Hello animal enthusiasts! Welcome to another article with AnimalLova. Today we are going to talk about everyone’s favorite pet which is a guinea pig.
A guinea pig comes from a family of rodents and originates from South America. This animal is domesticated and now can be bought easily as pets. There are many diseases to be found in guinea pigs such as eye infections in guinea pigs and ringworms in guinea pigs.
They are very similar to guinea pigs. But there are a bit of differences between a guinea pig and guinea pig. All in all, they can get sick and eventually pass away. A guinea pig has a life span of around 2 to 3 years. But we hope that your guinea pig can last around 3 years or more with these tips.
Guinea Pig is an intelligent and quiet animal. As solitary animals, if they already have a strong bond with you, they can jump around you, welcoming you with a variety of voices.
Guinea pigs don’t take up as much of your time as other pets, but if you spend more time with them they will be more interactive. They are very active creatures.
They can play with toys, and if you have more than one guinea pig, they will play the game of chasing each other. Let us learn more about the common diseases of guinea pig.
- Rounds Worms
Roundworms are transmitted through animal waste and in the form of oocysts or eggs. If the worm eggs are accidentally eaten, the worms will grow in the intestines and spread throughout the body. However, the transmission is not only through food. Worms in the form of larvae can enter the body through the skin or eyes.
Symptoms of this pet disease can include fever, cough, asthma, or pneumonia. If entered through the eye, these worms cause ocular toxocariasis which in turn can lead to blindness.
Diseases caused by pets are often spread through small mammals, such as guinea pig and guinea pigs. Round worms are associated with fleas. So be careful about your guinea pig’s hygiene and learn more about helpful tips on getting rid of fleas on guinea pigs.
- Campylobacteriosis
Campylobacteriosis is caused by the Campylobacter bacteria which spreads through water, contaminated food (especially eggs and meat), and contact with infected animal feces.
This disease caused by pets can be transmitted through dogs, cats, guinea pig and birds. Animals may be asymptomatic, or have only mild diarrhea. However, in humans, symptoms of fever, diarrhea, pain, and stomach cramps can occur.
- Flu in Guinea Pigs
Guinea pig can get the flu too, you know! Symptoms are not much different from humans, namely runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes, discharge from the nose, hair becomes tangled and untreated, difficulty breathing and decreased appetite, said the Pet Health Information page. If you do this, your hamster will lose weight!
There are several causes of flu in guinea pig. Among these are being in a cold room, not drying the hamster after bathing or spilling water on its fur. To fix this, keep the room warm, dry and clean the hamster’s cage with disinfectant, suggests the Pet Helpful page.
Who would have thought that guinea pig could get respiratory infections? In fact, this can lead to pneumonia! Symptoms of a respiratory infection in guinea pig are difficulty breathing, sneezing, discharge from the nose and eyes. To make matters worse, respiratory infections can cause your hamster to lose his appetite and decrease his activity.
The cause of this respiratory infection can be viruses or bacteria. This disease is divided into acute viral rhinopharyngitis, influenza, sore throat triggered by Streptococcus bacteria and so on, explained the Caring Pets page. To prevent your hamster from getting a respiratory infection, keep his cage clean, huh!
- Abscesses in Guinea Pigs
Apparently, guinea pig can get abscesses too, you know! This is a condition in which pus appears which forms large lumps on the skin. In guinea pig, abscesses form from cuts or scrapes on the skin. Abscesses can also form in the cheek pouch, if there is an abrasive food material that causes scratches on the lining of the mouth.
Usually, these abscesses form on the face, although they can form on other parts of the body. An abscess can swell, then turn red and become sensitive. In fact, when the abscess bursts, pus will stain the surrounding hair, explains The Spruce Pets page. Then, the vet will dry the wound and give antibiotics. Untreated acbscesses in guinea pigs will caused signs guinea pigs is depressed.
- Tyzzer’s Disease
Feeling something off about your hamster? Maybe your hamster has this disease called Tyzzer’s Disease. In fact, this disease is similar to a wet tail, but it is triggered by the bacteria Bacillus piliformis.
According to the Pet Health Information page, stressed and recently weaned animals will be at risk of developing this disease. Symptoms that can be recognized are diarrhea, loss of appetite, dehydration and slouching posture.
To cure it, the vet will give antibiotics and vitamin and mineral supplements to increase the immunity of the hamster. If the hamster is dehydrated, it can be given fluids and electrolyte supplements, says the Pet MD page. As a precaution, keep the hamster’s cage clean and keep healthy guinea pig separate from sick ones.
- Mites in Guinea Pigs
Apparently, mites can live in the hamster’s body, you know! Some of the mite species in question are Demodex criceti and Demodex aurati. These mites cause scratches and hair loss on the back and buttocks, explained the Pet MD page. Meanwhile, Notoedres sp can cause itchy scabies on the ears, face, legs and tail.
Due to their very small size, these mites cannot be seen with the naked eye. Symptoms that can be recognized are red, inflamed and irritated skin. In addition, the skin becomes dry, rough and scaly and causes hair on the back to fall out.
Mites can be treated with shampoos containing selenium sulfide and the drug Ivermectin. Mites can even cause your guinea pigs does not want to eat.