Diabetes in guinea pigs?

[sharonS]

Does anyone have any experience with Diabetic guinea pigs and the symptoms that go with it?
Is it quite common?

 

[Countrylass]

Rose has diabetes and I know to another two pigs on a different forum who are as well. Rose actually gained weight, she has a serious sweet tooth if left to herself so we cut out anything with higher than 5g of sugar per 100g. It may not work for all pigs but we found fresh fenugreek lowered Rose's blood glucose levels. I'm not sure if Keren is on this forum or Janet but I'll try and find out the information we shared for you

 

[Abi_nurse]

The main symptoms of diabetes would be:
- weight gain
- a good appitete
- excessive drinking
- excessive urinating

A blood sample will confirm a diagnoses. As would glucose in the urine. However if your piggie is ever fed with some of the E number addatives (usually the ones added to coloured muesli's then it can cause a false positive on the urine test so be careful)

x.

 

[sharonS]

The main symptoms of diabetes would be:
- weight gain
- a good appitete
- excessive drinking
- excessive urinating

A blood sample will confirm a diagnoses. As would glucose in the urine. However if your piggie is ever fed with some of the E number addatives (usually the ones added to coloured muesli's then it can cause a false positive on the urine test so be careful)

x.

Thanks abi,
It hasn't been diagnosed by my vet, and it is something that is in the back of my mind, but lately we have had a few problems with Ruby.
She has always liked the water bottle ever since we have had her, recently she has had a few infections of her water that were treated with antibiotics.
Also she has had to have her eye removed too, due to an infection that wouldn't clear up. But prior to this infection in the back of her eyes she has had a large white speck, I am keeping a close eye on it the vet says it could be fatty deposits, but along with her other symptoms listed above I was thinking diabetes. I think I am a little paranoid as she has lost her eye. The eye was saved by the vet just incase we should need to send it off, but at the time he sent some cultures off for me that come back with the all clear.

 

[Abi_nurse]

Diabetic patients are more prone to urinary infections if there is a lot of glucose in their urine (bacteria loves the sugars). They are also more prone to something called glucoma, a condition where the pressure in the eye becomes dangerously high, if untreated the eye has to be removed. If your worried it may be worthwhile having a chat with your vet about it all.

x.

 

[sharonS]

Thanks Abi, may be worth mentioning to the vet, although he didn't seem overly concerned about her good eye, seemed to think it was fatty tissue.
What would glucoma look like, Do you know?

 

[Abi_nurse]

Glucoma looks like a cloudy eye. As the ocular pressure rises the eye changes colour and starts to go white in appearance. Its very painful, but you know what piggies are like and pain.

x.