If you have a guinea pig then you probably already know that they are extremely fragile and as well more prone to illnesses than other pets. Listed are a few of the common symptoms your guinea pig could experience.

Watery Discharge from the Nose and Sneezing

At times your guinea pig could become allergic to his own bedding. If this happens it is best to change your pets bedding and then see if this makes a difference. Better yet remove your guinea pig from the area completely.

If you guinea pig has any type of a watery discharge from his nose or around his nose, and is rubbing it, you need to take him/her to be checked out at your vet.

Coughing

Coughing is a sign of a respiratory infection of some kind. If your pet is coughing continuously this could be quite serious. If it’s accompanied by laboured breathing or wheezing, you need to make sure to contact your vet about this. Your vet in all likely hood will recommend that you bring your guinea pig in for an exam.

Wheezing & Labored Breathing

As said this is a sign of a respiratory infection, and your guinea pig needs prompt attention. It is best to take him to the vet sooner rather than later if this is the case. If he/she is wheezing this could be from congestion in the lungs and could easily turn into pneumonia if it’s left untreated.

Scratching

If your guinea pig is excessively scratching this is a sign of parasites or a fungal infection.

You should be able to tell if your pet has a parasite when you brush them. Notice their skin for any signs of Lice. Lice are a light brown color and very small. If your guinea pig has lice, you need to get a medicated shampoo from the vet. If it’s parasites, then you need to clean and disinfect the cage for this.

White or Milky Urine

It is normal for your guinea pigs urine to be slightly milky in color and this is completely normal for a guinea pig. However if the urine is extremely white or clear, or his/her urine is cloudy this could mean that he/she has high content of calcium in his diet.

Red or Pink Urine Color

Urine of this color is serious. It is an indication of blood being in the urine and is often a huge sign of bladder stones. If your guinea pigs urine is this color you should immediately take him/her to the vet.

Extremely Soft Stool or Diarrhea

In only a matter of hours, if suffering from diarrhea, your guinea pig could very well die. Again, take your pet to the vet.

Many times however it could mean that your pet has been fed to many wet vegetables or foods in general. If you believe it might be food related then increase his intake of hay. The hay will promote a good digestive system and help keep it in balance.

Hair Loss

This could be caused from several reasons including but not limited to mites.

If your pet has been bitten or acquired a cut, the hair will fall out in that particular area until the skin has healed. This is quite normal.

A huge loss of hair over the body could be caused by ringworm, as well as ovarian cysts.

If the hair loss is not due to a cut or bite, then you need to contact your vet and see what they recommend.

Watery Eyes

If your pet suffers from watery eyes this is often caused by some sort of irritant in the eye. It could very well be dust or something more. However allergies can also be a cause. I recommend calling your vet and asking for directions on how to rinse the irritation out of your pets eyes.

If your guinea pig has any sores around his/her eyes this could be caused from cysts on their eyelids that can irritate the eyes. These would need to be removed by a trained vet, as they can be quite serious and painful.

Stiff Joints

Many times this is a sign of scurvy. Scurvy is a severe lack of Vitamin C and would need to be seen about immediately. Give your vet a call and schedule an appointment as soon as possible.

It is an excellent idea to make sure your guinea pig receives at least 10 mg of calcium a day.

Signs of ear infection

If you notice your guinea pig tilting his head to one side or having any issues walking this is probably a sign of a middle ear infection.

Take your pet to the veterinarian as quickly as you can, because this could cause permanent hearing loss and more. Do not put this off.

Seizures

Your guinea pig could have two types of seizures. If you notice that he has his/her head straight up in the air, without a tilt, then he’s more than likely developed ear mites. These mites do affect their nervous system as they burrow under the skin. Get him/her to the veterinarian to receive treatment and then they will be fine once again.

If you notice your guinea pig tilts his head to one side or if he/she curls his body while having a seizure, then this could be any number of various things. Take your pet to the veterinarian as quickly as you can to get the proper blood tests performed.

These are just suggestion and certainly not meant to replace your Vet’s care.