What Kinds of Health Problems Do Guinea Pigs Have?
Health problems in guinea pigs housed alone often relate to aging, dental disease, reproductive issues, injuries, or poor care. Infectious diseases (bacteria, viruses) are more common in animals kept in groups. Internal parasites, like worms, are uncommon in older guinea pigs but can appear in young animals housed in groups. Tumors are rare in young animals but more common after age 5.
Treating infections can be complicated in guinea pigs because they are sensitive to many antibiotics.
Preventing health problems in guinea pigs is crucial. Provide an appropriate diet every day, clean water, soft bedding, frequent cage cleaning and disinfection, low-stress housing, and adequate exercise to decrease disease risk.
Do Guinea Pigs Get Dental Disease?
Yes. Dental problems are common in guinea pigs. Because guinea pigs’ teeth grow continuously, misalignment of upper and lower teeth (called ‘‘malocclusion”) can cause tooth overgrowth, sharp tooth edges, pain while chewing, and difficulty eating. Causes include poor genetics, insufficient chewing (not enough hay), or vitamin C deficiency. Dental disease can lead to drooling (“slobbers”), weight loss, mouth bleeding, tooth root infections (abscesses), and discharge from the nose or eyes.
Teeth, guinea pig
If your guinea pig drools or stops eating, see a vet quickly. Often the molars at the back of the mouth cause problems even when the front teeth look normal. Your veterinarian may take skull x-rays to assess the teeth and may need to clip or file teeth. Chronic cases may require regular, repeated dental trimming every month.
Do Guinea Pigs Get Digestive Problems?
Yes. Digestive problems are common in guinea pigs and usually stem from inappropriate diets or infections. Signs of digestive upset include diarrhea, small stools, weight loss, low energy, lack of appetite, and dehydration. Some guinea pigs may decline rapidly and die suddenly. Others show rough fur, staining around the rear end, hunched posture, dull eyes, stomach pain, and weakness.
Dietary fiber is essential to proper health in guinea pigs. Hay provides fiber that helps maintain their normal gut bacteria responsible for proper digestion. A lack of hay or too many pellets (high in carbohydrates) can lead to diarrhea, painful gas, bloating, and loss of appetite. Increasing hay and cutting back on pellets, and sometimes giving probiotics prescribed by a veterinarian, can help restore normal gut bacteria.
If a guinea pig is not eating and is dehydrated, a veterinarian may give fluids by injection and start syringe feeding with a liquid formula. Keep feeding and water equipment clean, remove uneaten food, and sanitize the cage to decrease infection risk.
Do Guinea Pigs Get Eye or Ear Infections?
Eye infections (conjunctivitis) in guinea pigs cause watering, crusting, and redness and are often linked to the bacteria that cause respiratory infections. Treatment may include antibiotics, but when giving your guinea pig antibiotics or other medications, always follow the vet's instructions and monitor for reactions such as decreased appetite or diarrhea.
Ear infections often affect the middle or inner ear and can occur with respiratory disease. Signs can include ear discharge, decreased appetite from pain when chewing, deafness, head tilt, imbalance, circling, or rolling. Veterinarians may need x-rays or CT scans to diagnose the infection. Treatment for ear infections may include antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs.
Do Guinea Pigs Have Reproductive Problems?
Yes. Common reproductive issues in guinea pigs include ovarian cysts and breast or reproductive tract tumors. Ovarian cysts are common in females over one year old and usually affect both ovaries. Symptoms may include hair loss, decreased appetite, and low energy.
Veterinarians diagnose reproductive problems in guinea pigs using ultrasound or x-rays. Treatment is typically surgery to remove ovaries and uterus (spaying). Untreated cysts can grow, press on organs, cause discomfort, or rupture.
Bacterial infections in the reproductive tract can spread from one guinea pig to another by sexual contact, causing infertility, stillbirths, or fetal death. A veterinarian can treat these infections with antibiotics.
Dystocia (difficult labor) is a serious problem in guinea pigs, because the pelvic cartilage in female guinea pigs normally stiffens with age, making it harder for the pelvis to spread when females are giving birth. C-sections are risky and have a poor survival rate for the mother. Prevent pregnancy by housing opposite-sex guinea pigs separately or by spaying and neutering.
Do Guinea Pigs Get Respiratory Disease?
Yes, respiratory disease, or disease that affects the lungs and airways, is fairly common in guinea pigs and can progress quickly. Seek veterinary care immediately if your guinea pig has breathing difficulty. Pneumonia is a leading cause of death, especially in young guinea pigs, and is usually caused by bacteria. Signs include nasal or eye discharge or redness, sneezing, difficulty breathing, weight loss, weakness, and loss of appetite. Advanced cases can lead to severe breathing problems and death.
Veterinarians diagnose respiratory infections in guinea pigs using physical examination, chest x-rays, and lab results. Treatment may include fluids, syringe feeding, oxygen therapy, vitamin C, and antibiotics chosen carefully to avoid altering normal gut bacteria. If antibiotics cause diarrhea, stop them and contact the vet immediately. Keep guinea pigs that show symptoms separated from others, and thoroughly clean shared cages to prevent spread of infection.
Some guinea pigs can carry certain respiratory bacteria in their nose and throat with no symptoms and then spread infection to others by sneezing or coughing. Stress, age, or immune problems can cause these infections to become severe in otherwise healthy animals.
Can I Give Antibiotics to My Guinea Pig?
Many common antibiotics are dangerous for guinea pigs. Guinea pigs are herbivores (plant eaters) that rely on a population of normal gut bacteria for proper digestion of food. As a result, they are sensitive to many antibiotics and other drugs that can upset these bacteria. Some antibiotics that are safe for other pets can harm guinea pigs, causing severe digestive upset, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and even death. Never give medications to a guinea pig without a veterinarian’s guidance.
