10 Top Guinea Pig Sick Symptoms
A great guinea pig owner it is always easy to figure out guinea pig sick symptoms if you pay close attention to your guinea pig activities daily.
If you have a guinea pig, you know that they’re one of the most unique and lovable animals around.
They are also susceptible to a number of illnesses that can be difficult to spot.
If you notice any unusual signs in your pet, don’t hesitate to call your vet immediately.
Guinea Pig Sick Symptoms
Here are some common symptoms that might indicate a health problem:
Significant hair loss
Hair loss can be one of the most common symptoms of a Guinea pig illness.
Hair loss is not always caused by serious illness, but it may be a sign that your pet has been fighting an infection or experiencing stress.
Sometimes, it’s hard to tell whether a hair loss is due to stress or an illness until after the fact!
If you notice your guinea pig losing its hair in patches over several days, consider bringing them in for a checkup with its veterinarian if possible.
The vet should be able to determine what might be causing this problem and recommend treatment options based on their findings.
Hair loss can also occur as part of another issue called “seborrhea” (hair balling).
This condition occurs when there are too many dead skin cells stuck inside the hair follicles instead of being pushed out by the sebaceous glands located at each side (underneath)
Where they meet up with each other via nerves running through them all together.
So they know which direction they need to go next time around; however sometimes due to certain factors such as poor diet quality etc.
Frequent lethargy
Lethargy is a common symptom of illness in guinea pigs.
If your guinea pig is lethargic and unresponsive to its surroundings, it could be a sign of illness.
Your guinea pig’s behavior should be normal and active, not sluggish or listless.
If you notice any changes in this area, contact your veterinarian immediately for further diagnosis and treatment options.
Runny nose or eyes
A runny nose or eyes are a common sign of illness in guinea pigs.
This may be caused by bacterial infections, which can spread to the lungs and cause pneumonia.
If your guinea pig is sneezing, it could be due to a respiratory infection; if it’s wheezing and breathing rapidly, it may have asthma.
Red or swollen ears
If your guinea pig is experiencing redness, swelling, and pain in its ears, this could be the result of an infection or allergy.
It’s also possible that your guinea pig has been exposed to something that irritates its ears—like a dust mite or moldy food.
If you notice redness and swelling in your guinea pig’s ears, take it to the vet immediately, so they can make sure everything is okay!
Sudden weight gain or loss
If your guinea pig suddenly loses or gains weight, this could be a sign of illness.
In addition to being underweight, your pet may also exhibit other symptoms that could indicate a health problem.
If you notice that your guinea pig has lost significant amounts of weight in a short period of time (five days or less), it’s likely that something is wrong with their diet—they’re not eating enough food!
You can try adding more variety to their diet by offering them different types of treats every day until they get back on track with their regular schedule.
This will help keep them from getting too hungry and then becoming stressed out when faced with an empty stomach later on down the road (which leads us back around again).
If this doesn’t work immediately after starting our new regimen but still happens again later down the line though.
Constant vomiting and diarrhea
Constant vomiting and diarrhea are common sick signs in guinea pigs.
If your guinea pig is vomiting more than usual, it may be sick.
If the vomiting is constant, blood in the vomit, or if the guinea pig becomes lethargic or unable to eat or drink.
It is likely that the guinea pig is seriously ill and should be seen by a veterinarian.
Hard lumps under the skin
Lumps are a common symptom of illness in guinea pigs. They can be caused by tumors, abscesses, cysts, and infections.
If you see a lump on your guinea pig’s skin, it’s best to consult a vet as soon as possible.
Bowel Problems
You may notice your guinea pig is eating less than usual, or not at all.
This can be a sign of a medical problem, and you should contact a veterinarian immediately if this happens.
If your guinea pig has diarrhea and is not eating, it’s important to clean his cage more often so that the smell doesn’t spread through the rest of the house.
Appetite changes
Keep in mind that if your guinea pig is eating less, it could be a sign of illness.
If your guinea pig is eating more than usual, but not gaining weight, this could also be a sign of illness.
If your guinea pig has no appetite at all and refuses food or water, this may indicate that something is wrong with its digestive system.
Changes in behavior
If you aren’t sure what your guinea pig’s new behavior means, ask your vet, because a change in behavior could be a sign of illness.
The vet can usually tell you whether or not something is wrong with your guinea pig, and if so, how to treat it.
If you don’t treat it, the disease could get worse and cause more serious health problems for your pet.
You don’t want this to happen—so make sure that all of these symptoms are taken care of as soon as possible!
Read more: 9 Reasons Why Guinea Pigs Bite.
When to take a sick guinea pig to a veterinarian
If you notice any change in your guinea pig’s behavior, such as becoming lethargic or having trouble eating or drinking, take your pet to the veterinarian as soon as possible.
A variety of illnesses can be serious and require immediate veterinary care.
Some of the most common signs of illness in guinea pigs include:
- Lethargy
- Inability to eat or drink
- Weight loss
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Low energy
- Irritability
- Trouble breathing
Ways to care for a sick guinea pig
The following are some common ways to care for a sick guinea pig:
- Keep them warm and dry
- Make sure the guinea pig has plenty of fresh water and hay.
- Give them medication if needed
- Keep them away from other animals
- Provide a comfortable home
- Give the guinea pig antibiotics if it is needed.
- Try to keep them as healthy as possible
- Check the guinea pig for signs of illness regularly and take appropriate action.
Conclusion
When you own guinea pigs, you want to be able to provide them with the best care possible.
Unfortunately, these small animals are susceptible to a variety of illnesses, and sometimes it’s difficult to tell if your guinea pig is sick.
Performing daily health checks can help you spot any abnormalities before they become serious.
It’s important that everyone involved in caring for your pet knows how far out of the ordinary his or her routine should be before calling a professional.
If an animal isn’t acting normally but continues without improvement over time (several days or weeks), then there may be something wrong—and the sooner this is caught the better!
