7 Simple Ways To Treat a Guinea Pig Upper Respiratory Infection

Upper Respiratory Infections (URIs) are one of the most common illnesses in guinea pigs. Although they can be fatal, if caught early, URIs can be treated.

To treat an upper respiratory infection in guinea pigs immediately take your guinea pig to the vet. The vet will administer antibiotics and probiotics to your pet after diagnosis. Start your pet on syringe feeding when you notice they stopped eating. Give them some extra vitamin C.

Keep reading to find all the tips to help you treat your guinea pigs upper respiratory infection, so that your piggie has a better chance of a full recovery.

1. Vet Visit – ASAP 

Upper respiratory infections can be deadly to guinea pigs. They don’t get better without medical treatment. Period.

So a vet visit isn’t just recommended, it’s mandatory – if you want your guinea pig to live, that is.

Your vet will give your guinea pig a full exam. A vet will take blood or saliva samples to figure out what’s causing the URI. Once the vet has a diagnosis, they will prescribe antibiotics.

The most common antibiotics used to treat URIs in guinea pigs are Baytril and Doxycycline (more on that later).

There’ll likely be a follow-up appointment to make sure that your guinea pigs upper respiratory infection

This test will tell them if the pathogen is causing the disease in your guinea pig. The test will also decide which antibiotic is best to fight the virus.

2. Antibiotics 

Your vet would be the best person to test your piggie and decide which antibiotic to use.

There are three types of antibiotics used to treat upper respiratory infections:

• Bactrim
• Baytril
• Chloramphenicol & Doxycycline (to a lesser extent)

Bactrim is the most common type and the one that’s frequently prescribed. Baytril is mainly used on adult guinea pigs.

After you administer antibiotics, your cavy should show signs of improvement within two to three days. If the URI still persists, you should try a different medication. 

It’s very important to remember that guinea pigs are sensitive to antibiotics. In fact, there’s several antibiotics that have been listed as dangerous for piggies – like penicillin.

High doses of antibiotics can cause GI Stasis in guinea pigs. GI Stasis is the slow movement of the gut. This means food is not being digested properly – which could kill your little friends.

To offset this, your vet should prescribe probiotics that should be given to your fur babies. And if your vet doesn’t, then you should run out and get some.

Probiotics are live bacteria that are good for your piggie’s gut. You can find them in powder or gel form and they’re added to water. Benebac is one of the most popular brands of probiotics that are given to piggies.

3. Syringe Feed 

Sometimes guinea pigs lose their appetite when they ’re sick. If this happens, you need to syringe feed them. You really don’t want your little furry on antibiotics with an empty stomach.

Syringe feeding is when you use a syringe (without the needle) to give your guinea pig their food and water. The process is simple:

• Fill the syringe with water and pellets or liquidized vegetables
• Carefully put the syringe in your guinea pig’s mouth (try entering through the corner of their mouth)
• Gently squeeze the plunger and give them the food or water
• Repeat until your guinea pig has had enough to eat or drink

If your little fur baby is sick, he needs nutrients the most. Antibiotics in particular need a lot of energy from the body. They can overwhelm your piggies’ bodies if you don’t feed them well.

The best way to know if your guinea pig is not eating well is to check if they’re pooping normally. If they’re not eating, they won’t be pooping.

4. Extra Vitamin C 

Vitamin C is actually a treatment option for URIs. Vitamin C boosts immunity so an extra dose when they’re sick is helpful. Vitamin C also works with antibiotics well to fight upper respiratory infections.  

Vitamin C will also boost your little friends’ immune system, which is key in the fight against any disease.

The best way to give your guinea pig extra vitamin C is through a balanced diet. The easiest way to do this is to feed them more foods that are rich in vitamin C. Some vegetables that are high in vitamin C are bell peppers, broccoli, and kale.

Vitamin C acts both as a treatment and preventive measure against URIs. It’s recommended that you feed your guinea pig with vitamin C every day.

Unlike other rodents, guinea pigs don’t make vitamin C. So, they need it daily as a nutritional supplement. 

5. Steam Shower 

Warm air is a great treatment for upper respiratory infections in guinea pigs. A steam shower will clear up their airways and help them breathe better. It also keeps them warm which is a great way to fight upper respiratory infections.

If you choose to do a steam shower, make sure that you use a towel to dry off your fur baby and to keep them warm when they leave the bathroom.

You should do steam showers every day until your guinea pig starts to show signs of recovery (no more crusty nose, easier time breathing, etc) After that, you can do it every other day or as needed.

You can use a hot water bottle to warm them up as well. Just fill it up and leave it in their cage.

Or you can use a heating pad. Just put it on low and put a towel over it. Place it in their cage so they can snuggle up to it if they get cold.

You should give your guinea pigs a steam shower every day until their infection is gone

6. Offer Extra Fluids 

 Offer your guinea pig extra fluids when they’re sick. This helps them stay hydrated and gives their immune system a boost.

Fluids are important to fight URIs for three reasons;

• Decreases nasal irritation when sneezing, coughing, or just breathing.
• It replaces the fluids lost because of fever and rapid breathing.
• The mucus will be less thick, so it won’t block your pet’s airways.
• Helps your guinea pig’s skin and mucous membrane form a barrier to prevent the entry of bacteria.

It is very important for your fur baby to drink fluids while they are fighting an upper respiratory infection. If they can’t drink by themselves, you can use a syringe to give them the fluids they need.

7. Stress-free Environment 

Stress is directly tied to your guinea pigs’ recovery. If they’re under stress, their immune system won’t work effectively. A peaceful and stress-free environment will contribute to their recovery.

Clean out their enclosure and replace the bedding with fresh bedding. Make sure to put their favorite toys near them and some huts or places they can hide or burrow.

The goal is to make their enclosure and environment around them as peaceful as possible. This way they can concentrate on getting better without needing to be on alert for other things.

What Are The Symptoms Of An Upper Respiratory Infection In Guinea Pigs? 

The symptoms of upper respiratory infections are: coughing, wheezing, lack of and discharge from the nose and eyes are signs of upper respiratory infections in piggies. 

Other symptoms also include sneezing, loss of appetite, weight loss, and unusual hair loss (sometimes). 

Guinea pigs are prey animals so they will hide sick symptoms well. This is why you should examine your furry friend every day. You can notice any changes that set in.

In some cases, guinea pigs die from URIs long before owners can notice. One of the first signs you can look out for is their feeding habits. 

Upper respiratory infections can have a big effect on their appetite and eating. They might eat less or stop eating altogether. If your guinea pig isn’t pooping, it means that its gut doesn’t have any food.

Lethargy and isolation will also be telling signs. When your guinea pig is ill, its energy is severely reduced. You will most likely find them at the corner facing the wall.

Remember if you notice the symptoms above, take your pet to the vet immediately. Even if you have a slight suspicion it’s a URI, visit the vet. It will literally mean life or death for little fuzz spuds.

What Can I Give My Guinea Pig For Upper Respiratory Infection? 

Antibiotics are key to treating your guinea pig. The main antibiotics administered to guinea pigs are Bactrim and Baytril. It’s important to get a vet’s diagnosis (and prescription) before giving your guinea pig antibiotics.

A nebulizer will help your piggie get better. You should use a saline solution mixed with an antibiotic according to your vet’s instructions. This will help the medicine get into your piggie’s body where it can do the most good.

Can A Guinea Pig Recover From A Respiratory Infection? 

Yes, a guinea pig can recover from a respiratory infection. A combination of antibiotics, plenty of fluids, extra vitamin C, and keeping them warm will aid in their recovery.

As long as treatment is administered immediately, recovery is very possible.

The danger with respiratory infections is when you don’t discover them until it’s too late. Some can be fatal within 2 to 3 days.

So don’t panic when you notice your piggie has contracted a respiratory infection. All is not lost. Just get your little friend to the vet…FAST.

How Do I Know If My Guinea Pig Has An Upper Respiratory Infection? 

Labored breathing or wheezing, sneezing, coughing, and discharge from nose or eyes. Other signs are refusal to eat or drink, lack of feces, lethargy, and rough coat. Dull or receding eyes are also a symptom of upper respiratory infections.

If you examine your guinea pig every day, you will be able to pick up on any changes in their behavior or appearance. However, guinea pigs do hide their symptoms so you might miss some. Pay attention to their breathing especially, as it can be a sign of something wrong.

Breathing problems can be a sign of a developing upper respiratory infection. Any heavy sounds such as wheezing or raspy breaths should be checked out by a vet.

Weight loss is also a telling sign of illness in guinea pigs including URI. Weigh your guinea pig regularly.

What Causes A Guinea Pig Upper Respiratory Infection? 

As a general rule, guinea pigs can get an upper respiratory infection from three different types of bacteria: Bordetella, Streptococcus, and Adenovirus. These bacteria can be spread through the air, close contact, or bedding.

Once the bacteria attaches to the respiratory organs, it enters the cells. The bacteria can then reproduce and evade the immune system.

But, there’s other ways that guinea pigs could end up with an URI, such as:

• If they’re in a very dusty or dirty environment
• Guinea pigs can catch respiratory infections from other animals. Dogs, cats, and rabbits can give your guinea pig an infection, even if the other animal seems healthy. The main carrier of Bordetella is the rabbit, but it can also be carried by dogs.
• If they live in a house where there’s smokers
• Allergens can also play a role in respiratory infections.
• Your guinea pig could also get an URI from a weakened immune system.
• Unsafe bedding can also cause URIs. These can be cedar or unprocessed pine. The aromatic oils from these woods cause respiratory infections in guinea pigs.

How To Treat a Guinea Pig Upper Respiratory Infection (Piggie Parents Weigh In) 

Piggie parents have had to battle upper respiratory infections in their little babies. They’re very common in the cavy community. Some parents lost their pets to it as well.

I manually surveyed 150 guinea pig owners to find out how they treated URIs in their little pets. The responses were very consistent. There are many tried and tested methods they used.

• A visit to the vet. It was the first step if they suspected their little ones had an upper respiratory infection. Many parents insisted on it. A URI can’t be cured without medication so getting a veterinarian to treat your piggie is necessary.
• Administering antibiotics and probiotics. The vet prescribed antibiotics and probiotics to help fight the bacteria that cause URIs. Some piggie parents gave their pigs antibiotics twice a day. Some guinea pigs didn’t respond to antibiotics and died. Some did and got better. Some parents gave their guinea pigs antibiotics they had leftover from a previous sickness. They talked to a vet before they did this.
• Using a nebulizer. Nebulizers were used by parents of pigs with chronic or severe URI cases. Some parents made compressors from things around the house. They would mix a saline solution with an antibiotic and a probiotic. The frequency of the treatment started high but reduced over time. Then they would administer the medicine to their piggies as mist.
• Using the steam treatment. Many parents used steam baths and steam inhalers to treat their guinea pigs. Some would put their pets in a room with a machine that makes steam. Then they would cover the cages of their pets with heavy sheets to build the steam. They paid attention so the piggies didn’t get too hot. Some people ran a bath for their guinea pigs and let them inhale the steam for about 20 minutes. The steam treatment was incredibly effective.
• They placed a heating pad on the bottom of cavy’s cages.Many piggie parents try to create a warm environment for their guinea pigs. Heating pads can warm up guinea pigs and help relieve the symptoms of URI. Heating pads and hot water bottles were both effective in reducing airway blockage. When used together, they were even more effective. Some parents used hot water bottles instead of heating pads.
• Administering pain relief medicine. Piggie parents gave their pets medicine to relieve pain. This was because the respiratory infection caused pain when the guinea pigs coughed, sneezed, or just breathed. So the pain relief made it easier for the guinea pigs to breathe.
• Syringe feeding. Many people had to use the syringe feeding method to feed their guinea pigs. Guinea pigs who had URI and lost their appetite completely needed to be carefully fed. This happened several times a day, with small but frequent portions.
• Vitamin C injection. Some parents injected their guinea pigs with vitamin C to help them get better when they were sick. Others gave them vitamin C through a syringe. It was common for parents to make sure their guinea pigs got plenty of vitamin C when their little friends have a URI.
• Administering water through a syringe. In some cases, guinea pigs can’t drink on their own and need water given to them several times a day. Make sure they have enough hydration and to prevent GI stasis.
• Lots of cuddles and petting. Some pet parents showed a lot of love to their little fur babies. They cuddled them and kept them close while they were going through their URI.

The main takeaway from this survey is to talk to your vet and to get a proper diagnosis for your little friends before anything else. Veterinarians will direct you on how to proceed. They will administer the proper medicine as well.

Watch how this guinea pig dad treats upper respiratory infection in his piggies.

How To Cure A Guinea Pig Upper Respiratory Infection 

Give antibiotics to your guinea pig to treat and cure upper respiratory infections. You can administer antibiotics using a nebulizer by mixing them with saline solution. Keep your guinea pig warm either using steam shower or a heating pad or both.

Make sure your guinea pig has plenty of vitamin C and fluids. If they stop eating, you can feed them using a syringe. Keep them in a calm and stress-free environment for a quick recovery.

Before you do all the above, make sure you consult a vet first. They will guide you in the process of treating your little furry from a URI.

Do Pneumonia and Upper Respiratory Infections Affect Guinea Pigs The Same Ways? 

Yes. Upper respiratory infections in some cases affect guinea pigs in the same way as pneumonia. The symptoms of both URI and pneumonia are very similar. They both cause labored breathing, sneezing, and discharge from the eyes or nose. 

Final Thoughts About Guinea Pigs and Upper Respiratory Infections 

Upper respiratory infections can easy to miss so you should be on the lookout for;

• Labored breathing and wheezing
• Coughing and sneezing
• Discharge from nose and eyes
• Refusal to eat and drink
• Lack of poop
• Lethargy or hunched down and isolated in the corner
• Poor grooming hence dull coat
• Crusty eyes

The first step to take when you notice these symptoms is to take your pet to the vet. Antibiotics are vital in treating guinea pigs. 

Keeping them warm and administering plenty of fluid is advisable. Make sure to syringe feed them when they refuse to eat.

Remember, upper respiratory infections NEED medical treatment. Home remedies should be an added step, not the only one.

The earlier URI gets treated, the higher the chances of recovery for your little fur baby. So make sure you examine your piggie every day to catch the symptoms early.