Medical Care for Guinea Pigs

Nothing is better than a good regular check up for your little piggies. That will not only keep them healthy but also prevent them from any future illness.

Mites -- These are small bugs that live under the skin so shots or oral medication will be needed. A veterinarian will give invemection shots for several weeks. You can use invemection paste for horses in small pea doses once a week for three weeks. The only danger of this is you may over dose your Guinea pig.

Bumble Foot -- The symptoms include swelling and slight redness in the foot. This is potentially dangerous so treat with antibiotics immediately.

Worms -- Seen as white streaks in the Guinea pig’s droppings. Please take your pet to the vet as soon as possible.

Lice -- Lice are small bugs that can be seen moving around the roots of the hair. This can be treated with a shampoo or spray containing pyrethyrines. This must be applied every 6(six) days for three weeks on account lice can live for up to 14 days.

Vitamin C Deficiency -- signs of deficiency includes stiffness, difficulty walking, even paralysis. Some of the foods you can give to supplement your animals diet is red and green bell pepper, kale, leaf lettus and other green vegies.

Diarrhea -- This is something to really watch since it can kill your pet within a day. This can be caused by several different things such as: bacteria, too many green vegies, and a change in the brand of food you give them. Ways to correct the problem is to cut back the greens, or add the new brand of food in with the old one until the change is complete. In most cases Timothy hay in large quantities can help. If the problem keeps up take them to the vet immediately.

Ovarian Cysts -- This is a bacteria filled sack that forms on and kills the cavies by bursting. The symptom includes a baldness on both sides of its body. This will be just forward of the hips on the abdomen. Surgery is the recommended procedure for this illness.

Respiratory Distress -- This could be caused by the animal being in a draft, getting too cold, or simply being stressed. Some of the signs include sneezing, runny noses, and possibly a clicking noise in the chest when it breathes. Your Guinea pig will need an antibiotic so take them to a vet as soon as possible.

Enteritis -- Leading cause of death that could be could. Symptoms include a low temperature, which causes the pig to remain immobile, listless, not eating, or drinking. First, put him on a heating pad and give him anti-gas liquid made for infants such as Sumethicone. Next, give him pedialyte and get them to the vet as soon as possible.

The Complete Guinea Pig Guide.

GuineaPig Secrets Revealed. - All About Guinea Pigs.