Dear Dr. John,
Our home has always taken in pets and we have had several cats over the years. One of the conditions that we got to know very well from more than one cat was that of asthma. About two years ago, we obtained a female guinea pig that has always been healthy. We believe that we have given her the right bedding and nutrition and recently, she made some strange noises that sounded like asthma in our cat. We took her to our vet and asked if she had asthma. He checked her out and said that she sounded fine. Can guinea pigs even get asthma like cats and people do? What else might it have been? Thanks. C.S.
Dear C.S.,
In short, guinea pigs can get asthma as can many species but it’s relatively uncommon. However, one must not make a diagnosis by sound alone. In cats, while sounds of an expiratory wheeze and others may suggest asthma, most veterinarians will take chest radiographs to properly diagnose the cause of the unusual respiratory sounds before considering any kind of treatments. Asthma will reveal a characteristic pattern on radiographs that coupled with clinical signs and ruling out other possibilities such as pneumonia, upper respiratory infection, or cardiac issues will allow for one to proceed appropriately. It is difficult to give you a specific answer as to why your pig made the noises that it did but the conditions I just listed are all possible and your veterinarian was able to figure it out.
In the case of difficult, challenging situations, especially those that recur despite attempts to treat and resolve the issue, one can always consider seeing a veterinarian that specializes in what is called exotic pets. As for treating asthma should a guinea pig have it, the typical medications include corticosteroids such as prednisone, aerosolized bronchodilator inhalers, or changing a possible dusty environment. Hope your guinea pig stays healthy.