Many frequent well being points in guinea pigs are a results of poor food regimen or unsanitary situations, reminiscent of scurvy, bumblefoot, and extra. They’re additionally very susceptible to respiratory ailments and gastrointestinal issues, which will be deadly if left untreated.
Diseases can progress shortly in guinea pigs, so it’s essential to coach your self on their frequent well being points and signs to be careful for. On this article, we’ll go over 15 frequent well being issues in guinea pigs, their signs, remedies, and extra.
Higher Respiratory Infections
Upper respiratory infections (URIs) are one of the vital frequent illnesses in guinea pigs. Their respiratory techniques are delicate, and sickness will be triggered by scented cleansing merchandise (together with laundry detergent), different perfume gadgets reminiscent of candles, and dusty supplies reminiscent of bedding.
When you ought to keep away from these things, even piggies in excellent environments can develop respiratory infections. Signs embrace:
- Sneezing
- Decreased urge for food
- Weight reduction
- Discharge from the eyes or nostril
- Labored respiratory
Respiratory infections will be lethal, particularly in the event that they grow to be pneumonia. Please schedule a vet appointment instantly when you discover signs.
Pneumonia
Pnuemonia is one other respiratory sickness that usually progresses from a URI. It may be attributable to quite a lot of micro organism together with Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, and Bordetella,
Respiratory illness in guinea pigs can progress extremely quick and it’s essential to hunt veterinary assist instantly.
Ear Infections
Ear infections are one other frequent, however usually much less extreme, well being difficulty in guinea pigs. Signs embrace:
- Decreased urge for food
- Weight reduction
- Head tilt
- Strolling in circles
- Ear discharge
- Itching
- Labored respiratory
- Deafness
Usually there are not any signs that time towards an ear an infection, such because the redness and itching we generally see in canines. Your guinea pig could merely have a decreased urge for food and shed some pounds. Head tilts are frequent in piggies with ear infections, however they’ll have an an infection with no head tilt as nicely.
Anytime your guinea pig’s urge for food or conduct adjustments, they need to see a veterinarian. Your vet will seemingly use radiographs to see the inside ear in the event that they do suspect an an infection.
Whereas ear infections aren’t often emergencies, they should be handled by knowledgeable to stop the an infection from spreading additional into the physique. In case your guinea pig is having bother respiratory, see a vet instantly.
Gastrointestinal (GI) Stasis
Gastrointestinal (GI) stasis is a lethal situation the place a guinea pig’s intestine slows or stops processing meals. A guinea pig can go into GI stasis after simply 6-8 hours with out meals, particularly in the event that they’re additionally with out water.
Do not forget that guinea pigs will need to have fixed entry to recent hay and water with out exception, as they should be consuming continually to maintain their metabolism functioning.
In case your guinea pig stops consuming, schedule an emergency appointment along with your veterinarian–for a similar day if doable. Within the meantime, you may ask about feeding Vital Care to maintain their intestine shifting.
Signs of GI stasis embrace:
- Decreased urge for food
- Weight reduction
- Pooping much less or under no circumstances
- Enamel grinding
- Belly ache or swelling
- Dehydration
Dental Issues
Guinea pigs are susceptible to a plethora of dental problems, together with overgrown tooth, damaged tooth, mouth ulcers, and extra.
Dental points can lead a guinea pig to eat much less, to solely eat gentle meals reminiscent of veggies, or to cease consuming completely. This results in weight reduction and infrequently, ultimately, to GI stasis.
It’s essential to watch your guinea pigs’ tooth and weight by way of common well being checks. In case you discover any weight reduction, tooth overgrowth, injury, misalignment, or different dental points, schedule an appointment along with your veterinarian.
Generally, a poor urge for food or weight reduction are the one seen signs of dental illness. Your veterinarian could must carry out x-rays to diagnose your piggy, particularly if the again tooth or the roots of the tooth are impacted.
Scurvy
Like people, guinea pigs don’t produce their very own vitamin C. They get it of their food regimen by way of their pellets and each day greens. It’s essential to feed a mix of darkish, leafy greens in order that your piggies get all of the vitamins they want.
Vitamin C dietary supplements are okay to present along with a nutritious diet as long as they’re given appropriately. As an illustration, some folks like to present Child Life liquid vitamin C on to their guinea pigs with a syringe or feed them Oxbow’s vitamin C treats.
Droplets put into the water aren’t acceptable as vitamin C shortly disintegrates in daylight, and these drops typically put guinea pigs off their water.
In case your guinea pig doesn’t get sufficient vitamin C, they might present signs of scurvy reminiscent of:
- Weight reduction
- Lethargy
- Joint ache and swelling
- Whimpering or different painful sounds
- Dental points
- Enamel grinding
- Bruising
- Purple spots on the gums
- Diarrhea or gentle stool
- Tough, uninteresting coat
Bumblefoot
Bumblefoot can also be recognized by a number of different names together with pododermatitis and sore hocks.
Bumblefoot is an harm to the foot that may be attributable to being saved in a cage with an unpadded grid backside, bedding that’s painful on the toes, nonabsorbent bedding that leaves guinea pigs standing in urine, and never cleansing the cage steadily sufficient. Whereas bumblefoot is usually attributable to poor care, this isn’t all the time the case.
Signs embrace:
- Redness or sores on the toes, particularly the heel
- Ache
- Swelling
- Bleeding
- Fur loss on the toes
- Decreased exercise ranges
- Infections of the foot, particularly if sores are left untreated
If left untreated, bumblefoot can ultimately lead your guinea pig to cease shifting attributable to ache. They won’t eat or drink. Their wounds could odor unhealthy attributable to an infection, they might develop ulcers on their toes, and chances are you’ll discover discharge coming from the injuries.
In extreme instances the place an infection reaches the bone and tissue, your guinea pig could develop into paralyzed.
Whereas early-stage bumblefoot isn’t life-threatening, letting the issue persist can result in a piggy needing amputation, dying from an infection or GI stasis, or having such decreased high quality of life that euthanasia is really useful. Because of this it’s so essential to deal with it early!
Parasites and Fungal Infections
Widespread parasites and fungal infections in guinea pigs embrace ringworm, mites, and lice. These are extra seemingly in case your guinea pigs are saved outdoor, aren’t on parasite-prevention medicine, or their cage isn’t cleaned frequently.
Nevertheless, they’ll additionally get mites and lice from hay or different infested supplies. Ringworm is frequent and really contagious, so your piggies could develop it after you introduce them to a newly-adopted piggy.
Mites trigger intense itching and hair loss and are invisible to the bare eye, although you would possibly see what appears to be like like mud within the fur. That is really the mites’ shedded pores and skin.
Lice seem like small specks on the coat or pores and skin and usually congregate across the neck and ears. They’ll trigger itching, restlessness, blood loss, anemia, weak point, and swelling across the neck and ears. Lice infestations are likely to flare up when guinea pigs are careworn.
Lastly, ringworm is a fungal an infection that causes fur loss and patches of dry, crusty pores and skin. It may well additionally trigger redness, swelling, a tough coat, and itchiness.
Whereas lice and mites are usually species-specific, and thus can’t be handed onto people, we are able to catch ringworm from our piggies. Deal with them fastidiously if they’ve it, wash your palms nicely, and see a health care provider your self if needed.
Osteoarthritis
Arthritis is frequent in senior guinea pigs and might trigger signs reminiscent of ache, stiff joints, lethargy, wobbling, and doing much less climbing, leaping, and standing on the hind legs.
In case your guinea pig seems to be in ache, your veterinarian could prescribe ache medicine to maintain them extra comfy all through their senior years.
Warmth Stroke
Heatstroke is when a guinea pig overheats. It’s commonest in guinea pigs housed outdoor, however it could actually occur inside too, particularly when you don’t have air-con in the summertime.
The surface temperatures result in an increase in a piggy’s physique temperature, which results in elevated coronary heart and respiratory (respiratory) charges. Chances are you’ll discover your guinea pig mendacity on their aspect, respiratory quickly.
Heatstroke is a medical emergency and will be lethal. As soon as a guinea pig is affected, attempting to chill them down too shortly may also be harmful–so please don’t use ice or submerge them in chilly water. It’s greatest to name your nearest unique or emergency vet clinic and observe their directions.
To stop heatstroke, preserve your guinea pigs in a temperature-controlled indoor area. Some individuals who preserve them outdoor assume offering shade is sufficient, however this typically isn’t true.
Bladder Stones
Bladder stones are usually product of extra minerals that trigger blockages in guinea pigs’ urinary tracts. Generally this happens as a result of their food regimen is simply too wealthy in calcium. This may increasingly embrace ingesting arduous faucet water, so some folks favor to present their piggies bottled or filtered water as an alternative.
Some bladder stones will be handed on their very own, although the situation can nonetheless be painful. Bigger stones require surgical removing. Addressing the reason for the stones can also be essential in order that they don’t reoccur.
Signs of bladder stones embrace ache or issue urinating, bloody urine, and fewer urine within the cage. In extreme instances, a guinea pig’s bladder could rupture or their kidneys could develop into broken. Bladder stones can result in demise, so please see your veterinarian shortly when you spot any signs.
Urinary Tract Infections
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) have related signs to bladder stones, together with bloody urine and ache whereas urinating.
Holding your guinea pigs’ cage clear is a crucial a part of stopping UTIs. Since they’ve quick little legs, their our bodies are near the bottom–and it doesn’t assist that they wish to poo and pee the place they sleep!
Your vet will usually deal with a UTI with antibiotics, although chances are you’ll must strive totally different medicines since these infections will be resistent to remedy. As soon as a guinea pig will get a UTI, recurrence is pretty frequent, so make sure to be careful for infections sooner or later as nicely.
Ovarian Cysts
Ovarian cysts trigger crusty nipples, a pear-shaped physique, and hair loss in your guinea pig’s sides, or flanks, You would possibly discover elevated aggression or dominance in your guinea pig as nicely.
Ovarian cysts are a typical explanation for demise in intact feminine piggies. They’ll generally be handled by way of spaying your piggy, although veterinarians and piggy guardians could have totally different views on whether or not that is worthwhile because of the danger of placing guinea pigs, particularly seniors, below anesthesia.
Different remedies could embrace hormone injections or draining the cysts, although neither of those is healing.
In case you suspect your guinea pig has ovarian cysts, speak to your veterinarian about your remedy choices. They may give recommendation on whether or not spaying is an effective possibility based mostly in your guinea pig’s age, well being, and different danger components.
Being pregnant Issues
Guinea pigs over the age of six to eight months are likely to have an extremely tough time with first pregnancies. It’s because their pelvis fuses in a manner that makes giving start tough to inconceivable for his or her our bodies to deal with.
It’s all the time essential to get vet look after a pregnant guinea pig and her infants, nevertheless it’s completely very important if she’s over six months and hasn’t had a former being pregnant (or when you’re not sure whether or not or not she’s given start earlier than). Your veterinarian will seemingly suggest a scheduled C-section.
This may increasingly appear extreme or too pricey, nevertheless it isn’t non-obligatory. The choice is usually the lack of each the mom and her infants.
Tumors
Lastly, each benign and cancerous tumors can happen in guinea pigs. A few of these you’ll be capable to see clearly, reminiscent of tumors on the floor of the pores and skin, whereas others could type inside the physique.
Signs differ, and chances are you’ll not know that your guinea pig has a tumor except you may see it or your veterinarian finds it on radiographs. Some piggies will reside regular lifespans with benign tumors, whereas different tumors could point out aggressive cancers that kill shortly.
In case you discover any lumps, bumps, or different signs, schedule an appointment along with your veterinarian. They’ll advise you in your subsequent steps, which can embrace biopsies, radiographs, or different diagnostics.
I hope you’ve been capable of be taught extra about guinea pig well being and customary illnesses to observe for. Keep in mind to not panic in case your guinea pig exhibits signs of sickness, however do e book a vet appointment as quickly as you may!
