Common Guinea Pig Diseases and How to Prevent and Treat Them

1 Prevention and Treatment Tips

Here is how to prevent and manage several common guinea pig diseases.

1. Guinea pigs and rabbits are both highly susceptible to coccidiosis. To prevent it, you can regularly add diclazuril solution to your guinea pig’s drinking water. However, this medication can easily lead to drug resistance, so owners must use it judiciously. Because guinea pigs are very small, the required dose each time is tiny—take care to control the amount to avoid harming your pet.

2. External wounds are also common in guinea pigs, but when treating them you should avoid using alcohol. Instead, disinfect with povidone-iodine (iodophor). If bleeding persists, apply Yunnan Baiyao to stop the bleeding after cleaning with iodophor, and keep the wound dry until it has healed.

3. For a guinea pig cold, you can use pediatric cold granules (such as Sanjiu Ganmao Chongji), diluted to the smallest pediatric dose and fed orally.

4. For early signs of diarrhea or loss of appetite, giving your guinea pig lactase or a pediatric probiotic powder dissolved in water usually produces good results.

5. Mild twitching or limb paralysis is often caused by vitamin C deficiency. Add an appropriate amount of small-pet vitamin C to the daily diet; once levels are restored, the symptoms should gradually improve.

6. Because of their unique anatomy, guinea pigs easily soil the area around the tail and rear after each bowel movement. Owners should regularly clean the hindquarters with a cotton swab dipped in water.

A Guide for New Guinea Pig Owners

Owners should routinely check their guinea pig’s overall condition—monitoring energy levels and appetite, and watching for common signs such as parasites or skin disease. Also inspect the eyes for abnormal discharge or watery eyes, and check for soft stools. If anything seems off, take your pet to a veterinary clinic promptly.