Use this library to understand warning signs and common treatment approaches. Do not delay veterinary care for worsening symptoms.
Scurvy is one of the most common and dangerous nutritional deficiencies in guinea pigs. Because they cannot synthesize vitamin C, they must get it from food. If fresh vegetables or supplements are missing from the diet, symptoms can appear within 2 to 4 weeks. Untreated scurvy can cause joint bleeding, fragile bones, and immune damage.
Common signs:
- Swollen joints or limping
- Dull or rough coat
- Reduced appetite
- Lethargy
Treatment and care
Causes:
- Lack of fresh vegetables
- Insufficient vitamin C supplementation
- Low intake of vitamin C-rich foods
- Increased vitamin C needs during stress or illness
- Long-term pellet-only diet without fresh foods
Home care:
- Increase fresh vegetables immediately, especially bell peppers
- Supplement 50 to 100 mg of vitamin C daily
- Use water-soluble vitamin C supplements
- Provide a quiet, warm environment
- Monitor symptoms closely
Veterinary care:
- Veterinary blood work to confirm diagnosis
- Vitamin C injection
- Pain relief if joints are affected
- IV fluids for severe cases
- Workup for any underlying health issues
Prevention:
- Feed plenty of fresh vegetables daily
- Use quality guinea pig pellets with added vitamin C
- Use vitamin C drops on a regular schedule
- Choose vitamin C-rich vegetables such as bell peppers, kale, and parsley
- Increase supplementation during stressful periods
Scurvy can be life-threatening. If your guinea pig is limping, refusing food, or lethargic, seek veterinary care immediately. Early treatment can lead to recovery within days.
Upper respiratory infection is a common respiratory disease in guinea pigs. Their respiratory systems are sensitive, and dust, mold, or ammonia from dirty bedding can trigger infection. URI can start like a cold, but without prompt care it can advance to dangerous pneumonia.
Common signs:
- Sneezing
- Runny nose
- Rapid breathing
- Eye discharge
- Lethargy
Treatment and care
Causes:
- Dusty bedding or environment
- Ammonia buildup from an unclean cage
- Temperature swings or chilling
- Weakened immunity
- Contact with sick animals
- Bacterial or viral infection
Home care:
- Move the cage to a warm, dry spot
- Keep the environment clean to reduce ammonia
- Offer fresh water and appealing foods
- Use a humidifier carefully
- Reduce stress and allow rest
Veterinary care:
- Veterinary exam and possible nasal culture
- Antibiotic therapy when indicated
- Nebulization in serious cases
- Fluid and nutritional support
- Hospitalization if pneumonia develops
Prevention:
- Keep the cage clean and dry
- Use low-dust bedding such as paper-based bedding
- Keep temperatures stable between 18 and 24 degrees Celsius
- Avoid drafts and sudden temperature changes
- Quarantine new arrivals before introducing them
- Maintain good ventilation
If your guinea pig breathes with its mouth open, pants, or makes noisy sounds, pneumonia may be present. Get veterinary care quickly.
Diarrhea in guinea pigs has many possible causes, from dietary mistakes to bacterial infection. Mild cases often improve with diet changes, but severe diarrhea can cause dangerous dehydration. Because guinea pigs are small, dehydration can advance quickly.
Common signs:
- Loose or unformed stools
- Dirty rear end
- Reduced appetite
- Abdominal discomfort
Treatment and care
Causes:
- Too much fruit or watery vegetables
- Spoiled or unfamiliar foods
- Abrupt diet changes
- Bacterial or parasitic infection
- Stress
- Antibiotic-associated gut imbalance
Home care:
- Pause fruits and vegetables; offer hay and pellets only
- Offer a small amount of plain cooked applesauce
- Use a probiotic formulated for guinea pigs
- Ensure clean water is always available
- Watch stool consistency closely
Veterinary care:
- Veterinary visit if diarrhea lasts over 24 hours
- Fecal testing when indicated
- Antibiotics for bacterial diarrhea
- Subcutaneous fluids for dehydration
- Deworming if parasites are found
Prevention:
- Feed fruits and vegetables in moderation
- Switch foods gradually over about 7 days
- Discard spoiled food promptly
- Clean food bowls and water bottles regularly
- Avoid human snack foods and processed items
Diarrhea combined with lethargy, refusal to eat, or blood in the stool requires immediate veterinary care.
Bloat and gastrointestinal stasis are among the most urgent health emergencies in guinea pigs. Because their digestion must keep moving, gas and pressure can build quickly. This condition can become fatal within 24 to 48 hours.
Common signs:
- Swollen or hard belly
- Complete appetite loss
- Lethargy
- No or very few droppings
Treatment and care
Causes:
- Too little fiber or missing hay
- Dehydration
- Stress or environmental change
- Pain causing refusal to eat
- Lack of exercise
- Bacterial disturbance
Home care:
- Seek veterinary care immediately
- Gentle abdominal massage if tolerated
- Offer warmed water or syringe fluids carefully
- Provide fresh hay and quiet warmth
Veterinary care:
- X-rays or veterinary exam to confirm diagnosis
- Medication to support gut motility
- Fluid therapy for dehydration
- Gas relief when indicated
- Surgery in advanced cases
Prevention:
- Provide unlimited hay every day
- Offer fresh vegetables consistently
- Keep clean water available at all times
- Avoid sudden food swaps
- Reduce environmental stress
- Provide safe exercise space
This is an emergency. Bloat can be fatal quickly. Go to a veterinarian experienced with exotic pets right away.
Guinea pig teeth grow continuously and need constant wear from hay. Misalignment, insufficient chewing opportunities, or mineral imbalances can cause dental problems. Watch for drooling, dropping food, or weight loss.
Common signs:
- Drooling
- Difficulty eating
- Weight loss
- Eye discharge
- Jaw swelling
Treatment and care
Causes:
- Not enough hay for tooth wear
- Genetic malocclusion
- Calcium or vitamin D imbalance
- Trauma to the mouth or teeth
- Vitamin C deficiency affecting gum health
Home care:
- Increase hay access to encourage chewing
- Offer safe chew items such as apple branches
- Cut foods into smaller pieces
- Weigh daily and track trends
- Offer soft nutritious foods while healing
Veterinary care:
- Oral examination under light sedation
- Trimming or filing overgrown teeth
- Dental X-rays to check roots
- Surgical care if needed
- Fluid and nutritional support
Prevention:
- Provide unlimited grass hay, preferably timothy hay
- Offer safe chew toys or untreated wood
- Maintain balanced nutrition with calcium support
- Schedule dental checks every 6 months
- Monitor eating and weight weekly
Dental disease can lead to starvation. If your guinea pig drools, avoids hay, or loses weight, seek veterinary care promptly.
Bumblefoot is a bacterial foot infection that often starts with small wounds on the feet. It is more common in heavier guinea pigs or those kept on hard, damp flooring. Early signs include redness, but advanced cases can lead to serious infection.
Common signs:
- Red or swollen foot pad
- Crusted or ulcerated foot pad
- Limping
- Reluctance to walk
Treatment and care
Causes:
- Wire-bottom cages or hard flooring
- Wet or dirty bedding
- Excess body weight
- Small cuts on the feet
- Slow wound healing from vitamin C deficiency
Home care:
- Keep wounds clean and dry
- Switch to soft dry bedding
- Use warm saline soaks gently
- Ensure plenty of vitamin C
- Limit activity while healing
Veterinary care:
- Debridement and cleaning by a veterinarian
- Antibiotic therapy
- Bandaging when needed
- Advanced cleaning or surgery in severe cases
- Workup for bone infection
Prevention:
- Avoid wire floors; choose solid flooring
- Keep bedding dry and clean
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Inspect feet weekly
- Provide plenty of vitamin C
- Offer soft floor time surfaces
Bumblefoot can worsen into bone infection. If the foot is ulcerated, draining, or very swollen, seek veterinary care promptly.
Mites are one of the most common skin problems in guinea pigs. Hair follicle mites usually cause mild irritation, while fur mites can cause severe itching. Infested guinea pigs need prompt treatment.
Common signs:
- Intense itching
- Hair loss
- Skin crusting
- Restlessness
Treatment and care
Causes:
- Direct contact with an infected guinea pig
- Contaminated bedding or objects
- Weakened immunity from stress or poor nutrition
- Unclean living conditions
- New animal introduction
Home care:
- Isolate the affected guinea pig immediately
- Deep clean and disinfect the cage and accessories
- Use mild pet shampoo when appropriate
- Keep the environment dry and clean
- Monitor other guinea pigs for signs
Veterinary care:
- Veterinary diagnosis with skin scraping
- Ivermectin or selamectin-based treatment
- Multiple treatment courses in serious cases
- Treat all exposed guinea pigs
- Anti-itch therapy when needed
Prevention:
- Quarantine new arrivals for at least 2 weeks
- Inspect skin and coat regularly
- Keep housing clean and dry
- Avoid contact with known infected animals
- Reduce stress and maintain good nutrition
Mites cause serious discomfort and can spread quickly. Seek treatment as soon as itching or hair loss appears.
Guinea pigs are very sensitive to heat. Their normal body temperature is 38 to 39 degrees Celsius, and they do not cool themselves efficiently. At temperatures above 26 to 28 degrees Celsius, they can quickly develop heatstroke.
Common signs:
- Lethargy
- Rapid breathing
- Drooling
- Body weakness
Treatment and care
Causes:
- Room temperature too high
- Direct sunlight on the cage
- Poor ventilation
- Hot, stuffy housing
- Dehydration
Home care:
- Move immediately to shade and airflow
- Use cool, damp towels on the head and body
- Offer cool water in small amounts
- Increase air movement with a fan
- Cool gradually; avoid ice water or direct cold airflow
Veterinary care:
- Emergency fluid support
- Careful temperature monitoring
- Anti-inflammatory therapy when needed
- Shock and organ support
- Close monitoring for 24 to 48 hours
Prevention:
- Keep rooms below 24 degrees Celsius in warm weather
- Use fans, cooling pads, or air conditioning
- Place the cage away from direct sun
- Offer extra cool water
- Wrap ice packs before placing them near the cage
Heatstroke can be fatal within minutes. Begin emergency first aid and seek veterinary care immediately.
As guinea pigs age, they can develop fatty lumps, mammary tumors, or skin masses. Early detection often improves outcomes. Gentle weekly checks help owners notice changes sooner.
Common signs:
- New lump under the skin
- Slowly growing mass
- Weight loss
- Appetite loss
Treatment and care
Causes:
- Age-related tissue changes
- Genetic factors
- Hormonal factors; intact females have higher mammary tumor risk
Home care:
- Record the size and location of any new lump
- Remeasure the lump weekly
- Keep the guinea pig calm
- Offer supportive nutrition
Veterinary care:
- Veterinary palpation and assessment
- Biopsy when indicated
- Monitor small lumps; remove larger ones when advised
- Benign lipomas often have good outcomes
Prevention:
- Perform gentle weekly body checks
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Consider neutering for females not intended for breeding
- Schedule senior wellness exams
Any new or rapidly growing lump deserves prompt attention. If it enlarges noticeably within a few weeks, see a veterinarian.
Eye problems are relatively common in guinea pigs and may result from injury, debris, infection, or dental disease. Cloudy eyes can also appear in older guinea pigs.
Common signs:
- Red or inflamed eye
- Eye discharge
- Squinting
- Cloudy eye
Treatment and care
Causes:
- Bedding dust or debris in the eye
- Facial injuries from cage mates
- Bacterial or fungal infection
- Dental overgrowth pressing on the eye
- Age-related cataracts
Home care:
- Rinse gently with sterile saline
- Clean around the eye carefully
- Check for bedding or hay debris
- Switch to softer low-dust bedding
- Watch for improvement over 24 hours
Veterinary care:
- Fluorescein staining to check the cornea
- Antibiotic eye drops or ointment
- Foreign body removal when needed
- Dental X-rays if tooth root pressure is suspected
Prevention:
- Use low-dust bedding
- Clean the cage regularly
- Monitor housing mates for fighting
- Maintain balanced nutrition including vitamins A and C
Eye problems combined with drooling or chewing difficulty may mean dental disease. That combination needs prompt veterinary attention.
Ear infections are less common than some other issues, but they can affect balance when they reach the inner ear. Head tilt and circling are classic signs that need prompt care.
Common signs:
- Head tilt
- Frequent ear scratching
- Ear discharge
- Circling or balance loss
Treatment and care
Causes:
- Bacterial or fungal infection
- Ear mites
- Foreign material in the ear canal
- Spread from nearby infected tissue
Home care:
- Keep the ear area clean
- Do not insert cotton swabs deeply into the canal
- Provide a quiet, stable environment
Veterinary care:
- Otoscopic examination
- Ear swab and culture when needed
- Cleaning and ear medication
- Mite treatment when ear mites are present
Prevention:
- Inspect ears visually on a regular schedule
- Keep the cage clean to limit bacterial growth
- Check new arrivals for mites before full introduction
Head tilt and circling can signal middle or inner ear disease. Delayed care may cause lasting balance problems.