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hi i have 2 10 week old gps , today i have found 3 white worms (2 on wall by cage and 1 on cage ) the cage is clean , any ideas or should i take them straight to vet ?
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please help
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tabelmabel
Adult Guinea Pig
I will just go and check my guineapiglopedia book and see what is says - back in a min!
tabelmabel
Adult Guinea Pig
Ok - I thought this was the answer but I wanted to make sure. The book says 'Worms are infrequently seen, most worms do not have guinea pigs as their natural hosts but are transmitted when feeding contaminated grass'
Parasporidia uncinata is most commonly seen. It lives in the caecum and is 1 -3 cms long. tapeworms and roundworms are rare. The symptoms are similar. Most pigs show no signs at all, but in cases of heavy infestation weight loss, retarded growth diarrhoea and constipation are seen'
It then goes on to say that diagnosis is made by identifying worm eggs in a feacal sample and treatment is by antiparasitic preparation according to which worm is diagnosed.
Thorough hutch cleaning and improved hygiene is essential to avoid re occurance.
So - based on that. I would say if your pigs seem healthy, then the action to take is to clean out your hutch properly and be thorough. Then control what you feed them, being careful about your grass! As the guinea pig is NOT a natural host, if your pig is in good shape then I am guessing the worm will clear itself if you are tip top with hygiene.
BUT - if your pigs do have symptoms now or develop symptoms in the next few days - then a vet's visit would be a good idea.
Do wait for other answers though as I am not an expert and am just quoting from the book (!) I just saw you had no replies and thought you sounded very worried
Parasporidia uncinata is most commonly seen. It lives in the caecum and is 1 -3 cms long. tapeworms and roundworms are rare. The symptoms are similar. Most pigs show no signs at all, but in cases of heavy infestation weight loss, retarded growth diarrhoea and constipation are seen'
It then goes on to say that diagnosis is made by identifying worm eggs in a feacal sample and treatment is by antiparasitic preparation according to which worm is diagnosed.
Thorough hutch cleaning and improved hygiene is essential to avoid re occurance.
So - based on that. I would say if your pigs seem healthy, then the action to take is to clean out your hutch properly and be thorough. Then control what you feed them, being careful about your grass! As the guinea pig is NOT a natural host, if your pig is in good shape then I am guessing the worm will clear itself if you are tip top with hygiene.
BUT - if your pigs do have symptoms now or develop symptoms in the next few days - then a vet's visit would be a good idea.
Do wait for other answers though as I am not an expert and am just quoting from the book (!) I just saw you had no replies and thought you sounded very worried
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i have only had them 1 week and have cleaned daily and completly cleaned out 2 time already , am a bit worried as not had guinea pigs b4, think will take to vet if see anymore , thanks for year help x
tabelmabel
Adult Guinea Pig
Good idea - best to be on safe side
MandFpiggies
Junior Guinea Pig
Did you manage to catch the worms? If your taking you piggies to the vet it might be an idea to take the worms too, the vet might recognise them. Sorry I can't be of much help mallethead
Suzygpr
Senior Guinea Pig
Hi there
More info on the worms would help - size, colour, a pic if possible. Many people use the word worm for parasitic worms, earthworms, maggots, caterpillars, grubs, etc, etc.
If you could let us know if the piggies are indoors/outdoors, what type of cage they have, other pets, etc - the more info we have the more targeted our advice can be. Also knowing which country you are in will help.
Suzy x
More info on the worms would help - size, colour, a pic if possible. Many people use the word worm for parasitic worms, earthworms, maggots, caterpillars, grubs, etc, etc.
If you could let us know if the piggies are indoors/outdoors, what type of cage they have, other pets, etc - the more info we have the more targeted our advice can be. Also knowing which country you are in will help.
Suzy x
gizzy
Adult Guinea Pig
Never had a pig with white worms ,or any other tummy bug ! , apart from one case of a parasitic bug that once showed up on a lab test a wile ago
But as that pigs problems did indicate a parasite problem , l did ask my vet about the likelihoods of a pig getting white worms, and he said very slim and even if a pig were to get them ,
they are so fragile (the white worm that is ) that the would disintegrate into 'segments' and only be visible in a poo float (vet test) ,
are you sure they are from you pig ?
The only other thing that fits the bill are ejaculate/sperm rods.
if they look like this
But as that pigs problems did indicate a parasite problem , l did ask my vet about the likelihoods of a pig getting white worms, and he said very slim and even if a pig were to get them ,
they are so fragile (the white worm that is ) that the would disintegrate into 'segments' and only be visible in a poo float (vet test) ,
are you sure they are from you pig ?
The only other thing that fits the bill are ejaculate/sperm rods.
if they look like this
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