Health & Medical

It is important that if your guinea-pig shows any sign of illness that you take him or her to a vet as soon as possible. Guinea-pigs hide illness well and can often pass away unexpectedly, so keeping them healthy is very important.
The information given on this website and on the forum should not replace that of a qualified vet.

Here is some information on some of the most common illnesses in guinea-pigs.

Mites

Mites bury into the skin and are very itchy for guinea-pigs. They will bite and scratch at their skin until it bleeds. If your guinea-pig has mites he or she may have hair loss or scabs or wounds. Your vet can give the guinea-pig an injection of ivermectin which can get rid of them, but mites will still be on the bedding, so it is a good idea that after treatment you thoroughly clean out and disenfect the guinea-pigs cage or hutch. Another way to treat mites is to get a shampoo from Gorgeous Guineas. They sell a variety of different shampoos and creams for guinea-pigs that are mild and can help get rid of common guinea-pig skin problems.

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UTI (Urinary Tract Infection)

If your guinea-pig has a URI, he or she may have blood in their pee or squeak whilst peeing. This is a painful condition for your guinea-pig and if you notice either of these symptons in your guinea-pig you should take him or her to the vet so they can be checked to see if he or she has a UTI or anything wrong with their kidneys or bladder.

Fungal Infections

When your guinea-pig has a fungal infection, he or she will scratch a lot, and there will be some hair loss. Also, the skin will become flaky and white, and there may be a few scabs. Fungal infections can be treated either at the vets or you could also treat them with some products from Gorgeous Guineas. Other guinea-pigs can catch this from your guinea-pig and it is a good idea to clean out the hutch after treatment to prevent your guinea-pig from catching it again from the bedding.

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