Temporary breathing issue

[Ramia]

Chesney choked on his pepper and for a half hour his breathing was crackly.

He then coughed and it seems to have cleared.

I called the vet and they said it could be a uri but his breathing is fine again. They said it's unlikely it was food in his throat but I'm not so sure because after that last cough (he's a greedy eater) it's fine now.

So is it possible he had something in his throat or should I bring him in although his breathing is fine?

 

[Roselina]

Mmm that’s a difficult thing to answer
Hopefully one of the experts will be along to advise

It must have been scary for you @Ramia

 

[Ramia]

I should add he's eating and later when I clean his cage I'll weigh him.

 

[Ramia]

And his breathing was fine before the pepper.

 

[Piggies&buns]

My gut feeling, if this was one of mine is, that it was due to eating too fast - particularly as a cough cleared it. I would certainly would keep an eye and of course we would advise you to see a vet if you notice further breathing issues

 

[Ramia]

I have today and tomorrow off so will observe all day and book an appointment if I notice anything.

 

[Wiebke]

Chesney choked on his pepper and for a half hour his breathing was crackly.

He then coughed and it seems to have cleared.

I called the vet and they said it could be a uri but his breathing is fine again. They said it's unlikely it was food in his throat but I'm not so sure because after that last cough (he's a greedy eater) it's fine now.

So is it possible he had something in his throat or should I bring him in although his breathing is fine?

Hi

Please take a deep breath.

It sounds typical for some food partially blocking the airpipe or getting stuck at the throat opening - not enough to trigger a full-on coughing fit but enough to partially inhibit the air flow.
It usually takes a little bit longer for it all to settle down once the offending particle has been worked out because the automatic bodily reflexes have been triggered and they usually take a little time to go back to sleep.

You experience the same as a human with an irritant having gone up the nose, got stuck in your throat or went down the wrong way - but unless the crackling is coming back and staying I would not worry.

Contact your vet again if the crackling becomes persistent. A short one-off crackling episode with some food bits coming up doesn't make a URI yet.

 

[MnJ]

Hope everything is fine with your boy

 

[Ramia]

Hope everything is fine with your boy

Yes, he is totally fine! Thanks.