9 Terrible Reasons Why Guinea Pigs Have a Hard Time Breathing

You may notice that your guinea pig is having difficulty breathing. Maybe they are breathing too fast, wheezing, and sneezing. So why is your guinea having a hard time breathing?

Your guinea pig could be having a hard time breathing because of an upper respiratory infection (URI), pneumonia, or a heart disease. Breathing issues can also be caused by dusty bedding, a poorly ventilated enclosure, and allergies. Difficulty breathing can be very serious in guinea pigs. So, ensure you take your guinea pig to the vet for a checkup.  

There’s actually lots of reasons why guinea pigs have breathing issues. They can range from upper respiratory infections to heart diseases. Even digestive problems can cause guinea pigs to have a hard time breathing. 

Keep reading to find out in detail what causes your little fuzz spud to struggle to breathe. I will also tell you what you can do to help them breathe easier. 

1. Upper Respiratory Infection

Guinea pigs are very prone to upper respiratory infections and piggies with respiratory infections have a hard time breathing.

This type of illness can quickly become very serious and even fatal for them. So, they need immediate treatment. I’m talking antibiotics, friend. The main symptoms of respiratory infections in guinea pigs are:

• Labored or rapid breathing
• Lack of appetite
• Sneezing
• Coughing
• Lethargy
• Discharge from eyes and nostrils 
• Wheezing

All guinea pigs are prone to upper respiratory infections (or URIs). But, very young guinea pigs, old guinea pigs, or piggies with weakened immune systems are more susceptible to them.

Pneumonia is like a URI on steroids. It’s one of the leading causes of death in guinea pigs. So, it’s important to get your guinea pig to the vet as soon as you notice any difficulty breathing.

Pneumonia progresses quickly in cavies, so it needs immediate medical attention. The main cause of pneumonia in pigs is the Bordetella virus.

2. Exposed To The Wrong Bedding

Bedding is actually a leading cause of respiratory infections in your guinea pig – which can result in your little friends having a hard time breathing.

The main causes are dust and smell of certain beddings. Your little fur baby spends most of its time on or near their bedding so they’re getting a constant exposure to these irritants.

The most harmful bedding for guinea pigs is sawdust, cedar shavings, and untreated pine. Let’s look at each one in more detail:

Sawdust

Sawdust has A LOT of dust. This is deadly for your little baby. Guinea pigs love to burrow on their bedding so they will definitely inhale a lot of the dust. Dust causes upper respiratory illnesses in guinea pigs.

Sawdust has actually caused the death of many guinea pigs when used as bedding so avoid it at all costs. 

Cedar Shavings

Cedar contains aromatic oils known as phenols. This causes the pleasant smell associated with cedar. Some pet parents use cedar as bedding in the hopes of masking the smell of urine.

However, cedar bedding is very dangerous for guinea pigs. 

The aromatic oils in cedar irritate your piggies nose and lungs have been known to cause respiratory diseases in guinea pigs. This will cause difficulties in breathing in your piggie which can turn serious. 

Untreated Pine

Pine has aromatic oils just like cedar. These aromatic oils when inhaled by cavies cause respiratory issues. Guinea pigs can’t handle strong aromas in untreated pine. It causes them breathing problems.

If you want to use pine as bedding, make sure it’s kiln-dried. The kiln treatment removes all aromatic oils and dust making pine safe for use. It also makes it softer and fluffier for your furry potato.

3. Enclosure Isn’t Well-Ventilated

Poor ventilation will lead to poor circulation of air in the enclosure. Your little fuzz spud will be inhaling the same stale air filled with urine and dust.

Not to mention the high chance of bacteria build-up. 

If your little friends’ enclosure isn’t well ventilated, he’ll likely develop breathing issues. You’ll notice them having a hard time breathing when respiratory illnesses set in. Fresh air is very important for good respiratory health in guinea pigs.

Make sure the cage is well ventilated and is in an area that gets enough fresh air. It basically should not be in a place that smells stuffy.

4. Pneumonia

Pneumonia in guinea pigs is mainly caused by the Bordetella virus. Pneumonia develops in guinea pigs so quickly. Like I said before, it’s also the leading cause of death in cavies.

Pneumonia is an upper respiratory illness that causes an infection in the lungs. It fills your fur babies’ lungs with pus and fluid which makes breathing very difficult.

This in turn causes them shortness of breath. Your little fur baby’s difficulty in breathing could be pneumonia. That’s why you should always get them checked by a vet. 

The good news is that it’s treatable with antibiotics, but the bad news is that it is highly contagious.

Guinea pigs can catch pneumonia from other sick guinea pigs, or from exposure to virus-infected sawdust, bedding, or water.

Symptoms of pneumonia include

• labored breathing (of course)
• loss of appetite
• lack of energy

If you think that your guinea pig may have pneumonia, take him to the vet as soon as possible. Guinea pigs that are diagnosed and treated early have a much better chance of avoiding serious health issues.

In the meantime, quarantine your sick guinea pig from the others to prevent the spread of the illness

5. Detergents That Are Too Strong

When it comes to keeping guinea pigs healthy, one of the most important things to consider is the cleanliness of their cage.

Unfortunately, many well-meaning pet owners make the mistake of using harsh detergents or cleaning solutions that are too strong, which can lead to respiratory problems for their piggies.

The chemicals in these products can irritate a guinea pig’s sensitive respiratory system, making it difficult for them to breathe. In severe cases, too much exposure to these chemicals can even lead to death.

You also need to be careful with the type of laundry detergent you use if you keep fleece bedding in your guinea pig’s cage. Many commercial laundry detergents contain fabric softeners and other chemicals that can be harmful to your little friends.

To be on the safe side (and to keep your piggies healthy and happy), it’s best to use a mild, unscented laundry detergent that is specifically designed for sensitive skin.

Plus, it’s important to only use unscented cleaners when cleaning the cage. This will help to avoid any problems down the road.

6. Heart Disease

One of the most common signs of heart disease in a guinea pig is that they have a hard time breathing. It’s because the heart isn’t able to pump blood as efficiently as it should.

Mostly it’s because of problems in the heart valve, heart muscle, or pericardium (the fibrous sac around the heart). At some point, this can cause fluid to build up in the lungs, making it even harder to breathe.

If heart diseases progress, they can lead to heart failure.

Some other symptoms of heart disease in guinea pigs are:

• lack of energy
• weight loss
• loss of appetite
• coughing
• wheezing

If you think that your guinea pig may have heart disease, it’s important to take him to the vet right away.

Heart disease is a serious condition that, if left untreated, can be fatal. There’s some treatments available that might be able to help you improve your guinea pig’s quality of life.

7. Hay Allergies

Your little friend could also be allergic to hay. Several guinea pig owners have found their little babies allergic to hay. Hay allergies cause breathing problems in guinea pigs. 

The main symptoms of hay allergies are:

• Sneezing
• Wheezing
• Runny nose
• Shortness of breath
• Itching
• Skin rashes

You can switch out one brand and try another one if you find your piggies allergic to a particular brand of hay.

Orchard hay is pretty much the go-to for pet parents who have guinea pigs with hay allergies – or who suffer from have allergies themselves.

8. Rib Injuries

Accidents happen, but you want to make an effort to create a safe environment for your guinea pigs. Rib injuries can easily lead to breathing problems for your little friends.

If a guinea pig falls or is hit by something, their ribs can easily be broken. This can cause the lungs to collapse or puncture them, which makes it difficult for your little friends to breath. In severe cases, rib injuries can be fatal.

The main symptom of broken ribs is pain. You may notice your guinea pig whimpering or crying when you touch his midriff area or if you try to pick up and hold him. He may also have hard time moving.

Like most things with piggies, rib injuries will require a vet visit. You’ll have to consult the vet about pain relief medication and animal supplement oxygen.

9. Environment Issues

Cigarette smoke and smoke from a wood stove are both very harmful to guinea pigs, and exposure to these substances can cause serious respiratory issues.

Guinea pigs have a hard time clearing their lungs of smoke, and the fumes can irritate their lungs, eyes, and nose. In severe cases, exposure to smoke can even be fatal for guinea pigs.

So, it’s important to take care to avoid exposing them to any kind of smoke. If you must smoke around your piggies (and I truly hope that you don’t), be sure to do so only in a well-ventilated area.

This video below will show you the difference between healthy breathing and unhealthy breathing.  Watch it to know if your guinea pig’s breathing is normal or not.

What Does Normal Guinea Pig Breathing Sound Like?

Normal guinea pig breathing shouldn’t be heard or seen. Normal guinea pig breathing is a bit faster than normal humans. Guinea pigs take an average of 42 to 105 breaths per minute.

There’s hardly any big movements in their heads or the midriff area. The best time to check your guinea pig’s breathing is when they are lying down relaxed.

Watch their midriff area. You shouldn’t really see it moving. If you notice your guinea pigs’ ribs or sides heaving while they breath then something wrong. Like VERY wrong.

This means that your little friend is struggling to breathe and you should take them to see the vet right away.

How Do I Know My Guinea Pig Is Having Trouble Breathing?

Difficulties in breathing can be seen in their midriff area and near their head. If their midriff area flutters or heaves too much, too fast, or even too slow then they are having trouble breathing.  Mouth breathing is also a big sign of breathing issues.

You’ll notice that it looks like their body is straining when breathing. Here’s some other signs you can watch out for:

• Mouth breathing
• Guinea pig working too hard to breathe
• Wheezing
• Sneezing
• Discharge from the nose and eyes
• Clicking or clacking sound in the lungs

How Can I Help My Guinea Pig Breathe Easier? (Piggie Parents Speak Up)

If your guinea pig is having difficulty breathing, you should take it to a vet. The vet will give it medicine to help it breathe better. You can also try putting the guinea pig in a steam room or use a heating pad.

Breathing problems are far too common in the cavy community. Many parents have had to deal with them at some point. Sadly, some even lost their little babies due to difficulty breathing. 

I manually surveyed 104 guinea pig owners to find out what they did to help their piggies breathe easier. 

• A visit to the vet. This was one of the first steps that many pet parents insisted on. The veterinarians would prescribe antibiotics, and administer oxygen to cavies with blocked airways. 
• Steam baths were also pretty common among guinea pig owners. They either gave their guinea pigs a steam bath or used steam inhalers. This helped clear up their airways.
• They also gave their guinea pigs heating pads. For those piggies who had problems breathing mainly due to cold, the heating pads helped warm them up. Some pet parents said that their little fur babies got better in no time. 
• Administering infant Benadryl was also common. Benadryl is an antihistamine. Some parents use it to reduce their guinea pig’s allergies. Some vets recommend giving the infant’s Benadryl, but the vets determined the right dosage.
• Clearing snot from nostrils. Many pet parents had to constantly wipe their pet’s noses to help them breathe easier. Some parents removed boogies from their piggies’ noses to open the nostril. 
• Using a nebulizer. A nebulizer is a machine that helps people with allergies and asthma. A nebulizer can also help guinea pigs with difficulty breathing. This was used by some pet parents at home or at the vet’s clinic. They used nebulizers when their guinea pigs were wheezing. Some piggies got better immediately while others had to use it for a while before getting better. 
• Painkillers were also pretty common. Many pet parents had been prescribed painkillers by vets. Others administered it by themselves. Viral or bacterial infections can cause sharp pain in guinea pigs. Your little friend could be in pain when breathing, coughing, or even sneezing. Pain relief helped make breathing easier for guinea pigs.
• Antibiotics were also used to make piggies’ breathing easier. In most cases, they were prescribed by a veterinarian. Some pet parents bought them based on prior knowledge. Antibiotics were vital in fighting respiratory diseases such as pneumonia. 
• Air conditioners were used by some parents to cool down their guinea pigs.

The main highlights I found in my survey were:

• Problems in breathing can be cold or allergies. In more serious cases it could be pneumonia or heart disease. 
• Vet visits are very important to determine exactly why your guinea pig has a hard time breathing. 
• Guinea pigs breathe through the nose therefore mouth breathing is a sign of a blocked airway. 
• Providing warmth when they have difficulty breathing can make them breathe easier. 

Things To Remember If Your Guinea Pig Is Having A Hard Time Breathing

Difficulty breathing is a serious problem, and you should take your guinea pig to the vet right away if you notice any of these signs. Early detection is key to saving your guinea pig’s life.

Now keep the following tips in mind:

• Guinea pigs having a hard time breathing is very serious. Please monitor your piggie for signs of difficulty in breathing. 
• Guinea pigs are nasal breathers. Therefore if they breathe through their mouths it means their airways are blocked.
• Guinea pigs breathe at a faster rate than humans.
• The leading causes of breathing problems are URI and heart diseases.
• Since there are many causes of breathing issues in guinea pigs, it’s important to consult a vet first.
• Some respiratory diseases can spread through the air. So, you might need to isolate your guinea pig following a vet’s recommendation. 
• Bedding is one of the main causes of issues in breathing in guinea pigs. Change your little baby’s bedding if you notice breathing problems. 
• Make sure your guinea pig’s cage is well ventilated to improve the air quality.
• Keep your guinea pig hydrated since water helps with many respiratory illnesses.
• Check your guinea pig’s breathing rate when they are relaxed so that you can get an accurate measure.