How to spot hidden health issues in guinea pigs

As a prey species, guinea pigs naturally hide any signs of pain or discomfort. This can make it tricky to spot when something isn’t quite right with them. Our guide below will help you recognise the subtle signs of potential health problems in your guinea pigs.

 

Health checking your guinea pig

It’s important to keep an eye on your guinea pigs daily and carry out a health check weekly. This will help you get to know what’s normal for your guinea pigs. It also makes it easier to identify any small changes in their movement, weight and overall appearance.

If you know what’s normal for them, this will make it much easier to notice when something has changed.

Spend some time each day watching them eat, drink, and move around. You’ll soon learn what their favourite foods are, how they interact with each other, and even what their poo and wee looks like.

 

How can I tell if my guinea pig is in pain?

Guinea pigs will usually hide any signs of discomfort, even in a home when there’s no threat from predators. Look out for the following signs:

• Sitting hunched, looking tense or uncomfortable
• Having an unkempt coat or looking fluffed up
• Urine staining or dirty bottom
• High-pitched squeaking when urinating
• Grinding their teeth
• Moving around less or seeming stiff
• Being quieter than normal, hiding away, spending less time with their friend(s)
• Stopping eating or eating less than normal
• Being grumpy and irritable – particularly with a companion
• Having discharge or crustiness around their eyes, ears, nose or mouth.

If you notice any of these signs, make an appointment with a guinea pig-savvy vet as soon as possible to investigate the problem.

 

What should I do if my guinea pig stops eating?

If your guinea pig goes off their food or they seem less interested in it, it’s highly likely they’re unwell and possibly suffering with gut stasis (where the gut movement slows down or stops).

Guinea pigs need to have food constantly moving through their digestive system. If they don’t, it can be fatal. As well as being off their food, you may see signs of them being in pain (see above), having smaller/fewer faeces than normal, or none at all.

If you notice your guinea pigs have stopped eating or they’ve lost interest in their food, take them to a vet as soon as possible. Unfortunately, many people decide to wait until the following day to see if they start eating again, but this is often too late.

 

Why has my guinea pig stopped eating?

The most common causes of a change in a guinea pig’s appetite are general pain and dental issues. They can also go off their food when they have lost a guinea pig companion.

There are many other reasons why a guinea pig may eat less than normal, or stop eating altogether. If you see this happening, take them to a vet immediately, so they can identify and treat the underlying cause.

 

Changes in behaviour towards companions

Sometimes, an early sign of something being wrong with your guinea pig is a change in their behaviour towards their companions, or even in their companions’ behaviour towards them.

If you spot any sudden aggression, mounting which increases in intensity, or injuries, take them to a vet. They can check them over for any potential health issues which may be causing any of these behaviours.

If no medical issues are found, it’s possible there could be other things going on between the bonded pair or group which is behaviour related. Make a free phone appointment to speak to our behaviour and training specialists, who can help you identify the cause.

 

Fur loss

Look out for any fur loss or areas of fur that seem sparser than normal, as well as flaky skin. These changes, along with your guinea pigs scratching more than usual, could be signs of parasites or even fungal infections. Without treatment, they can lose large patches of fur and even get infected wounds from scratching so much.

If they have ringworm, it’s important to remember this can also be transferred to people. Arrange an appointment with your vet as soon as you notice anything suspicious.

 

Ovarian cysts in female guinea pigs

Females are prone to developing ovarian cysts from the age of 18 months onwards. Symptoms can vary depending on whether the cysts are hormonally active or not.

These can include:

• Crusty nipples
• Hair loss on the flanks and abdomen
• Swollen abdomen
• Urinary problems
• Changes in behaviour towards their companions such as mounting and aggression

If you notice any of these symptoms, get your guinea pig checked by a vet. They can advise on the best course of treatment, or whether it may just need careful management.

 

Cystitis and kidney infections

Guinea pigs are prone to urinary tract infections (UTI). Signs can include smelly urine, squeaking when urinating, and urine staining on their fur. If your guinea pigs show any of these symptoms, speak to a vet, who’ll be able to help with the infection and pain.

You can take steps to prevent infections by spot cleaning your guinea pigs’ enclosure daily. You should also make sure your guinea pigs have a large enclosure with lots of hiding spaces to run between. This will allow them to move away from soiled areas and prevent the build-up of faeces and bacteria.

 

Bladder and kidney stones

Similar to UTIs, bladder and kidney stones can cause difficulties with urinating, which is also painful.

Bladder stones can often begin with bladder sludge. You’ll notice this in their urine as it will look milky. You may also see chalky deposits when you clean their enclosure. Guinea pigs naturally excrete excess calcium in their urine, so some sludge is normal. Over time, this can build up to form a stone which they can’t pass easily.

If you spot any signs of bladder and kidney stones, see a vet as soon as you can.

You can help to prevent stones by making sure your guinea pigs have enough space to move around. You should also keep them well hydrated. Make sure there are multiple water sources around their enclosure – water bowls can often be easier to drink from. Avoid feeding calcium rich foods frequently, such as kale, spinach and parsley.

 

Digestive problems in older guinea pigs

Faecal impaction can occur in older male guinea pigs. As well as making them uncomfortable, it can also be fatal if left untreated.

Impaction is the build-up of faeces in their anus, which is caused by weakened muscles and age-related changes. This means they can struggle to push out some of the softer faeces, whilst still producing normal, harder faeces. Over time, these softer faeces can build up into a large ball and will be very smelly. You’ll see the impaction as a bulge in their bottom.

It’s important to check for signs of impaction during your guinea pigs’ weekly health check, and seek veterinary advice if you see signs of the condition.

To prevent or slow the progression of impaction, 85-90% of your guinea pigs’ diet should be good quality hay. It’s also vital to make sure they have a large enclosure to keep them active and help with maintaining muscle strength.