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When you combine excessive water intake with these other health problems: urinary tract infections, cataracts, weight loss without decreased appetite, and a constantly wet bottom, then you may have a case of diabetes on your hands.
Type 1-diabetes cases call for insulin injections and some Type 2 cases also call for injections. An oral medication may be all you need for a Type 2 case, however. Foods with added sugars and high fat foods will have to be eliminated from your pet’s diet. In addition, you want to make sure that they have an ample hay supply for fiber. It goes without saying that if you suspect any of these problems; schedule a check-up with your vet right away.
Eye Problems
Irritation from the dust particles in bedding often occurs for guinea pigs. Switch to a different type of bedding to solve this problem. Sometimes dust particles or pieces of bedding get stuck under a cavy’s eyelid. Flush their eyes with water or use tweezers to gently remove the irritant from the eye.
Eye infections show up as red and watery eyes. Your vet can prescribe a medication for this.
A clouding of the lens of the eye usually indicates that your guinea pig has cataracts. These are especially common in Abyssian guinea pigs. Cataracts are slow to develop and eventually cause blindness. Most experts agree that there really is no effective treatment for cataracts. It is sad, but on the other hand, guinea pigs can continue to live a happy life even with cataracts.
Cancer
Cancer is rare in guinea pigs, but it does occur. If you feel new or unusual lumps around the neck, testicles or mammary glands of your pet, take them to the vet for a check-up. There is little that you can do for a guinea pig with cancer except to make the remainder of their life happy and stress free. Keeping them happy and stress-free in the first place does help prevent the disease from developing.
Surgery
Spaying or the removal of tumors or bladder stones is the most common instances when surgery is recommended for a guinea pig.
Surgery is very stressful for animals. Definitely get a second and even a third opinion from various vets before moving ahead with surgery for your guinea pig. If you do choose surgery, keep all foods away from your animal for at least two hours before the operation. Your vet will give you clear instructions to follow to insure your pet’s optimal recovery.
Guinea Pigs Previous Page (34)
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