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Scratching sound when breathing HELP

mochalily2020

mochalily2020

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
May 5, 2020
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Location
Montreal, Canada
Hey everyone,

I wanted some advice on my guinea pig.

I have booked in an appointment at the vet tomrrow but was just wondering if anyone has experience something similar.

Our eldest girl (5 and a half) has started just this morning making a strange sound when breathing, it sounds like the radio when you cannot find a station if that makes sense its a scratching sound. Apart from that she is eating, walking around and drinking normally so all else seems fine behaviour wise. I tried recording the sound but it is too low so be refelcted properly.

Have any of you experienced anything like that ? I will post an update after seeing our vet tomorrow too.

Thank you
 
I’ve no experience but wanted to wish her all the best with the vet tomorrow. Hopefully it’s something simple.
 
mochalily2020 said:
Hey everyone,

I wanted some advice on my guinea pig.

I have booked in an appointment at the vet tomrrow but was just wondering if anyone has experience something similar.

Our eldest girl (5 and a half) has started just this morning making a strange sound when breathing, it sounds like the radio when you cannot find a station if that makes sense its a scratching sound. Apart from that she is eating, walking around and drinking normally so all else seems fine behaviour wise. I tried recording the sound but it is too low so be refelcted properly.

Have any of you experienced anything like that ? I will post an update after seeing our vet tomorrow too.

Thank you
Click to expand...

Hi!

You have done the right thing by booking the nearest vet appointment. Any raspy or crackly breathing should be examined. It could be simply from the dry indoors air and maybe a small obstruction somewhere in the airways during the new cold spell but that is for the vet to decide.

What you could try is place a bowl of steaming water next to the case and see whether this eases the breathing a little. If yes, then humidifying over the winter may be one ways forward. The airways in older piggies can narrow and become less elastic.

All the best!
 
Hey everyone, just a quick update.

Lily stopped making the sound by the time I took her to the vet the next day and the vet did not spot anything wrong with her in her examination. However a few days later she started making the sound again so the vet has prescribed an anti-inflammatory and an antibiotic for her to take for 10 days and we started the treatment yesterday.

She seems fine in general and has been drinking and running for veggies as usual. When she gets one of her breathing fits (twice so far) she does seem to struggle but apart from those she seems totally fine which is a little strange..
 
Hi everyone, just an update.

Lily stopped wheezing while on antibiotics and metacam but has resumed 2 days after stopping treatment.

Any tips ? I have told our vet this morning and am waiting to see what she says as well. But if anyone has any tips on how to help her breathe better please share. @Wiebke ?
 
mochalily2020 said:
Hi everyone, just an update.

Lily stopped wheezing while on antibiotics and metacam but has resumed 2 days after stopping treatment.

Any tips ? I have told our vet this morning and am waiting to see what she says as well. But if anyone has any tips on how to help her breathe better please share. @Wiebke ?
Click to expand...

How long was the course of treatment?

Try and see whether a bowl of steaming water next to the cage is easing the symptoms; if yes, then humidifying measures or even nebulising in more severe cases - with the consent of your vet - would be a way forward and worth dicussing.

We have been seeing more signs of antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria where lab tests were needed to find which possible antibiotics guinea pigs responded to.

Once you get to the sensitivities to hay dust/pollen or other irritants it can be very much trial and error to work out what is going on. However, the first step is always to make sure that there are no respiratory bacteria at the bottom of the issue as under-treatment can cause more serious problems in the long term.

All the best
 
Wiebke said:
How long was the course of treatment?

Try and see whether a bowl of steaming water next to the cage is easing the symptoms; if yes, then humidifying measures or even nebulising in more severe cases - with the consent of your vet - would be a way forward and worth dicussing.

We have been seeing more signs of antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria where lab tests were needed to find which possible antibiotics guinea pigs responded to.

Once you get to the sensitivities to hay dust/pollen or other irritants it can be very much trial and error to work out what is going on. However, the first step is always to make sure that there are no respiratory bacteria at the bottom of the issue as under-treatment can cause more serious problems in the long term.

All the best
Click to expand...
The antibiotic was given for 10 days but towards the end her pee was turning pinkish so I dont know if she can take trying too many different ones.. I will try the hot water one hopefully it helps ease her straining a little
 
mochalily2020 said:
The antibiotic was given for 10 days but towards the end her pee was turning pinkish so I dont know if she can take trying too many different ones.. I will try the hot water one hopefully it helps ease her straining a little
Click to expand...

I would still recommend to speak to your vet and discuss things with them.
 
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