Guinea Pig Health

Guinea Pig Health Problems

Guinea Pigs can be somewhat delicate pets. Despite one’s best effort in selecting the best cage conditions and food, a guinea pig can develop health problems.

The Top Five Signs of Poor Guinea Pig Health

  1. Under no circumstances would it be normal for a guinea pig to act as though he or she is not aware of your presence – especially if you are playing with other animals in the cage. The only exception is if the guinea pig is asleep. Otherwise, alert and active behavior is the norm.
  2. A guinea pig’s coat should be healthy looking – full and soft, without bald patches or small white bugs (lice.)
  3. Part the fur of your guinea pig to inspect the skin. Look for signs of skin irritation such as redness and flakes. Also look carefully for bumps and “pimples” which could indicate parasites.
  4. Check the guinea pig’s eyes, ears, and nose for cleanliness and discharge.
  5. Finally, your guinea pig should not be too large or too thin – this could be a sign of current or future health issues. You are looking for a firm, rounded, and plump body type.

Signs that your Guinea Pig is not feeling well:

  • Not eating or drinking
  • Inactive

Here are some common symptoms of health problems that one should look out for.

Respiratory

Sneezing, Runny Nose, Rubbing Nose – Some sneezing is normal and should not be a cause for concern. Excessive sneezing and runny can sometime be caused by bedding allergies. Try switching out your bedding for a type known to not cause problems – see my article on Guinea Pig Bedding for more info. If switching out the bedding does not resolve the issue, please visit your veterinarian as your guinea pig could have an infection.

Coughing – Like sneezing, some coughing is normal. Coughing can sometimes be caused by dusty hay. Try switching out your hay and see if the condition improves. If the condition does not improve or you notice any signs of labored breathing, then please visit your veterinarian as soon as possible.

Labored breathing, wheezing, etc – Just like in humans, this is always a sign for alarm and should always be followed up by a visit to your veterinarian. Labored breathing is usually caused by lung congestion and is a sign of infection. If left untreated, the condition can rapidly develop into pneumonia.

Dermatological

Scratching

  • Lice - Usually indicated by excessive scratching or found during routine grooming. Lice can be seen at the root of the fur and are brown in color. If you suspect your guinea pig has lice, schedule a visit with your veterinarian. During this visit you will receive medicated shampoo that you will likely be instructed to use twice per week. This medicated shampoo will kill both the lice and the eggs without hurting your guinea pig. Be sure to clean and disinfect your guinea pig cage.
  • Mites - Mites are too small to be seen with the naked eye. Please seek veterinary assistance as well as clean and disinfect your guinea pig’s cage.

Hair Loss – Normal hair loss would be seen around a cut or bite. Large scale hair loss is usually caused by ringworm and sometimes ovarian cysts. Call your veterinarian to determine the source of the problem.

Urinary Tract

Extremely clear white urine – Slightly milky colored urine in normal and not an issue for concern. Very clear white urine can be a sign of excess calcium and can lead to bladder stones. Removing foods high in calcium from the diet can work but we recommend a visit to your veterinarian.

Pink or Red Urine – Usually this is a sign of blood in the urine. Blood in the urine is frequently caused by bladder stones. Please schedule an immediate veterinary visit. Bladder stones can be prevented by proper hydration.

Digestive

Diarrhea or Very Soft Stools – Youir guinea pig can die from dehydration within hours if experiencing serious diarrhea. Please see your veterinarian immediately. Less serious conditions can be caused by new foods in the diet, too many vegetables, too many treats…Try cutting your guine pig’s diet back to known well tolerated foods and see if the condition improves.

Home remedies for improving digestion:

  • Adding fresh hay into the diet
  • lactobacillus acidophilus (take one capsule and dissolve in 1 cc water. Place solution in needle less syringe and feed directly into your guinea pig’s mouth.) Also a good supplement if currently taking antibiotics.

Other

Watery eyes – Usually caused by excess dust and allergies. In some cases it is the result of cysts on the eyelid. Please see your veterinarian for examination and removal if you suspect this is the case.

Difficulty walking – Believe it or not this can be scurvy (a severe vitamin C deficiency.) Remember, your guinea pig cannot produce his own vitamin C, so it is extra important to select food pellets or fresh veggies with sufficient vitamin C. Please visit your veterinarian if you suspect your guinea pig has scurvy.

Tilting head and trouble walking – usually a sign of a middle ear infection. Make sure you get this checked out by your veterinarian as soon as possible as this could cause permanent hearing damage.

Seizures – This is a condition you will want to observe closely so try to take careful notes about when the seizure occurred and how exactly your guinea pig moved (such as is the head straight up in the air? This could indicate mites which have burrowed under the skin…) Please take this information to your veterinarian and have blood work done to determine the cause.

For more in depth information on how to pick a healthy guinea pig and how to avoid common health problems, please subscribe to my newsletter.

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