My guinea pig is sighing often. Is this normal or a health concern?

Change out the bedding to see if that decreases the sneezing. Avoid using cologne, perfume or scented soaps or lotions before handling. Monitor for discharge, difficulty breathing, rasping or cracking sounds while breathing, lethargy or a decrease in appetite. See your veterinarian if the sneezing worsens or if Duke develops any of the above symptoms.

Your guinea pig should not sneeze at all.Sneezing is a sign that there is something in the upper respiratory system that does not belong there. This could be dust, a foreign body or excess mucus or pus. This could mean a broken through abscess or an upper respiratory infection. Make sure her bedding is dust free and observe her for a day or two after changing to dust free bedding and dust free hay (you can wash the hay and feed a small portion at a time....remove what is not eaten after a few hours). If she still keeps sneezing she will need to be seen by a veterinarian.

The sneezing may be due to an infection (bacterial or fungal) or possibly dusty bedding. Since Wilber is "new" to you, an exam with your veterinarian would be recommended to confirm good health or to diagnose and treat any pre-existing conditions. Use aspen sgavings or a recycled paper bedding product. Do not use cedar or pine shavings as they can be irritating to Wilber's sensitive nose.

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.

Thanks for reaching out about Jerry. Sneezing is often an indication of an upper respiratory infection/inflammation, but dental disease should also be considered. With this behavior, a veterinary visit is recommended as soon as possible. Possibly something stuck in its mouth. Good 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.

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!