Why did my guinea pig get a respiratory infection in a clean cage?

Thanks for reaching out about Buttercup. No all bacterial respiratory diseases are treated with the same antibiotics, and not all respiratory infections are bacterial (could be viral). No all respiratory signs are infectious, as heart disease can appear similar (but unlikely in a young guinea pig). If increased respiratory effort continues, additional treatment needs to be sought. Good luck.

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Respiratory infections can be either viral, bacterial or a bacterial infection secondary to a viral infection. If you have a large number of rabbits that are all inbreeding, they will have weaker immune systems and will pass these viruses around, which will lead to a group of very weak and sick bunnies. They get it by being around one another and breathing in the same air. Viruses are floating around in the environment, so unless you had each bunny individually housed, with different air venting to each one (like a research lab) then your bunnies will all be exposed. Bacteria spreads similarly. Signs of respiratory disease/infections include trouble breathing, inappetance, weight loss, decreased energy, poor hair coat, and death. You can prevent it by cleaning out your house, getting well and genetic diverse bunnies that are not allowed to inbreed (making sure they are spayed/neutered), and having the bunnies all vaccinated. Keeping the environment clean is very important as well. Best of luck with your bunnies.

Julius- what a great bunny name. Yes one concern with housing rabbits together with guinea pigs is the bacteria Bordatella bronchispetica. This bacteria is a common cause of respiratory infections in guinea pigs and when living in close quarters, can be spread from a bunny carrier to the guinea pig. Because of this, and because of their different nutritional needs, modes of communication, and risk of injury I would not house rabbits and Guinea pigs together myself.

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!

Hi there, I'm sure you are concerned about Bam. Thankfully it is good news that he is still eating well as often when seriously ill GPs will go off their food. If this does occur then treat the situation as an emergency. Sneezing and wheezing coukd be indicative of a respiratory infection. Such are fairly common but can be serious. I would get Bam to an experienced vet asap as infections require prompt treatment; they do tend to respond very well. Alternatively, sneezing could be due to dust in bedding, allergies or even nasal mites. Again a trip to the vet should help shed some light. Consider the housing and environment, for example, bedding materisl, draughts and similar. Best of luck with Bam.

Thanks for reaching out about Isabel. Not sure if an answer can be provided with the information given. Inflammatory responses from exposure to bedding, other inhalants, exposure to dogs (possible bordatella) or other possibilities. Good luck.

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.