Specialist Coccidia In Guinea pig?

[Martianhero10]

So I just took my guinea pig to the vet because he had diarrhea and was very very lethargic. At first I thought he might’ve had a URI Infection but he showed no actual signs. Once I got to the vet they claimed that he had coccidia and that he was declining pretty bad. Recently like 2-3 days ago I had a Guinea Pig pass away although I never found out from what since he never showed signs of anything. Is it possibly that they both had it and the other one just never showed signs? I read about the parasite but does anyone know what causes coccidia and what can prevent it? They told me his stomach felt hard which was odd.

 

[Wiebke]

So I just took my guinea pig to the vet because he had diarrhea and was very very lethargic. At first I thought he might’ve had a URI Infection but he showed no actual signs. Once I got to the vet they claimed that he had coccidia and that he was declining pretty bad. Recently like 2-3 days ago I had a Guinea Pig pass away although I never found out from what since he never showed signs of anything. Is it possibly that they both had it and the other one just never showed signs? I read about the parasite but does anyone know what causes coccidia and what can prevent it? They told me his stomach felt hard which was odd.

Hi and welcome!

Guinea pigs can get a number of things in their guts including coccidia, so it would be good to have a fecal float lab tested in order to treat properly. What medication have you been given?

Some of these are easily transmittable to companions. Guinea pigs mark the ground with their scent gland, which is sitting on the underside close to their genitalia, so it is very easy for bacteria and nastier things to get into the urinary, reproductive or digestive tract.
Guinea Lynx :: Diarrhea

Caring for a guinea pig with (proper) fluid diarrhea and not just soft poos:
Please take it off any fresh food. Step in with syringe feeding ASAP; in an emergency you can use mushed up pellets but powdered herbivore recovery formula is better. If you feed pellets, you need to cut off the tip of a 1 ml needle-free syringe from a vet or pharmacy as shown in our illustrated step-by-step guide.
Make sure that you offer as much water as your piggy will take and that you add electrolytic dioralyte (UK) / pedialyte (US) powder to the water as instructed on the packet. Dehydration is a real risk. Your vey may need to give your piggy a subcutane injection of fluids. Your feeding and watering home is vital to keep your guinea pig alive.

Weigh daily at the same time with your kitchen scales (cheap ones from the supermarket are adequate). Please be aware that over 80% of the daily food intake is hay so you need to replace a lot more food in a very ill guinea pig than you think. 40-60 ml in 24 hours are necessary to keep the guts going and from closing down. A healthy guinea pig in its prime eats the equivalent of about 120 ml in a day.

Bring your guinea pig indoors if it isn't already.

Please take the time to read our guides. You will find most of your practical questions answered in there:
Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
Probiotics, Recovery Foods And Vitamin C: Overview With Product Links
Administering Medications And Syringe Feed
How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pig

We have members from all over the world. For this reason, you can really help us to help you best if you please added your country, state/province or UK county to your account details (via your username on the top bar). Brands, climate, access to general or exotics vets, medical and food brands as well as access to good rescues can vary massively. Without knowing where you are, we have to keep any advice as general as possible. Our default advice is UK based.

@Jaycey @helen105281 @Freela

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

The treatment for coccidiosis should be either septrin/bactrim (or sulfatrim) or baycox.
Has your vet given any medication?

 

[Martianhero10]

The treatment for coccidiosis should be either septrin/bactrim (or sulfatrim) or baycox.
Has your vet given any medication?

They were but he passed. He was very ill and very dehydrated, they gave him fluids and since his blood sugars were low they tried boosting it up.

 

[Livia Rabideau]

I am so sorry! . Hugs to you!

 

[Wiebke]

They were but he passed. He was very ill and very dehydrated, they gave him fluids and since his blood sugars were low they tried boosting it up.

I am very sorry for your loss. Because they are such small animals that rely on a steady food intake, severe illness can drag them down often too quickly for any medication to kick in. What you have been up against is one of the more uncommon and nastier things.

You have done what you could and seen a vet promptly where they have received the best of care, so please do not feel like you have failed your piggies!
Feelings of guilt and failure are typical for the onset of the grieving process, but they are usually even stronger whenever you have lost more than beloved pet to a highly infectious problem that has developed faster than you can act and when the end has been unexpected or traumatic. We can never foresee what our beloved ones (humans and pet) ultimately die from. As good owners all we can is our duty to see a vet promptly and do our best; and to make sure that our piggies's days they have with us as are as happy and fulfilled as we can make them. The rest is out of our control.

Please make sure that you thoroughly disinfect anything at home that has been in contact with your guinea pigs or your unwashed hands. Preferably use a vet strength disinfectant. The coccidia may not necessarily be a strain that can affect humans, but it is pretty rare in guinea pigs and may have been transmitted from another source. Better be safe than sorry!

 

[Merab]

So sorry for your loss