It is good to know in advance about the health problems that are most common in guinea pigs so that if they become ill you will be in a better place to respond quickly. Symptoms These medical condition or symptom topics may be relevant to medical information for Guinea pig: Guinea; Pig; SYN Cavia. Is your vet available in case of emergency in the evening or at weekend? The most common species is Cavia porcellus which is the domesticated guinea pig used for pets and biomedical research. Your vet may give the guinea pig a gut protectant to minimize damage. Under normal conditions fur mites are present in small numbers and exist symbiotically, not bothering their host. Guinea pigs need space to exercise, so make sure there’s plenty of room in their hutch along with space to roam around outside. Urinary Problems. The average guinea pig needs between 10 and 30 mg/kg of vitamin C daily. Prompt, competent veterinary care is crucial to saving the life of a sick cavy. Stupidly you often get notice about it if it is nearly too late. GuineaPigAdvisor You need to know this because some vets act exactly like this: Ohh, your rodent is ill? How do you recognized it? This website can never displace a veterinarian! But beware as routine supplementing of high levels (over 100mg/kg) of vitamin C can worsen arthritis in guinea pigs. Do not if your cavy seperates oneself in the cage. Unfortunately parasites are usual if you keep Guinea Pigs. Because of its size people often think (shop assistants in pet shops too) it is quite easy to keep…, Mites are common parasites for Guinea Pigs because they always live on them and there is no chance to get rid of them. The most common signs and symptoms are: Irritation or exposure to excessive amounts of bacteria or fungal spores can cause your guinea pigs eyes to become infected. Check it for lumps at least once a week. We’ve designed and created a printable pdf download of 12 care sheets in both pink and blue to help you (or your kids) keep on track with daily, weekly and monthly jobs as well as keeping records of their health and medical information. swollen eye area or eye openings clotted by secretion, watering eyes, cloudy eyes, swollen eyelids, breathing difficulties / breathing noises, shaggy look / fur or bald spots in fur / sheds. Groom your guinea pig every day by gently brushing its coat, and take time to look out for problems around its eyes, its skin or its teeth. Breeders have created a lot of different types of Guinea Pigs by selective breeding to emerge some characteristics or even to avoid it. Does your vet involve you in the examination and diagnostics? Whatever medication is prescribed, always triple check it's not an antibiotic that is on the list of dangerous medicines for guinea pigs. Infection can also cause inflammation of the middle ear, which can lead to a head tilt. You should figure out a good vet with skill in cavies nearby before one of your cavies is sick. Trixacarus caviae mites can cause extreme clinical signs because they cause extreme itchiness. Leave a comment! Comb through the guinea pig's coat. Another striking sign of a depression in guinea pigs is when a piggy spends a lot of time sitting in one spot. While guinea pigs positively thrive on a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, such foodstuffs … Register your pet You can help your veterinarian if you already have some important information about your sick cavy handy: If you need to carry your cavy to a vet it is important and useful for your sick animal if you take care about, that: Was this helpful to you? Bathe Guinea Pigs for grooming reasons is not quite elegant. In the first instance, the younger man had recently purchased four guinea pigs, one of which soon died. What's wrong with my pet. This is very important. This is frustrating. If you have a sick guinea pig, you should be able to tell through your numerous interactions throughout the day. swollen eye area or eye openings clotted by secretion watering eyes, cloudy eyes, swollen eyelids Heat stroke, on the other hand, affects guinea pigs commonly. Chirodiscoides caviae mites may cause mild to no clinical signs at all. If a cat has a skin condition, that barrier can be impaired. Although there are a lot of guinea pig illnesses, guinea pigs are more likely to suffer from some issues than others, so it’s advisable to be on the lookout for bloat, bladder stones, cysts, uterine, tooth, foot or scent gland problems, stained urine and parasites. The two common guinea pig fur mites are Trixacarus caviae (sarcoptic mange mite) and Chirodiscoides caviae. Inflammation of the skin. As responsible guinea pig parents and owners, we need to observe our guinea pigs closely for any signs and treat the signs seriously. Known for being vertically challenged, it's not far fetched some bacteria would find its way up where it doesn't belong due to guinea pigs' bottoms' close proximity to the cage floor. Does your cavy eat normal or not? Falling hair. Does your vet explain his examination, diagnostics and prognosis? Obviously, it is not good for the health of your pal. Does your cavy ail? Usually, when symptoms arise it means that your guinea pig is in the late and most critical stages of their illness. Fur mite infestation is a commonly encountered skin problem in guinea pigs. This health check can help to prevent things are going from bad to worse. Symptoms Scratching. Guinea pigs should always be eatin… Required fields are marked *. © 2021 Willows Veterinary Group. Guinea pigs can get ill of course but it very rarely happens without warning signs and we mean A LOT of warning signs. Would you like to keep up to date with the latest pet related news, advice and offers? It should be dark in there and filled with litter, hay and may be some fruits or vegetables. If you can, take your guinea pig directly to their office. Don't miss out! Or do you have further questions about it? These bacterial and fungal infections can affect one or both eyes and need to be treated with the appropriate antibacterial or antifungal medications. Today I thought we'd play a little game I like to call How Much Is A Visit To The Vet For A Guinea Pig? Your cavies are in good condition if the following checks match: If you can spot any of the following indications at your health check you have to meet the vet soon! What and how much does your cavy eat? Moist, open wound (which can ooze pus or serum). Veterinary examination is recommended in any case. The tool should not be used to diagnose your pigs. Does your vet has knowledge about cavies and knows their requirements like diet plans or how to keep them right? Source: MeSH 2007. A follow-up investigation revealed both had been exposed to guinea pigs before falling ill. Having guinea pigs brings additional work and there are a few regular tasks you’ll need to do to make sure your piggies are well cared for. If there is no particular…, What's the body temperature of Guinea Pigs? If anything seems out of the ordinary, get in touch with Vets4Pets. A list of signs include; Loss of appetite or disinterest in food. Find a surgery. You can give us a feedback with just one click. If your pet isn't looking very well then use our symptom checker, which will help you identify what illness your pet may have. However, their numbers can increase when a guinea pig is stressed, has decreased immunity due to other illnesses, and/or is unable to keep the mites reduced by normal grooming, and the increased … Subscribe to our Youtube channel, Willows Veterinary Group The weight and changes in weight from the last days. If a anesthesia is needed, does he provide inhalation anesthesia? At this page we collect some of the most important characteristics…, Who decided to buy Guinea pigs gets a lot of responsibility. A cat’s skin acts as a barrier between their body and the outside world. Examine your guinea pig often. All guinea pigs are different and even the five most common health ailments present themselves differently in your pet. One guinea pig can infect another by direct contact or by sneezing or coughing. Wrinkled and rough skin. Indication / symptoms for sickness of your Guinea Pig If you can spot any of the following indications at your health check you have to meet the vet soon! Also, a guinea pig can stop eating, playing, start over grooming and become non-interested in the surrounding environment. If an outbreak occurs you can easily…, There are a couple of parasites that your Guinea Pig may be infected with or could be attacked from. Some guinea pigs are more prone to UTIs than others. If you are worried about your animals, contact your veterinarian immediately to discuss the clinical signs you are observing. Cheshire These bald patches then spread over the face. The usual guinea pig depression symptoms include being lethargic and sluggish. Hair loss could indicate several problems such as skin irritations, malnutrition, vitamin deficiencies, toxins, parasites, infections, or other problems not readily apparent. There are a few complaints which guinea pigs are prone to. Gadbrook Park Ileus is the most ignored cause of death in guinea pigs because of the nature of its symptoms. They hate water- and in most cases they don't need it on their fur also! Most common…. The most common symptom of gastric distress in guinea pigs is diarrhea, as they are unable to vomit. © 2005-2019 Guinea Pig Advisor supported by Webdesign Remscheid. Rodents are often second-class-animals in academic studies. Signs of Ringworm in Guinea Pigs The first sign of a ringworm infection is usually bald patches around the nose, which expose scaly, dry skin underneath. When caught early, most illnesses can be cured fairly easily with a course of antibiotics safe for cavies. There are many vets who really don’t know much about small animals like Guinea Pigs or treat them like other small animals they know about. Ileus is a condition where excessive gas is accumulated all along the gastrointestinal tract. If your guinea pig gets one, watch them closely for sign… Does your vet ask pointed questions about indications? Symptoms: Loss of appetite, and irregular defecation. The sooner you begin treatment, the better your guinea pig's chance of recovery. Beware of the other symptoms: a parasite or fungal infection is possible if the guinea pig seems shedding more than normal, is very itchy, or has a lot of dandruff. Fungal infection may also have the same symptoms but the wounds (lesions) are different. Find a cavy-knowledgeable exotics vet soon after adopting a guinea pig so you know whom to contact in an emergency. Guinea pig: Related Topics. Young guinea pigs are especially likely to develop bone deformities. Guinea Pig breeds. Use this easy to use on-line symptom checker to find out what's wrong and if you need to call a vet Langdale House Monitor any change and speak with your veterinarian at any time you suspect there might be something off with your pet guinea pig. Thankfully, guinea pigs are very hardy creatures, and if kept clean and fed well they rarely become sick. All rights reserved. Eye issues in guinea pigs can be hard to diagnose. If your guinea pig is not displaying symptoms but you have caught it eating a poisonous item, you should still call the vet. Young, pregnant, and ill guinea pigs require 50 mg/kg of vitamin C daily. Even if your guinea pig is OK now, remember that tumors can grow quickly, and your guinea pig might hide its symptoms at first. Like us on Facebook Your email address will not be published. According to veterinarian Dr. Karen Rosenthal, stroke, though not common guinea pigs, may occur. If you notice a new growth, get it checked out by your vet. So it is important that you have regularly an intensive eye on your cavies and try the health ckeck once a week. The best way to ensure your guinea pigs health is to do a quick health check at least once a week. Simply enter your email address below: Follow us on social media for the latest fun, facts and competitions. Guinea pigs are very prone to development of urinary calculi (stones or uroliths). Is your vet in in-depth analysis of your Guinea Pig and checks eyes, ears, teeth and anus? If the infection is severe, it may also spread down the back of the guinea pig. Guinea pig: A common name used for the genus Cavia. Will your vet care about your pig as long as it wakes up after an anesthesia? But if you can spot any problem do not hesitate to go to an vetenerian – especially if it looses weight! Other symptoms can include roughening of the fur, weakness, grinding teeth, lack of fecal output, abdominal swelling (bloating), and pain when you touch the abdomen. So act fast when you spot the symptoms. Go buy another one. Not all antibiotics will produce the same reaction in every guinea pig. If you know what caused the incident, bring the item to their office. Since guinea pigs are able to hide the symptoms so well, we have to use the little clues they leave us. … Website by Kanuka Digital. Diarrhoea. Guinea Pig diseases, Your email address will not be published. Urinary tract infections are more common in females due to their shorter urethras, but the fellas aren't off the hook. Cavies come along in very difficult appearance and behaviour. UTIs are infamous for returning. That happens. If there is no danger of infection just put another cavy in the box. When is a cavy full grown and when is its breeds mature? Is your vet specialized for some species? Rabbits are often considered to be same as hares, but they are quite different and it is important to know about these Most Common Causes of Sudden Death in Rabbits before you think of bringing one home.. Having fall sick is one thing, where there could be visible symptoms of illness, otherwise, there may also be some adverse situations where the cute little guinea pig dies all of a … It is important to note any change in behavior, eating, defecating, or other daily habits. Only transport your cavy in a suitable case for small animals. Guinea Pigs are gregarious animals. Northwich There are, however, some daily checks you should make, to ensure that your guinea pig stays well, it also helps you to notice any change very quickly, and visit your vet at the first sign of illness. It is important that your guinea pigs are well cared for to ensure they live a healthy life. Your guinea pig may have hair loss around the infected eye, redness called conjunctivitis, discharge, swelling, and even hold the infected ey… You see yesterday Sophie and I took her pet guinea pig, Cookie, to the vet for a bit of a check up. If you like this article we would be pleased if you share it: March 8, 2017 [Auto translated] Guinea Pigs won’t tell you if they are sick. Affected skin will get thick, yellowish, and crusty, with hair loss and secondary bacterial skin infection. Signs of streptococcosis include difficulty breathing, wheezing, discharge from the nose, and coughing. Get your pet to a veterinarian immediately if you suspect a stroke. If it is cold or gusty you should cover the transport box with a blanket. Some guinea pigs tolerate antibiotics better than others. Guinea Pigs are robust rodents as long as they are not sick. CW9 7TN. Check for hair loss, patches of missing fur, and/or irritated skin. All information provided without warranty or guarantee. 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