Breeds And Illness Rates

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Freela

Freela

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Just a 'for my curiosity' question: Does anyone find there is a correlation between different breeds of guinea pigs and how likely they are to develop illnesses? I always read, for instance, that abyssinians are more prone to illness, but have no clue if there's any truth to that or if it's a myth. I know there are skeletal issues tied to the satin varieties, but beyond that does anyone see any trends as far as breeds and illnesses go?
 
Oh, this is interesting. I believe (but this is based on my observations which is not a wide sample obviously) that teddies have more skin issues than other breeds.
And we all know that skinnies are more prone to illness :(
 
I have an aby and apart from a few u.t.i's he is very healthy. I also have a satin and she has arthritis.
 
I have not heard anything about abbys and health issues - the tri coloured abby in my avatar lived to nearly 8.
 
I have heard that about abys too, but can't remember exactly what. Think it may be bladder issues but will post again when I remember.
 
I wonder how much it matters that most of our guinea pigs are not purebred. I can see there being more of a propensity to illness if animals are selectively bred for specific physical traits involving potential inbreeding. However, I suspect that none of my pigs were bred deliberately for anything in particular. My aby was likely not a 'full' aby, my two long-haired pigs are obviously crosses and not purebred shelties. Sundae looks like a standard short-haired pig, but again I have no clue what her background is, and she could be carrying genes that aren't expressed.

Thus far out of my pigs, Linney (sheltie cross) was very healthy and lived to be six with only a few issues (a couple of bladder issues, an infected cyst removed from her back.) Sundae (short haired) has had the most issues out of anyone, with chronic bladder problems, some dental and dental abscess issues, though at almost 5 she continues to do well and not let her issues get her down. Frenzy (aby) died at 18 months of sepsis following a dental abscess, but again, she may have survived with more aggressive care (the vet I had at the time was not very up to date with his guinea pig issues, but I was a new owner and really didn't realize.) And Hadley (sheltie cross) is too young to know just yet.
 
I think abys are more vulnerable to cataracts. I remember reading that in one of Peter Gurneys books.
 
I would say yes.

I know that teddies are prone to skin problems. Matthew has had them quite a few times.

My aby's have never lasted very long. Ludwig died in 2012, I got him in 2010. Gilbert died in 2013, he was an aby mix, got him at the same time as Ludwig.

Romano is my coronet and so far, knock on wood, he's had no illnesses at all and he's 3 years and 4 months old roughly.
 
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