My guinea pig is coughing and acting sick. What should I do?

I am sorry to hear about Henry. These signs are concerning in a guinea pig. Even if he is eating and active, I would recommend having a veterinarian take a look at him. This can be a sign of nausea/GI problems but also of dental disease, which is common in guinea pigs. A vet who deals with guinea pigs can examine your pig and check for dental problems. Bring a stool sample with you so that the vet can check it as well.

Hello. I assume your previous veterinary visits resulted in x-rays, antibiotics, & a good assessment of diet & environmental conditions. If a dust free environment was not suggested, then change to something like Yesterdays News. If not, that is where I would start. Many young GPs can get a respiratory infection called Bordetella. Treatment involves using the antibiotics enrofloxacin (10 mg/kg once daily), & doxycycline ( 2.5 mg/kg every 12 hours ). Nebulization using saline & enrofloxacin may be very useful. Your veterinarian can recommend a protocol, but I like to do this 3 times daily for 10 minutes. Treatment with antibiotics & nebulization may need to be continued for as long as 21 days. I hope Thomas is feeling better soon. Take care.

If the cough is just very occasional and Daisy is otherwise acting normally I would not be too concerned at this time. If however, the cough is increasing in frequency (more than a couple times a day), if Daisy is not eating well, and/or if she has eye or nasal discharge I would recommend taking her to the vet to be examined. Guinea pigs are prone to getting upper respiratory infections that can lead to pneumonia so if the problem progresses you should have her checked out. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

I am sorry to hear about George. I would be concerned he could have a respiratory infection. I would recommend taking him in to see a vet as soon as possible for examination as he may need treatment with an antibiotic and delaying examination and treatment could make the chance of a quick recovery less likely.

Thans for reaching out about your guinea pig. It sounds as if he has an upper respiratory (and possible lower respiratory) infection. A veterinary visit is recommended to provide a diagnosis and treatment plan. The sooner the better, especially with the bleeding from the nose. Good luck.

Hello there! I'm sorry to hear that Benji isn't feeling well. I do worry that something may be serious going on as coughing is never normal in guinea pigs, and the shrieking makes me think that Benji is either very stressed or possibly painful. Not all upper respiratory diseases include symptoms like nasal or ocular discharge, so it's really important that Benji visit the vet as soon as possible. There is also the possibility that something is obstructing Benji's throat (a piece of food, bedding, etc.), so a thorough exam by a vet is in order. In the meantime, keep Benji warm and as calm as possible. If he is still eating and drinking, that's a great sign - definitely encourage him to continue to do so. Good luck, and I hope that Benji gets well soon!

I wouldn't say normal. There could be a few conditions happening. I would make sure his teeth are even and there isn't an uneven surface causing discomfort. Oral and respiratory infections can happen which could cause a sore throat which could change the voice. If there are Cedar or Pine shavings for a bedding this can sometimes cause allergies with Guinea Pigs. Also a diet lacking in Vitamin C could be the cause. Always make sure you have the correct husbandry or it's easy for problems to occur. I would recommend keeping a close eye on him and if he is acting abnormal (not eating, drinking, abnormal feces or urinating) then he should visit a local veterinarian. Guinea pigs are very fragile and can look normal one instant then sick in another. Here is a link for proper husbandry of guinea pigs. Https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/small-pet-care/guinea-pig-care