This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Often, the term 'lumps' refers to swollen neck lymph nodes that become abscesses (pockets of infection). % of people told us that this article helped them. Congratulations to our Photo Competition Winner - @fur&feathers. Do guinea pigs pee and poop out of the same hole? Guinea pig bloat occurs when gas builds up in your pets gastrointestinal intestinal tract. If any of your guinea pigs toys have sharp edges, take those out as well. And she's certainly not too old for surgery. Second photo, Brimstone opens the sac to gently remove the impacted material: Two views of how to rinse using a 6cc syringe and warm water: "This is what Rocky's sac looks like when it's inverted. Cummings Veterinary Medical Center at Tufts University. If you notice anorexia in your guinea pig or visible swelling around his rib cage, see a veterinarian immediately. Give the full course of antibiotics. What do I need to know about my guinea pigs' health? They build up in the perineal sac and can plug up Coprophagy (eating the soft cecal feces) is vital to the good health of all guinea pigs as it provides them with necessary nutrients. If this condition develops, its necessary to clear the impaction every day. I don't know Rocky's exact age, but I estimate he was at least 5 when these pictures were taken.". If this condition develops, it's necessary to clear the impaction every day. Regular trims will keep your guinea pigs hair from getting dirty and matted with urine or feces. The guinea pig nose bleeds due to the following factors: Swelling in the lining of the nasal cavity and respiratory tract. It could be one of a few things, like an abscess, skin tumor, or cyst. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. The guinea pig may squint or paw at the eye. we may know of a rodentologist that could help you or another experienced member. You may have noticed a gunky spot around the area where youd find your guinea pigs wannabe tail. Find out more about the NEW, drastically improved site and forum! The best way to keep your guinea pig healthy is to keep a close watch on your pet. needs to eat to regain some of it's B-vitamins while the harder Reactions:Fifi's piggies Fifi's piggies New Born Pup Joined May 18, 2020 Messages 20 If you think your guinea pig may have Impaction, when you look at your guinea pigs bum, you will notice that there is a big plug like area that is full of poop. We have a female guinea pig with a swollen bum. Be aware of physical changes such as hair loss, skin redness, or swelling. They may be caused by a viral infection. Brimstone suggests trimming rump hair on a long-haired boar before a general cleaning. By Natalie Riggs on October 11, 2018 Lice and Demodex mange mites are conditions that can both cause itching and hair loss. If the lump is an abscess this is caused by a bacterial infection which normally develops after the guinea pig has suffered an injury of some kind. She has been back home for the last 8 weeks and has been put in a store bought cage by herself (her cage mate passed away while at the other house) and we have her on care fresh bedding. How do I know if my guinea pig has a blockage? 3. If your guinea pig has hair loss and is itching or scratching a lot, it may have lice or mites. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 146,911 times. An untreated cyst or abscess can become very large, painful, and difficult to treat. By using our site, you agree to our. She has been eating really well and doing ok by herself. Guinea Pigs are coprophagic which means they eat their own droppings as part of their normal digestive process. half way down the page at the Dale Sigler's Cavy Care site and by Chris Wheeler who suggests that: "Whenever you pick up a boar, rest your hand under his rump so that you can feel the testicles, if he is starting to get impacted you should feel a hardness within the pouch. I checked with the local pet store, and they suggested a bath/swimming to clean her bottom, and mentioned that it could be due to a dirty cage. In some guinea pigs, the harder pellets can still be expelled. To accomplish this, flip your guinea pig on his back and smear a small amount of mineral oil inside the anus. The test to identify bacteria is called a culture.. Hi, I am of course going to take my guinea pig to the vet to get checked out, however I am just wondering what may be wrong with her. How do I know if my guinea pig has impaction? You should make sure their accommodation is kept dry and clean with the correct bedding. These actions will help you prevent the bulk of the most commonly seen diseases, though there are, of course, numerous other diseases that affect guinea pigs. [1] If you consider this last option, make absolutely sure you have located a vet with extensive experience and a good track record to minimize the possibility of losing your pet during the surgery (problems with anesthetics) or recovery (infections). wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. The following article was contributed by Andrew and printed with his permission. Wash your guinea pig's anal sack with warm water and dry it with a soft clean towel. Some lumps can make guinea pigs very sick and uncomfortable if left untreated. If you have a wire bottom on your cage, this may. Be aware before introducing any new guinea pigs if they seem to have any skin conditions. Deanne has been a Board Member of the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Foundation in San Antonio, Texas since 2011. and how quickly did the swelling come up? Look around its head and neck for abscesses, which can be soft or firm and rise up from under the skin. Not exactly the news I wanted to get tonight, but the good news is, even though it looks awful, she is not in any pain at the moment, so I feel better at least knowing what we are up against and that she is not in an urgent situation tonight. If your guinea pig is affected, take it to the vet for a formal diagnosis. Your vet will use the information you provide to come up with a diagnosis. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Surgical removal of a skin tumor is often curative, meaning that no other treatment is needed to treat the tumor. It means your guinea pig is a boy, and that is not his behind, if you get my drift. out of the rectum. A completeovariohysterectomy can be performed by your exotics vet on your guinea pig to prevent uterine and ovarian diseases, just as it would in a dog or cat. Thanks to Paul Livingston (reprinted with permission) have been added for clarity. Removing a cyst may be challenging as well, since the fluid inside of it may contain bacteria. The Anal Sack of the guinea pig is a very delicate area and as such contains vital secretions which will coat guinea pig faecal pellets which will be consumed by them at a later time. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/6c\/Diagnose-and-Treat-Urinary-Problems-in-Guinea-Pigs-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Diagnose-and-Treat-Urinary-Problems-in-Guinea-Pigs-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/6c\/Diagnose-and-Treat-Urinary-Problems-in-Guinea-Pigs-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid9196924-v4-728px-Diagnose-and-Treat-Urinary-Problems-in-Guinea-Pigs-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"