My guinea pig coughed twice. Is it serious? When to see a vet?

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.

If the crust has any yellowish or green color to it then I would definitely recommend that she see a veterinarian. If it is only clear I would be less concerned. Keeping a very clean cage is important as the ammonia in the urine can be very irritating to the nasal and respiratory tract. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

Hi and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach, Sneezing every once in a while may be normal. I always recommend taking a new pet to the vet for a "baseline" health check. However, if you prefer, you can just watch her for now and take her to the vet if the sneezing becomes more frequent or if she has secretions from eyes/nose. Please make sure that she is not on a powdery substrate. "Cats Best" or similar is ideal.

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!

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.

If your guinea pig is sneezing it could be an indication of an upper respiratory tract infection. These can lead to pneumonia fairly quickly which can be life threatening in guinea pigs. If she is sneezing consistently I would recommend taking her in to see the vet so she can be started on some antibiotics. If the sneezing is just occasional then keep an eye on her to make sure it does not get worse. As far as the smell, all you can do is keep the cage in a well ventilated area, change the bedding frequently like you are doing and bathe your guinea pigs if they start to become smelly. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

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.