening afterwards. Crackly breathing is usually a sign that their narrow airways are somewhere impeded. You can have a quick listen by holding your own ear against the piggy chest for lungs or throat/nose for the upper respiratory organs. if the airways are nice and free, I would not worry.

A vet will always treat for URI to be on the safe side, even if he is not quite convinced that it actually is.

 

[Mishatoe]

The occasional sneeze is fine (many piggies for instance sneeze when they piggy wash to clear their noses). The occasional short therm sneezing fit when some pollen or hay dust has got stuck inthe nose is also nothing to worry about about.

Sneezing in connection with URI needs to be checked when your piggies sneezes continuously and persistently over several hours/days or when a sneezing fit doesn't subside again. That means a lot more than 5 sneezes a day or within an hour with nothing happening afterwards. Crackly breathing is usually a sign that their narrow airways are somewhere impeded. You can have a quick listen by holding your own ear against the piggy chest for lungs or throat/nose for the upper respiratory organs. if the airways are nice and free, I would not worry.

A vet will always treat for URI to be on the safe side, even if he is not quite convinced that it actually is.

I noticed she sneezes mostly when she's by hay or is cleaning herself. I also put my ear against her back and everything sounds fine to me.

 

[Wiebke]

I noticed she sneezes mostly when she's by hay or is cleaning herself. I also put my ear against her back and everything sounds fine to me.

it is likely just a mild sensitivity to hay dust, so I would not worry.