Content
- My guinea pig has diarrhea
- Guinea Pig Feeding and its Importance
- Guinea pig with diarrhea: parasites
- Guinea pig with diarrhea: scurvy
- Guinea pig with diarrhea: bacterial infection
- Guinea pig with diarrhea: side effects
Diarrhea in guinea pigs is a relatively frequent disorder that, in general, is not very serious. However, we should not neglect to pay attention, since, if the diarrhea is intense, the guinea pig can dehydrate very quickly and give rise to a veterinary emergency.
In this article by PeritoAnimal, we will explain everything about guinea pig with diarrhea. Knowing the possible causes, it is possible to prevent its occurrence because, as we will see in the following sections, many depend on the care you give your animal, such as feeding or going to the veterinarian.
My guinea pig has diarrhea
First of all, it is necessary to understand what diarrhea is. emission of liquid stools several times a day, it is possible to see them directly or notice that the guinea pig has a stained anal area. Diarrhea may be the only abnormality we will see, but in other cases, depending on its source, we may notice other symptoms as well.
If the guinea pig's condition is good and the diarrhea is decreasing, it may be considered a minor episode. Otherwise, if the piglet has weakened, stop eating or drinking and the diarrhea persists, you should take him to the clinic veterinary as soon as possible since, as we said, he can dehydrate quickly. In the following sections, we'll look at why a guinea pig can get diarrhea.
Guinea Pig Feeding and its Importance
Sometimes the guinea pig can get diarrhea as a result of an inadequate diet. These animals need a important amount of fiber to regulate their intestinal flora, which is also very important for them to wear out their teeth. As always, it's better to be safe than sorry, so the guinea pig's feeding should follow the following recommendations:
- Approximately 75% of the diet should consist of good quality hay, specific for guinea pigs.
- About 20% should be ration for guinea pigs.
- About 5% will be vegetables rich in Vitamin C, such as endives, cabbage or spinach. This vitamin is very important because guinea pigs cannot produce it on their own and its deficiency is responsible for a disease known as scurvy.
- Fruits and cereals may be offered, but occasionally, as a reward.
- In some cases it may be necessary to use vitamin C supplements. The veterinarian will advise you on this.
Keep in mind that the guinea pig's needs can vary depending on age or of your state, you must be aware to adapt the diet. Sometimes the diet we give the piglet is correct, but the diarrhea shows up anyway. The reason a guinea pig has diarrhea in these circumstances may be due to changes that were introduced abruptly to the diet or the ingestion of foods toxic to guinea pigs. If this is the reason, it can usually be fixed in a short time. In any case, it is important to introduce changes gradually. The other causes will be seen below.
Guinea pig with diarrhea: parasites
Another classic cause of diarrhea is internal parasites. To avoid them, it is advisable to deworm the guinea pig following the instructions of the veterinarian. At this point, it is important to take into account that this professional must be a specialist in guinea pigs, since these animals present differences in relation to other animals more common in veterinary clinics, such as dogs and cats.
It is also important to use only the deworming agents recommended by the veterinarian, so as not to run. risk of poisoning using inappropriate products or administering an overdose. The veterinarian can observe the parasites microscopically in a stool sample, which allows for identification and therefore treatment. Guinea pigs have diarrhea with the parasites due to their effect on the digestive system. The diarrhea should go away when the pig is dewormed.
Guinea pig with diarrhea: scurvy
When talking about the proper diet for the guinea pig, we mentioned the need to consume enough Vitamin C. A deficiency in this vitamin can cause scurvy in guinea pigs, a condition that is characterized by skin lesions, pain to the touch, and diarrhea. In this case, the treatment will consist of supplementation with vitamin C, as prescribed by the veterinarian who will be in charge of making the diagnosis.
Regarding vitamin C, it is important to know that it is easily degradable. This means that if, for example, we put it in our little pig's drinking fountain so that he can drink it when drinking water, he may not be consuming enough. The same applies to fortified food with this vitamin, which can be lost during storage. With scurvy, we see that the reason the guinea pig has diarrhea can be very much related to feeding, hence the importance of taking care of the diet and offering it good fruits and vegetables for guinea pigs.
Guinea pig with diarrhea: bacterial infection
It is also possible that the explanation for guinea pig diarrhea is among the bacteria of your digestive system. As always, it will be the veterinarian who will diagnose and treat this. It must be taken into account that some bacteria can be transferable, therefore, you should take extreme hygiene measures, washing your hands thoroughly after handling the guinea pig or its utensils.
It's also important. keep his space clean, eliminating feces and cleaning whenever necessary. In these cases, the guinea pig may have symptoms other than diarrhea, which is why it is so important that you take it to the vet quickly to avoid serious complications such as dehydration.
Guinea pig with diarrhea: side effects
Lastly, sometimes the reason why the guinea pig has diarrhea is found in some medicine that he may have taken. Diarrhea is often one of the most common side effects. If this is the case, you should notify the veterinarian so that he can evaluate the possibility of replacing the drug or even suspending its administration.
This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.