Post by Dawn - Admin on Oct 12, 2005 9:39:29 GMT
Dental Problems/Malocclusion
When the top and bottom teeth of a guinea pig do not meet properly, they will eventually wear unevenly and can cause eating problems and wounds inside the mouth. Poor diet (especially one lacking in Vitamin C) may be a contributing factor, and should be addressed.
Symptoms: teeth that are too long or abnormal in shape or angle; drooling; sores inside mouth or on tongue.
Treatment: A vet or groomer must be seen to trim the teeth to the correct length. Give your pet plenty of chew toys to help keep its teeth filed down.
External Parasites
Symptoms: excessive scratching; skin redness and/or irritation; open sores from scratching; fur loss from scratching; scaly appearance to skin; black or white flecks on skin or hair; brown substance inside ears and head shaking (ear mites).
Treatment: Over the counter medication for small animals (guinea pigs, rabbits, cats not dogs) should be used at first signs. See a vet for moderate to severe infestations. Ticks and maggots should be removed immediately.
Footpad Infection
Guinea pigs (or any other animal) should not be housed on a wire-bottomed cage. It can cause severe deformities and other problems with the animals' front and back feet.
Symptoms: swelling in feet; limping; pain when moving.
Treatment: Prevent this problem by using cages with solid floors and keeping a regular cleaning schedule. If this condition does occur, a veterinarian should be consulted with regards to physical therapy to correct deformities and medication to treat any possible infections.
Heat Stroke
Heat stroke is unfortunately common in these animals due to the nature of their bodies' cooling system. Obviously it occurs more in the summer when animals are outdoors, but it can be caused by improper conditions anywhere. Temperatures should not be allowed to reach above 85 F, and humidity should be kept under control (no more than 70%). If you allow your animals to play outdoors (and this is recommended), provide adequate shade and air circulation to prevent heat-related problems.
Symptoms: panting, drooling, weakness or lethargy; convulsions in advanced cases.
Treatment: When heat stroke is suspected, animals should be removed to a cooler area and misted with cool (not cold) water. Once this first-aid is undertaken, a veterinarian should be contacted immediately.
Impaction/Constipation/Mega-colon
Constipation is caused by problems in your pets diet. Blockages in the intestinal tract are also known as impactions, and are generally caused by ingestion of substrate or other foreign substances. Mega-colon is an enlargement of the large intestine, resulting in weakened sphincter and in turn, feces buildup in the intestinal tract.
Symptoms: irritability; blood in urine or feces; less frequent or smaller bowel movements; irregularly shaped feces; swelling and/or pain in the abdomen or anal region. These symptoms can also be indicative of many other, more severe illnesses. If you aren't sure what the problem is, it is always best to consult a vet right away.
Treatment: If constipation is suspected (particularly after a recent change in diet), correct the imbalance by offering more fiber-rich foods. If mega-colon or impaction of a foreign object is suspected, take your pet to a vet immediately.
Internal Parasites
Symptoms: diarrhea; weight loss despite normal appetite; frequent grooming or licking anal region; visible signs of parasites or parasite eggs around the anus or in droppings.
Treatment: A vet should do a fecal examination to determine the exact parasite(s) and the proper treatment.
Respiratory Illness
Respiratory illness (particularly pneumonia) is common in guinea pigs. In rabbits, Pasteurella multocida is the common cause for respiratory infection. Good care practices and minimal stress are important.
Symptoms: watery eyes; dull eye color; discharge from the eyes or nose; raspy breathing; wheezing; lethargy; lack of appetite or thirst. Symptoms may be confused with a reaction to dust or cleaning products in the cage. If neurological symptoms from pasteurellosis (e.g. head tilt) are observed, take your rabbit to a veterinarian immediately.
Treatment: Avoid drafts around the enclosure, and keep the substrate clean and dry. Raise the temperature if necessary and provide plenty of water. If after a few days, symptoms do not improve, see a veterinarian. If you have two or more animals housed together, separate to prevent spreading the illness.
Ringworm
Symptoms: excessive scratching; patchy hair loss; red, flaky skin.
Treatment: A veterinarian will prescribe a topical or oral medication for this fungal infection. Be sure to wash your hands after handling an infected animal to prevent spreading the disease to other animals or humans.
Scurvy (Vitamin C Deficiency)
Scurvy, mainly a concern in guinea pigs, is caused by a Vitamin C deficiency. It is said that just two weeks of a low or no Vitamin C diet can cause this disease.
Symptoms: swollen, painful joints and ribs; reluctance to move; poor bone and teeth development; lack of appetite; spontaneous bleeding from gums, into joints, and in muscle.
Treatment: At first sign of symptoms, a Vitamin C supplement should be added to the food or water several times a week until symptoms disappear. In severe cases, you may require a vet to administer an injection of the vitamin. Supplement should then be added once every week and the diet varied to include more nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables. Keep in mind that Vitamin C has a very short shelf life, and even fortified foods will completely lose their potency after about 6 months.
www.klsnet.com/sickguinea.html
When the top and bottom teeth of a guinea pig do not meet properly, they will eventually wear unevenly and can cause eating problems and wounds inside the mouth. Poor diet (especially one lacking in Vitamin C) may be a contributing factor, and should be addressed.
Symptoms: teeth that are too long or abnormal in shape or angle; drooling; sores inside mouth or on tongue.
Treatment: A vet or groomer must be seen to trim the teeth to the correct length. Give your pet plenty of chew toys to help keep its teeth filed down.
External Parasites
Symptoms: excessive scratching; skin redness and/or irritation; open sores from scratching; fur loss from scratching; scaly appearance to skin; black or white flecks on skin or hair; brown substance inside ears and head shaking (ear mites).
Treatment: Over the counter medication for small animals (guinea pigs, rabbits, cats not dogs) should be used at first signs. See a vet for moderate to severe infestations. Ticks and maggots should be removed immediately.
Footpad Infection
Guinea pigs (or any other animal) should not be housed on a wire-bottomed cage. It can cause severe deformities and other problems with the animals' front and back feet.
Symptoms: swelling in feet; limping; pain when moving.
Treatment: Prevent this problem by using cages with solid floors and keeping a regular cleaning schedule. If this condition does occur, a veterinarian should be consulted with regards to physical therapy to correct deformities and medication to treat any possible infections.
Heat Stroke
Heat stroke is unfortunately common in these animals due to the nature of their bodies' cooling system. Obviously it occurs more in the summer when animals are outdoors, but it can be caused by improper conditions anywhere. Temperatures should not be allowed to reach above 85 F, and humidity should be kept under control (no more than 70%). If you allow your animals to play outdoors (and this is recommended), provide adequate shade and air circulation to prevent heat-related problems.
Symptoms: panting, drooling, weakness or lethargy; convulsions in advanced cases.
Treatment: When heat stroke is suspected, animals should be removed to a cooler area and misted with cool (not cold) water. Once this first-aid is undertaken, a veterinarian should be contacted immediately.
Impaction/Constipation/Mega-colon
Constipation is caused by problems in your pets diet. Blockages in the intestinal tract are also known as impactions, and are generally caused by ingestion of substrate or other foreign substances. Mega-colon is an enlargement of the large intestine, resulting in weakened sphincter and in turn, feces buildup in the intestinal tract.
Symptoms: irritability; blood in urine or feces; less frequent or smaller bowel movements; irregularly shaped feces; swelling and/or pain in the abdomen or anal region. These symptoms can also be indicative of many other, more severe illnesses. If you aren't sure what the problem is, it is always best to consult a vet right away.
Treatment: If constipation is suspected (particularly after a recent change in diet), correct the imbalance by offering more fiber-rich foods. If mega-colon or impaction of a foreign object is suspected, take your pet to a vet immediately.
Internal Parasites
Symptoms: diarrhea; weight loss despite normal appetite; frequent grooming or licking anal region; visible signs of parasites or parasite eggs around the anus or in droppings.
Treatment: A vet should do a fecal examination to determine the exact parasite(s) and the proper treatment.
Respiratory Illness
Respiratory illness (particularly pneumonia) is common in guinea pigs. In rabbits, Pasteurella multocida is the common cause for respiratory infection. Good care practices and minimal stress are important.
Symptoms: watery eyes; dull eye color; discharge from the eyes or nose; raspy breathing; wheezing; lethargy; lack of appetite or thirst. Symptoms may be confused with a reaction to dust or cleaning products in the cage. If neurological symptoms from pasteurellosis (e.g. head tilt) are observed, take your rabbit to a veterinarian immediately.
Treatment: Avoid drafts around the enclosure, and keep the substrate clean and dry. Raise the temperature if necessary and provide plenty of water. If after a few days, symptoms do not improve, see a veterinarian. If you have two or more animals housed together, separate to prevent spreading the illness.
Ringworm
Symptoms: excessive scratching; patchy hair loss; red, flaky skin.
Treatment: A veterinarian will prescribe a topical or oral medication for this fungal infection. Be sure to wash your hands after handling an infected animal to prevent spreading the disease to other animals or humans.
Scurvy (Vitamin C Deficiency)
Scurvy, mainly a concern in guinea pigs, is caused by a Vitamin C deficiency. It is said that just two weeks of a low or no Vitamin C diet can cause this disease.
Symptoms: swollen, painful joints and ribs; reluctance to move; poor bone and teeth development; lack of appetite; spontaneous bleeding from gums, into joints, and in muscle.
Treatment: At first sign of symptoms, a Vitamin C supplement should be added to the food or water several times a week until symptoms disappear. In severe cases, you may require a vet to administer an injection of the vitamin. Supplement should then be added once every week and the diet varied to include more nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables. Keep in mind that Vitamin C has a very short shelf life, and even fortified foods will completely lose their potency after about 6 months.
www.klsnet.com/sickguinea.html
