Health Problems

[Juliette]

Hi everyone,

I'm still collecting bits for the piggies I'm hoping to get later in the year. I've been reading up about health problems and urinary and upper respiratory infections seem quite a frequent topic. I'm wondering what sort of precautions can be taken to help limit these whether it be by piggie lifestyle or diet :-) x

 

[Jeniva]

I think urinary problems can be to do with unsanitary conditions. Or, as a lot of people use fleece, if there is no pads underneath to soak up wee the pig might just sit in it on the fleece and can get a urinary like that.

 

[Jerrybelly]

Unfortunately, neither of these can be prevented and both are frustratingly common.

You can follow simple steps - keep your cage free (as much as possible) from bacteria - this includes bowls and bottles. Think carefully about your bedding. Feed a good quality pellet and a wide selection of veg (a daily slice of pepper is great for maintaining vitamin c levels, and a slice or two of cucumber can maintain a good water intake)

Some piggies are, however, prone to to URIs and UTIs. All we can really do is to familiarise ourselves with our piggies so that we can quickly tell when something is wrong and then act accordingly.

 

[VickiA]

Great advice from @Jerrybelly. Can't add more than that - cleaning, diet and familiarity with your piggies is the key.

 

[Wiebke]

Guinea pigs are by their nature prone to bladder problems, as they have very alcaline urine and are low to the ground. They are also quite susceptible to damp, drafts and sudden changes in temperature. You can also not prevent parasites or fungal problems from cropping up occasionally.

What you can do is to learn to spot early warning signs (see the appropriate threads at the top of the Daily Care section) and to make sure that you have got access to a good vet and the funds to pay.

You can never prevent all illnesses, but with regular cleaning and good care you can help to miminise the chances of your piggies coming down with problems.

 

[Juliette]

Thank you everyone :-)

 

[Mudpuppy]

I'm a new owner so still learning myself, but my rescue Piggie has just had a UTI with complications - however, I don't think I was doing anything wrong in terms of cleanliness - I clean his bedding and cage every morning and every evening so as to try and lessen the chances of him sitting in his own pee, and do a deep clean every weekend, but he still managed to develop a UTI think as someone mentioned, they are very common in guinea pigs and one of the things to look out for unfortunately x