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Guinea Pig Disease

Scurvy – associated with Vitamin C deficiencies.

Symptoms

Rough hair coat, hair loss, diarrhea, delayed wound healing and increased susceptibility to bacterial infections, anorexia, lameness, lockjaw and teeth grinding, and hemorrhaging in the joints and/or gums.

Prevention and Treatment

Proper vitamin C 15-25mg/daily supplementation is the best way to prevent scurvy.

Bumblefoot

A skin infection, which is usually from injury or trauma to the footpad that can progress to a chronic infection.

Symptoms

Red, inflamed footpad sometimes with bleeding. Bumblefoot causes discomfort and can make walking difficult.

Treatment

Bumblefoot can be very difficult to treat. Topical ointment with a systemic antibiotic may be given. Bandaging the foot or feet may be required. Severe cases can sometimes require surgery to treat.

Prevention

Make sure your guinea pig has clean non-abrasive bedding with no sharp pieces. A solid floor on the bottom of your guinea pig’s home is best for his/her feet. Wire bottom cages can be sharp and uncomfortable as well as difficult to clean.

Lumps

Common name for two types of naturally occurring bacteria overgrowth in the mouth which spreads through the bloodstream into the cervical lymph nodes of a guinea pig. Poor quality hay is the usual culprit. These growths can eventually abscess and be very uncomfortable.

Symptoms

Swollen lymph nodes, a weak, lethargic guinea pig. Loss of interest in eating and/or drinking.

Diagnosis

In the hospital we will take a cotton-tipped swab and culture the inside of your guinea pig’s mouth to determine which bacteria are present.

Treatment

Complete surgical removal of the affected lymph nodes is recommended to treat.

Prevention

Lumps can be prevented by always making sure your guinea pig's diet and hay is fresh and rotated often. Timothy hay is the best variety of hay for your guinea pig. Sometimes stress can cause this bacterial overgrowth so keep your guinea pig away from factors that cause him/her to be scared, threatened, too cold, or too hot.

Ringworm

A fungal skin infection, not a worm. This is the only infection that can be spread to humans, but easily treatable with a cream at home. It can be prevented in humans by washing your hands after handling your pig.

Symptoms

A ring-like red rash on the skin. This rash can be itchy and uncomfortable to your guinea pig.

Diagnosis

In the hospital we will pluck a few hairs off your guinea pig and place them inside a culture jar and left to grow. Fungus appears within 3 days and then ringworm fungus may be detected.

Treatment

Ringworm can be treated with a topical cream at home. It usually resolves within a week.

Malocclusion

The overgrowth of a guinea pig's teeth. Guinea pigs have open-rooted (hyposodonic) incisors, premolars and molars that grow continuously. Genetic disposition (in breeding), poor diet, lack of Vitamin C, trauma, or infection can cause the teeth to overgrow.

Symptoms

Weight loss, lethargy, the inability to chew food, and excessive salivation ("slobbers").

Diagnosis

Careful examination of the guinea pig's mouth and teeth. The mouth of a guinea pig is very narrow, which makes it difficult to see the back teeth. An otoscope or other scope can be used to see the back teeth.

Treatment

Trimming the teeth with brief sedation routinely (every 4 – 6 weeks) for the rest of the guinea pig’s life.

Prevention

Proper diet, Vitamin C supplementation.

Respiratory Diseases

Bordetella bronchiseptica and Streptococcus pneumonia are two bacterial infections that guinea pigs are susceptiable to. If not treated, these bacteria infections can be deadly for a guinea pig.

Symptoms

Lethargy, depression, coughing or sneezing, disinterest in food.

Diagnosis

Using a cotton-tipped swab we can collect a sample of the bacteria from your guinea pigs to isolate the bacteria type and then, treat accordingly with medication at home.

Treatment

Antibiotics given orally at home are commonly used to treat these upper-respiratory diseases. If the disease is more advanced; hospitalization with fluid therapy, oxygen administration, Vitamin C supplementation, and hand-feeding may be necessary.

Prevention

Keep your guinea pig separated from rabbits and unvaccinated (Bordetella) dogs. Keep your guinea pig’s environment as stress-free as you can. Clean your guinea pig's cage and bedding often to keep bacteria out.

Bacterial Diarrhea

Salmonella typhimurium and Salmonella enteritidis are two types of bacteria, which are usually transmitted by fecal contamination of food. Guinea pigs that are stressed, particularly young and pregnant guinea pigs, and those with nutritional deficiencies are more susceptible.

Symptoms

Lethargy, depression, diarrhea, poor haircoat, disinterest in food.

Diagnosis

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Prevention

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