Guinea Pig Hut



ILLNESSES


Guinea pigs have always been common prey for other large animals. For that reason, they have evolved to hide their pain and weaknesses. If they make any noise, limp or show distress, they will be an easy catch and sign for predators. They work hard to make sure that they hide their pain well. For that reason, it can be very important that you keep an eye on your guinea pig.

There are two ways in which you can recognise ill health in your guinea pig. It will either display clinical signs, or behavioural signs.

 Clinical signs:
Discharge of liquid from the eyes or nostrils; dull, cloudy looking eyes; any form of swellings, sores, or abrasions; diarrhoea, constipation, blood-streaked urine; dry looking hair and skin; flaking of the skin; bald areas; visual signs of parasites or their presence (eggs, scurf, black specks); sneezing; coughing; laboured and noisy breathing; vomiting; slobbering; and any form of limping or the inability to move as normal.

Behavioural signs:

Lack of interest in food or water; excessive drinking; huddling in a corner when normally active; general lethargy; loss of weight; twitching; reluctance to being handled coupled with obvious pain when lifted; and excessive scratching. Indeed, any pattern of behaviour that you should be viewed with suspicion.

Sometimes behavioural signs will be the only visual indicators of a problem. For this reason, it is important that you spend time observing your guinea pig when it is eating. You can establish whether it is a greedy or dainty eater, what foods are its favourites, and how often and how much it drinks.


Without This Vitamin

May Cause This

Where Vitamin Is Found

Vitamin A

- Trouble breathing
- Paralysis

- Carrots
- Lettuce

- Grains
- Green vegetables

Vitamin B

- Loss of fur
- Skin problems
- Diarrhoea

- Grains
- Green vegetables

Vitamin C

- Colds
- Internal bleeding
- Bleeding gums

- Cabbage
- Carrots

Vitamin D

- Calcium loss in bones

- Grains
- Hay
- Green vegetables

Vitamin E

- Stunted growth
- Poor balance
- Paralysis

- Grains

Vitamin K

- Nose bleeds
- Digestive problems

- Green vegetables



  • Not eating or drinking - Anorexia, URI, Malocclusion, Scurvy, other
  • Weight loss - Malocclusion, Scurvy, Anorexia, other
  • Laboured breathing, wheezing - URI, Circulatory Problems, other 
  • Crusty eyes, eyes that are almost sealed shut - URI, other
  • Eye and/or nose discharge - URI, Scurvy, other
  • Sneezing, coughing - URI, other
  • Rough and/or puffed up coat - URI, Scurvy, Diarrhoea, Antibiotic Associated Diarrhoea, other
  • Swollen abdomen - Bloat, other
  • Dull and/or receding eyes - URI, other
  • Lethargy, hunched posture, weakness, unwillingness to move - URI, Scurvy, other
  • Drooling - Malocclusion, other
  • Watery diarrhoea - Diarrhoea, Antibiotic Associated Diarrhoea, other 
  • Not pooing - Anorexia, Bloat, other
  • Not peeing - Bladder Stones, other 
  • Blood in urine - UTI, Bladder Stones, Pyometra, other 
  • Bleeding from rectal area - UTI, Bladder Stones, Pyometra, Retained Placenta, other
  • Limping, hopping, enlarged and/or stiff limb joints - Injury, Scurvy, Arthritis, other 
  • Hair loss, excessive scratching - Mange Mites, Fungal Infection, other
  • Loss of balance - Ear Infection, Injury, Poisoning, other
  • Head tilt - Ear Infection, wry neck, other 
  • Delivery problems - Dystocia, Retained Placenta, other
  • Squeaking while peeing - UTI, other
  • Tenderness to touch (may cry out in pain if restrained), poor flesh condition - Scurvy, other


Anorexia is extremely serious and requires immediate vet treatment. A guinea pig that you have just brought home that is not peeing, pooing, and eating, may have a respiratory or other bacterial infection. A guinea pig that is losing weight, or a pup that is failing to gain weight, is also at great risk. Guinea pigs are especially vulnerable because of their need for vitamin C, and tendency to develop ketosis.

Symptoms:
  • Not eating or drinking
  • Not pooing 
  • Weight loss
Causes:
  • Changes in diet
  • Extreme temperature changes 
  • Poisoning
  • Not being able to locate water
  • Loss of a cage mate
  • An aggressive cate mate preventing another's eating
  • Mechanical problems with feeders or sipper tubes
  • Food changes (too hard or unpalatable food, or a poorly designed diet) 
  • Malocclusion (overgrowth of the teeth)
  • Pain
  • Loss of smell
  • Obesity
  • Oral lacerations
  • Infectious diseases (such as pneumonia) 
  • Metabolic disorders such as Vitamin C deficiency, or renal failure
Treatment:
If an aggresive cate mate is preventing another's eating, then separate them immediately. If they have an infectious disease, or dental problem, they will need immediate vet treatment. Make sure their food is not to hard for them to chew, if so, try giving them softer foods. If they are still not eating, then make sure you hand feed them by crushing up their pellets and mixing them with water, then put them into a syringe and syringe feed your guinea pig. Also do the same with their fruits and vegetables, except put them in a blender instead of crushing them.



One of the most serious mistakes an inexperienced vet can make is to prescribe a deadly antibiotic such as amoxicillin to treat a bacterial infection in a guinea pig. This will lead to severe diarrhoea, which can cause death.


Symptoms:

  • Watery diarrhoea
  • Puffed up coat
Treatment:
Make sure you stop using the antibiotic causing the diarrhoea immediately.

If the guinea pig is still eating and acting normally: 

Provide them with unlimited grass hay, remove all of their grain based foods, and limit their pellets. Try supplementing their diet with vitamin C tablets or liquid, and when their poo is firm, stop the vitamin C supplement, and provide them with fresh dark leafy green vegetables high in vitamin C such as:

  • Spinach
  • Parsley
  • Lettuce
If they are not eating, then make sure you hand feed them by crushing up their pellets and mixing them with water, then put them into a syringe and syringe feed your guinea pig. Also do the same with their fruits and vegetables, except put them in a blender instead of crushing them.


Diarrhoea (too many fresh fruits or vegetables, or a change in diet) is serious, and requires immediate vet treatment. See a vet immediately if your guinea pig has severe diarrhoea, especially if your guinea pig looks ill and is sitting with its coat puffed up. A black, foul-smelling watery mess indicates a very serious intestinal problem.

Symptoms:
  • Watery diarrhoea
  • Puffed up coat
Treatment:
Replace their fruits and vegetables with lots of hay. Try using a probiotic to re-establish a good balance of gut flora, and avoid dairy products. If they are not eating, then make sure you hand feed them by crushing up their pellets and mixing them with water, then put them into a syringe and syringe feed your guinea pig. Also do the same with their fruits and vegetables, except put them in a blender instead of crushing them. Make sure they get lots of water, because diarrhoea is very dehydrating.



Guinea pigs cannot produce their own vitamin C, so it must be supplied to them through the food they eat. If it is not supplied to them, they may start getting bone and blood vessel abnormalities, enlarged adrenal glands, and bleeding in the limb joints. Young guinea pigs are more likely to get bone deformities than older ones. The average guinea pig needs between 10 and 30 mg/kg of vitamin C daily for good health. Actual requirements can vary from one guinea pig to another. Young, pregnant, and ill guinea pigs need more vitamin C than the average guinea pig. They should get a minimum of 5 to 10 mg/kg of vitamin C daily to maintain good health, and 10 to 30 mg/kg of vitamin C daily for mantainence. They should get 50 mg/kg of vitamin C daily if they are being treated for a vitamin C deficiency.

Symptoms:
  • Lethargy, hunched posture, weakness, unwillingness to move
  • Hopping, enlarged or stiff limb joints
  • Weight loss
  • Not eating or drinking
  • Watery diarrhoea
  • Eye and/or nose discharge
  • Rough coat
  • Tenderness to touch (may cry out in pain if restrained), poor flesh condition
Remember that some of these signs such as eye and nose discharge may indicate other serious conditions like an upper respiratory infection. If your guinea pig is showing some of these signs, do not assume that it is a vitamin C deficiency, and fail to provide critical vet care for a serious illness. Remember that you are familiar with your guinea pig's diet, and if you are providing adequate amounts of vitamin C, be sure to tell your vet.

Treatment:Fresh pellets, fruits, vegetables, and grasses high in vitamin C will be your best source of vitamin C, so make sure you feed plenty of them.
Recovery from a vitamin C deficiency usually requires a week of treatment. 
  • Give 50mg/kg of vitamin C once a day or 
  • 25mg/kg of vitamin C twice a day
Fresh pellets, fruits, vegetables, and grasses high in vitamin C will be your best source of vitamin C, so make sure you feed plenty of them. Vitamin C content is affected by temperature, humidity, exposure to light, and method of storage. In six weeks about half the amount of vitamin C provided by pellets can be lost. Standard pellets should be stored at less than 22 degrees C and used within 90 days of being bought, and make sure you pick a cool, dark, dry place to store them. Vitamin C supplements can be given to your guinea pig if you wish to make sure that they are getting adequate amounts if vitamin C.

Reasons for not adding vitamin C to their drinking water:
  • Water is vital to their good health. Vitamin C will change the flavour of the water, and they may not like the taste, and will not drink their water, which is very bad.
  • It is usless, because when vitamin C is added to water, it rapidly loses its vitamin C content. 
  • Some don't drink a lot of water, and some drink very little, so it is impossible to know how much vitamin C your guinea pig is getting.

Note:

Please make sure you never give your guinea pig multivitamins.


URI’s are deadly bacterial infections that can result in death if untreated. Bacterial respiratory infections are a common problem among pet store guinea pigs (a good reason to adopt your guinea pig instead of purchasing one from a pet store). New guinea pig owners are often unaware of how quickly guinea pigs can go downhill and how vital prompt vet care is to the health of your new guinea pig. Untreated URI’s are almost always fatal. Guinea pigs do not get cold viruses, and allergies/asthma is very rare. Although, they may show similar symptoms. 

Symptoms:
  • Not eating or drinking
  • Not pooing
  • Laboured breathing, wheezing
  • Sneezing, coughing
  • Crusty eyes, eyes that are almost sealed shut
  • Discharge from eyes and/or nose
  • Dull and/or receding eyes
  • Rough and/or puffed up coat
  • Lethargy, hunched posture, weakness, unwillingness to move
See a vet immediately if you see any of these signs, because URI’s are so deadly and fast moving, that it is important that the vet rules out a URI before considering the possibility of an allergy.

Treatment:http://unorthodoxchef.today.com/files/2009/03/red_capsicum_and_cross_section.jpg
A vet will prescribe a safe antibiotic like Bactrim or Doxycycline to treat these bacterial infections. If your guinea pig is not eating, make sure you hand feed them to keep them alive. Ask your vet how long it will take for the antibiotics to work, and call them if you see no improvement in a day or two.

Try giving them a nice warm bath. Make sure their cage is nice and clean, and separate them from their cage mate, because URI's are contagious. Once they have been washed, and put back in their clean cage, put a warm water bottle with a towel over it, in the place they usually sleep. If they are not eating, then make sure you hand feed them by crushing up their pellets and mixing them with water, then put them into a syringe and syringe feed your guinea pig. Also do the same with their fruits and vegetables, except put them in a blender instead of crushing them. Make sure they get lots of fruits and vegetables high in vitamin C such as:

  • Spinach
  • Parsley
  • Capsicum (red)
  • Strawberries
  • Orange
Recurrent URI’s may be a sign of heart problems.


Urinary tract infections are common in guinea pigs. Their short legs put them low to the ground where they are more likely to pick up bacteria from wet bedding and droppings. Urine sometimes changes to an orange colour on standing. When your guinea pig has blood in its urine, it will appear red or pinkish (if diluted). Blood dries a brownish colour.

Symptoms:
  • Blood in urine
  • Squeaking while peeing
  • Bleeding from rectal area
Treatment:
UTI’s are generally treated with a safe and effective antibiotic like bactrim for two or more weeks. Many guinea pigs require longer treatment to clear up the infection, and allow the bladder walls time to heal. Call your vet immediately if they are still bleeding after the antibiotics are stopped. If your vet did not take an x-ray and the original signs you observed are still there while on antibiotics, make sure they get an x-ray taken immediately.


Try giving them unsweetened, natural cranberry juice. Syringe feed it to them or place it in their water bottle. Make sure you change the bottle containing the cranberry juice daily. Plain, unsweetened cranberry juice is quite strong and bitter in taste, so add some water to it. Antibiotics are required to cure a UTI, but cranberry juice can interfere with its development, and can cut the incidence of them in half.

Your goal is to keep your guinea pig as dry as possible to prevent infection:
  • Keeping the butt hairs of a long haired guinea pig trimmed may help. 
  • Change bedding more frequently, especially areas that are wet. 
  • Try looking into using polyester fabrics, which reportedly allow the urine to drain through but stay dry on top.
  • Some people use a safe plastic grid flooring like Envirotiles (different from wire flooring) to keep the guinea pig from direct contact with urine.


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