Guinea Pig Choking: What to do?

One of the scariest moments for a guinea pig owner is a medical emergency. It is important to act fast, but also remember to stay calm and collective.

In today’s article, we will walk you through the steps on how to deal with a guinea pig that is choking. Hopefully by the end of this article you will have a good understanding of how to act if this situation ever arises.

Guinea pig choking: What to do?

Most of the time, a guinea pig starts choking when a foreign object gets stuck in their windpipe (also known as the trachea). The key to helping a choking guinea pig is to get this object removed from their windpipe in order to clear the passageway for breathing.

Below are the steps you should take to help a choking guinea pig:

1. Stick you finger or a skinny object (such as the handle of a spoon) to the back of your guinea pig’s throat. This can help dislodge the object. It is important to be very careful not to press too hard so that you do not damage their throat or Adam’s apple.
2. Fill up a syringe with water and squirt it into your pig’s mouth. Make sure to squirt the side of the mouth and not directly down the throat. This can help push the object down your guinea pig’s throat.
3. If you are unable to dislodge the object, you should call your vet. If it is not working hours, they should provide you with an emergency number
4. Another option is to give your guinea pig a hot steam shower. This can help relax your guinea pig’s muscles relax and could help stop the choking.
5. If none of this works, you should start softly slapping your guinea pig’s chest. You can also try putting your hands on their abdomen and rubbing your hands toward their spine. Lastly, you can try putting a guinea pig on their side and slowly press against their chest behind their shoulders.

How to prevent your guinea pig from choking?

Now the best way to deal with choking is to prevent it from happening in the first place. Below are the best ways to prevent choking in guinea pigs:

1. Avoid giving your guinea pig carrot tops or other small hard veggies. These objects can easily get lodged in their throat. You should also avoid giving your guinea pig large pieces of straw. I recommend picking through your pig’s hay and removing the long pieces. Additionally, you should try feeding your guinea pig smaller portions. Sometimes a guinea pig will choke because they get too excited and eat too fast. If you are looking for a vegetable to feed your guinea pig, I would recommend spring mix.
2. Always have fresh, clean water available for your guinea pig. I recommend putting your water bottle near your guinea pig’s food plate. This will help prevent your guinea pig’s mouth from getting dried up when they eat.
3. You should make sure your guinea pig has healthy teeth. A guinea pig with unhealthy teeth will have trouble chewing their food, which can cause digestion issues and choking.
4. Lastly, you should always check in on your guinea pig at least once a day. Sometimes, symptoms such as a runny nose can precede a choking guinea pig.