Sick Guinea pigs
Illness
Sometime in a guinea pigs life, they will become ill and will need treatment and extra care if they
are to recover from the illness. Here is a list of different things that can make a guinea pig ill.
Injuries from fights
Most boars can live happily together in pairs as long as there aren't any sows around. But sometimes
they have fights if they do smell a sow. Usually the the injuries are just torn ears and can be left to heal themselves, but
if there are bites on the rest of the body they should be washed with antiseptic solution and then antiseptic cream applyed
on the wound. If the wounds are really serious you should take your guinea pig to the vets as soon as possible.
Eye injuries
Sometimes hay might get stuck inside the guinea pigs eye, espicially if its a
young animal. If you can't remove the hay from the eye, take the guinea pig to the vets so that they can remove it. But usually
you only realise that the guinea pig has been poked in the eye, is when the eye goes opague. This usually clears up on its
own but if it doesn't consult the vets.
Mouth Scabs
Sometimes if you give your guinea pig to much apple to eat or they cut their mouth on sharp food,
germs will enter the cut and become a scab. These are very hard to get rid off, the best thing to do is ask your vet.
Abscesses
Abscesses are caused during fights or knocks or sharp items of food. When you feel the lump it will
feel hard and will grow larger because of the pus inside. When it is about to burst, the lump will become soft. Even
if you want to do something about it, the best thing to do is to leave it alone and when it does burst, wipe away the pus
and wash the area with either warm salt water or a mild antiseptic solution, daily until the wound heals.
Skin Problems
These can either be caused by a parisite or a fungal infection. The most dangerous is Sellnick or
Ratmange, the symptons are raised spots on the skin which becomes scurfy and the hair starts falling out. Then the guinea
pig will start scratching alot because it is so itchy. If you notice these symptons see your vet immediatly for treatment.
Also the most common parasite infection is Lice, they appear as white wiggly things in the animals coat on the back
and rump. Also their will be white dots in the coat aswell, these are the eggs. These are very easy to get rid off:buy a insectidal
shampoo formulated for small animals from a petshop and follow the instructions on the container. Johnsons Insectidal Shampoo
is great for the job above.
