Sick Piggy? - Persistent mystery random coughing

[5Pigs]

Hello all my guinea pig has been sounding very strange and coughing lately, I don't know if it could be a respiratory infection as I've token her multiple times to the vet and they said she's fine and healthy. She doesn't sound like how a normal guinea pig should, I don't know how to describe it, I don't know what could be wrong with her? She seems perfectly healthy running around, eating fine, drinking fine, it's just the sounds and her coughing that's got me worried. What should I do?

 

[VickiA]

Is there any particular time of day that you hear the coughing? Does it coincide with veggies time? Or when your piggy has been stuffing hay/pellets?

 

[5Pigs]

Is there any particular time of day that you hear the coughing? Does it coincide with veggies time? Or when your piggy has been stuffing hay/pellets?

No it just happens randomly sometimes it'll happen when, she's eating her hay too fast but most of the time it'll happen out of nowhere.

 

[Wiebke]

No it just happens randomly sometimes it'll happen when, she's eating her hay too fast but most of the time it'll happen out of nowhere.

Have there been any recent changes in the environment (heating or aircon changes, perfumes in candles or air fresheners, personal products)? How long exactly has this been going on?

If the coughing doesn't happen after eating or drinking too greedily and if there haven't been any changes, then it may be that something smallish has got stuck in the bronchia?

 

[VickiA]

Did the vet check her back teeth? If food gets caught on overgrown teeth that can cause a cough.

 

[5Pigs]

Did the vet check her back teeth? If food gets caught on overgrown teeth that can cause a cough.

The vet told me that she's healthy and that they didn't see anything wrong with her

 

[5Pigs]

Have there been any recent changes in the environment (heating or aircon changes, perfumes in candles or air fresheners, personal products)? How long exactly has this been going on?

If the coughing doesn't happen after eating or drinking too greedily and if there haven't been any changes, then it may be that something smallish has got stuck in the bronchia?

I don't light candles or spray air freshener in the room, it's been happening for maybe a month? It's been on and off most of the time she's fine then all of sudden she starts coughing and making these strange noises but it seems to be getting worse.

It could be due to the temperature in the room, since it has been getting colder here, but none of the pigs seem to be having any issues?

 

[Wiebke]

I don't light candles or spray air freshener in the room, it's been happening for maybe a month? It's been on and off most of the time she's fine then all of sudden she starts coughing and making these strange noises but it seems to be getting worse.

It could be due to the temperature in the room, since it has been getting colder here, but none of the pigs seem to be having any issues?

The airways in guinea pigs are very narrow and small, so the least obstruction can cause all sorts of alarming noises. But the persistent coughing means that there is something going on. Sight unseen, all I can do is work with you through potential angles. It's not a situation where you can snap your fingers and neatly pull out a quick fix.

You could try and see whether a bowl of steaming water next to the cage will make things better or worse. It won't likely eliminate the cause if it is something very small stuck somewhere but it may help to ease the breathing and soothe the airways a little.
Can you also try to hold your ear against the chest, the throat and the nose to try and get a better idea where in the airways the noises are located?

 

[5Pigs]

The airways in guinea pigs are very narrow and small, so the least obstruction can cause all sorts of alarming noises. But the persistent coughing means that there is something going on. Sight unseen, all I can do is work with you through potential angles. It's not a situation where you can snap your fingers and neatly pull out a quick fix.

You could try and see whether a bowl of steaming water next to the cage will make things better or worse. It won't likely eliminate the cause if it is something very small stuck somewhere but it may help to ease the breathing and soothe the airways a little.
Can you also try to hold your ear against the chest, the throat and the nose to try and get a better idea where in the airways the noises are located?

Hello, my guinea had a vet appointment today, the vet checked her and said she was healthy but the vet gave her some medication for the coughing the vet wants to re-check her in 3 weeks to make sure the medication is working for her.

 

[Wiebke]

Hello, my guinea had a vet appointment today, the vet checked her and said she was healthy but the vet gave her some medication for the coughing the vet wants to re-check her in 3 weeks to make sure the medication is working for her.

Hi

Has she been given an antibiotic and is the coughing still ongoing?

All the best.

 

[5Pigs]

Hi

Has she been given an antibiotic and is the coughing still ongoing?

All the best.

Hello! Yes she's been given antibiotics and she's going to be going through an asthma like treatment to break up anything in her lungs, the treatment just started today so I don't know if the coughing has stopped yet but I'll keep updating!