Post by Linda on Feb 27, 2007 11:26:34 GMT -5
***information provided by Guinea Lynx***
NOSE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NORMAL:
Nose should be clean.
NOT NORMAL:
Snotty noses and frequent sneezing can be a sign of a bacterial infection.
Fungal infections often start on the face.
EYES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NORMAL:
Eyes should be clear and symmetrical. White secretions of a milky white fluid are normal. The fluid is used to clean their faces.
NOT NORMAL:
Crusty eyes (a sign of a bacterial infection)
Bulging eyes (infection, injury, or tooth root problem)
Sunken eyes (may be a sign of dehydration)
Cloudy eyes (treat eye injuries promptly to prevent eye loss)
EARS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NORMAL:
Ears should be relatively clean.
NOT NORMAL:
Dirty or inflamed ears; head tilt (ear infection), crust on edges of ears (fungal infection).
FEET
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NORMAL:
Feet should have a clean, soft footpad. Nails should be a proper length.
NOT NORMAL:
Scabs, crusts, or swelling of the foot. Long nails (be sure to clip nails regularly).
FUR & SKIN
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NORMAL:
Healthy looking fur and skin. A modest amount of shedding is normal.
NOT NORMAL:
Lumps
Scabs
Dandruff, excess shedding
Hair loss, either in patches or general hair loss
DROPPINGS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NORMAL:
Droppings should be uniform and oval, medium to dark brown. Aromatic greenish droppings may be caecal pellets, which the cavy re-ingests (necessary for good nutrition).
NOT NORMAL:
Clumped droppings: may indicate impaction (males).
Smaller droppings and/or teardrop shaped droppings: may indicate dehydration and/or eating less food.
Pitted soft droppings may be caused by an overgrowth of yeast in the intestinal tract: a vet can diagnose this and treat with oral Nystatin.
Diarrhea: can be life threatening. If the droppings are merely soft, temporarily withholding vegetables may help.
URINE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NORMAL:
Urine may be clear to cloudy in color. Calcium compounds in the urine cause this cloudiness. Normal urine is not gritty in texture. Dried urine may leave powdery white calcium compounds. Very young guinea pigs often have an orange or brown tint to their urine. Urine sometimes changes to an orange color on standing (this may be the oxidation of porphyrins in the urine).
NOT NORMAL:
Gritty compounds: may indicate sludge in the bladder. Strong smelling urine may be a sign of dehydration or infection. The gritty deposits are sometimes called sludge, which feels coarse and sandy. Powdery deposits are normal.
Blood in urine is not normal and may be due to a urinary tract infection, bladder stones, or (in females) reproductive problems like pyometra (an infection of the lining of the uterus).
Incontinence is not normal. Your guinea pig should be relatively dry. If its fur is constantly wet and/or there is an odor, be sure to have your pet checked out for a urinary tract infection or other problem.
BEHAVIOR
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Become familiar with your guinea pigs' behavior; how much they move around, what they like to eat, how responsive they are to you and to sounds around them.
Changes in behavior are red flags. If your guinea pig is not eating favorite foods or is hiding it its house, something is wrong. Your pet is depending on you to know when it is ill. See a vet promptly if you suspect your guinea pig is sick.
Mounting:
A female sow that is suddenly constantly chasing and mounting her cage mate may have a hormonal problem.
NOSE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NORMAL:
Nose should be clean.
NOT NORMAL:
Snotty noses and frequent sneezing can be a sign of a bacterial infection.
Fungal infections often start on the face.
EYES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NORMAL:
Eyes should be clear and symmetrical. White secretions of a milky white fluid are normal. The fluid is used to clean their faces.
NOT NORMAL:
Crusty eyes (a sign of a bacterial infection)
Bulging eyes (infection, injury, or tooth root problem)
Sunken eyes (may be a sign of dehydration)
Cloudy eyes (treat eye injuries promptly to prevent eye loss)
EARS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NORMAL:
Ears should be relatively clean.
NOT NORMAL:
Dirty or inflamed ears; head tilt (ear infection), crust on edges of ears (fungal infection).
FEET
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NORMAL:
Feet should have a clean, soft footpad. Nails should be a proper length.
NOT NORMAL:
Scabs, crusts, or swelling of the foot. Long nails (be sure to clip nails regularly).
FUR & SKIN
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NORMAL:
Healthy looking fur and skin. A modest amount of shedding is normal.
NOT NORMAL:
Lumps
Scabs
Dandruff, excess shedding
Hair loss, either in patches or general hair loss
DROPPINGS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NORMAL:
Droppings should be uniform and oval, medium to dark brown. Aromatic greenish droppings may be caecal pellets, which the cavy re-ingests (necessary for good nutrition).
NOT NORMAL:
Clumped droppings: may indicate impaction (males).
Smaller droppings and/or teardrop shaped droppings: may indicate dehydration and/or eating less food.
Pitted soft droppings may be caused by an overgrowth of yeast in the intestinal tract: a vet can diagnose this and treat with oral Nystatin.
Diarrhea: can be life threatening. If the droppings are merely soft, temporarily withholding vegetables may help.
URINE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NORMAL:
Urine may be clear to cloudy in color. Calcium compounds in the urine cause this cloudiness. Normal urine is not gritty in texture. Dried urine may leave powdery white calcium compounds. Very young guinea pigs often have an orange or brown tint to their urine. Urine sometimes changes to an orange color on standing (this may be the oxidation of porphyrins in the urine).
NOT NORMAL:
Gritty compounds: may indicate sludge in the bladder. Strong smelling urine may be a sign of dehydration or infection. The gritty deposits are sometimes called sludge, which feels coarse and sandy. Powdery deposits are normal.
Blood in urine is not normal and may be due to a urinary tract infection, bladder stones, or (in females) reproductive problems like pyometra (an infection of the lining of the uterus).
Incontinence is not normal. Your guinea pig should be relatively dry. If its fur is constantly wet and/or there is an odor, be sure to have your pet checked out for a urinary tract infection or other problem.
BEHAVIOR
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Become familiar with your guinea pigs' behavior; how much they move around, what they like to eat, how responsive they are to you and to sounds around them.
Changes in behavior are red flags. If your guinea pig is not eating favorite foods or is hiding it its house, something is wrong. Your pet is depending on you to know when it is ill. See a vet promptly if you suspect your guinea pig is sick.
Mounting:
A female sow that is suddenly constantly chasing and mounting her cage mate may have a hormonal problem.