my friend has 2 guinea pigs and 1 was acting sick. it was slumping around not moving much and squeling a lot. then its fur started falling out and it was coughing and sneezing a lot. this was going on for about a week. then today it just died :[ it was only like 61/2 months old. so what do you think happened to it?
thanks so much
was it really cancer? we really to know please only serioius answers
Anonymous
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Bacterial respiratory infections are a common problem among pet store pigs (a good reason to adopt your pet instead of purchasing one from a pet store). New pet owners are often unaware of how quickly guinea pigs can go downhill and how vital prompt veterinary care is to the health of your new pet.
Untreated URIs are almost always fatal. Cavies do not get cold viruses.
Allergies/asthma is very rare, though they may produce similar signs. Guinea pigs will hide their illnesses from their owners because they are prey animals.
A prey animal is an animal that gets hunted down and eaten. They hide their illnesses because if the predator sees a sick guinea pig (they used to be wild in the mountains of Peru) then they will pick that one out quick smart because it's easiest to get.
So it's basically in their instincts to hide illnesses from anything. If URI's aren't treated as early as possible then it is fatal and they can easily die from it. Signs of URI's are:
> Refusal to eat or drink (anorexia)
> No feces (as a result of not eating)
> Labored breathing, wheezing
> Sneezing, coughing
> Crusty eyes, eyes that are almost sealed shut
> Discharge from eyes or nose (read about normal Eyes)
> Dull and/or receding eyes
> Rough or puffed-up coat
> Lethargy, hunched posture
http://www.guinealynx.info/uri.html
Carol
That guinea pig did not have an upper respiratory infection due to the hair loss and the stumping. I was suffering from poor diet if not starvation. I clearly did not have enough vitamin C to have the hair loss. Guinea pigs are very frail and need a proper diet at all times not just when the owner feels like feeding them. I can not believe the guinea pig was not taken to a vet, that is clear animal abuse.
Kyattsu
Guinea pigs are prone to upper respiratory infections, which could possibly be the source of the coughing and sneezing and if untreated like your friend's, is pretty much always fatal ):
I'm very sorry for your friend's loss, and I'd recommend having the remaining pig taken to a vet too in case it was contagious! It's sad to lose one, but would be devastating to lose both.
Anonymous
Cancer