nervous

[Username]

Do Guinea Pigs get sick often?
,
I've been reading thru threads and it seems like they get sick with ringworm or uri's or clogged penis sacks etc often.

It makes me kind of nervous, or is it just seeming like they get ill frequently because this is a forum and people come here for sick piggy advice?

I'm not deterred from the responsibility but it does make me nervous! We get very attached to animals in our house and the thought of the stress of having a sick pet is stressful...lol

 

[Shellza]

I had my pigs for over a year before I got any problems with them. A lot of people do join the forum for help with illnesses. I would say they are possibly more prone to URI's than some animals as they are quite sensitive little things. *Touch wood* I've not had a URI but I have had ringworm and cystitis with mine.

 

[twiams]

I've had two of my boys for nearly a year now, and never really had any problems that have cost anything, but it just hi-lights the necessity of needing to know that you have enough money to support your pet, if they get ill !

 

[Twoflower]

The very first piggie I owned I had for a little over 6 years and he was never sick. The second one I had, I got not knowing he had dental issues and he eventually passed away. The two boys I have now are the picture of health.

 

[BossHogg]

All my piggies lived to ripe old ages but unfortunately were sudden deaths. Piggies are masters at hiding illness until it's too late to do anything with them. That said, they are fantastic little creatures who are full of character. |)

 

[Wiebke]

Each species of pets have their specific weaknesses; that is not different with guinea pigs. But with good care and diet, most piggies are actually fairly healthy.

If you give your healthy piggies a weekly weight and health check, you will learn to spot any problems/ changes in appearance/behaviour quickly; that ensures generally a good chance of quick recovery. Fungal and skin parasites are a fact of life with any furry pet; guinea pigs are not exempt. With prompt appropriate treatment, these need not get past nuisance level if or when they make an unwelcome appearance.

You see more illnesses than average on this forum, as many people find it when they are looking for information in connection with a health problem, especially one that is more unusual. Sadly, some people leave it until very late; that is always a very gutting experience for everybody involved.

However, you need to keep in mind that any pet will probably need vet care sooner or later and you need to have the funds put aside/saved up for that. Vet cost can quickly become a mulitple of what a piggy costs in a shop if you run into a serious health problem.

As veterinary care makes fast advances, more problems are identified and become treatable, whereas in previous decades guinea pigs were frankly often not considered worth spending much care on - and sadly far too many piggies are still left to suffer and die through neglect.

Early signs of illness: http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=36332

 

[Username]

Thank you all for the responses!

Vet bills are not a concern. I was just feeling kind of nervous i guess because of all the sick piggy posts.

We have a cat so i definitely understand vet importance. Thanks again!

 

[AudioHeart]

We've had eight piggies now, four mine,four my sister in laws.

My sis-in-laws were healthy until their last few months, they had chest infection and then mange they were around 5/6.

Mine: Percy-Roo was very ill in the last few months of his life, and Artie had an eye infection and chest infection in the first week i brought hime home, however two years later no problems since.

Harvey has never had any problems (touch wood) and is two, Tabitha also has been healthy and is coming up one in october

 

[Lil-Ninnibig]

my ditto is now 3-4 year old.. The only problem ive had with Ditto has been a hay poke to the eye leading to a vet visit costing £30 i was give an eye ointment as his eye had ulcerated and he is now fine i also had a scare a few weeks ago regarding a suspected URI i took him to the vets costing alot as it was a sunday evening and he was given an antibiotic injection and within a day he was fine so i dont think he actually had a URI but from reading things on this forum i was being over paranoid and perhaps jumped to conclusions but it is always better to get things seen by a vet if you are concerned.basically what I'm trying to say is if your piggys are fed an appropriate healthy diet, are kept clean and in hygienic cages, are not under stress are not being bullied by other pigs and have plenty of water and exercise in a run on your lawn there should be no reason for them to become ill.. Ensure your piggys are warm during winter and cool during hot weather as they do not deal well with dramatic temp changes :-) i wouldnt worry to much though just enjoy your pets xx

 

[Silly]

Username,

I too worry about looking after guineas right.,so I know how you feel. Eventhough I have owned them for 35 years or more. The ringworm worry is something that sometimes they bring with them when you get them and once treated it is gone, my guinea ringworm was, so don't worry too much about that. Most guineapigs are like humans and do get sick but I have never owned one that got sick until a few years down the line. The enjoyment such a beautiful creature brings to you is wonderful. Although when they die it is heartbreaking, I have been over a year since mine died but felt there was a huge hole without them in my life. I have had them 3 weeks now, and love them to bits and think they are loving me back now. Mites and such are easily treated at the vet and things don't cost the earth. There is so much information on the internet now when you Google, I am trying to just feed the right things in moderation and try and enjoy them. Hope I have helped.

 

[Username]

thank you!