Guinea pigs can live up to 14 years in human care but live an average of 8 years. Copyright 2000 - 2023, Guinea Pig Cages. Females can have estrous or fertile periods at any time of the year, but they are most common in the spring. Intestinal parasites are not common. (Causes and How-to guide). Skin infection and flystrike can also be a sign of a life-threatening condition. The usual cause of this problem is a bacterial infection, most often with Streptococcus equi subsp. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Use to remove results with certain terms Diarrhoea. Parasite infestations. It is important that your pet drink enough water. Another symptom may be that they start to develop a fever and also have a loss of appetite. If your pet is slobbering or drooling, your veterinarian will evaluate this problem carefully. She is currently getting young guinea pig pellets and hay by oxbow. Some stress can also cause terror. If not, you know you still have some work to do. Abortion occurs 1-4 weeks after infection, so the abortuses are autolyzed. If you want to learn more about guinea pigs, GuineaHub is the best place to be! Guinea pigs make wonderful pets for many reasons. They seemed very knowledgeable. Lymph nodes are glands located throughout the body that help fight infection. Health problems among guinea pigs that live alone are usually related to aging, dental disease, reproductive disorders, injury, or improper care. By reyes_leonor. Change in activity level or lethargy. Daily handling will give you the chance not only to check over the guinea pig but also to bond with it. Guinea pigs can quickly contact physical diseases, such as parasitic and fungal infections or skin tumors, etc., and few of these diseases cause death. 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. 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. Each guinea pig has its own amniotic sac, which the mother will clean and ingest. However, the fur of guinea pigs soaks some saliva, but still, it gets messy. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Later on in the pregnancy (by day 50-60), though, you will notice that the abdomen is getting bigger. Provide a room and let them roam in it if they wish. If they are able to still eat, they should. Please confirm that you are a health care professional. 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 male guinea pig is called a boar while the female is called a sow. Malocclusion may be inherited or due to lack of vitamin C, injury, or imbalances of certain minerals in the diet. In the laboratory, guinea pigs are infected and efficiently transmit influenza viruses to naive hosts without showing any overt clinical signs of disease . A change in behavior is often the first noticeable sign of illness in a small animal. Provide her with a supply of alfalfa hay, [4] which is an excellent source of calcium. This can increase the risk of stillbirth, miscarriage, or birth defects, depending on when the infection was contracted during pregnancy. Quick Breathing 8. If your guinea pig is vomiting more than usual, it may be sick. (Normal & Abnormal Poop). Most disease treatments should include extra vitamin C. Diarrhea and other illnesses may cause your guinea pig to become dehydrated. The bacteria can also enter a guinea pigs body through cuts or scrapes in the skin or through inhalation. Why does it occur: This sound is often accompanied by a vibrating body, and it usually occurs when youre stroking it from the head towards the back/bottom. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Know when a pig is going into labor. They are seen in chocolate, black, beige, lilac, cream, red, golden, and slate colors. Although weve had guinea pigs for decades altogether, were still learning and so are professionals that are studying these furry potatoes for a living. Focusing on the Sore Area 11. Even guinea pigs that do not show signs of problems with antibiotics may die suddenly. The legacy of this great resource continues in the online and mobile app versions today. This footpad inflammation, or pododermatitis, is usually caused by Staphylococcus aureus bacteria that enter the footpads through cuts or scrapes. Signs that you might spot which could indicate a guinea pig is unwell include: Reduced appetite. Symptoms and Types. Hay is necessary because of its high-fiber content, which helps maintain the guinea pig digestive tract and also wears down constantly growing teeth. 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. [5] Alfalfa hay is high in calories and calcium. How to prevent it: Its not always easy to understand why guinea pigs are chattering their teeth, but if youre holding it, try putting it back into its cage. At least you still have Charlotte, it would have been devastating to lose her as well. If the problem continues, monthly visits to your veterinarian for dental care may be necessary. In general, you should avoid giving your guinea pig any antibiotics unless specifically directed by a veterinarian familiar with these animals. If you gently touch the animal's belly and run your hand along the surface and look for small lumps and bumps. As per studies, elder guinea pigs show less interest in eating than younger guinea pigs. Luckily the tenderness in her abdomen has improved. A living creatures body vitals includes heart rate and body temperature. (Reasons & What To Do). Exotic DVM 8 (4), 27-30. Probiotics (supplements that contain live bacterial cultures) may help to restore the healthy balance of bacteria in the digestive tract. Fresh vegetables may also carry Salmonella. Also see professional content regarding diseases of guinea pigs Guinea Pigs Guinea pigs, like chinchillas, are hystricognath rodents. Guinea pigs are refusing to eat might be because their food lacks sufficient amounts of nutrients. They also shiver because the fear of death has frightened them. Recommended treatment is usually a spay surgery to remove the ovaries. Scurvy. Thread starter mekalika Start date Apr 7, 2013; mekalika Active Member. 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. How is your piggy doing? Fingers crossed! Near the top of the list, however, is the fact that they are fairly low-maintenance pets and generally not expensive to keep. Mummification, maceration, stillbirths, and weak pigs are also seen. 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. Animals housed in groups may chew or tear their own or each others hair because of social conflicts or dominance of older animals over younger group members. Cancer/Neoplasia. Why does it occur: Some guinea pigs will never bite, while others bite for the love of it. Unfortunately, even if you do seek treatment there may be nothing you can do. These can be removed surgically. They may occur at the same time as pneumonia or other respiratory disease. Infectious diseases caused by certain viruses read more , below). DUNNO. is a participant in several other affiliate programs, held by other merchants. Staying up-to-date on your pets health is an essential aspect of guinea pig care. Why does it occur: When a guinea pig becomes impatient or feel agitated, theyll start teeth chattering. Young guinea pigs that are weaning from their mothers may have hair thinning as their coat changes to coarser adult fur. Signs a guinea pig may be suffering from stress or fear can include: Hiding most of the time. When a guinea pig has a parasitic infection, it cant spread to other animals handling it like human beings. These diseases have their characteristics like bald spots on the skin, dandruff, or formation of scales and peeling of skin in thin pieces. In addition, guinea pigs with pneumonia may have conjunctivitis (pink eye), fever, weight loss, depression, or loss of appetite. All guinea pigs require a sufficient amount of food like hay, fresh veggies, and fruits. Pigs infected with serovars Pomona and Bratislava can become chronic renal carriers. A guinea pig's pregnancy lasts about 9 or 10 weeks. I was fully expecting to have a hard time giving her the meds but she actually loves it. Cesarean sections are very risky for guinea pigs and the survival rate for the mother is poor. They drop this saliva in such amounts, which are far from your expectations, mostly when they are not drinking enough water. Guinea pigs may also develop vitamin C deficiency even if the dietary level of vitamin C is appropriate. Female guinea pigs (sows) typically mature sexually at 2 months of age (55 to 70 days). Guinea pigs might be stressed because of hearing loud sounds, being in a congested environment, fear of predators, and being held in hands uncomfortably. In severely affected animals, the affected areas may become infected, which can cause the animals to lose weight, have low energy, or run around the cage. Also Read: How To Get Rid Of Matted Guinea Pig Hair? She is currently getting young guinea pig pellets and hay by oxbow. However, both males and females can mature and be fertile even earlier. WOWomg. In addition, pregnant guinea pigs ketosis may lead to death of the fetuses while still in the uterus. Left untreated, convulsions and death may result. Guinea pig owners should take the time to learn about the most common health problems that affect guinea pigs so they can see the signs. The size of the first birth is usually less than successive litters. However, if your guinea pig leads towards their end of life, you will start noticing some signs beforehand. This condition usually occurs in male guinea pigs that are more than 1 year old. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Neori theme, designed by litMotion Templates. Its a natural instinct for animals to hide their illness so they dont show weakness around predators. Constant vomiting and diarrhea are common sick signs in guinea pigs. This page contains affiliate links. 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. Help!! However she seems to have a URI. about 24-48 hours before birth the pelvic bones will separate to about 3.5 cm. They are getting more and more lethargic, 3. Approximately every five minutes, a new pup will be born. Soecara, thank you for your advice. Avoid over-feeding Pregnancy toxemia most commonly affects guinea pigs that are pregnant with their first or second litters. Under certain conditions the level of ketone bodies produced may exceed the body's capacity to excrete them efficiently, resulting in excess ketone bodies in the blood, clinically referred to as ketosis or pregnancy toxemia. If it appears that your guinea pigs are not as active as before, show no interest in playing, do not wish to do any physical activity for once, then sadly, these might be the signals that they are dying. Quickly take them to the veterinarian for treatment. Changing their feeding or toileting habits. Boot R, Walvoort H C (1986) Otitis media in guinea pigs: pathology and bacteriology. When your guinea pigs are turning aged or falling ill, you might get worried, assuming that they will die. Four read more . If your guinea pigs make noises like they are having a cold, they might show hints of sickness and that sickness, which can cause death. Even if your guinea pig seems healthy, its your responsibility as a pet owner to keep up with annual checkups. No rest for the wicked. In other cases, a sick guinea pig has worsening signs that can include loss of energy, lack of appetite, lack of desire to drink, muscle spasms, lack of coordination or clumsiness, coma, and death within 5 days. Fever is a common sign of a serious illness in guinea pigs as . Can a pig miscarry two babies, but keep a third? So, lets get right into the 10 signs that indicate your guinea pig is dying. 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