Guinea Pig Health
All About Guinea Pig Health
It is important for guinea pig health that the animal be held and petted every day. That way if your guinea pig is not feeling well, any problem can be seen and caught early when treatment options are always the best. It is easy to tell if your guinea pig is healthy--their eyes will be bright and alert and their nose, ears, mouth and anal areas should be clean and not have any type of discharge. Because guinea pigs are good at hiding symptoms of illness, many times your pet can be seriously ill before he starts to show any signs he is not feeling well.
Some symptoms are instant indicators of guinea pig health problems, and if the animal shows any of these, they should be immediately taken to a vet who is trained to treat small animals. Some of these include blood in the urine or painful urination, not eating, diarrhea or soft droppings, non-stop scratching, congestion, persistent sneezing, not drinking enough or drinking too much, loss of fur, breathing hard, lack of energy, or making crying sounds. Any of these symptoms or combination of these symptoms can indicate a serious illness that needs immediate treatment.
One of the most common guinea pig health problems is urinary tract infections. These can include stones in the urinary tract or cystitis--they might pee a lot, sometimes with blood in the urine. The guinea pig may not be drinking enough water or has an imbalance of minerals, such as calcium. It is important to make sure that your guinea pig is eating a good and complete diet. They need to receive plenty of vitamin C and often a lack of this vitamin leads to guinea pig health problems.
Guinea pigs rarely get diarrhea so this should an immediate clue to a health problem. They are prone to eye infections more than some other small animals so if you notice any persistent discharge, get it checked out. Foot infections are sometimes a problem. One of the things you can do to prevent foot problems, particularly sores and infections is to not have a wire floor in the guinea pig cage. Many cages have wire floors that allow the droppings to fall into compartments underneath the cage--these can slide out to be emptied. While this means you don’t have to clean the cage as often, it is very bad for the guinea pig’s feet. If you get this type of cage, make sure to cover at least fifty-percent of the floor with glass, smooth plastic or a layer of wood.
Respiratory infections can be another guinea pig health problem. They can be caused by a common guinea pig respiratory infection named bordetella bronchiseptica. The symptoms are persistent sneezing and runny nose, weight loss, not eating, and depression. This infection can be treated with antibiotics but without treatment it is possible for the guinea pig to die. Other respiratory problems can be caused by allergies, just like in humans.
Guinea pig owners who handle their pets daily can often tell right away that something is different or off in their companion, even if there are no obvious symptoms to immediately indicate an illness. Trust your instincts. If you sense something is wrong, take your guinea pig to a vet and have him or her checked out. It is better to be wrong about it than to be faced with a serious illness because you waited too long.