\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Abscesses are swollen or infected wounds that sometimes develop on guinea pigs. They build up in the perineal sac and can plug up Can we rub human lotion on. Due to the lack of normal peristalsis and no food coming into the digestive system, gas is unable to leave the body. Sometimes, abscesses will rupture on their own. The earlier your pet is seen and treated by a professional, the easier the treatment and prognosis for guinea pig bloat. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. X Look around its head and neck for abscesses, which can be soft or firm and rise up from under the skin. Correcting dental problems in guinea pigs requires surgery. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. . Spot clean your guinea pig's cage on a daily basis by removing soiled spots and replacing with fresh bedding. University of Missouri. I've been to see a vet (not my usual one I might add) and upon examination he discovered that it wasn't her anus that was swollen but her urethra. ", Copyright 2000-document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) Guinea Lynx, All Rights Reserved, Experiences with Impaction; Frequency of cleaning, Little Mouse (M) - Sperm Rod Identification. While a bum bath may be in order anyway for those pigs with long, luscious locks, you might find it doesnt totally take care of the grease gland goop. Frail innate immunity or immunity gets weak due to old age or other reasons. A product we recommend at Woodgreen is Ivermectin. he has a swollen bowl area and hasn't pooped and his eyes have been developing crust around them. When I cleaned her cage today, I picked her up and noticed her bum was all swollen. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. It is commonly referred to as "boar glue". Coprophagy (eating the soft cecal feces) is vital to the good health of all guinea pigs as it provides them with necessary nutrients. droppings. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. This is important for social status and can be seen in both sexes and castrated males. Guinea pigs should always be eating and defecating. If it was the former, then he said the prognosis would be poor in that the urethra would eventually block completely and then her bladder would burst. Ileus is caused when gas builds up in the gastrointestinal tract (stomach and intestines). Your vet may recommend removing the lump surgically, lancing and draining it, or injecting it with antibiotics to clear it up. If your guinea pig appears swollen and the stomach appears distended (a light tap on the side sounds hollow), see a vet immediately. The guinea pig may squint or paw at the eye. It doesn't seem to be sore at all - he doesn't kick up a fuss when I'm touching it. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. Bordetella Pneumonia. When the water gets dirty, and still, your guinea pig bottom needs to get clean, then repeat the above process. xx. Besides preventing babies, females often develop uterine and ovarianissues, including various cancers, and having your female spayed can prevent these issues. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Is guinea pig butt swollen is it constipated. Congratulations to our Photo Competition Winner - @fur&feathers. 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. Perineal glands in guinea pigs are part of the sebaceous glandular complex. There's a yellowish part in the middle that's the most "leathery" part of his sac.". This could lead to the growth of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Coconut oil is a safe and popular favorite. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. These lighter, softer pellets are called caecal faeces and are very important to your guinea pig's health because they contain important B-complex vitamins. You can buy from Small Pet Select anywhere in the world! Is the English Shepherd same as Scotch collie. Submitted: 2 years ago. Bulging or sunken eyes. Pododermatitis, or bumblefoot, in which sores develop on the bottom of the feet from pressure, is common in guinea pigs. By knowing what the most common illnesses are, you can be better prepared to monitor for signs and symptoms that your guinea pig may be getting sick. Lice or mites can be easy to avoid and treat. By using our site, you agree to our. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Living with a younger and more energetic cagemate has forced Rocky to move more and keeps his butt cleaner. How do I know if my guinea pig is impacted? Periodic occasional cleaning may also be beneficial for boars that are not impacted. When your pet is acting like their old self and not showing any symptoms of urinary illness, you can handle them again. She said there is a mass under her left mammary gland and suspects that it is hormones that are causing the perianal swelling. Do not stop the antibiotic treatment when your guinea pig starts looking and feeling better. Many of these other bladder problems can be diagnosed by X-ray or ultrasound. 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. Your guinea pig may have an intestinal blockage (torsion) and/or a dangerous build-up of gas. If you gently pull the folds apart you should notice two parts: In older BOARS, (rarely younger and rarely in females because the sac is much smaller) the muscles of the anus stretch/weaken and the boar is no longer able to properly expel the fecal pellets from the anus. [1] Customer: I noticed that my Guinea pig has a swollen butt, and it appears to be oozing. How do you clear a guinea pigs impaction? what is wrong with him, a read more Dr. Michael Salkin Veterinarian DVM 58,812 satisfied customers My guinea pig has yellow sticky flakes in his fur around his Lymphadenitis is the clinical term that is used to describe inflammation and swelling of the lymph nodes, which are located throughout the body -- head, neck, limbs, etc. If you look at the first link I gave you it tells you how to clean it my guess is there maybe a mass in there, I would check. However, UTI can take over in piggies with a weak or lowered immune system. Sometimes your guinea pig will ingest some of these pellets if you feed them to him, however, more often than not, you will have to supplement his diet with vitamin B-complex (25mg per day dissolved in water, applied by syringe). Some guinea pigs are born blind, while others can go blind as a result of old age. This lining will coat the faecal pellets and at a later time they are re-ingested by your guinea pig. To accomplish this, flip your guinea pig on his back and smear a small amount of mineral oil inside the anus.Gently push down on the bottom side of the anus and ease the impacted mass out. To rule out anything else or to look for internal issues, an annual physical examination with your exotics vet is always recommended. my little Jack's (male) backside is SO swollen, its about the size of a baseball. What does guinea pig impaction look like? Mammary and skin tumors in guinea pigs are usually benign, meaning that they are not likely to spread to other parts of the body. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Guinea pigs do present such an appearance when they are ill, Chalk needs to be seen by a vet or rodentologist ASAP to determine the cause. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. The grease gland may be virtually invisible and suddenly come to life during puberty or new situations. The eye may appear swollen and watery. You must log in or register to reply here. Anything from pain or cystitis, to respiratory infections or dental trouble, can cause a piggie to sit puffed up in a corner. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. She holds a BS in Anthropology from Loyola University and an MA in Anthropology from Northern Illinois University. The extreme cold temperatures will kill off any potential parasites that may have been lurking in the packages. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Mouth abscesses are very challenging to treat because of their location. Be glad to see him. An abundance can lead to diarrhea. Calcium in a guinea pig's diet is the most common cause of kidney stones. guinea pig. Gently push down on the bottom side of the anus and ease the impacted mass out. Gently retract the folds of the anus to ensure that all debris has been completely removed. The perineal sac is a collecting place for all sorts of debris (hair, cage shavings, hay) and should be checked on a regular basis and cleaned if needed. It is important to note any change in behavior, appetite, elimination (urination and defecation), or other daily habits. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment. If you see your guinea pig hasn't touched its food and you are seeing fewer and smaller stools being passed, your guinea pig may have ileus. Her recommendations are to follow up with the local vet and see about the potential of removal of the mass and a biopsy - but - she is 4.5 years old, and that procedure will cost around $1000, give or take a few hundred dollars depending on where we have it done, so it's a decision we need to discuss still. Today I noticed one of my guinea pigs bottom seems to be swollen. Research source One is the poo we all know and expect, but the other is a compound of vitamins and proteins that help the guinea pig digest B vitamins. In his book A Grown-up's Guide to Guinea Pigs, Dale Sigler suggests that guinea pigs on high protein diets produce more cecal feces. It may not display this or other websites correctly. In most cases, they are selective, eating only the smaller, moister droppings, which they usually take directly from the anus. Cysts become a problem if they become large. As a guinea pig ages, the skin of the perineal sac becomes If this condition develops, its necessary to clear the impaction every day. Guinea Pigs are coprophagic which means they eat their own droppings as part of their normal digestive process. This may in turn become a multiple problem, because of course bacteria are present in the environment which cause no problem to a healthy animal but are opportunistic is it is ill. Gently massage the fur so that it gets clean. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. All guinea pigs are different and even the five most common health ailments can present differently in different animals. References. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Ovarian cysts cause abdominal swelling in a guinea pig and hair loss on both sides of the abdomen. The symptoms do sound very similar to that of my sow. She is able to pee (she pee'd when I picked her up) and she is eating and drinking ok, but it looks awful. thanks for the informative response. What signs may my guinea pig show if it is impacted? I think she's going to the bathroom normally. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 146,911 times. Guinea pigs that like to strut their stuff and show pals theyre boss or those that are newly introduced may have more active grease glands as well. Your vet will use the information you provide to come up with a diagnosis. Making a low pitched sound Arching her back and then putting her bum up in the air Swollen vulva So, it can be normal to see a swollen vulva on a guinea pig every 2-3 weeks. Lower your guinea pig into the water. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. References. Your guinea pig may have swollen toes due to the bottom of the cage, or the bedding. % of people told us that this article helped them. If the removal is incomplete, the abscess could come back. vitamin B deficient because he can no longer eat these benificial the place that has exotic vets on hand that is . I suspect that she has a stone stuck at the end of her urethra. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. However, if the vulva is really swollen then there may be something more serious going on. And thanks to Brimstone and Paulo Ferraretto for their wonderful photos. Guinea pigs are susceptible to external parasites like lice, mites, and fleas. Thanks. Guinea pigs are sensitive to cold air drafts and can easily develop an upper respiratory infection or even pneumonia if you have a baby guinea pig. Guinea pigs make great pets, but they are prone to urinary tract infections and other bladder problems. Fiber-rich fruits and vegetables will help your guinea pig's digestive tract healthy. In older boars, this may be caused by loss of muscle tone or difficulty in removing the pellets. She is sitting in her house in the cage, and going to the bathroom inside, she used to always go in a corner. Line the base of the cage with newspaper or puppy pads for extra absorbency. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Hi all, and sorry that my first post is a question! Spaying your female guinea pig is definitely recommended. Keep in mind that you will not be allowed into the room where x-rays are performed due to the radiation and liability issues. The muscles of these guinea pigs have weakened and they are no longer able to expel the soft caecal pellets that accumulate in the perineal sack. For more tips from our Veterinary co-author, including how to tell if your guinea pig has a mouth abscess, keep reading! Same with hamsters. Some lumps can make guinea pigs very sick and uncomfortable if left untreated. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Read our. Older boars may develop a condition called impaction. To give the antibiotic pill, hold your guinea pig, open its mouth, and put the pill as far back in the mouth as you can. We do this for him most days.". I open his sac to remove accumulated feces on an almost daily basis. How do I know if my guinea pig has impaction? Top two photos: typical boars. In certain cases the abscess can calcify, which can have serious results depending . The best way to keep your guinea pig healthy is to keep a close watch on your pet. 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. They may be sitting unusually quiet. Time to go give my piggy some treats and see if she likes her new cozy we made her this afternoon. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 90,549 times. Feb 25, 2010. You should make sure their accommodation is kept dry and clean with the correct bedding. needs to eat to regain some of it's B-vitamins while the harder Third and fourth photos: the perineal sac. "How wonderfully informative this shared information is. Let your vet know if your pet has any adverse reaction to the medication, such as a refusal to eat.