As I have discussed in a previous article, grooming is essential to keeping your Guinea Pig healthy. However, there are other things you should be aware of as well.
It is most important to know a good vet who knows a lot about guineas. Some ailments are not easily cured alone.
Be aware of your cavvy’s normal behaviors. It’s easier to tell when they are ill when you know these things.
Normally cavvies are excited, playful, and energetic. Be aware when they acting abnormally quiet or lethargic. Loss of appetite is a good sign as well, cavvies love to eat and if your’s is not, then something is definitely wrong.
If your cavvy is ill and has diarrhea, be very careful, diarrhea can dehydrate the piggy very quickly, and if not treated right away, can lead to death.
Some illnesses are harder to see. The symptoms may start at very few and progress slowly into more advanced stages. Some symptoms include wheezing, runny eyes and nose, even hair loss. Things like cysts and bladder stones may not be related to any particular ailment, they heave their own symptoms which can be harder to see.
If you suspect that your Guinea could be ill, and you have other piggies in the cage with it, isolate him/her right away to guard the others from potential infection. Give him/her their own water bottle and feed dish, not to be shared with any other animals. Always wash your hands with antibacterial soap after handling a sick guinea. You do not want yourself or your other cavvies to get sick. Keep the sick cavvy in a room where the temperature is constant and decently warm. Keep their cage insulated with lots of hay and protect them from drafts. If your piggy is having respiratory problems, trouble breathing, most owners line the cage with eucalyptus oil, this will not cure the infection, but it will relieve the symptoms somewhat. Try applying on the tip of their nose, just a tiny dab, and there fore-paws, which the tend to rub their nose with. Do not put it in their fur, it will make the fur stcky, piggies hate sticky fur. Do not make any big changes in their diet when your cavvy is sick. Keeping the normal routine will help keep the guinea’s stress level down. If you cannot get your piggy to eat at all, call a vet right away, lack of nutrition can cause rapid deteriorization in the cavvy’s health.
Here are some symptoms you should watch out for:
Sneezing
Some sneezing is natural for piggies, but excessive sneezng can be a sign of a respiratory problem. Pay careful attention to whether or not your piggy’s nose is runny. Guinea Pigs do not catch colds or the flu, most respiratory problems in guineas are caused by bacteria. Fungal infections are rare but also possible.
Coughing
Coughing, like sneezing, is normal to an extent. Most of the time it is simply caused by minor windpipe irritation, possibly inhaling something dusty. Constant coughing is more serious. It can be a sign of infection or illness. Kennel Cough, particularly, is a serious illness in guineas. It can be transmitted between species, including dogs, rabbits, and guinea pigs. If coughing is followed or accompanied by other respiratory problems, usually wheezing, it is a likely sign of respiratory infection.
Wheezing
Wheezing, labored breathing as well, are usual symptoms of respiratory infection. This should be taken very seriously. They can be indicators of fluids in the respiratory system that could turn into pneumonia. If your piggy has these symptoms, go to a vet immediately.
Scratching
This is also normal for guinea pigs, but like the other symptoms listed, excessive scratching can be an indicator of something worse. A lot of scratching could mean your piggy has lice or mites. Some fungal infections can cause it as well, but it is rare. To treat lice, a bath in pyrethrin shampoo should suffice. Please note that the eggs do not go away so easily. Usually, more than one bath in the shampoo is needed to completely rid them of the lice, however, the baths must be at least one, if not two, weeks apart from each other. Pyrethrin shampoo can be obtained via a vet, who will tell you how to use it. Lice resemble tiny, brown worms that crawl through the hair on the surface of the skin. Mites are harder to get rid of. They are hard to spot because you cannot see them with a naked eye. There are home remedies for this type of thing, bt most prefer vet care tobe sure. Fleas are not a big problem with guineas. They seem not to care much for the species and do not stay long if they are there. If you are dealing with a parasite, always clean and disinfect the hutches(hidey houses) and cages.
Milky-white urine
Typically a cavvy’s urine is milky in appearance, but if the urine is noticeably white, and leaves residue after it dries, it can indicate too much calcium in his/her diet. This can cause bladder stones.
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