Veterinary Care
Little Piper having critical care food when she was poorly.
Making sure your piggies are happy and healthy means regular veterinary check-ups. A 2015 study, found that of a sample of 1000 guinea pigs, only 81 were clinically healthy - this highlights the need for piggies to see a vet regularly! Poor health status may in part be due to many guinea pigs not having regular vet check ups - one study found that only 12.8% of guinea pigs had six monthly health checks (Harrup and Rooney, 2020). Before deciding to own guinea pigs make sure you have vet clinics in your area. I recommend finding a vet who is an 'exotic' specialist, or at least a vet who is cavy-savvy, or has an interest in helping smaller pets, other than cats and dogs. One of my piggies, who died after having surgery, needed more diligent post-op clinical care - I learnt that finding a knowledgeable vet, or a vet who is willing to help with complex guinea pig health problems, is key otherwise serious illness can go undiagnosed until too late; piggies suffer as a result. Guinea pig health issues can be very complex, there is so much we do not yet understand because research has been limited. Personal experience has me taught me that certain signs likes lethargy and inappetance can quickly result in a grave outcome - seek prompt care by a vet. Note that Bacterial pneumonia is common in guinea pigs; poor husbandry conditions are implicated in this illness.
In chronic health cases vet care can become very costly. It is well worth checking your veterinary clinic's pet plans as well as insurance which covers guinea pigs, so you are able to provide for them when they are poorly. Companies who insure guinea pigs include British Pet Insurance and Exotics Direct. Commonly seen cases by vets involve the skin, such as caused by ectoparasites and fungus; dental disease; ovarian cysts; urolithiasis/bladder inflammation and arthritis.
Awareness About Conditions
Osteoarthritis (OA) or degenerative joint disease (DJD) in guinea pigs is often not noticed by owners and underdiagnosed by vets until an advanced stage, yet recent research by the University of Edinburgh showed that 100% of the guinea pigs in the study sample were found to have OA. Although further research is needed, this is concerning, and again emphasises the need for regular check ups and for vets to examine piggies specifically for this condition. OA is an inflammatory disease, it is a progressive condition, which is very painful. OA can even occur in young piggies. Tibiofemoral OA in particular affects guinea pigs. There are many factors that can contribute to OA, including diet, substrate/bedding, exercise, trauma, genetics and ageing. Guinea pigs must have enough space to run around and explore, otherwise this can be a causal factor in OA. I have included information on OA on accommodation and bedding pages. Check for changes in the way your piggies move around, have they become reluctant to walk? Have they lost weight? Is there urine or faecal staining around the bottom? See article on OA by Emma Keeble.
2023 Dental Update: Please be aware of a new position statement (released 2023) from the British Veterinary Zoological Society (BVZS), which recommends that cheek tooth burring or rasping should only be performed under suitable anaesthesia, or adequate deep sedation, otherwise it is unsafe and too stressful.
A new study (O'Neill et al. 2024) found that prevalent disorders included overgrown nails, fungal skin infection and ulceration of the eye (corneal ulceration) - a summary can be found here.
See below for helpful ways to identify the health status of your pet piggies, critical care, and travelling to the vet with guinea pigs.
Recognising pain in guinea pigs -
a welfare priority
Piggies are prey animals, their natural behaviour is to hide signs of being in pain. However, we can look for signs to help us identify when a piggy may well be in pain. The signs listed below may indicate that something is not right:
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hiding under cover or mostly out of sight
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reduced movement/reluctance to move
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or a change in movement, for example, a guinea pig may begin 'bunny-hopping', whereby they hop like a rabbit, rather than the normal guinea pig hind leg movement
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lack of appetite
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weight loss
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hunched-up posture, looking 'fluffed-up'
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teeth grinding
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vocalising
Pain is a welfare priority, it causes suffering and therefore must be adressed. If pain is suspected or you are not sure, always seek veterinary advice.
Piggy poo - a useful health monitor
Guinea pig poo can become abnormal due to many factors: change in diet or incorrect diet, an underlying health issue, teeth spurs, adhesions after surgery or stress/anxiety, for example. If they are not producing any/much poo, or if it is runny (abnormal poo in the bottom image), this can be very serious, even fatal so always call your vet. There are various things that can be done to help eliminate and identify what is causing abnormal poo, from sending off poo samples to a lab, a vet checking their teeth and examining the body. Scans may be needed. If nothing is identified, it may be stress that is causing upset of the gastro-intestinal tract. So identifying what could be causing this is key, then prevention can be put in place. Athough insufficient evidence is currently available on the efficacy of commercially available anti-anxiety products for guinea pigs, vets or vet nurses can provide advice about these. Antibiotics can disrupt your piggies' gut microbiome, which can affect digestion and poo! If your guinea pigs are prescribed antibiotics, do ask your vet about pre- and probiotics.
Critical guinea pig care
When piggies become sick, this is a critical time. They may need medication and 'critical care' food, which requires syringe feeding by hand. When one of my piggies, Hermie, became very poorly due to an infection after surgery, he stopped eating and giving him the right nutrition became vital. My petsitter, Lorna Beecroft, was there to help me with his care. I chose Lorna as my petsitter because she was an experienced guinea pig owner, with animal care qualifications. If one of my piggies became ill while I was on holiday, I was confident that Lorna was capable of taking them to my vet and providing for them. She was brilliant with Hermie. Critical points to consider when choosing a petsitter: check out qualifications, aptitude with, and attitude toward your pets. By chatting to prospective petsitters, you can see if they genuinely love animals and whether have the capacity to do a great job. They should have official forms with their busniess name on, to record your details, including veterinary clinic and insurance. They should send you photos when you are away so you can see your pets are in good hands.
Syringe food is worth having on standby in case of illness; see the useful products page. 'Oxbow Critical Care', 'Science Selective Recovery' and 'Burgess Excel DualCare' are examples of suitable food for syringe feeding. Follow packet guidelines.
My dear Hermie when he was extremely poorly. When ill, guinea pigs need devotion to their intensive care.
A note about cleaning hair/skin
I have only cleaned my guinea pigs when there was a medical issue, any issues must be checked by a vet - dirty hair or skin can indicate a serious condition. Vets will give guidance on how best to clean - guinea pigs do not enjoy being washed, it is a very scary experience for them, they can also become chilled or their skin damaged, so a lot of care must be taken. Always discuss using products you have seen with your vet first because piggies may need veterinary, medicated skincare if there is a problem. If you notice a lot of itching or scratching and even barbering (chewing off and pulling out hair), or urine/feacal staining, see your vet.
Travelling with piggies to the vet clinic
If we think like a guinea pig, it helps us imagine life from their perspective. Being taken out of their home, into an unfamiliar environment, where they cannot escape is scary. The unfamiliar smells, which may be dangers, as well as movement of the car, and not knowing what is happening, or even in anticipation of the vet (especially if they have experienced a lot of veterinary treatment) can all contribute to the stress caused. However, there are ways we can make travelling less stressful, see travel tips below.
Travel Tips
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Familiarise your piggies with their carrier before any journey is needed. Ideally you should start this, if possible, several weeks before. Over a period of time you can start by leaving the carrier open for them to just pop in and out of every day, then let them see how it feels closed with some food inside to distract them. Providing hay and/or healthy treat in the carrier provides distraction but for certain procedures you may need to limit eating choices prior to an appointment; chat to your vet before to check.
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On the day of the journey, you can use the same approach - leave it open for them to choose to enter or place a little food in the carrier to encourage entry.
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The entrances/doors need to be secure when closed; make sure everything is closed properly before carrying.
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In the carrier, the guinea pigs cannot escape from potential dangers they perceive, so their need to hide is paramount. Make sure there is plenty of comfortable shelter in the carrier, such as hay or pet fleece. The piggies will tunnel into the hay or hide under the fleece blanket. You can see in the image above both piggies are hiding under the cover (I have lifted it slightly just for the purpose of showing how hidden they like to be).
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Choose suitable material that will not cause their nails to get caught.
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Ensure there is ventilation.
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Make sure the carrier is secure in the vehicle, as level and cushioned as possible - car journeys can be bumpy on some roads so a folded blanket on a car seat can be useful in creating a level surface as well as providing cushioning to absorb vibrations/bumps.
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Make sure that they cannot slip and slide inside the carrier; prevent potential injury, in case of sudden car movement, with appropriate bedding/cushioning within the carrier.
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A seat belt can be used to secure the carrier. I place my carrier on the back seat where it fits snugly between front and back seats.
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Travelling with companions (if possible) can provide emotional security.
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Avoid diet and environmental changes before the journey. This will only add to the stress of the journey/vet visit.
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Drive carefully to prevent making bumps or sudden breaks.
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Seek advice from your veterinary clinic about anxiety and travelling - although research on the benefits of anti-anxiety products for guinea pigs is limited, products may help.
Suitable pet carriers
Make sure that the carrier is sturdy and has a top opening as well as a front opening - see carriers above. A front opening allows for them to come out of their own accord (this is usually not the case at the vets!). A top opening allows you or a veterinary professional to pick them up with minimal disturbance. Most people are familiar with the type of carrier on the left. The Cheeko carrier on the right is available in different sizes, the sides are sturdy yet soft. The size I use fits snugly into the back of my car and allows for plenty of soft material inside to act as a cushion against vehicle bumps and jolts; there is also space for piggies to stretch and change places on longer journeys. I use a non-porous base at the bottom of the 'Cheeko' to protect from urine getting through. It has three openings, with an extra one at the side. Ensure the carrier is made secure, such as with the aid of a seatbelt. In addition to a non-porous base, use plenty of cushioning, such as hay, towels and pet fleece, to help protect piggies' bodies against any sudden bumps, jolts or braking action.