Diarrhea often occurs as a symptom of a secondary condition, including disease, infection or improper diet, all causing the guinea pig's digestive system to become upset. Whatever the reason, diarrhea needs to be treated promptly, as it can lead to dehydration and even death in severe cases.

 

Symptoms

 

Guinea pigs suffering from diarrhea may display symptoms such as:

 

• Lethargy
• Dehydration
• Loss of appetite
• Abdominal pain
• Loose, watery stool
• Soiling of the fur near the genital and anal area
• Dull and depressed appearance
• Rough hair coat
• Sunken eyeballs
• Hunched posture
• Abnormally low body temperature (in severe cases)

 

Causes

 

Bacterial, viral and parasitic infections can all lead to digestive problems in guinea pigs, and thus diarrhea. A diet consisting of more grains and soluble sugars and little or no fiber can also cause diarrhea in guinea pigs, as it can upset the bacterial population and increase the harmful bacteria inside the animal's digestive system.

 

Diagnosis

 

Other than observing your guinea pig's clinical signs, your veterinarian will confirm a diagnosis of diarrhea by completing a dietary history of the animal and examining its blood and stool samples for infectious organisms.

 

Treatment

 

It is important that your guinea pig drinks enough water. If your guinea pig is refusing to drink, your veterinarian may provide additional fluids intravenously. Antibiotics should only be used when absolutely necessary because their use can worsen the imbalance of bacteria in the digestive tract.

 

Living and Management

 

Dietary management is essential, regardless of the cause of diarrhea. Feeding your guinea pig plain yogurt with active cultures, or the commercial supplement probiotic, may help restore the healthy balance of "good" bacteria in its digestive tract. Otherwise, provide plenty of water for your guinea pig to drink.

 

Prevention

 

Ensuring that adequate roughage is included in your pet’s diet can prevent diet-related diarrhea. Diarrhea due to an infection, on the other hand, may be prevented by keeping the guinea pig's bedding, water bottle, and living environment clean and sanitized; promptly removing uneaten food before it rots can also reduce the level of disease-causing organisms.

Malocclusion and Other Dental Diseases

 

Guinea pigs suffer from various kinds of dental diseases, the most common being improper alignment of teeth, otherwise known as malocclusion. Another dental disease is slobbers. This occurs when a guinea pig's teeth become overgrown, making it difficult to swallow or chew, and causing the animal to salivate more than necessary. These and other dental diseases require immediate veterinary care, as they can lead to secondary complications, if left untreated.

 

Symptoms

 

• Improper alignment of the teeth
• Weight loss
• Bleeding from the mouth
• Oral abscesses
• Sinus infections
• Difficulty eating (e.g., bits of food can be seen coming out the side of the mouth)

 

Causes

 

A guinea pig's teeth continuously grows throughout its life. And when its teeth or jaws are misaligned, the teeth can become overgrown, causing chewing or swallowing difficulties and producing excess saliva. This condition is sometimes referred to as slobbers. Meanwhile, reasons for malocclusion include heredity, injury, or dietary imbalances, such as a lack of vitamin C or of certain minerals.

 

Diagnosis

Your veterinarian will conduct a thorough physical examination and check your guinea pig’s mouth for any kind of dental diseases or abnormalities. In the case of malocclusion, the diagnosis is made when the animal's teeth are not properly aligned. You veterinarian may also ask for the guinea pig's dietary history.

Treatment

If your guinea pig is slobbering or drooling, your veterinarian will evaluate this problem carefully. The molars in the back of the mouth are often the cause for this problem, even if the guinea pig's front teeth are normal. Some teeth may need to be clipped or filed to help your pet's jaw close properly. If the problem continues, monthly dental visits with your veterinarian may be necessary. Your veterinarian may also prescribe calcium and other vitamin and mineral supplements if the guinea pig has nutritional deficiencies.

Living and Management

Regularly administer the medications prescribed and diet formulated by your veterinarian to help remove the dietary imbalances. In addition, bring your guinea pig into the veterinarian's office for its regular follow-up appointments.

Prevention

Malocclusion and dental diseases developing due to dietary reasons can be prevented by feeding your guinea pig a well-balanced, nutritious diet, and supplementing any minerals or vitamins the animal may be lacking in vitamin c

Pregnancy & Birth

When a guinea pig has difficulty giving birth or there is a birthing abnormality, the condition is called dystocia. Though this condition is rarely encountered in guinea pigs, dystocia can occur in very young females when they are bred early before the uterus and pelvic bones have fully developed. Dystocia may also occur when the fetus is abnormally large or in misplaced fetuses or the hip bones have begun fusing together as is possible after 5 months in guinea pigs. 

 

When dystocia is suspected, a veterinarian should be asked to tend to the case to prevent any complications from developing. The veterinarian will use hormonal aids like oxytocin to help the guinea pig deliver the pup in an easier manner. If the guinea pig still faces difficulty giving birth, surgical delivery in the way of c-section may be done.

 

Symptoms

• Labor exceeding one hour
• Discomfort
• Partial birth
• Pregnancy past due date

 

Causes

 

Dystocia in guinea pigs may be observed with an abnormally large or misplaced fetus, or in young females bred too early. Poorly conditioned females may also develop a condition in which uterine contractions weaken or stop, or they may lack sufficient strength to deliver the pups.

 

Diagnosis

 

Diagnosis is based on the symptoms observed. If the guinea pig has passed the due date and still not delivered, your veterinarian might want to check on your guinea pigs  condition by taking an X-ray of the uterus.

 

Treatment

 

If labor continues for more than one hour, your veterinarian would suspect a case of dystocia and administer Oxytcoin, a medicine that helps labor progress. If the guinea pig continues to experience difficulty giving birth, a Cesarean section would be performed.

 

Living and Management

 

A guinea pig that has undergone dystocia and is recovering should be given good rest in a clean and safe environment. Any supportive care as mentioned by your veterinarian should be administered routinely. Guinea pigs in post-operative care following a C-section should be given supportive therapy to help the operation wound heal.

 

Prevention

 

Giving a good nutritious diet to your guinea pigs and avoiding breeding at a very early age can prevent dystocia due to these causes from developing. It is advisable to take a scan or an X-ray midway through gestation to check for any abnormalities in the fetus. If such cases are found, it is better to terminate the pregnancy to prevent dystocia from developing.

 

Read Wanda Curran's Book "Kids Guide to Raising Guinea Pigs" which really should be called an Adults guide to raising guinea pigs because it is so informative. 

 

Cavy Care Inc is support of parents who suddenly find themselves caring for a pregnant female. We are NOT supportive of breeds. Just because the ticket at the store says $34.00 ea. that is not what they are purchased for at wholesale and most large commercial places are NOT going to buy from some back yard breeder when they are dealing with a commercial supplier who quarantines the quality of their animals. Mom and pops on the other hand will purchase from these folks. If a breeder is reputable they are licensed and visible and not opposed to showing you their operations.