Guinea pigs are extremely fragile, and are more prone to illness then other pets. Guinea pigs are normally very active animals, and signs of any health problems become immediately visible. The deterioration rate of guinea pig is quick and it could result in sudden death if not treated properly. There is no substitute for taking your guinea pig for an exam/checkup to a competent vet. If you suspect your guinea pig is ill, do not hesitate to ask your veterinarian. It is better to be safe than sorry.

Here are the most common symptoms of illness in guinea pig:

Sneezing & Discharge from the Nose

Sometimes, your guinea pig can become allergic to his bedding. Clean the cage and change the bedding. If that doesn’t help, remove him from the area completely.

Coughing, Labored Breathing and Wheezing

Constant coughing can be a sign of a serious illness. If the coughing is accompanied by wheezing or labored breathing, contact your veterinarian immediately, as it is most likely a respiratory infection. It is caused by congestion in the lungs, and can lead to pneumonia if left untreated.

Scratching

Excessive scratching is normally a sign of parasites or a fungal infection. Check for parasites by brushing their hair and inspecting the skin. Lice are normally a small brown color. With parasites, use medicated shampoo and immediately clean and disinfect the cage.

Milky-White or Pink Urine

Extremely clear/white urine could mean an increased level of calcium, as this can lead to bladder stones in some guinea pigs. Adjust his diet promptly and take him to your veterinarian. Pink urine indicates blood in the urine and is often an indicator of bladder stones. If your guinea pig shows blood in his urine, you should get to him to the vet immediately.

Diarrhea or Soft Stool

Often times, this is a symptom of imbalanced diet – too much or a new vegetable in his diet. Adjust the diet and feed your guinea pig grass hay, and lactobacillus acidophilus in capsule form. If your guinea pig’s condition does not improve within hours, rush her to a vet. Your guinea pig can die if diarrhea is left untreated.

Hair Loss

There are many different reasons for hair loss in a guinea pig, including mites. Massive hair loss across the body is caused by ringworm, and sometimes ovarian cysts. You should call your vet and ask for advice.

Watery Eyes

Watery eyes are often caused by irritants in the eye, like excessive dust. Allergies are also common source.  You can try to rinse the irritants out on your own or let your vet do it. Sometimes, however, eye sores are caused by cysts on the eyelid, and these need to be removed by a trained veterinarian.

Stiff Joints

The main reason is deficiency of Vitamin C, and needs to be treated immediately. Call your vet to schedule an appointment. Make sure that your pig is getting at least 10 mg of calcium a day!

Head Tilting

If your piggy is tilting his head to one side, and having issues walking, it’s probably a middle-ear infection. Get him to the vet as soon as possible, as this can damage your guinea pig’s hearing.

Seizures

Most seizures involve, in addition to the head lift or tilt, twitching of the muscles and eyes, which can last for several minutes after the seizure has passed. There are two ‘types’ of seizures. If his head is straight up in the air, without a tilt, then he’s probably got mites that burrow under often attack the nervous system.

Tilting head to one side or curling body during the seizure can be caused by a variety of factors: genetic seizure disorders to dietary problems. Head to the vet as soon as possible to determine the cause.

For more information on health problems in guinea pigs click here.