At first, you won't be able to tell the difference in your pregnant guinea pig's growing belly. Quick Breathing 8. It most commonly affects guinea pigs that are pregnant with their first or second litters. Guinea pigs might be stressed because of hearing loud sounds, being in a congested environment, fear of predators, and being held in hands uncomfortably. Antibiotics should only be used when absolutely necessary because their use can worsen the imbalance of bacteria in the digestive tract. Luckily the tenderness in her abdomen has improved. Mum not being well is very worrying. As we've already explained, guinea pigs need lots of space to stay healthy and happy. Why does it occur: When a guinea pig becomes impatient or feel agitated, theyll start teeth chattering. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Hay is necessary because of its high-fiber content, which helps maintain the guinea pig digestive tract and also wears down constantly growing teeth. Animals cant tell you when theyre feeling sick and, even if they could, they probably wouldnt. By the time you notice your guinea pig is sick, you may not have a lot of time to get treatment. JavaScript is disabled. Brave BF as well! Your veterinarian will help you keep tabs on your guinea pigs health and spot any developing issues while they are still treatable. So, you can help them feel safer by establishing a routine. Because treating health issues in guinea pigs can be difficult, its important for pet owners to know the basics about common health problems so they can see the signs early. External parasites like fleas and mites can cause itchiness, hair loss, and other issues in guinea pigs. Your veterinarian will be able to determine a diagnosis of ketosis by the results of the blood tests, which will show the number of ketone bodies that are present in the blood. While the list could be endless, and will be particular to your guinea pig, common signs of trouble can include: avoiding favorite foods; hiding all the time; lethargy; a change in posture or walking style; or any other change from established behavior patterns. Hope both are okay x. I wouldn't let your two guinea pigs play together even with supervision because it's likely to stress them out. Posture Changes 6. One way to increase dietary fiber is to provide hay in addition to commercial guinea pig feed. Ringworm usually goes away on its own in healthy guinea pigs. Learn More. Register for free to enjoy the full benefits. Abscesses can be surgically drained. Copyright 2000 - 2023, Guinea Pig Cages. The safest option is to prevent pregnancy altogether by housing male and female guinea pigs separately or by spaying and neutering them. The infected lymph nodes may become swollen and filled with pus (abscesses), sometimes only on one side. Treatment of infectious diseases can be complicated by the fact that guinea pigs are more sensitive to antibiotics than other types of pets. Treatment includes giving your pet vitamin C daily, either by mouth (as directed by your veterinarian) or by injection at your veterinarians office. Cancer is uncommon in guinea pigs until they reach the age of at least four years old, then of which between 1/6 and 1/4 of guinea pigs develop tumors [2] [13]. Staying up-to-date on your pets health is an essential aspect of guinea pig care. Signs of aging show up at roughly predictable points in a guinea pig's life and can be used to estimate their age (and thus how close to death they may be). DUNNO. As per studies, elder guinea pigs show less interest in eating than younger guinea pigs. Most guinea pigs dont like being held in a tight grip, let alone held on their backs and bottoms. Guinea pigs affected by these illnesses may die suddenly without seeming sick. Lack of Grooming 5. Pigs infected with serovars Pomona and Bratislava can become chronic renal carriers. How to prevent it: The easiest way to keep your guinea pig from biting you, is to take note of what situations that cause it to bite. Most disease treatments should include extra vitamin C. Diarrhea and other illnesses may cause your guinea pig to become dehydrated. If you bought a cage from a pet store, it's probably too small. Any abnormal change in urine and waste of guinea pigs can also be the reason for their death. This shortened lifespan is caused by the stiffening of a joint called the symphysis, which is located between the guinea pig's two pelvic bones. The blood sugar may be low because food is not available to maintain blood sugar levels, because the animal is being fed a diet that is lower in sugar levels than it is accustomed to, or because of intentional fasting. On the other hand, a depressed guinea pig will not display much energy. Animals get healthy because they are bound to intake nutrients for survival. A way to know that if this laziness is considerable or not is that you can take your guinea pigs to a noise-free, pleasing environment, and if they seem more lively there, all this laziness occurred due to stress in them. Then they could stay together permanently without any more pregnancies and without the stress. Ok, I thought we'd be able to tell if the piggy had the pregnant "pear" shape. Make sure your guinea pigs are comfortable, and youll no longer have to worry about warning signals. Because an animal that is treated may still continue to infect other animals even when it does not seem sick, treatment may not be recommended. The baby guinea pigs can be physically felt 2 to 4 weeks into pregnancy. Antibiotics can cause problems in guinea pigs digestive tracts, so your pet may not tolerate these medications. Guinea pigs that refuse to eat may need to be carefully fed by syringe with a soft diet (a commercial critical care diet, vegetable baby food, or a pureed pelleted diet). Guinea pigs that receive these antibiotics may develop diarrhea, loss of appetite, dehydration, or a drop in body temperature. Guinea Pig Behavior Myths Fingers crossed! 5. The molars in the back of the mouth are often the cause of this problem, even though teeth in the front of the mouth may seem normal. Preventing exposure to stress in the last few weeks of pregnancy may also help. When guinea pigs are dehydrated they may start having low energy and become clumsy. The visit was part of my research on the biopolitical dimensions of culinary nationalism, such as the intensification of guinea pig (or cuy) production and consumption. Use for phrases Pneumonia in guinea pigs is usually caused by bacterial infection (most often Bordetella bronchiseptica, but other bacteria such as Streptococcus pneumoniae or Streptococcus zooepidemicus may also be the cause). Copyright 2000 - 2023, Guinea Pig Cages. Your email address will not be published. They also shiver because the fear of death has frightened them. Mummification, maceration, stillbirths, and weak pigs are also seen. Infectious diseases caused by certain viruses read more , above), certain antibiotics are safer than others, and your veterinarian may select one of these if needed. Guinea pigs dont like having their eyes covered, so if you stroke them from the top of their head and backwards, theyll probably dislike it. Infectious diseases caused by certain viruses and bacteria usually occur only in guinea pigs that live with other guinea pigs. Give Them Their Space. Does your finger taste like veggies? Over time, pododermatitis (sometimes called bumblefoot ) can lead to serious complications such as swelling of the lymph nodes, arthritis, inflammation of the tendons, and buildup of a protein called amyloid in internal organs. Other sources of . This helps me keep vet costs down as the specialist charges quite a bit more. The infection can spread and cause ear infection, head tilt, or inflammation of the sinuses or eyes. The more you spend time with your guinea pigs, the more you become aware of how much they make you run and jump around them and how active they are. Young guinea pigs that are weaning from their mothers may have hair thinning as their coat changes to coarser adult fur. Treatment does not usually help, but your options may include giving your guinea pig the medications propylene glycol, calcium glutamate, or steroids. If left untreated, the cysts may continue to grow and could potentially burst. This less attention to clean fur is the initial hint of skin issues. No, pregnancy doesn't make the abdomen particularly tender, especially if there aren't a lot of pups inside. These bacteria can cause sudden illness in previously healthy guinea pigs when they become stressed or stop eating; this can lead to death. Approximately every five minutes, a new pup will be born. Lack of energy/sleeping more than usual. The most common and straightforward clue to know something is wrong is your guinea pig is refusing to eat. He will display hostile behavior such as fidgeting, head-tossing, or teeth-baring. o [pig guinea] Both male and female guinea pigs can develop cancer of the mammary glands. Wagner J E, Owens D R, Kusewitt D F et al (1976) Otitis media of guinea pigs. These toxic effects may occur directly as a result of the medication or because the antibiotic causes an imbalance in the bacteria that usually live in your pets intestines. The recommended treatment is surgical removal of the ovaries and uterus (spaying). Infection spreads between guinea pigs through bite wounds, cuts or scrapes in the skin or in the mouth, sneezing, coughing, or genital contact. It may not display this or other websites correctly. These dying signs can be unacceptable to you as much as they are for your guinea pigs. I didn't think to ask at the time if she thought it was alive. Though, if your guinea pigs have health issues and sickness accompanied by the below-mentioned signs, then that means their life will come to an end soon. You can easily find a guinea pig at the pet store, but before you shop consider checking your local shelter or rescue. Diarrhoea. So, it is crucial that your guinea pigs must take care of their grooming. Fungal skin infection (ringworm) in guinea pigs is most often caused by Trichophyton mentagrophytes. But how will you know if its something serious? Pneumonia, or inflammation of the lungs, is a frequent cause of death in guinea pigs. A metabolic disorder associated with improper calcium levels may also occur during pregnancy. My Piggie just had babies and I'm at a loss. Guinea pigs drool whenever there is a problem with chewing or swallowing. Avoiding exposure to stress in the last few weeks of pregnancy may also help to prevent the development of pregnancy toxemia in pregnant guinea pigs. I think shes still bleeding a bit because shes been cleaning that area and her nose has a bit of blood on it from cleaning. If the antibiotic causes diarrhea, the treatment should be stopped immediately and your veterinarian contacted. Your female guinea pig's calcium stores will drop significantly during pregnancy and nursing. Diarrhea. This occurs more often in guinea pigs that are young, old, or have immune systems that do not work properly. Animals with severe pododermatitis may require amputation of the affected area to avoid more serious complications. Cavy Slave. Four read more . Scratching or hair loss. Some signs that your pets digestive system is upset are diarrhea, weight loss, loss of energy, lack of appetite, and dehydration. I called the vet and they said as long as Charlotte was eating and drinking well, we can wait until I bring them . There is nothing to worry about when your elder guinea pigs do not eat much like they used to eat when they were young. Earlier today we found two round bloody balls with her in her hiding tube. It's best to have more than one guinea pig. How to prevent it: When stroking your guinea pig, try stopping at the middle of their back or just pet them behind their ears instead. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. 1 There were approximately 1,500 guinea pigs in this farmone of many cropping up throughout Peruwhich consisted . Signs, if they are seen at all, can include weight loss, muscle or joint stiffness, and increased urination (because of kidney failure). The usual cause of this problem is a bacterial infection, most often with Streptococcus equi subsp. Part of that responsibility includes learning to recognize the common signs of illness in your small pet. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This infection is contagious to people and animals directly or through contaminated objects like bedding. Even if your guinea pig seems healthy, its your responsibility as a pet owner to keep up with annual checkups. Barbering may be prevented by separating affected animals, minimizing stress, weaning baby guinea pigs from their mothers early, and feeding animals long-stemmed hay. The organism has unique ultrastructures, and its genus and species are yet to be determined. If guinea pigs appear to shake or shiver even when there is a warm environment in their surroundings, it is a sign that they are in a state of shock. Signs of aging include: [3] Thickened, twisted toes Cataracts (cloudy eyes) Tumors/growths on the body or head Stiffness in the joints/hobbling 3 How to prevent it: When stroking your guinea pig, try stopping at the middle of their back or just pet them behind their ears instead. Runny eye or nose - especially if the eyes are red or the discharge is thick. She runs up to take it. Female guinea pigs (sows) typically mature sexually at 2 months of age (55 to 70 days). All rights reserved. The estrous cycle length is 16 days. Fever is a common sign of a serious illness in guinea pigs as . For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Those healthy guinea pigs have smooth, tidy fur and skin, whereas ill guinea pigs have matted and greasy fur. Female guinea pigs that reproduce have shortened lifespans and tend to live approximately 3.5 years. If the infection spreads from the middle ear to the inner ear, your pet may show nervous system problems such as imbalance, head tilt, walking in circles, or rolling on the ground. Others may have a range of signs such as rough fur coat, fecal staining of the fur around the anal area, loose stools, hunched posture, dull eyes, dehydration, pain when the abdomen is touched, fever, or a low body temperature. Many antibiotics, including penicillin, ampicillin, lincomycin, clindamycin, vancomycin, erythromycin, tylosin, tetracycline, and chlortetracycline, can cause this problem. It is observed that before dying, guinea pigs eliminate excessively. Help!! Your veterinarian can diagnose this condition either by examining your pets fur or by looking at scrapings from your pets skin under a microscope. Your veterinarian can diagnose the toxic effects of antibiotics in your pet by examining the animal and testing its feces. Symptoms and Types. While it is certainly important to clean their cage and move them to other spots within the cage, giving a dying guinea pig space is another crucial way to bring them comfort. Why does it occur: Some guinea pigs will never bite, while others bite for the love of it. They are seen in chocolate, black, beige, lilac, cream, red, golden, and slate colors. You can see the lice by looking at a piece of your pets hair under a magnifying glass. Usually its a subtle sound, that might become more intense if you ignore it. JavaScript is disabled. Get practical pet health tips, articles, and insights from our veterinary community delivered weekly to your inbox. Treatment may include antibiotics. Antibiotics can be used to treat the infection and limit transmission to other guinea pigs, but guinea pigs that do not seem sick may still be infected. Unfortunately, that means pet owners often miss the signs before its too late. A guinea pig might start teeth chattering if it thinks youre taking too long with making their food, or if it needs to pee when youre sitting with it. She is currently getting young guinea pig pellets and hay by oxbow. Keeping your guinea pigs bedding, water bottle, and housing clean and sanitized and promptly removing uneaten food can help prevent infection by reducing the level of disease-causing organisms. This condition is the signal of adverse health and sickness. Though there may not be significant differences among different breeds, each guinea pig is unique so its a good idea to spend plenty of time with your cavy to get used to your guinea pigs behavior. If your pet is dehydrated, your veterinarian may provide fluid treatment. 1. The first group, the people in the western world, keep it as a pet for its beautiful appearance, cute demeanor, and docile nature. He would either prefer eating from his . My two boys were in tears, worried for their new piggy. If your guinea pigs feel troubled or if they are in pain, they will scream. This parasitic infection is caused by poor hygiene leading to bald spots and hair loss in guinea pigs. Watch this video to recognize if a pig is in labor. Another symptom may be that they start to develop a fever and also have a loss of appetite. Source:Health issues in Guinea Pigs,Disorders and Diseases of Guinea Pigs,Disease Problems of Guinea Pigs,Biology and Diseases of Guinea Pigs. Drooling. Signs of your guinea pig aging include: Thickened, twisted toes on their paws Cataracts (visible as cloudy eyes) Tumors/growths around the body or head Visible stiffness in the joints or hobbling movement Significant loss of energy (lethargy) Use to remove results with certain terms However, if it bites hard, its most likely feeling bothered or in distress. Calcium is another essential nutrient, but you want to avoid giving your guinea pig too much, so supplements are not recommended. I hope she gets better. Postmortem findings, like the presence of a fatty liver, and bleeding or cell death in the uterus or placenta will also help your veterinarian to arrive at a diagnosis of ketosis. Even guinea pigs that do not show signs of problems with antibiotics may die suddenly. Still, if your guinea pigs do not feel hungry for food, this might be the hint of experiencing illness or facing death. Your veterinarian will determine appropriate treatment. Dental disease can cause weight loss, bleeding from the mouth, or abscesses in the tooth roots that may lead to sinus infections. is a participant in several other affiliate programs, held by other merchants. Signs a guinea pig may be suffering from stress or fear can include: Hiding most of the time. Females can have estrous or fertile periods at any time of the year, but they are most common in the spring. Females can be kept together, as can males without any issues. Changes in the type of feed or water or in the bowl or bottle that your pet eats or drinks from may also trigger loss of appetite. http://littleadventurescorner.blogspot.de/2015/07/early-neuturing.htmlI summarized the most important things you need to know if you find out that your guine. Its primary symptom is itching on the skin, which causes wounds, making the owner think that the animals were fighting. Similarly, guinea pigs also fulfill their health requirements by eating as much they want when they get the right food, so you are not required to force them to eat. The link you have selected will take you to a third-party website. Signs of illness are similar to those seen in other viral or bacterial infections and include breathing difficulties, discharge from the nose, and weight loss. Follow the treatment program prescribed by your veterinarian carefully. A female is fertile for about 6 to 11 . Soecara, thank you for your advice. Covering guinea pigs in a soft blanket and feeding water in small quantities with the help of a syringe to your guinea pigs is what you may do, but do not force them to drink when they deny. Fortified diets may lose half of their vitamin C content within 3 months of manufacture. Shes still sneezing though. Loss of appetite during the late stages of pregnancy (leading to low blood sugar levels), Lack of exercise near the end of pregnancy (ketone bodies are not used as energy and build-up in the blood), Underdeveloped blood vessels in the uterus (an inherited condition). Is it because of the way youre holding it? Sudden death can occur when outbreaks occur among groups of guinea pigs. We do not control or have responsibility for the content of any third-party site. Your veterinarian can diagnose ketosis with blood tests and may also be able to identify fatty liver (caused by abnormal metabolism of fat) and bleeding or cell death in the uterus or placenta. Change in activity level or lethargy. So try to apply less pressure and perhaps allow them to snuggle inside a sleeping bag while youre having them outside of their cage. Some teeth may need to be clipped or filed to help your pets jaw close properly. And to observe the capillary refill time of guinea pigs, what you can do is open their mouth and gently press it against gums around teeth; as you press it with slight force, you will notice the light color. You must log in or register to reply here. See this how to video as a pig gives birth in a farrowing crate. Ringworm is highly contagious to humans and other animals. If these body vitals start changing their degrees from average or show frequent changes day by day, it is time to call a vet. Infestations can be minimized or prevented by making sure that living quarters are clean and sanitary and by minimizing your pets stress levels. Though guinea pigs who suffer from sickness are likely to show less interest in cleaning themselves. How is your piggy doing? Signs may include a scruffy hair coat or enlarged lymph nodes, liver, or spleen. Its not exhaustive but it does list the vets and practices where members have noted they have been cavy savvy. Although occurrences are rare, Salmonella bacteria can infect guinea pigs. As noted above; Guinea Pigs are highly vocal and use their voice to express their personality. #1 Get them a cage mate. Guinea pigs usually give birth during the day. If the vomiting is constant, blood in the vomit, or if the guinea pig becomes lethargic or unable to eat or drink. Please don't have them together under any circumstances.. it only takes a second and your little girl may not be lucky enough to survive another pregnancy. Here at Kavee though, we believe this guidance urgently needs updating. Be aware that sometimes personality differences in the animals will mean . These are also known as multisystemic or generalized diseases. What are the signs that your guinea pig is dying? Changing their feeding or toileting habits. However, the fur of guinea pigs soaks some saliva, but still, it gets messy. The lymph nodes around the neck often become enlarged or inflamed in guinea pigs. Hello everyone. Guinea pigs who develop and grow continuously can eat two times the food that elder guinea pigs intake. They're Chatterboxes. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); wereallaboutpets.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. xD, I went to the vet this morning! As always with guinea pigs, carefully watch your pets reactions to the medication. One of the surest ways to tell if your guinea pig likes you is to try to feed her by hand. Just make sure your cavy has everything he needs a comfy place to rest, a fresh water bottle, food, and hay. Malocclusion may be inherited or due to lack of vitamin C, injury, or imbalances of certain minerals in the diet. When guinea pigs die, mainly due to sickness, they might whimper or make a high-pitched sound unwillingly. Uncomfortable guinea pigs make sounds like teeth grinding and screaming. If she is still bleeding I would take her for a check over by a good exotics vet. These can be removed surgically. Supplement the mother guinea pig's diet with calcium. This condition is sometimes referred to as slobbers. Guinea pigs with vitamin C deficiency may be weak, lack energy, and walk with a limp. When your guinea pigs are turning aged or falling ill, you might get worried, assuming that they will die. Cesarean sections are very risky for guinea pigs and the survival rate for the mother is poor. Death can occur in less than a week if the antibiotic treatment continues. I think my baby piggy just had a miscarriage, what now. Hair loss can also be caused by genetic problems or problems in metabolism (the bodys breakdown of food into energy); this is especially true in female guinea pigs that have been used for breeding. Here are some of the most common health problems in guinea pigs: These issues can affect all pet guinea pigs there may not be a significant difference among different guinea pig breeds. One guinea pig can infect another by direct contact or by sneezing or coughing. Ketosis may cause fetal guinea pigs to die in the uterus. If handling an infected guinea pig is necessary, you should wear disposable gloves or wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water after handling. Drinking or peeing more. There are many causes of pregnancy toxemia in guinea pigs. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post through our independently chosen links, which earn us a commission. This can happen if they have other illnesses or problems that prevent them from eating enough or that prevent their bodies from absorbing vitamin C properly. It seems to me that she miscarried an early pregnancy. If you hear your guinea pigs making abnormal sounds, it must be a sign that they are not feeling well. Easily seen maggots on the skin of guinea pigs are the signs that they are approaching death. Signs of respiratory illness in guinea pigs include sneezing, wheezing, and rapid, shallow, or raspy breathing. While your sow might bear from one to six pups or even more, the average litter size is 3. you can check this by having her on a table facing you. Thanks again for the input. This is critical in maintaining their comfort. All guinea pigs require a sufficient amount of food like hay, fresh veggies, and fruits. You must log in or register to reply here. How flies are attracted towards guinea pigs and what to do? Underlying factors include: Your veterinarian will perform a thorough physical exam on your guinea pig, taking into account the background history of symptoms and possible conditions that might have led to this disorder. Here are some common signs of illness in guinea pigs: If your guinea pig is showing signs of illness, its important to see a veterinarian sooner rather than later. Its a natural instinct for animals to hide their illness so they dont show weakness around predators. Several underlying problems can lead to hair loss, including infestations of fur mites or lice, ringworm, or fighting between incompatible animals. They drop this saliva in such amounts, which are far from your expectations, mostly when they are not drinking enough water. Scurvy. In addition, guinea pigs with pneumonia may have conjunctivitis (pink eye), fever, weight loss, depression, or loss of appetite. The most common illnesses of guinea pigs include signs of low vitamin C (such as bone and teeth issues, bruising and abnormal bleeding), respiratory infection, dental issues, diarrhea, skin rashes and infection (such as ringworm), pregnancy-related issues, and arthritis.