Symptoms of Viral Enteritis in Guinea Pigs
📝 Summary
Viral enteritis in guinea pigs comes in acute, subacute, and chronic forms. The acute type kills with no warning — a normal-looking, plump animal drops dead; subacute brings lethargy, appetite loss, and finally blood in the stool over 10–15 days; chronic causes slow wasting and a crusted, hairless 'sore eye' ring. It is highly fatal, so early treatment is the only way to raise the odds.
1 Acute Enteritis
The disease strikes fast with no warning signs — the coat stays glossy, the body plump, eating and activity normal — then the animal suddenly drops dead in its cage. It hits adults and pups alike, but is commoner in young ones.
2 Subacute Enteritis
Onset is slower and milder, with no sudden death. Early on the animal looks dull but still eats; look closely and you’ll see more eye discharge and a dry nose. As it progresses, it grows lethargic and slow, reacting weakly to stimuli. Without prompt care, appetite falls to nothing, temperature rises above 39°C, and the stools turn alternately hard and loose with blood. Some cases show nosebleed and labored breathing. This form lasts about 10–15 days.
3 Chronic Enteritis
No acute death occurs. Early signs are gradual weight loss, dull coat, low spirits, uneven appetite, and stools that vary between hard and loose. A telling feature is the eyes: one or both become sealed shut with crust, and the animal rubs them with its paws until the fur around them dries out and falls away, forming a ‘sore eye ring.’ The course runs weeks to months, and most animals die from prolonged decline; only a few survive.
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