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Respiratory infection?

SavyCavyGirl

SavyCavyGirl

Junior Guinea Pig
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I’m pretty new to guinea pigs I did TONS of research but this is my first hand experience. I’ve had my pigs for about 4 months now and I think that at least one of them has a respiratory infection? I know this can be fatal really fast but the weird thing is the symptoms seem to have disappeared. They both had runny noses and one of them was making this really weird noise that sounded kind of like a whining dog like she couldn’t fully breathe. Her breathing also has a whistle to it. Should I take them to the vet just to be safe?
 
Do get both piggies to a vet for a check. Also make sure that you don’t have any irritants in the room with them - perfumes, candles, air fresheners etc.
 
Yes absolutely do take them to a vet.
Switch from the normal weekly weight checks to instead weighing daily. This enables you to spot early if they aren’t eating enough hay (which can happen if they don’t feel well) and step in and syringe feed to stop weight loss.
 
Ok I will thank you. The weird thing is they don’t seem to have runny noses anymore and their breathing is normal. Are they just hiding it?
 
There was a candle going but it was lit after they made weird noises so I don’t think that was the cause. I did put it out and put the lid on it so hopefully that helps
 
We can’t tell you. Better safe than sorry ☺️
 
Hi!

If in doubt, please always see a vet. It is sometimes very difficult to work out whether it is a bacterial or an environment issue.
Guinea pigs have very narrow and small airways, so any obstruction and problem is always very audible and sometimes alarmingly so. Whistling means that air is pushed through a narrow opening somewhere.
You also need to be aware that a respiratory tract infection in guinea pigs is a bacterial infection and not like a human viral cold; symptoms differ to some degree.

While guinea pigs with runny noses and lots of sneezing (a lot more than 5 times a day or a on-off sneezing fit) can test positive for respiratory tract bacteria, they are generally more likely to react to an environmental factor (hay dust, bedding, dry radiator air or air conditioning or the many irritants in complex pet home). Especially when they come from the comparatively sterile conditions of a commercial pet shop supply mass breeder.

Here is a list of common irritants in a home: Irritants to Avoid Around Guinea Pigs
Here is more information on URI and the most common symptoms: New guinea pigs: Sexing, vet checks&customer rights, URI, ringworm and parasites
 
Hello! Thank you all for your helpful advice. I took her to the vet and we have her on medication. She’s going to be fine both my guinea pigs are VERY mad at me right now for the endive and constant picking up to make sure they are sounding good but they’ll get over it.
 
SavyCavyGirl said:
Hello! Thank you all for your helpful advice. I took her to the vet and we have her on medication. She’s going to be fine both my guinea pigs are VERY mad at me right now for the endive and constant picking up to make sure they are sounding good but they’ll get over it.
Click to expand...
*medicine not endive
 
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