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What Is Guinea Pig Wheezing?
Guinea pigs are attractive, intelligent, small, and easy to adapt to. Parents keep this animal as a pet in homes with small children. These, like other mice, have an instinct to hide their disease. Therefore, detecting any disease in advance and dealing with them as fragile organisms is essential. How does wheezing affect guinea pigs? And how is wheezing caused by guinea pigs? this article will give you a proper idea about these two factors.
Causes For Guinea Pig Wheezing
Contacting with other animals
Guinea pigs usually get wheezing from other animals, such as dogs. It is most often caused by bacteria that other animals transmit. Bordetella bronchiectasis is one of them.
Therefore, guinea pigs are always willing to minimize interactions with other animals.
If this condition is continuing, the animal should be taken to a veterinarian before being severely harmed. It is also said that allergies to certain foods, allergies to environmental changes, or exposure to surgical treatments can cause shortness of breath. These animals can also cause premature death due to pneumonia or inflammation of the lungs.
Therefore, these need to be addressed individually by understanding the exact cause and introducing early treatment.
Diet
One of the most common causes of wheezing in guinea pigs is allergies. Guinea pigs also suffer from other types of allergies, as well as respiratory problems, but food allergies are the most common cause.
These conditions can prevent by checking whether their owners have recently made changes to the diet or trying to identify the ingredient that may cause the allergy. To permanently solve this problem, remove certain elements from guinea pigs’ diet.
Another reason is swallowing, which usually happens if given dry pills. It is advisable to feed them regularly. The tablets can be soaked in lukewarm water for about 10 minutes and given to the pet when giving medicine. They can also contain a substance such as milk to moisturize the food they are given. If the problem persists, the primary reason is an upper respiratory infection. If so, call a veterinarian as soon as possible.
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is another significant inflammation in the lungs frequently caused in guinea pigs. This is caused due to a bacterial infection, mainly, Bordetella bronchiseptica. And also from other bacteria such as Streptococcus pneumoniae or Streptococcus zooepidemicus. Some clinical signs of pneumonia are oozing or runny nose, sneezing, and difficulty in breathing.
Bedding Materials
This is because of the dirty and dust bedding, especially the wooden beard on the bed. Some guinea pigs are allergic to woodpeckers and begin to choke when they growl. Woodpecker causes respiratory diseases in guinea pigs. You can cover the wooden beard with a newspaper or use soft barley or paddy straw on the bed.
Read more about Guinea Pig bedding materials
Guinea Pig Wheezing or Suffocation After Surgery
The guinea pig needs immediate medical attention if there is wheezing after surgery. It is a doubt of life or death for the pet. An emergency appointment with a veterinarian should arrange as soon as possible.
The guinea pig may not yet have recovered from the anesthesia that causes it to breathe hard. It can cause by a post-anesthetic medical complication called NPPE. It causes blockage of the upper respiratory tract.
After surgery, fluid accumulates in the outer layer of the lungs in some cases.
It is best to take deep breaths and cough exercises two days after surgery.
Identifiable Symptoms Of Guineapig Wheezing
- Breathing very hard due to breathing difficulties.
- Respiratory infections are usually caused by mucus-like fluid from these animals’ eyes, especially green eyes.
- When sneezing, runny nose and runny nose may occur.
- Fatigue and constant tiredness may cause weight loss.
- Guinea pigs are very active pets, but if they get tired quickly (i.e., do not get out of the cage), it indicates a sick guinea pig.
Treatments For Wheezing On Guinea Pigs
The best option is to see a veterinarian. Conditions such as Respiratory suffocation diseases These animals can quickly become severe and even fatal. Any recent surgery, such as a guinea pig, should be provided to the veterinarian with full details of changes in dietary material, bedding, and environmental conditions.
Be sure to have an X-ray or MRI scan to determine the actual cause of the problem. It helps to understand the nature of the disease, whether it is a respiratory infection or a chest infection.
A blood test can also detect the bacteria.
This will help in identifying the problem and giving specific medications.
In the absence of a veterinarian, and if it needs emergency treatment,
It is advisable to keep antibacterial drugs (e.g., Bactria, doxycycline).
Give Antibacterial drugs, probiotic supplements, and milk, vitamin C. And also, you can use nebulizers.
Suffocation of a guinea pig is dangerous. It cannot be very pleasant for pet owners. If it diagnosed early, it is easy to treat.
If it still does not return to normal after treatment, you should meet a specialist.
The Best Way To Care For A Guinea Pig From Wheezing
When making them, direct sunlight and cold, wet areas should be avoided. These animals are nocturnal and require quiet light to rest. These animals do their best in a dry, cool environment with adequate ventilation. Guinea pigs are social animals. So more than one can keep together safely.
Hello, my name is James and I’ve been caring for tiny pets for over 14 years with a passion. I enjoy passing on my expertise to other individuals in order for them to have the same amount of enjoyment as I do.
