Guinea pigs are increasingly common pets. Like the rest of the species, they are not exempt from suffering pathological processes, some of them being especially prevalent in these rodents. Knowing the most common pathologies in guinea pigs is important to be able to detect them in time, establish early treatment and avoid possible complications.
If you want to know what are the 6 most common diseases in guinea pigs, join us in the next article on our site in which we will explain the main pathologies of these animals, and the treatment of each of them.
Pododermatitis
Pododermatitis is a progressive and chronic pathology that affects the plantar area of the feet of guinea pigs. As a consequence of a series of predisposing factors, a lesion occurs in the plantar area of the metatarsus, which becomes infected and progressively affects deeper tissues.
This is a disease very common in obese guinea pigs, with abrasive bedding and poor hygiene in their environment Really, it is a disease of multifactorial etiology, that is, there are multiple factors that contribute to its appearance.
Some of these factors that cause pododermatitis in guinea pigs are:
- Inadequate housing: with beds or very abrasive substrates that erode the skin of the extremities.
- Lack of hygiene and excess humidity of the substrate: which favors the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms.
- Elevated body condition: as in obese guinea pigs.
- Existence of dermatitis: in the plantar area of the metatarsal.
- Secondary infections.
- Others: Presence of concomitant diseases such as arthritis, diabetes, etc.
Depending on its severity, pododermatitis is classified into 5 grades. In grade I only a slight loss of hair and redness of the plantar area is observed, while in grade V the tendons and bones are affected.
Treatment forpododermatitis in guinea pigs
The treatment of pododermatitis is based on:
- Correct handling: the environmental conditions and the level of hygiene must be improved. In addition, dietary management should be improved to correct obesity.
- Antibiotherapy: topical or systemic route, to treat the infection.
- Disinfection and treatment of plantar lesions: extremities should be bathed with antiseptics; in the early grades, ointments can be used to keep the skin hydrated and preserve its integrity.
- Laser therapy: to promote healing.
- Surgery: In severe cases, surgical cleaning and debridement of the wound is necessary. Afterward, padded dressings and bandages should be applied to protect the limb.
Dental overgrowth
Dental overgrowth problems in guinea pigs can be due to different causes:
- Inadequate diet: This is the main cause. The feed requires less chewing time than hay, therefore, guinea pigs with a diet excessively rich in feed wear less molars and premolars, having a greater tendency to suffer dental overgrowth. We leave you the following article from our site on the amount of daily food for guinea pigs, here.
- Congenital defects: animals with an anatomical conformation that prevents the correct wear of the teeth.
- Dental traumas or tumors: that cause a deviation of the teeth and prevent proper wear of them.
The initial clinical signs are usually: excessive salivation, anorexia, malocclusion and presence of facial bulges. If anorexia is prolonged, it can cause the death of the animal.
Treatment for dental overgrowth in guinea pigs
Treatment of dental overgrowth in guinea pigs may include:
- Diet change: a correct proportion between hay (70%), feed (10%) and fresh feed (20%), to ensure correct wear of the teeth and prevent the problem from reappearing.
- Cutting teeth or filing newspaper.
- Extraction of dental pieces: in case the recovery of the dental pieces is not feasible.
- Analgesia: it is a very painful process, so it is important to establish an adequate treatment against pain.
Vitamin C deficiency (hypovitaminosis C)
Like people, primates, and some bats, guinea pigs are unable to synthesize their own vitamin C. This makes it an essential vitamin for guinea pigs,that is, they need to get it through the diet to meet their nutritional needs.
Daily vitamin C requirements in adult guinea pigs are estimated between 5-30 mg per kg of body weight, although these requirements may increase in some situations (such as gestating and lactating guinea pigs, or sick guinea pigs).
When vitamin C levels are low, hypovitaminosis occurs characterized by:
- General signs: anorexia, weight loss, lethargy. We leave you the following post about My guinea pig does not eat so you can have more information.
- Anemias and hemorrhages Generalized.
- Poor healing.
- Immunosupression, and consequently, increased risk of infections.
- Gingivitis: with bleeding gums.
- Alterations in dentin and mobile teeth.
- Musculoskeletal disorders in neonates.
Treatment for vitamin C deficiency in guinea pigs
The easiest way to meet vitamin C needs is by supplying raw vegetables rich in vitamin C, such as green peppers, green carrots and strawberries.
However, in case of hypovitaminosis C, it is necessary to supplement vitamin C orally (30-50 mg per kg of weight, every 12 hours). In addition, it is necessary to establish a symptomatic treatment depending on the signs or lesions that the animal presents.
Respiratory infections
Respiratory infections are contagious diseases of guinea pigs that cause high morbidity and mortality in these rodents. The most frequent causal agents are:
- Bordetella bronchiseptica.
- Streptococcus pneumoniae.
- Staphylococcus.
It should be mentioned that some of these pathogens (such as Bordetella) can also be transmitted between rabbits and guinea pigs. Generally, they are pneumonic processes that occur with nasal discharge, ocular discharge, cough and sneezing.
Treatment for respiratory infections in guinea pigs
Treatment of respiratory infections should include:
- Antibiotherapy: for a minimum of 7 days, to end the infection.
- Fluidotherapy: to avoid dehydration of the animal.
- Mucolytics and bronchodilators: to help expel mucus and make breathing easier.
- Vitamin C: to support the functioning of the immune system.
If these processes are not treated in time, they can be complicated by the development of fibrinopurulent pneumonia and pleurisy. Therefore, when any respiratory sign is detected in guinea pigs, it is important to go to a veterinary center specialized in exotics as soon as possible to establish early treatment.
How do I know if my guinea pig is sick? We leave you this article so you can discover the keys.
External parasites
Dermatological pathologies are one of the main reasons for consultation in guinea pigs, with ectoparasites (external parasites) being the main cause of these pathologies.
Some of the most common ectoparasites in these rodents are:
- Mites: such as Demodex caviae, Trixascarus caviae and Chirodiscoides caviae.
- Lice: such as Gliricola porcelli and Gyropus ovalis.
In most cases, external parasites course subclinically (without signs of disease), while animals are immunocompetent. However, in any situation that generates immunosuppression in guinea pigs (such as stress, pregnancy, lack of hygiene, environmental or nutritional changes), it is common for dermatological clinical signs to appear, such as:
- Skin lesions: such as alopecia, redness, hyperkeratosis, peeling, wounds and scabs
- Pruritus or intense itching.
- Anorexia and weight loss.
Treatment of external parasites in guinea pigs
The treatment of ectoparasites in guinea pigs should include:
- Antiparasitics: Generally, macrocyclic lactones are used, such as ivermectin or selamectin. In a complementary way, you can do topical treatments with Amitraz baths.
- Anti-inflammatories: they will not be necessary in all cases of ectoparasitosis, but they will be necessary when there is very intense itching or inflammation associated with the dermatopathy.
- Pruritus treatment: in guinea pigs with very intense itching, diazepam can be added to the treatment, to reduce the stress caused by the itching.
Obesity
Guinea pigs are animals with a special tendency to obesity. Generally, this problem appears as a consequence of the combination of two factors:
- Bad diet: the guinea pig's diet should be made up of 70% hay, 10% feed and 20 % of fresh food. Within the fresh food, the vast majority (75%) should be leafy vegetables (such as spinach, Swiss chard, arugula, lamb's lettuce, escarole, etc.) and only the remaining 25% should be made up of other vegetables and fruits. When this ratio is not maintained, but rather excess feed or fresh food is supplied, it is common for guinea pigs to become obese.
- Low physical activity: small cages and poor environmental enrichment encourage inactivity in guinea pigs, which favors gain of weight.
Obesity predisposes to the appearance of various diseases in guinea pigs (such as arthritis, pododermatitis, etc.) so it is essential to properly handle these animals to maintain their body condition in an optimal state.
Treatment for obesity in guinea pigs
The treatment of obesity in guinea pigs is based on the correction of the factors that trigger its appearance:
- Improving dietary management: the content of feed and fresh food should be restricted, without affecting the supply of essential nutrients (such as vitamin C). Hay should always be supplied ad libitum (freely available).
- Increasing physical activity: Good environmental enrichment should be provided, with an adequate cage size and with various toys that allow the animal to exercise both physically and mentally. In addition, it is necessary to offer them daily time out of the cage, in a controlled room or enclosure, so that they can explore and develop their curiosity.
