Noise whilst eating

[Emmalou46]

Hi everyone,

One of my piggies makes quite a loud noise when eating, I’ve uploaded a short clip to YouTube, you might have to turn it up quite loud to be able to hear it. He does it when eating and sometimes scratching (bite scratching) but he doesn’t do it all the time. He can be quiet sometimes whilst eating, like for example now he is eating his hay completely silent. Is this just a normal noise? When he’s content? I’m wondering if it’s only when he eats veggies that he makes the noise, I will have to pay attention. My other piggie doesn’t do it and I’ve only really noticed him doing it recently, so wanted to check it wasn’t a respiratory infection kind of noise he doesn’t have a snotty nose or runny eyes.
Thank you

18 August 2023

 

[Piggies2023]

Hi everyone,

One of my piggies makes quite a loud noise when eating, I’ve uploaded a short clip to YouTube, you might have to turn it up quite loud to be able to hear it. He does it when eating and sometimes scratching (bite scratching) but he doesn’t do it all the time. He can be quiet sometimes whilst eating, like for example now he is eating his hay completely silent. Is this just a normal noise? When he’s content? I’m wondering if it’s only when he eats veggies that he makes the noise, I will have to pay attention. My other piggie doesn’t do it and I’ve only really noticed him doing it recently, so wanted to check it wasn’t a respiratory infection kind of noise he doesn’t have a snotty nose or runny eyes.
Thank you

18 August 2023

It doesn't sound normal to me. I would get him checked by the vet. He sounds congested. My Pumpkin had something similar and the vet thought she had something stuck up her nose. She had to have some mucus thinning medication and metacam to clear it. Hers was also worse when eating veg. It may not be the same thing that my Pumpkin had, definitely would get him checked.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi everyone,

One of my piggies makes quite a loud noise when eating, I’ve uploaded a short clip to YouTube, you might have to turn it up quite loud to be able to hear it. He does it when eating and sometimes scratching (bite scratching) but he doesn’t do it all the time. He can be quiet sometimes whilst eating, like for example now he is eating his hay completely silent. Is this just a normal noise? When he’s content? I’m wondering if it’s only when he eats veggies that he makes the noise, I will have to pay attention. My other piggie doesn’t do it and I’ve only really noticed him doing it recently, so wanted to check it wasn’t a respiratory infection kind of noise he doesn’t have a snotty nose or runny eyes.
Thank you

18 August 2023

Hi

If he has a very slight obstruction in his nose, then it can become more audible whenever his breathing is further impeded, like when he is eating or when he is cleaning himself. Unlike us humans, guinea pigs are not much in the way of mouth breathers so even the tiniest bit can cause some amazing noises.

If you have concerns and especially if this is a persisting/recurring issue that is not going away again fairly quickly, please see a vet to have his nose and breathing checked but I would not worry about an infection.

PS: Make sure that you can show your vet the video on your phone.