While the list could be endless, and will be particular to your guinea pig, common signs of trouble can include: avoiding favorite foods; hiding all the time; lethargy; a change in posture or walking style; or any other change from established behavior patterns. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Antibiotics should only be used when absolutely necessary because their use can worsen the imbalance of bacteria in the digestive tract. Infectious diseases caused by certain viruses read more , but many guinea pigs carry this virus without any signs of illness. External parasites like fleas and mites can cause itchiness, hair loss, and other issues in guinea pigs. He would either prefer eating from his . Theres really no other way to gain an understanding for your guinea pigs, than to observe them carefully and take note of their behavior. To help prevent infection of the lymph nodes, avoid using harsh or irritating bedding or food. No, pregnancy doesn't make the abdomen particularly tender, especially if there aren't a lot of pups inside. Although weve had guinea pigs for decades altogether, were still learning and so are professionals that are studying these furry potatoes for a living. Pneumonia, or inflammation of the lungs, is a frequent cause of death in guinea pigs. (Causes, Signs & Remedy), Why Is My Guinea Pig Coughing? Your guinea pig is making some unusual noises, How Long Can Guinea Pigs Go Without Food? Cavy Slave. From the very beginning, you have cared for your guinea pigs by looking after them, and you understand their usual behavior well. She is currently getting young guinea pig pellets and hay by oxbow. #1 Get them a cage mate. Can Guinea Pigs Swim? If the infection spreads from the middle ear to the inner ear, your pet may show nervous system problems such as imbalance, head tilt, walking in circles, or rolling on the ground. run your fingers down her spine and when you get to the end . Consult your veterinarian about any special dietary requirements your guinea pig may have during the recovery period, as well as any other recommendations that may be helpful in helping your guinea pig to recover quickly from the pregnancy toxemia. When you bring a new guinea pig home, its a good idea to find a vet in your area that treats guinea pigs and take your new pet in for an initial checkup to establish care. No doubt, there are differences in the energy levels of every guinea pig. (Causes & Remedies), Why Is My Guinea Pig Not Moving? Lab Anim 20 (3), 242-248 PubMed. She has one week to go yet on her meds. This infection is contagious to people and animals directly or through contaminated objects like bedding. (Hay, Veggies, Pellets), Why Is My Guinea Pig Drinking So Much? Why does it occur: When a guinea pig becomes impatient or feel agitated, theyll start teeth chattering. You might observe swollen faces or mouths of your guinea pigs, mainly caused by drooling. Get practical pet health tips, articles, and insights from our veterinary community delivered weekly to your inbox. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Your veterinarian can diagnose the toxic effects of antibiotics in your pet by examining the animal and testing its feces. Copyright 2000 - 2023, Guinea Pig Cages. Your veterinarian can diagnose vitamin C deficiency by investigating the diet and by examining your pet, looking especially for bleeding or joint problems. Signs of streptococcosis include difficulty breathing, wheezing, discharge from the nose, and coughing. The span of symptoms is wide, ranging from none at all, to fully aggressive, restless, swollen mamas, mounting pen mates with visible discharge, ears popping up and down, vocalizing and locking their back legs to brace for the boar's heavy frame. Ketone bodies are water soluble compounds, the product of the breakdown of fatty acids in the body a normal metabolic process. Skin infection and flystrike can also be a sign of a life-threatening condition. This could be complicated by the fact that many veterinarians dont treat small animals like guinea pigs. Guinea pigs with vitamin C deficiency may be weak, lack energy, and walk with a limp. Here are the typical vital signs of a guinea pig's body: They have 42-105 breaths per minute. Why Is My Guinea Pig Breathing Fast? I've been feeding her with a syringe mushy pellets however the link you sent me doesn't talk about mushing any type of fruit or veggie. 2x5 C&C = 12ft2. The female guinea pig I adopted just two weeks ago, Charlotte, is 11.5 weeks old. Please don't have them together under any circumstances.. it only takes a second and your little girl may not be lucky enough to survive another pregnancy. That really isn't necessary if you read the rest of the thread. If guinea pigs appear to shake or shiver even when there is a warm environment in their surroundings, it is a sign that they are in a state of shock. If your guinea pig is vomiting more than usual, it may be sick. Lethal guinea pigs are white in colour (not albino) are born blind, usually in both eyes, have crooked or deformed teeth, are often also deaf and often suffer from internal deformities particularly to the digestive organs. Guinea pigs that are infested with lice do not usually have signs, but in severe cases lice can cause itching, hair loss, and inflammation of the skin around the neck and ears. While your sow might bear from one to six pups or even more, the average litter size is 3. So, it is crucial that your guinea pigs must take care of their grooming. These kinds of problems are very common in guinea pigs. A living creatures body vitals includes heart rate and body temperature. Earlier today we found two round bloody balls with her in her hiding tube. Follow the treatment program prescribed by your veterinarian carefully. Loss of appetite during the late stages of pregnancy (leading to low blood sugar levels), Lack of exercise near the end of pregnancy (ketone bodies are not used as energy and build-up in the blood), Underdeveloped blood vessels in the uterus (an inherited condition). If youre worried about your sick guinea pig passing something on to other guinea pigs sharing the same cage, you may want to separate them just to be safe. In addition, guinea pigs with pneumonia may have conjunctivitis (pink eye), fever, weight loss, depression, or loss of appetite. A guinea pig who appears to be dying soon will be upset and breathe noisily; even the breathing will be in short gaps. Some signs that your pets digestive system is upset are diarrhea, weight loss, loss of energy, lack of appetite, and dehydration. Multivitamins are not recommended because some of the other included vitamins could be dangerous for guinea pigs. Ketosis, which may be irreversible, can develop even in guinea pigs that begin to eat again. Guinea pigs need at least 10 mg of vitamin C per kilogram of body weight daily (pregnant females need 30 mg/kg daily). Keep a same-sex pair to ensure you don't have any unwanted litters. Sometimes groups of guinea pigs experience an outbreak of infection, during which all get sick and die quickly. If you think your guinea pig is showing signs of illness or isn't acting . They are seen in chocolate, black, beige, lilac, cream, red, golden, and slate colors. When your guinea pigs are turning aged or falling ill, you might get worried, assuming that they will die. Similarly, guinea pigs also fulfill their health requirements by eating as much they want when they get the right food, so you are not required to force them to eat. Guinea Pigs make excellent pets due to their playful, social nature. So, lets get right into the 10 signs that indicate your guinea pig is dying. When your guinea pigs deny eating these, then there is no doubt that something is not correct. Just make sure your cavy has everything he needs a comfy place to rest, a fresh water bottle, food, and hay. Flinching 2. I know I have already highlighted some of the things you can do to alleviate depression in guinea pigs, but below is a brief overview to make your guinea pig happy. Pigs infected with serovars Pomona and Bratislava can become chronic renal carriers. Charlotte is doing fine right now! They may have a rough hair coat, lose their appetite, lose weight, have diarrhea, become ill, or die suddenly. Abscesses. Additionally, it is not always easy to detect the symptoms which indicate an imminent birth, since there are little changes in their visible behavior. Boot R, Walvoort H C (1986) Otitis media in guinea pigs: pathology and bacteriology. The baby guinea pigs can be physically felt 2 to 4 weeks into pregnancy. The only supplement your guinea pig is likely to need is vitamin C, but even that can be provided through leafy green vegetable and small amounts of certain fruits. If she takes the food, she's at least learned to trust you. Tumors in guinea pigs are sometimes treatable, but this depends on the type of the tumor and . Most of these tumors are in the ovaries or uterus. Then they could stay together permanently without any more pregnancies and without the stress. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Most guinea pigs are fine with being petted behind their ears or under their chin. Enter search terms to find related veterinary topics, multimedia and more. Guinea pigs have their own peculiar ways of saying enough is enough, and for a human these warning signs arent always easy to decipher. xD, I went to the vet this morning! Weight Loss 9. You must log in or register to reply here. Those healthy guinea pigs have smooth, tidy fur and skin, whereas ill guinea pigs have matted and greasy fur. In addition, pregnant guinea pigs ketosis may lead to death of the fetuses while still in the uterus. Infectious diseases caused by certain viruses read more , below). Hello everyone. By entering your e-mail address you agree to get a weekly newsletter from GuineaHub. Why Guinea Pigs Hide Their Pain (Or Injuries) 1. Glad Charlotte is ok - Sorry about the babies. 7/18/08 2:18 PM. A measured amount of food that has been specifically recommended for pregnant and nursing guinea pigs, given at regularly scheduled times of the day, will help to prevent complications such as ketone body buildup in the blood. Think it would be all right to mush up a veggie or fruit like a cucumber for example to help her out to stay healthy until tomorrow when I'll take her to the vet? Know when a pig is going into labor. Take your guinea pigs to a vet and consult them about the issues which make you worried about your pets. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Overgrown teeth and jaws that do not close properly should be corrected. Hi again, I really appreciate the help you've been providing. The average body temperature of guinea pigs should be between 102 degrees Fahrenheit and 104 degrees Fahrenheit, whereas the heart rate should be in the middle of 240-250 beats per minute. 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. about 24-48 hours before birth the pelvic bones will separate to about 3.5 cm. Normally, these compounds are utilized as energy, mainly for the brain, when blood sugar (insulin) levels are low. By reyes_leonor. I think shes still bleeding a bit because shes been cleaning that area and her nose has a bit of blood on it from cleaning. Vitamin C is required for the production of collagen, a protein necessary for healthy skin, joints, and blood vessels. This can happen if they have other illnesses or problems that prevent them from eating enough or that prevent their bodies from absorbing vitamin C properly. Parasite infestations. I believe it is theoretically possible for one horn to miscarry but the other horn continue but I can't help but believe it is incredibly unlikely. This can increase the risk of stillbirth, miscarriage, or birth defects, depending on when the infection was contracted during pregnancy. Each litter can contain eight to twelve piglets. Tumors are rare in young guinea pigs but are more common in guinea pigs that are more than 5 years old. Guinea pigs, especially boars, dont like being touched on their backs or bottoms because they take it as a sign of being dominated, as guinea pigs will usually mount each other to assert domination. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. On a warm February day in 2012 I visited a commercial guinea pig farm north of Lima, Peru. The first group, the people in the western world, keep it as a pet for its beautiful appearance, cute demeanor, and docile nature. The affected guinea pig may die suddenly of ketosis without ever demonstrating signs of illness. And this state occurs when the body of guinea pigs is dirty due to urine and their discharged waste. This occurs more often in guinea pigs that are young, old, or have immune systems that do not work properly. 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. Usual, it is guinea pig miscarriage signs that your guinea pigs need at least learned to trust.... Feel agitated, theyll start teeth chattering pig & # x27 ; s:... 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