My pig is coughing but is eating and drinking. Fungal is a skin infection that affects common areas such as the guinea pig's nose, paws and back. A change of bedding material may in this case make a big difference, or the pig may have an allergy to pollen in the immediate environs of its cage or habitat. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. My guinea pig has a small bald spot with a red raised sore, like a lesion. Guinea pig ailments can be hard to diagnose. This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. A respiratory infection could also cause your guinea pig’s conjunctiva, the inner part of your guinea pig’s eyelids, to become red. Rat Mites. Expect to give these to your guinea pig once a day, using a syringe. Vitamin C dietary supplements are also available. There are a variety of diseases and issues that can affect the health of your guinea pigs eyes but some of these problems are seen more commonly than others. If you notice infrequent urination or bloody urine, call your veterinarian right away and they will do some tests to determine the cause. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. ", How to Treat Respiratory Problems in Guinea Pigs, http://azeah.com/guinea-pigs/respiratory-infections, http://www.netvet.co.uk/guinea%20pigs/respiratory-problems.htm, http://www.petmd.com/exotic/conditions/respiratory/c_ex_gp_bordetella_bronchisepta_infection#, http://www.merckvetmanual.com/pethealth/exotic_pets/guinea_pigs/disorders_and_diseases_of_guinea_pigs.html, http://www.petmd.com/exotic/conditions/respiratory/c_ex_gp_bordetella_bronchisepta_infection?page=2, http://www.mypetsdentist.com/guinea-pig-dental-care.pml, http://www.guinealynx.info/bedding_avoid.html#cedar, http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/guinea_pigs/tips/guinea_pig_housing.html, http://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/rabbits/company/rabbitsandguineapigs, http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=18+1800&aid=620, tratar problemas respiratorios en cobayas, Tratar Problemas Respiratórios em Porquinhos da Índia, Trattare i Problemi Respiratori dei Porcellini d'India, traiter les problèmes respiratoires chez les cobayes, Please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. When this dries up the lesions become dry and scaly. Please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Guinea pigs cannot go long without eating before their digestive tract shuts down on them. … Guinea Pig Care. Chicago Exotics Animal Hospital, 2020, Spaying And Neutering Guinea Pigs. Companion Animals Extension, 2020. My guinea pig is not eating. My guinea pig has a scratch on her nose which has bled and looks very sore. If the antibiotic comes in liquid form, you can use a medicine dropper to put the prescribed number of drops into the corner of your guinea pig’s mouth. Take notice of your guinea pig's cage location and be sure to keep them away from drafts, open doors, and open windows. The vet took a swab and did a micro-stain in the office (4-5 minutes) and identified a yeast infection -- Candida. It … Allergies, another type of respiratory problem, can make your guinea pig’s nose red and sore from a lot of itching and scratching. Adrienne Kruzer, RVT, has worked with a variety of animals for over 15 years, including birds of prey, reptiles, and small mammals. Guinea pigs can present with crusty sores around their mouth / lip area and up towards the nose. Wounds Flystrike in pets gives nightmares to all the pet owners. Allergies, another type of respiratory problem, can make your guinea pig’s nose red and sore from a lot of itching and scratching. Thanks for the tips and advice. In guinea pigs, the tufts of hair may be stuck together by a crust of exudate (the skin beneath may exude serum). 3 Take note of your guinea pig… If your guinea pig has red, runny eyes and a sore nose, with wet snuffling but no laboured breathing, it may be an allergy. If your guinea pig has hair loss and is itching or scratching a lot, it may have lice or mites. The thought of having these things in your houseâmuch less on the guinea pigâmay make you itch all over. X Make sure it is eating and defecating, wash your hands before and after handling, freeze your pet's bedding and food before use, and keep it away from drafts. If you have 2 guinea pigs, their cage should be at least 30 inches x 50 inches (76 cm x 127 cm). All guinea pigs are different and even the five most common health ailments can present differently in different animals. It looks just like a cold sore on your guinea pig's lips and/or nose. Monitor food intake and be aware of how any changes may have impacted your pet. By knowing what is most commonly seen, you can be better prepared to monitor for signs and symptoms that your guinea pig may be getting sick. Chest x-rays will show whether your guinea pig has pneumonia. Damp bedding can become moldy and increase your guinea pig's chances of getting sick. Oral Nilstat Consult your vet for advice to make sure he doesn't have an infection. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. How do you treat it? Diet and proper vitamin C levels are important when it comes to keeping … There is no set length of treatment for respiratory problems in guinea pigs. With a reduced appetite, your guinea pig will lose weight. She has a habit of rubbing her nose against the metal wire of her cage … There for a while I would give him oranges everyday, but I stopped because I read that was too much acid. The extreme cold temperatures will kill off any potential parasites that may have been lurking in the packages. Rinse the cage and let it dry completely. This can be done after the guinea pig is 6 months old. A sick guinea pig may have diarrhea or discharge from the eyes or nose. Regular inspection of the guinea pig’s hair, skin, ears, nose, mouth, feet and body, together with We use cookies to make wikiHow great. The guinea pigs did not contract rhinovirus infection. A variety of viruses and bacteria can cause respiratory ailments in guinea pigs. This causes discomfort and can actually be life-threatening. Harkness and Wagner describe the lesions as "oviod, hairless, scaling "sore spots" with crusts or scabs over raised areas." If your guinea pig has dental disease, skull x-rays will help your vet see the extent of the disease. Things as simple as moving the cage or introducing a new guinea pig, or an upper respiratory infection or ectoparasites like lice can stress your guinea pig out enough so that it doesn't eat and develops ileus. I can feel her bones, and she has bald splotches on her with an outer red circle around it. You should also check your pet’s ears for oozing or irritation and examine its feet for sores or broken nails. If the guinea pig shows any sign of discomfort, winces, or squeaks during the palpating time, it might indicate skin sores, mite inflation, or parasite attacks. Your guinea pig may also appear sick, such as worsened fur, smaller from weight loss and without any appetite, as well as lack of activity and energy. (Source: Common Cold by Ronald Eccles and Olaf Weber, 2009, p. 115) There are 18 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. The problem could be to do with anorexia in guinea pigs, where the animal refuses to eat or drink due to issues to do with bacterial or respiratory problems. To rule out anything else or to look for internal issues, an annual physical examination with your exotics vet is always recommended. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. Ringworm commonly starts around the head area, unlike mites, which often presents as a “V” shape on the back. Take note that allergies can cause a sore nose because of scratching and rubbing it. If you or your family are feeling ill, it's best to keep your germs to yourself. Your guinea pigs feet should be soft and free from cuts or sores. I thought the acid was the cause of the sores on his nose and eyes, but they don't wanna get any better. Abscesses under the skin are very common in guinea pigs. Lice, sarcoptic mange mites (scabies), and Demodex mange mites (Demodex) are conditions that can all cause itching and hair loss. Guinea pigs can suffer from fungus, like ringworm. Call a specialized exotic vet as soon as you can. "I have a sick guinea pig and I didn't know everything I need to do and this for sure helped me. Lice and their eggs are usually seen in the bald patches behind your guinea pig's ears and the mites can be seen microscopically all over the body. His physical appearance will worsen. Guinea pigs’ teeth don’t stop growing, so ignoring their dental needs can cause them a great deal of suffering. Apply the Nilstat to the guinea pig’s lips and nose area and also give it an oral dose of 0.1m twice a day. So this study showed that guinea pigs are immune to contracting at least some strains of rhinoviruses. Flystrike. While some guinea pig owners are not able to justify the cost of the procedure, others see the great benefit to having their guinea pigs longer and not having to pay for emergency treatment when they notice their pig is sick.Â. Detecting Respiratory Problems in Your Guinea Pig, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/5b\/Treat-Respiratory-Problems-in-Guinea-Pigs-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Treat-Respiratory-Problems-in-Guinea-Pigs-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/5b\/Treat-Respiratory-Problems-in-Guinea-Pigs-Step-1.jpg\/aid7795739-v4-728px-Treat-Respiratory-Problems-in-Guinea-Pigs-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"
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