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Guineapig:  Most frequent diseases.   Vet Dr. Tiger gives information and advice.

Of the many diseases guinea pigs may have, only the most       important ones will be described hereafter. In case of hair       loss, skin scab, sticky pelage, problems regarding the       position of the teeth, feed refusal, diarrhoea and the like, the       vet must be consulted. Warning signs must also be seen in       case of apathy, breathing problems or circular, hairless       spots. The sooner a diagnosis is made and a specific       therapy initiated, the quicklier an animal may recover. Most of the diseases are not dangerous for the human being. Caution must be taken in case of transmissible parasites like mange mites! A summary of the most frequently occuring diseases of the guinea pigs follows hereafter.

Disease	Causes	Symptoms	Visit veterinarian?
Airway problems	Infections, low humidity, unbalanced feed, bad posture	Tiredness, lack of appetite, sneezing, nasal discharge, fever	Go to see a vet
Teeth abnormalities	Congenital faulty teeth conformations, insufficient rub of the incisor and molar teeth	Increased salivation, lack of appetite, emaciation, weakness	Go to see a vet
Inflations (bloat)	Abrupt change in feed, excessive green roughage	Flat breething, abdominal pains, inflated body	Withdraw feed during 24 hours, afterwards only hay, go to see a vet maybe
Diarrhoea	Infections, unbalanced feeding, abrupt change in feed	Diarrhoea, inflated body, very audible bowel sounds	Exclusive feeding of hay, maybe feeding of droppings of healthy guinea pigs
Excessive claw growth	Insufficient wear and tear due to lack of run, too soft floor	Too long and partly misshaped craws	Have craws trimmed by a vet
Biting lice	Various species	Shaggy pelage, itching, loss of hair, emaciation, disquiet of the animals	Go to see a vet
Mange mites	Various species	Heavy itching, loss of hair, inflammations, scab formation	Go to see a vet
Metabolic disorder	Especially vitamin C deficiency	Appearance of paralysis, swollen articulations, bleeding in the muscular system, movement reluctance ,death	Go to see a vet
Meningitis	Meningococcus or viral infection	Vomiting, sudden temperature, coordination disorder	Go to see a vet

Self-Medication

Many indispositions and serious diseases of the animals can be avoided by keeping them appropriate to their species. In this context it is also necessary to make a weekly examination. When doing this, the pelage, the skin, the chin, the region all around the anus, the correct dental arcade and the length of the claws have to be examined. Most diseases of the guinea pigs are the result of not keeping them appropriate to their species (unfortunately still the most frequently occuring cause of death). The most common mistakes are: Individual cage, unsuitable feed in too large quantities, not enough water, draught, too low or too high ambient air temperature, soaked bedding material, insufficient rub of the teeth due to lack of gnawing material, sudden change in feed, not enough room, not enough run out yard. Should a guinea pig, however, fall ill notwithstanding his being kept appropriate to his species, it is advisable to go to see a vet as quickly as possible and not to try a self-treatment at home.The vet will then tell you if and how your guinea pig can be treated by yourself.

Emergency situations

In general, real emergency situations hardly ever occur in the case of guinea pigs. Unless children carry them around and let them fall or one steps on an animal when they move freely around the room. The diseases are usually preceded by corresponding symptoms so that there is enough time to go to see the vet early. In case of parturitions, however, it may happen that only a quick operation can protect the dam and the offspring from dying.

When to consult the veterinarian?

It is far better to go to see the vet too often than to risk the life of a guinea pig. This is also important for one's own protection because a series of diseases are tansmissible to human beings. To cite an example: Mange mites or also certain infections of the airways.