21 Indicators of Illness in Guinea Pigs (Symptom Checker Printable)

Prey animals like guinea pigs cover their sickness effectively, and attending to the vet early can save their lives! Because of this it’s so essential to know what to look at for at dwelling so you possibly can catch sickness when it happens.

Indicators of illness in guinea pigs embody modifications in conduct, urge for food, or weight. Small, exhausting, or mushy poops are indications of sickness as effectively. Look ahead to discharge from the eyes or nostril, sneezing, bloating, or hunching over in ache.

Above are just some methods to know your guinea pig is sick. On this article, we’ll go over 21 indicators of illness in guinea pigs and educate you find out how to carry out at-home well being checks. You too can obtain our guinea pig symptom checker printable and preserve it readily available for fast reference.

1. Diminished Urge for food

A piggy who’s normally tremendous excited for veggie time and doesn’t eat one night time may be very possible not feeling effectively. This will point out a wide range of well being issues together with dental issues like overgrown enamel.

Guinea pigs can solely go 6-8 hours earlier than consuming earlier than they go into GI Stasis. That is when the digestive system slows or stops fully.

Indicators of GI stasis embody:

• small poops,
• not pooping in any respect,
• lowered urge for food,
• bloating,
• hunching,
• tiredness,
• heavy respiration,
• hiding,
• and enamel grinding.

It’s additionally essential to make sure your guinea pig is consuming their caecotrophs (a kind of guinea pig poop). Though that is gross to us people, guinea pigs not consuming their caecotrophs is definitely a well being concern.

2. Weight Loss

It’s doable that your piggy eats their veggies, however not as a lot hay as they should keep wholesome. Because of this weighing your guinea pig recurrently is so essential, as a result of weight reduction is commonly the primary indication that one thing is flawed.

In case your guinea pig loses greater than 100 grams, they need to see a veterinarian straight away. As a result of they’re small, even tiny modifications in weight could make a giant distinction.

3. Extreme Consuming or Refusal to Drink Water

Adjustments within the quantity your guinea pig drinks can point out kidney illness, dental issues, and a wide range of different well being points.

Please remember the fact that many guinea pigs drink extra in the summertime and fewer within the winter, they usually may also drink much less in the event that they’re being fed a number of veggies with a excessive water content material. Subsequently, consuming kind of water doesn’t all the time imply sickness–however can if nothing has modified of their atmosphere to make them much less thirsty.

When doubtful, it’s all the time higher to see a veterinarian than to overlook an early symptom and remorse it later!

4. Irregular Respiration

When you can hear your guinea pig respiration, that isn’t regular! It’s additionally not regular to listen to wheezing or rasping while you maintain them to your ear, or for them to take very shallow or fast breaths.

Guinea pigs have delicate respiratory techniques and might simply develop higher respiratory infections (URIs). If untreated, these can result in pneumonia or dying.

It’s additionally essential to make sure you aren’t utilizing dusty hay or bedding, smoking round your guinea pigs, or utilizing scented merchandise like laundry detergent, cleaners, or candles in the identical room or in your piggies’ gadgets. These can all contribute to URIs.

5. Eye or Nostril Discharge or Sneezing

Runny nostril, sneezing, and watery or gunky eyes can all be signs of a URI, pneumonia or different critical medical situation.

In people, we are able to typically ignore these signs or dismiss them as a chilly, however in guinea pigs they’re very critical.

6. Uninteresting, Tough, or Puffed-up Coat

Guinea pigs can puff up their coat when making an attempt to look larger, which means they’re intimidated (possible by their cage mates). They will additionally puff their coat once they’re chilly or sick.

In case your guinea pig has their fur puffed and a hunched again, or exhibiting different signs like bother respiration, consuming much less, or not responding or interacting with you or their cage mates, these might be indicators of illness and intense ache. Please see a veterinarian straight away.

7. Hair Loss or Itchiness

Hair loss in guinea pigs generally is a signal of parasites, fungal infections, or ovarian cysts. Itchiness may point out parasites, fungal infections, or an allergy.

Your vet can prescribe drugs to deal with parasites and fungal infections. There are additionally shampoos in the marketplace that can be utilized to deal with fungus. Saskia from LA Guinea Pig Rescue typically recommends Davis Miconazole Pet Shampoo for this function!

It’s additionally essential to see a physician your self if you happen to’ve been dealing with a guinea pig with ringworm or different fungi or parasites that may be transferred to people, and to clean your fingers after making use of therapies.

Ovarian cysts are usually handled with a spay surgical procedure, and hair loss attributable to cysts tends to be symmetrical and close to the decrease sides of the physique.

8. Uninteresting, Sunken, or Bulging Eyes

Sunken eyes in guinea pigs can imply they’re dehydrated. Extreme dehydration can result in kidney harm.

Bulging eyes can imply your guinea pig has an abscess, tumor, or an an infection within the root of their tooth inflicting swelling behind the attention.

9. Bloating

Bloating or a swollen stomach can point out a life-threatening well being downside generally known as Gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV).

In case your guinea pig is bloated or exhibiting different signs like damp coat, lethargy, restlessness, and drooling, rush them to an emergency vet clinic straight away. GDV can progress in a matter of hours.

10. Poopy Butt or Diarrhea

Poop caught to your guinea pigs’ butt can imply that their cage isn’t clear, their bedding isn’t absorbent, or their poop is just too unfastened. 

Wholesome poops shouldn’t mush and get caught to your piggies’ fur or toes until they’ve been dampened by pee, which is a critical hygiene downside–sitting in urine may make piggies sick.

Diarrhea in guinea pigs can imply they’re consuming too many veggies or not sufficient hay. It may also be attributable to dangerous micro organism within the intestine, thyroid illness, dental illness, or extreme stress.

11. Arduous or Small Stools

Then again, exhausting, small poops can point out dehydration, constipation, or issues within the intestine.

Small stools may also be an indication of GI Stasis, particularly if there are only a few of them.

12. Constipation

In case your guinea pig isn’t pooping in any respect, or little or no, that is very critical and generally is a symptom of GI Stasis.

Constipation is critical in guinea pigs and requires an emergency journey to the vet for therapy.

13. Bloody Urine or Adjustments in Urination

The entire under might be signs of sickness in guinea pigs:

• Bloody urine
• Cloudy urine
• Crystals within the urine
• Painful or tough urination
• Kind of urine output

In case your guinea pig isn’t urinating in any respect, solely just a little, or appears to have issue or ache urinating, these can all be signs of bladder stones. Elevated urination generally is a signal of kidney illness.

14. Lethargy

In case your guinea pig is extra drained than regular, they is perhaps sick or in ache. Sleeping is a manner for the physique to attempt to heal itself, and being sick or damage could make piggies very drained.

In fact, a piggies’ physique typically can’t heal itself and it’s essential see a vet in the event that they’re appearing sleepy or transferring round lower than is regular for them.

15. Hunched Posture

Hunching over whereas sitting in a nook and never interacting with cage mates or people as regular is an indication of sickness or intense ache.

16. Limping, “Bunny Hopping” or Incapability to Stroll

In case your guinea pig is limping or not placing strain on one foot, they is perhaps injured. “Bunny hopping” or transferring each again legs without delay can point out vitamin C deficiency, arthritis, or, extra not often, satin syndrome.

Incapability to stroll or paralysis generally is a symptom of damage, arthritis, stroke, an infection, or vitamin C or calcium deficiency.

17. Drooling

Drooling in guinea pigs is commonly a symptom of Gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV). That is when a guinea pig bloats and their abdomen twists within their physique, which can shortly reduce off their blood circulation.

GDV is a lethal situation and must be handled as an emergency–your guinea pig must be seen by a veterinarian straight away, as a result of it might probably progress in simply hours.

18. Incoordination

Stumbling, seeming dizzy, or lack of coordination can point out neurological issues in guinea pigs. Extra not often, it might be an indication of an ear an infection.

19. Irritation Across the Joints

Irritation across the joints is often known as arthritis. Arthritis is a painful situation that may be very typical particularly in older guinea pigs.

If arthritis is affecting your piggy’s high quality of life, your veterinarian can prescribe ache meds or antiinflammatory treatment to maintain them extra comfy.

20. Squealing or Flinching When Touched

In case your guinea pig normally means that you can pet them and begins to flinch out of your hand, this can be a signal of ache. The identical goes in case your piggy squeals while you contact them in the event that they don’t normally.

These may also be an indication of concern in new guinea pigs, however when you’ve got considerations, it’s all the time finest to ask a vet.

21. Behavioral Adjustments

Behavioral modifications like aggression, weak point, tiredness, or modifications in urge for food are all trigger for concern in guinea pigs. Generally a sudden change in persona, like your usually-bold guinea pig appearing shy or your peacekeeper bullying their cage mates is the one signal of sickness a piggy will present.

It’s essential to look at for these indicators and name your veterinarian in case your guinea pig isn’t appearing like themselves.

The best way to Carry out Guinea Pig Well being Checks

We’ve gone over the signs to search for, however you’re solely going to identify them if you happen to keep watch over your guinea pigs and carry out routine well being checks at dwelling. This must be finished no less than as soon as a month, although some folks select to do it weekly.

Right here’s find out how to give your guinea pig a well being test:

• Weigh your guinea pig. File their weight in a pocket book, in your cellphone, or utilizing our Guinea Pig Care Planner together with the date you weighed them. For probably the most correct outcomes, you’ll wish to weigh your piggy on the similar time of day, like proper earlier than dinner, and in the identical place, like on a desk.
• Take a look at your guinea pig’s eyes. They need to look clear and brilliant. There shouldn’t be discharge, redness, or damage in or across the eyes. They shouldn’t seem sunken or bulging.
• Verify their nostril for discharge.
• Look into their ears and clear them if wanted. If there’s a number of discharge or redness, your piggy may need an ear an infection. Bear in mind to by no means stick something into the ear; solely clear the surface.
• Verify their mouth and enamel. They shouldn’t be overly lengthy or damaged. Each high enamel must be the identical size, and there shouldn’t be any redness or swelling within the gums.
• Study their coat. It must be full, shiny, and clear. Half the fur right down to the pores and skin to search for parasites, redness of the pores and skin, or dandruff. In case your guinea pig has lengthy fur, you may wish to preserve it trimmed quick so it stays cleaner.
• Take a look at feminine guinea pigs’ nipples. Crusty nipples are an indication of ovarian cysts, and also you wish to catch these as early as doable in the event that they happen.
• Verify their genitals. Each sexes can get poop and different particles caught round their genitals that may must be cleaned. Males, significantly in the event that they’re older and unneutered, additionally want common boar cleanings.
• Take a look at their toes. The nails must be quick and trimmed recurrently, and the toes must be clear and lack redness or accidents.

It’s additionally essential to watch your piggies each day to make sure they’re consuming, consuming, and behaving like regular.

As gross because it sounds, your guinea pigs’ poop throughout cage cleanings may inform you numerous about their well being. Piggy poops ought to by no means be runny.

If the poop is sticking to your guinea pigs’ pores and skin or fur, they is perhaps too mushy or wetted down by urine (which suggests the cage must be cleaned extra typically or a extra absorbent bedding must be used).

If the poops are dry or have modified in measurement, this additionally is perhaps trigger for concern.

Guinea Pig Symptom Checker

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Now that we’ve gone over the indicators of illness in guinea pigs and find out how to give well being checks at dwelling, you’re prepared to watch your guinea pig’s well being! Bear in mind to see a vet shortly if you happen to’re apprehensive, since sickness in piggies can progress quick.