3 Top Reasons Your Guinea Pigs Sneeze (Should You Worry?)
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We’ve all had the sneezies here and there. But, it can seriously freak you out if you hear your guinea pig sneeze.
It’s normal for us to sneeze, but sometimes it can make you worry if you hear a similar sound coming from your pig’s cage. So, why do guinea pigs sneeze?
Dust often causes guinea pigs to sneeze. This is because the dust particles get into their nasal passages and set off a reflex. However, sometimes they sneeze because of an upper respiratory infection, dust, or strong smells. So it is important to find out the exact reason for the sneezing before making any assumptions.
There is not one specific thing that causes piggies to sneeze. It is up to you to find out why your pig is sneezing.
But don’t worry, I’m here to help.
Let’s take a peek at all the possible reasons for why your guinea pig might sneeze.
First, we’ll start with the top 3 reasons for sneezing in guinea pigs, starting with…
Dust
Dust often makes guinea pigs sneeze. When dust gets into their noses, it makes them uncomfortable. So their bodies react by making them sneeze to get rid of the dust.
There’s tons of reasons why you’ll find dust in your home. They include:
- Bedding
- Toys
- Hay
- Dusty home
- Sprays
- Heavily scented clothing
Let’s take a peek at these in a bit more detail, shall we?
There are a few reasons your guineas might sneeze. One is because of the dust from hay, bedding, or toys. When your guinea moves around, dust will rise.
Dust might get stirred up from the hay when your piggie moves around. Same goes for any other dusty bedding that you might use like aspen or kiln-dried pine bedding.
As for hay, it’s pretty much unavoidable. After all, even if you won’t use it for bedding, you eventually have to bring it in their diet.
In fact, hay is the #1 recommended food for guineas. It should account for 90% of their diet.
You probably know that there is no such thing as a completely dust-free hay. Even so, the key is to buy the one with the least amount of dust possible.
So, go for the high-quality variety with the label “dust extracted”. It will cost you a bit more, but it’ll be worth it in the long run.
Another possible source of dust is your home itself. If your home has high levels of dust, your rodent friend is likely to suffer from dust-related sneezing. The same goes for when you use any products that produce dust when in use.
One possible source of dust that you may not have thought of is your clothing.
It’s not usually the first cause but dust can easily get on your clothes, and if your pig is sneezing, it’s possible that it’s the cause.
When you move around your home, some dust particles will end up on your clothing. And when you go to pick up your pet, some of those particles will end up in their fur or on their noses.
There are some things you should do whenever you come into contact with your pet. Make sure to take off your shoes and any outer clothing that may be dusty.
Wash your hands well and avoid using scented products before handling your pet.
Strong Smells and Irritants
Dust is the main cause of piggie sneezing. But sometimes they might sneeze for other reasons like strong smells or irritants.
Yep, the perfume you bought the other day might make your pet piggies sneeze. I wrote about how certain smells (and other things) should be kept away from guinea pigs in the article 10 Things You Should Avoid Putting on Guinea Pigs (Avoid at all Costs).
Guinea pigs have a really good sense of smell. Their sense of smell is 1000 times better than ours!
That means that something we might not think is smelly can be really smelly for them.
You should be careful with the products you use around your home. Apart from perfume, keep your pet away from other likely sources of irritation.
That includes things like:
- Scented candles
- Diffusers
- Strong detergents
Now I LOVE a good-scented candle. And maybe you do, too. But you should never use them around your guinea pig’s living space. They make irritate your little friends’ respiratory system.
Same goes for diffusers. If you need to use them, make sure that you place them far away from your pet’s cage or hutch…
Like FAR, FAR away.
When it comes to detergents, choose the unscented and mild kinds. And avoid using scented detergents around your pig’s cage. That means don’t use them to clean toys, bedding, or anything else your pig might come into contact with often.
Read these posts for more information on guinea pig health: How to Help a Guinea Pig Breathe Better (7 Simple Tips) and 5 Alarming Reasons Why Guinea Pigs With White Eye Discharge Die
Upper Respiratory Infection
The other possible reason your little friend sneezes is the least pleasant. It’s an upper respiratory infection (URI). This is a condition that usually affects young guinea pigs, but it can also affect adult guinea pigs if they’re not well taken care of.
URI is a bacterial or viral infection that affects your piggie’s respiratory system. One of the common symptoms of this infection is sneezing. However, it can also lead to other symptoms, which include but are not limited to:
- Runny nose
- Discharge from the eyes
- Sore throat
- Labored breathing
- Coughing
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Fever
If your piggie has any of these symptoms WITH the sneezing, take your little friend the vet right away. The condition can quickly become severe if it’s not treated right away. This can lead to death (which I know you don’t want).
So, the best thing to do is to prevent it from happening in the first place.
Some of the preventative measures include:
- Maintaining a clean cage
- Regular replacement of bedding
- Proper cage ventilation
- Restricting your pig’s exposure to other animals
- Keeping your furry friend away from sick people
- Vaccination
- Proper placement of the cage away from cold drafts
Your little furry friend gets a 340-degree field of vision from each eye. That allows them to see behind and above themselves. As prey animals, that’s particularly helpful in the wild. It helps them avoid predators.
Why Do Your Guinea Pigs Sneeze?
Now that you know the three reasons for sneezing, you may also be interested in how likely each one is to cause your pet to sneeze. I surveyed people and analyzed the responses to find out. The outcome may just surprise you.
The survey targeted 51 pet owners who had guinea pigs that sneezed. The respondents were asked to state the main reason they believe caused their pet to sneeze.
The results were as follows:
- Dust emerged as the most common cause of sneezing. 33 respondents (64.7%) blamed it for their pet’s sneezing.
- URI came out second. It had 10 respondents (19.6%) identifying it as the leading cause of their guinea pig’s sneezing.
- Strong scents like candles, detergents and diffusers played a role in making guinea pigs sneeze. Only 8 pet owners (15.7%) identified them as the primary cause of sneezing in their pets.
In the course of analyzing the responses, I also came across a few interesting points:
- Switching to paper-based bedding was a great way to reduce bedding-related sneezing.
- A cage that’s too low to the ground can make a piggie sneeze. Most likely because of being near the dirt and dust tracked in from outside.
- In the case of URI (or upper respiratory infection), appetite loss was the big next sign after sneezing.
- Too much sneezing denotes a severe problem.
- Relating sneezing with the current context can help identify possible causes.
Is It Normal For Guinea Pigs To Sneeze?
It’s normal for guinea pigs to sneeze. If they sneeze every once in a while, it’s not a big deal. But if they’re sneezing more than usual, it might mean that there is something wrong and you should take them to the vet. You should also take them to the vet if you notice any other signs like runny eyes or nose.
When a guinea pig sneezes, they are clearing their nasal passages of any irritants. This is actually a good thing, as it means their respiratory system is working like it should.
If your guinea pig sneezes more often, it might have an upper respiratory infection. The best way to know for sure is to take your furry friend to the vet. However, just be on the lookout for any other unusual symptoms.
Baby guinea pigs are born fully furred. They’re even able to run when they’re only a few hours old.
When Should I Worry About My Guinea Pig Sneezing?
If your guinea pig sneezes and any other symptoms appear, you should be worried. This includes watery eyes or nose, a sore throat, breathing problems, coughing, a lack of appetite, weight loss or fever. If you see any of these symptoms, take your guinea pig to the vet ASAP.
If your guinea pig is sneezing a lot, it might mean that they’re not feeling well. If your guinea pig only sneezes a few times a week, it’s still normal.
But when it starts to become a few times a day, that’s a problem. If this is the case, you should take them to the vet as soon as possible.
If your fur baby is sneezing more than usual, it’s best to take them to the vet. This is because they may have a respiratory infection, which can be fatal. So often times, waiting it out may just become a tragedy.
What Does It Mean If My Guinea Pig Sneezes A Lot?
Sneezing a lot can mean different things. It might be that the hay you are using is extra dusty, or that your piggie is sick with allergies. But it is always a sign that something is wrong with your pet, so you should tell your vet about it.
There is no one specific cause for sneezing. The best way to find out the cause is to look at the context of the sneezing. If your pet friend sneezes more during hay time, it’s probably because of the hay. But if they sneeze more even when they’re not eating, it could be a sign of something else like an infection.
Your little rodent friend can see up to 33 images per second, 11 more than an average human can. But don’t let that fool you – they have poor vision and can only see as far as 5 feet!
Do Guinea Pigs Sneeze When They’re Stressed Out?
Yes, guinea pigs can sneeze when they’re stressed out, but not directly. When guinea pigs are stressed, their immune system weakens. So they become more likely to get sick from things like allergies or infections. This is why sometimes sneezing can be a sign that your pet was feeling stressed out.
Stress is common among guinea pigs. It can come from changes in their environment, living with other animals, and more. If you have noticed your furry friend sneezing more, it is always a good idea to check and see if they are stressed out.
To tell if your guinea is stressed, you can watch how it behaves. If it stays in the corner of its cage, doesn’t eat, or stops playing, your fur baby might be stressed.
If that’s the case, try to remove the thing that’s stressing it out and create a calm environment.
Check out these posts to learn how the environment they live in can affect your fur babies: Can Stress Kill Your Guinea Pig? (What You Need to Know) and Can Guinea Pigs Suffer or Die From Depression? (Find Out Now)
How Many Times A Day Should A Guinea Pig Sneeze?
Sneezing is a normal thing for guinea pigs and it happens around 2-4 times a day. This usually isn’t anything to worry about, but if the number of sneezes goes up, it might mean that your guinea pig has an underlying health condition. So please don’t take it lightly!
Sneezing can be normal or not. So, you have to rely on its frequency and context to determine if it’s something to worry about. For example, if your guinea pig sneezes 2-4 times a day but has runny eyes and nose, it’s probably an infection.
But if they only sneeze 2-4 times a day with no other symptoms, it’s likely that they’re normal. And if you’re unsure whether your pig’s sneezing is normal or not, a veterinarian is always the best bet.
Your pet friend isn’t a big sleeper. On average, pigs sleep only 4 hours a day – half as much as doctors think we should.
What Does a Guinea Pig Sneeze Sound Like?
A guinea pig’s sneeze usually sounds like a human’s. But theirs is quieter, cuter, and gentler. So, if you listen carefully, you can tell that your pig is sneezing and not making one of the sounds they usually do easily.
So yes, your piggie and yourself can sneeze, which usually means the same thing. And while the sound is almost the same, a guinea pig’s sneeze is definitely a lot cuter. Even so, it’s best if they don’t do it often.
Final Thoughts About Why Guinea Pigs Sneeze
Guinea pigs can be exotic pets, and this means that they might be sick when everything seems normal. So, if you notice your guinea pig is sneezing more than usual, don’t hesitate to take them to the vet.
That’s whether there are other symptoms or not. A professional of exotic pets is the only one that can give you an accurate diagnosis.