Tooth Grinding/ Rumbling

[Lou142]

My Guinea pig, Flora has started making quite low pitched rumbling/grinding sounds. I'm not quite sure if she is grinding her teeth or if she is making this noise another way. It's quite a hard noise to describe but it kind of sounds like she's trying to make a rumbling sound but not very well but then also sounds like she's grinding her teeth.
I have also heard someone sneezing quite a bit but I do have two Guinea pigs and I'm not completely sure if it's just one of them or both of them although I'm pretty sure I have seen flora sneeze at least once recently.
What could it be?

I'll probably take her to the vets tomorrow I just want some sort of idea of what it could be.
Thank you for any help!

 

[Wiebke]

My Guinea pig, Flora has started making quite low pitched rumbling/grinding sounds. I'm not quite sure if she is grinding her teeth or if she is making this noise another way. It's quite a hard noise to describe but it kind of sounds like she's trying to make a rumbling sound but not very well but then also sounds like she's grinding her teeth.
I have also heard someone sneezing quite a bit but I do have two Guinea pigs and I'm not completely sure if it's just one of them or both of them although I'm pretty sure I have seen flora sneeze at least once recently.
What could it be?

I'll probably take her to the vets tomorrow I just want some sort of idea of what it could be.
Thank you for any help!

Hi and welcome

In which context does she do that? it is more an expression of discomfort/pain or a social behavior?

since we have members and enquiries from all over the world, you can help us a lot enabling us to tailor any advice and recommendations to what is available and relevant where you are if you please added your country, state/province or UK county to your details. Click on your username on the top bar, then go to personal details and scroll down to location. Thank you!

 

[Lou142]

Hi and welcome

In which context does she do that? it is more an expression of discomfort/pain or a social behavior?

since we have members and enquiries from all over the world, you can help us a lot enabling us to tailor any advice and recommendations to what is available and relevant where you are if you please added your country, state/province or UK county to your details. Click on your username on the top bar, then go to personal details and scroll down to location. Thank you!

Hi, she's not doing it as social behaviour as she's been sitting be on her own making this noise so it's probably more discomfort.
I'll add more details soon.
Thank you for replying

 

[VickiA]

If she's on her own and you can hear tooth grinding/grumbling then that is usually a sign of pain. Is there anything else you've noticed? Is she weeing and poopingnormally? is she eating as usual? I would take her to the vets to get her checked over.

 

[Lou142]

If she's on her own and you can hear tooth grinding/grumbling then that is usually a sign of pain. Is there anything else you've noticed? Is she weeing and poopingnormally? is she eating as usual? I would take her to the vets to get her checked over.

I've got two so it can be quite hard to tell. She's eating but it takes a while for them to actually finish their food but I'm not too worried about that. I'm pretty sure she's been seeing and pooping normally.
Both Louis and Flora have also had a problem with scratching/being itchy quite a lot and biting fur out but I'm not sure if it's related because Louis isn't doing it.
The only other thing is what I've mentioned in my original message about the sneezing. I'll take her to the vet soon to see what it is.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi, she's not doing it as social behaviour as she's been sitting be on her own making this noise so it's probably more discomfort.
I'll add more details soon.
Thank you for replying

Please have her seen by a vet and switch to weighing daily, instead of weekly, to make sure that she is eating enough. Pain is often connected to a loss of appetite; hay is often the first food group that is dropped - even though it should make up to 80% of the daily food intake and it is very difficult to control just by looking. Smaller poos will also give you an idea of the food intake of the last day or two (depending on how well the guts are working)
Here are our tips for syringe feeding; they include what you can do with what you have got at home in an emergency, so you can step in whenever necessary.
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

 

[Wiebke]

Please have her seen by a vet and switch to weighing daily, instead of weekly, to make sure that she is eating enough. Pain is often connected to a loss of appetite; hay is often the first food group that is dropped - even though it should make up to 80% of the daily food intake and it is very difficult to control just by looking. Smaller poos will also give you an idea of the food intake of the last day or two (depending on how well the guts are working)
Here are our tips for syringe feeding; they include what you can do with what you have got at home in an emergency, so you can step in whenever necessary.
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

If the immune system is in any way compromised, mange mites can make an appearance. Most guinea pigs have mite eggs buried in their skin, which are normally kept in check by a healthy immune system. Please do not home treat with a low dosed shop product on spec, and not before a vet visit.

The pain you are reporting is not typical for respiratory infections.

 

[Lou142]

Please have her seen by a vet and switch to weighing daily, instead of weekly, to make sure that she is eating enough. Pain is often connected to a loss of appetite; hay is often the first food group that is dropped - even though it should make up to 80% of the daily food intake and it is very difficult to control just by looking. Smaller poos will also give you an idea of the food intake of the last day or two (depending on how well the guts are working)
Here are our tips for syringe feeding; they include what you can do with what you have got at home in an emergency, so you can step in whenever necessary.
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

Thanks for the advice, I was going to move her away from my other Guinea pig so I could monitor her more easily and in case she had anythig infectious. Should I do this or would it cause too much stress?

 

[Lou142]

If the immune system is in any way compromised, mange mites can make an appearance. Most guinea pigs have mite eggs buried in their skin, which are normally kept in check by a healthy immune system. Please do not home treat with a low dosed shop product on spec, and not before a vet visit.

The pain you are reporting is not typical for respiratory infections.

When I took them both to the vet before he mentioned mange mites so this may be quite likely. I'll make sure to get them checked properly though. Thank you for your help.