Common Guinea Pigs Illness, Signs and Symptoms

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 for a guinea pig owner to keep an eye on their animals to make sure they are healthy.

If you notice that your guinea pig has stopped eating or is eating very little, this can be a sign that something is wrong. Whenever something serious happens, they can stop eating. When they stop eating, it could be a digestive problem, respiratory problem or bacteria.

Diagnosing exactly what is wrong with your guinea pig should be left up to a professional vet. You will need to see a vet to make sure that you get the right treatment and medication for the problem. You will want to take careful notes of what your animal has to give some evidence of what disease it could be. Regular checkups can help you make sure that your animal is safe and healthy from month to month.

If your animal doesn’t have any feces, that can also show that there is a problem with your guinea pig. Cavies can eat their feces, so sometimes that can be tough to determine if they have a disease. Experience will teach you whether your animal is healthy or not. If you do not see any feces after a couple days, this can be a sign something is wrong.

Reduced urine can also be a sign that something is wrong. If your animal is not drinking enough water, they can have less urine. If the pig hasn’t urinated in a day, that can be a sign that the animal is going through some substantial physical stress. This can be caused by kidney problems, urethral blockage or other serious problems and you will need to go to the vet right away.

If your animal loses a lot of weight quickly, it can also indicate serious medical problems. If you weigh your animal once a week, you will be able to monitor and record their weights to ensure everything is normal. If you see sudden and dramatic weight loss, you need to go to the vet.

Guinea pigs usually weigh roughly 1.5 – 2.5 pounds. Males are usually a big heavier. If you see a few dozen grams difference, don’t be worried. But anything larger than that range is reason to call the vet.

A regular exam of the skin can be a great way to make sure that nothing is wrong with your guinea pig. You might see occasional redness from a scratch, but any lesions are reason to be concerned. If you see any infections from mites, fungi or other organisms, you will need to have these skin problems treated right away.

         

More Guinea Pig Health, Illnesses and Symptoms Articles: