Guinea pigs have a natural intolerance to several drugs and antibiotics. Guinea pigs must continuously graze on food to keep their digestive system working. You can make his passing less uncomfortable by offering him water from a spoon, syringe, or water bottle. So you have to be extra careful when it comes to its symptoms. The only thing that came up in my mind was upper respiratory. He ate, and he drank. Common Causes of Guinea Pig Death (And How to Avoid Them). I Did What The Vet Told ME & She DIED On Me TODAY!!!! Keep them in the recommended temperature range at all times! But they could have side-effects on your piggie too. Propylene glycol, steroids, and calcium glutamate are some medications that could help. I would like some advice urgently. I’m absolutely devastated. Thanks. Cure: Do not consider infections to be simple. Irrespective of gender, ketosis is common in obese individuals. How to Identify Ketosis? Getting your guinea pigs’ blood tested by a professional veterinarian is the first step. Constipation can be a warning sign of other health problems and may be caused by an underlying and resolvable medical issue. Warning: require(/storage/content/40/152440/punkillegal.com/public_html/wp-includes/cron.php): failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /storage/content/40/152440/punkillegal.com/public_html/wp-settings.php on line 148 It is important not to disrupt this environment. It sure is an oxymoron because it is an obese condition that later leads to weight loss. Infestation of mice; Dystocia; Abscesses; Salmonellosis; Drop-in environmental temperature; Administered antibiotics; Ectoparasites; Contaminated water; Ketosis; Ileus; Viral or bacterial infections; Ingested cedar shavings; Fumes from motor transports; Loneliness; Sunstroke; However, we can look for signs sometimes: If a guinea pig isn't able to ingest his cecal matter, his general health will suffer. Thus, if you are planning to adopt a guinea pig or is already having one, take into consideration the above Cause of Sudden Death in Guinea Pigs and ensure proper preventive measures to ensure a long life to them. She had a viral infection, had wheezing and nose discharged. Cure: Antibacterial creams and antibiotics specific to the condition can be administered by a professional veterinarian. Read our post about wheter you can keep your guinea pigs outside here. That is step one. Dullness and loss of enthusiasm . Improper food can lead to constipation in guinea pigs. A poorly-functioning GI tract can make a guinea pig very sick. Temperature. If an injury is suspected, keep your guinea pig calm and in a confined area. Without oxygen, guinea pigs get anemic and cannot function normally. If the dietary changes don't produce good results, you should take him to a vet for an examination. Adopt them from the shelters or organizations that have rescued them. The vet has given her a few enemas, but this is temporary relief. But a veterinarian sure would be able to identify even the subtlest of problems. Ileus is the most ignored cause of death in guinea pigs because of the nature of its symptoms. Take your guinea pig to the veterinarian for a blood test to find out if your guinea pig is suffering from ketosis. Direct contact with infected individuals. I couldn’t get him into his vet bc she was closed on weekends. The litter of newborn guinea pigs is very active and quite large in size. Pigs will be pigs; accidents happen and should never be ruled out. Do not use Iceberg lettuce. I read online that giving them apple peels and lettuce will help, but I'm not sure what to do? A constipated piglet could be a dead piglet if not dealt with. So, never take them to direct sunlight when the sun is scorching. In the case of ketosis, prevention is sure better than cure because there hasn’t been a definitive cure discovered yet. Pregnant guinea pigs are obviously going through a lot of pain and trouble. It is a response to an underlying sickness. Even the subtlest of these two symptoms, as observed in the eating and defecating patterns, should raise an alarm in … they were only about 10 months old. If you start out with a healthy guinea pig and pay attention to simple but important care guidelines, piggies usually remain free of disease. So, read along to keep your guinea pigs safe and happy! I do not want to go round and round about this cause of death in guinea pigs. As the name suggests, if guinea pigs are prone to parasites, it may harm the body, slowly eating away the good bacteria on the guinea pig’s body, leading to the death of the pig. So do take them outdoors when the intensity of light is low. Also, read our post dedicated to guinea pig pregnancy to find out exactly how to care for a pregnant guinea pig. Symptoms: Tiredness, inactivity, seizure, lack of appetite and stroke, Prevention: Making sure the breeding ground of guinea pigs is free of mice. So you have to try to make things easier for them. Here is a look at... Can Gerbils Live With Other Animals? When digestion takes place in levels more than needed, it ain’t good. we had two guinea pigs that we got at the same time. Although, avoiding foods such as beans, potato, etc., which build gas in the digestive system, could help. Prevention: Obviously, to prevent the effect, you gotta avoid the cause. Medications are essential for the cure of viral and bacterial infections. So I shall just give you the contents of the medicine. But there are a few more things that you should always watch out for in these situations. We do not know what he does from. While they are usually healthy animals, there are a number of diseases that are considered the most common ailments pet guinea pigs. When mice infest the breeding area of guinea pigs, things could go way out of control. Indirect transfer through common utilities such as toys or even bedding. These conditions make your guinea pig dull and less playful. So what can I do to help him? Was this just a coincidence or could something have prevented this? The feces plug the anal opening, preventing both cecal feces and fecal pellets from passing. The reason for this was when I was listening to his heart and lungs. However, since then … Guinea pigs can only last without food for 36 hours MAX and after that time, their bodies will start shutting down and they will die. While making the bedding out of wood shavings ain’t a bad thing to do, choosing the right wood from the right tree is important. Few realize that it can be a dangerous and even deadly affliction. Eventually leading to death. Cure: There are special shampoos (like this) and powders available that could kill the parasites. I don’t know what he did from but I knew he was fine one day and then died the next day. Without professional medical advice, administering antibiotics to them on your own could prove to be fatal. Guinea pigs make great pets. The kind of constipation described is not to be confused with anal impaction, which happens mostly to male guinea pigs. Without sufficient blood, not enough oxygen reaches the body parts. Since they suck out all the nutrients we intake for our needs, we get not enough nutrients for normal functioning. If they do have a partner and still show signs of loneliness, it could be probably because they do not get enough time outdoors. Or, more specifically, ignorance of owners towards infestation cases death for guinea pigs. I take him out of his cage and spend time with him and have him around our other guinea pig Minnie Cooper for company. This is a medical emergency. If you notice any of these signs, bring your guinea pig to your veterinarian immediately as this can cause death very quickly if not treated. Cure: Cure for infestation could very well vary based on severity. But each guinea pig could react differently to the ingestion of cedar shavings. Cure: You probably already know what I will write under cure. Even though it sounds to be direct in meaning, it is not the sun that gets the stroke. That leads to loss of appetite. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. When there is no food to digest, but still the metabolism occurs, it leads to the accumulation of these digestive products. The two words “viral” and “bacterial” are never sweet to hear. Now what I’m worried about is his brother Angel. But it still doesn’t ease my fear of him dying from loneliness. I love animals! Constipation is a debilitating condition that makes your guinea pig sick. I have no idea why my guinea pig died, he had no symptoms he was absolutely fine and eating late at night and running around then I got up in the morning and he was very ill, I called the out of hours vet and within 10 minutes of calling he’d passed away. There are other diseases which are less lethal that resemble abscesses. Even the subtlest of these two symptoms, as observed in the eating and defecating patterns, should raise an alarm in owners because it could cause sudden death. Many owners abandon their guinea pigs just because they get tired of the parasites. Apparently, it could. I don’t just care about your pets. Your email address will not be published. If they do have a partner and also enough time outdoors, then their loneliness could be because of two reasons. But you sure as hell can’t pick out the pollutants that are fused with water. Guinea pigs have a natural intolerance to several drugs and antibiotics. But could it lead to death?” Right? Some causes of constipation in guinea pigs are improper diet, viral infection, and dental issues. Ectoparasites are insects that take your guinea pigs as host organisms. Hi…I JUST Lost My Guinea Pig Daisy! Cure: What is the solution to a burnt down car? Unfortunately, guinea pigs, just as much as humans, haven’t yet developed mechanisms to purify contaminated water. Prevention: Dystocia in pregnant guinea pigs cannot be prevented without expert medical advice. Some might not even have the time to react, they could die in a matter of minutes. So I was relieved of that. Symptoms: Lethargy, loss of appetite, and diarrhea. It could surely prove to be fatal. Note: If your guinea pig is receiving post-surgery antibiotics, watch for antibiotic intolerance which may also result in anorexia. Respiratory infections are caused by a sudden drop in temperatures. Warning: Salmonellosis could spread even to humans. Male guinea pigs are prone to a thing called "Constipation" and it is when they do not get enough exercise and their poop bounds up as a huge ball and wont come out. Causes: Consumption of contaminated water or food. link to Can You Put Sand in a Gerbil Cage? Symptoms: Loss of appetite, and irregular defecation. Wear rubber gloves and use warm water or olive oil to soften the impacted feces. I CRIED & I Am STILL DEVISTATED About Losing Her!! A constipated guinea pig passes little or no stool. Symptoms: Dehydration, loss of appetite, inflammation in the eyes, enlarged liver, dullness. Your email address will not be published. Also, note that this condition is not restricted to pregnant females. Although guinea pigs can’t choose their own antibiotics, some ignorant owners tend to get medicines from poly-pharmacies by themselves. The medicines available in different locations are marketed in different names for the same contents. Cure: The only cure could be found by a veterinarian. Male guinea pigs may become impacted (described on this page). 5. Your vet will give you the solution then. the older one died after about 4 months and then the other died a couple months later. However, they also have very sensitive gastrointestinal (GI) tracts. Two, they could be sick. Possible causes include an incorrect diet, dental problems, a change of diet that was too abrupt, or a viral infection. They become a part of your family once you get them. Prevention: Always consult a veterinarian before administering medicines. The way to cure your guinea pig from a sunstroke should be decided on analysis by a veterinarian! link to Can Gerbils Live With Other Animals? We hope that they will be able to overcome and grew old despite the challenges. If you fail in taking proper care of your pregnant guinea pig, they could die. :/usr/local/php53/lib/php:/storage/content/40/152440/pear/php') in /storage/content/40/152440/punkillegal.com/public_html/wp-settings.php on line 148. Make sure you have your guinea pig checked very often by a veterinarian when it is pregnant. Warnings. Then imagine what would happen to the soft inner lining of the gastrointestinal tract when they ingest such cedar shavings. So you cannot decide on how to cure the infestation. Tiredness. Guinea pig constipation is technically called "motility issues." A dying guinea pig will become very weak and unable to feed or water himself as his death approaches. Over the phone, my vet recommended to force-feed Gweeker mineral oil. His faces was normal size and he also urinated without problems. When ketones get accumulated in the liver along with liver fat, it leads to obesity.