A number of diseases can cause guinea pigs to die suddenly, such a heart attack, social stress, dental problems, vitamin C deficiency, and pneumonia, among other upper respiratory illnesses.
Nothing can be more devastating than the unexpected loss of your lovely guinea pig when they were hale and healthy just a few hours ago.
Unfortunately, many guinea pig owners go through this upsetting experience because rodents, including guinea pigs, can pass away suddenly without any clear reason. Wondering why it happens?
Read on to find out.
What Can Cause Guinea Pigs to Die Suddenly?
Guinea pigs are quite popular pets that live for years under the right conditions and care. However, even a small variation in their care requirements can have potentially disastrous implications.
Certain underlying illnesses and poor genetics can also be blamed for the sudden passing away of your pet.
Sometimes, guinea pigs also pass away due to unknown factors, known as idiopathic.
Also, keep in mind that your guinea can put on a happy front even if they are sick. As a result, they’ll keep any ailments under wraps until they become life-threatening.
The only way to really comprehend your pet’s condition is to have an autopsy conducted.
It is important to learn if the death was preventable so adjustments can be made for any other pets that you may have.
To keep your pet healthy and avoid sudden death, you must be on the lookout for symptoms of illness and act quickly to address them.
Common Diseases That Kill Guinea Pigs
Several diseases can result in a piggy’s death, but generally, the telltale signs are one and the same for parents to spot.
That said, knowing the ailments that can possibly take your cavy’s life is essential so that you can take preventative measures.
Respiratory Illnesses And Pneumonia
The majority of infectious disorders in guinea pigs are the result of viruses and bacteria transmitted by other guinea pigs.
Pneumonia is a common infection in guinea pigs that can lead to sudden death. Pneumonia and respiratory disease in guinea pigs primarily affect the young and old.
Generally, pneumonia can be treated if caught early, but that rarely happens. And more often than not, it exacerbates, leading to death.
Respiratory illnesses are exceedingly common in guineas, starting with mild symptoms that are easy to miss. However, as the disease advances, the signs get much worse.
Sneezing, coughing, wheezing, rapid breathing, runny nose, loss of appetite, pink eyes, high body temperature, and weight loss are evident indicators of pneumonia and other respiratory problems.
But the former causes much more severe symptoms. Nonetheless, the beginning of such ailments can be hard to catch unless you closely observe your furry friend.
Therefore, keep a close eye on your bud’s movement and breathing.
Naturally, if they have trouble breathing, they will also have difficulty getting around, which requires fast respiration. Even the slightest change in their breathing should be concerning for you.
Stroke / Heart Attack
Strokes and heart attacks are sometimes responsible for the death of a guinea pig.
But sadly, it can be too sudden without any warning, not giving the owner time to look for any signs. That said, these diseases are more likely to affect older piggies.
So, when adopting a piggy pal, try to ensure their age and if they turn out to be a bit old, give them extra care.
Guinea pigs get scared easily and loud noises can sometimes scare them enough to have a heart attack.
Gastrointestinal Stasis And Other Gut Problems
Cavies are herbivorous animals, so they can only consume plants and seeds.
Eating a plant-based diet makes their digestive system weak, which is why they need bacteria in their gut to break down food.
These gut bacteria are super sensitive to dietary changes, meaning if you switch your buddy’s diet abruptly, their digestive system will collapse, known as gastrointestinal stasis.
On top of that, gasses will begin to accumulate in their intestines, causing toxicity in the body.
Resultantly, they will not be able to have food and eventually die of starvation.
Moreover, cavies overall have an ultra-sensitive digestive system, which needs to be functional in order to work properly.
So, when they don’t have anything to eat for long durations, their inner mechanism comes to a standstill.
Consequently, the food they do consume later will not be processed, leading to malnutrition and eventual death.
Regular excretion is a sign of a healthy guinea pig. If your cavy chum stops passing stool periodically as they did before, it’s possible that they have gut troubles.
Dehydration And Diarrhea
Diarrhea is a common gut problem in guineas that more often than not leads to severe dehydration.
So anytime you see your piggy pal passing liquid stool, check if their body has begun to get dehydrated.
To do that, pinch their skin and watch that it restores its original form. If that doesn’t happen, know that your buddy has lost a lot of water.
Dental Diseases
Like humans, guinea pigs stop taking in food when they develop dental issues such as tooth abscesses and gum infections.
Consequently, their digestive system is disrupted, resulting in sudden demise.
Cavies get teeth trouble when they don’t get sufficient minerals and vitamins in their diet.
Therefore, giving your piggy pal the right veggies and food is key to keeping them healthy.
Also read: Do Guinea Pigs Lose Teeth?
Vitamin C Deficiency
Vitamin C is an essential nutrient required by almost all living creatures, and guinea pigs are no different.
Guineas do not produce vitamin c, so they need it more to function properly and stay healthy.
When they do not receive a sufficient amount of the vital compound, they develop scurvy.
Scurvy is a condition characterized by weak bones and joints, dental problems, and skin allergies.
On top of the incapacitating disease, a lack of vitamin c impedes the absorption of other vitamins (D 3, 9, and 10), which leads to other health problems.
Simply put, vitamin C deficiency can be lethal for your cavy.
Therefore, as a responsible piggy parent, feed your pet vitamin c-rich foods such as broccoli, bell peppers, spinach, strawberries (in controlled quantities as they are high in sugar), and asparagus, among others.
According to MSD Veterinary Manual, treatment consists of administering vitamin C on a daily basis. Guinea pigs require at least 10 milligrams of vitamin C per kilogram of body weight per day.
Multivitamins are not advised since some of the vitamins included may be harmful to guinea pigs.
Urinary Issues
Urinary calculi are the most prevalent infections in the urinary tract that create stones in the bladder, kidney, or ureter, and they are another cause of guinea pig rapid death.
It causes cystitis in the bladder, which obstructs the urine-passing passages, causing difficulties urinating. Annual medical examinations for guinea pigs are recommended to detect such problems early.
Strained urination, decreased volumes of pee, bloodstains in the urine, and anorexia are the most prevalent indicators of urinary difficulties in your pet.
Eye and Ear Disease
If undetected, eye diseases can lead to sudden death. Redness, watering, inflammation, and crusting are all common symptoms of guinea pig pink eye.
On the other hand, there is usually some discharge coming from the ears when they get an ear infection. Antibiotics are the go-to therapeutic option for almost any ailment.
However, it can cause further problems. An ear infection’s therapy depends on whatever part of the ear canal is infected.
Social Anxiety
As mentioned earlier, cavies tend to get agitated easily. If they meet other pets they are uncomfortable with; they can develop paralyzing anxiety.
Furthermore, they can feel threatened and stop eating. As a consequence, their digestive system ceases, resulting in sudden death.
Additionally, guinea pigs don’t respond well to loud noises.
Although they are a noisy bunch, they don’t like to be exposed to deafening sounds. If that happens for prolonged periods, they can die.
Lastly, piggies don’t appreciate social isolation and need to be around other piggies. If left alone for long periods of time, they can get depressed, quit eating, and starve.
So, when you get a cavy, consider adopting a pair to avoid any such unpleasant incidents.
Stress
Stressful events like the pig being moved to a new cage or house, a change in diet, and veterinary care are all possibilities that may cause stress in guinea pigs.
Stress can be minor or severe, and it can have a range of effects. In some cases, chronic stresses for guinea pigs can be so powerful that they impair the animal’s gastrointestinal tract.
The guinea pig’s GI system might become out of whack if it is under the stress and suffering of a medical condition.
It is possible that this will result in stasis, which will exacerbate an already weak appetite.
How to Prevent Sudden Death in Guinea Pigs
The key to keeping guinea pigs healthy is to keep them from getting sick in the first place.
Consistent and nutritional meals, clean water, bedding materials, and frequent cleaning of the cage are important.
It is also essential to maintain a low-stress atmosphere and ensure that your pet receives sufficient exercise.
Also, look out for the signs of sickness or abnormalities.
Guinea Pigs And Healthcare Troubles
Guinea pigs are rather frail and can catch viruses and bacteria easily. When that happens, they will try their very best to hide their symptoms not to come across as weak.
That’s right, it may be surprising for you, but it’s the truth.
Cavies have an innate quality of concealing their health problems, making it hard for pet parents to spot signs of maladies in their fur babies.
Their self-destructing nature stems from being prey, always at the risk of getting attacked by a predator.
Guinea pigs move as groups in the wild to protect themselves against wild animals.
While being around family helps them feel secure, it doesn’t do much about their fear of being left alone if anything happens to them.
Cavies believe that if they get sick or hurt and they let it show, fellow members of the herd will leave them behind because the injured piggy becomes a liability, making them more vulnerable.
Therefore, when guineas fall ill, they keep it to themselves and hide their symptoms.
In other words, piggies are conditioned to come across fit at all times not to become a burden on those around them and be left alone.
So, even when they are not in the wild and adopted by loving human parents, they still feel the need to conceal their illnesses.
As a result, pet owners fail to pick up on any signs of ailments in their piggy pals, which can sadly lead to death.
If you wish to save your cavy companion from losing their life only because they thought they had to keep their illness from you, you need to be diligently observant.
Although guinea pigs are quite smart when it comes to masking their health issues, they do unknowingly give away some clues that a piggy parent can notice.
Generally, when cavies get sick, they begin exhibiting behavioral changes, albeit subtle.
However, you can spot those if you have been watchful and kept an eye on your piggy’s movement from the start.
Signs Of An Unwell Guinea Pig
Top almost inconspicuous indicators to look out for to ensure your furry bud isn’t sick include
Loss of appetite
The most obvious indication of a sick piggy pal is reduced appetite. Whenever cavies fall ill, they lose interest in eating.
If you notice your little friend keeps leaving their food unfinished or entirely untouched, alarms should go off in your mind alerting you to take action.
Reduced Energy
Guinea pigs love to have a ball and frolic around with all their might.
But when they become sick, their energy levels dwindle, making them lethargic.
If your cavy companion suddenly seems too lazy, you should reach out to your vet.
Excessive Sleeping
Cavies enjoy taking short naps during the day to charge up and get on with life in full force.
This means your fur child should not sleep for long hours; if they do, it’s most likely a sign of a medical issue.
Lesser Droppings
Keeping an eye on the number of piggy’s droppings may not be the most enjoyable activity for you, but you need to do that to keep your pet safe.
If you notice a reduction in it, call the doctor.
Also read: How Much Do Guinea Pigs Poop in a Day?
Others
Aside from the mentioned signs of a sick piggy pal, blood in urine, crusty eyes, weight loss, excessive drooling, raspy or rapid breathing, and nasal discharge should alarm you.
If you observe any of those behavioral changes in your fluffy pal, take immediate action.
Final Thoughts
Guinea pigs make adorable pets, and losing them can be irrevocably devastating, especially if it happens all too suddenly.
However, if you want to save yourself from that trauma, you should keep a close eye on your little one’s activities and behaviors to spot any warning signs at the earliest.
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