Guinea Pig Awareness Week – Day 4

Health

As with all animals it’s important to keep your guinea pigs healthy and happy. An average lifespan for a guinea pig can be anywhere from 4 to 8 years. Knowing the signs of ill health and seeking veterinary care early can make all the difference in your guinea pig’s recovery or they could become very poorly.

A healthy and happy guinea pig is full of life, active and alert with bright eyes, good fur and is talkative!! If you can understand the signs have concerns regarding your guinea pig seek our vets advice.

Common Health Problems in Guinea Pigs

Vitamin C deficiency

Unfortunately, Guinea pigs cannot make their own vitamin C, so they need to get this from their diet. If your guinea pig’s diet is lacking in vitamin C and they don’t get enough they are very vulnerable to getting diseases such as scurvy, which can make your guinea pig lethargic and tired. It can make it hard for them to walk, and they can develop small wounds. Feeding them a balanced diet can help to reduce the risks of Vitamin C deficiency.

Fleas & Mites

Guinea pigs can get fleas and lice. They are also susceptible to developing mite infestations. If you notice your guinea pig scratching constantly (which can lead to them losing their hair and developing sore patches) then seek our vets advice and treatment asap.

Ringworm

The signs of ringworm include excessive scratching which can lead to hair loss and crusty lesions forming on your guinea pigs skin. The good news is that it can be easily treated with some prescribed anti-fungal medication from one of our vets.

Pododermatitis

You may of heard of this as bumblefoot. This is where pressure sores develop on the soles of guinea pigs’ feet. The main cause of pododermatitis is a guinea pig walking on hard surfaces or wire mesh cages. To help prevent pododermatitis, always make sure your guinea pigs flooring is covered with soft, comfortable hay.

Dental disease

Guinea pigs teeth constantly grow. Keeping their teeth healthy is important to prevent them developing painful dental problems which can cause them to stop eating. The best way to do this is to feed them a high fibre diet allowing them to chew throughout the day (and also keeping an eye on their teeths health).

Flystrike

Flystrike can be a fatal condition if left untreated or not caught soon enough. It occurs when flies lay their eggs around a guinea pig’s bottom. The eggs then hatch into maggots which eat away at the surrounding flesh. In the summer months it is best to check your guinea pigs twice a day for flystrike. If you see any symptoms of flystrike, call our team immediately.