How many of you...

[adayinourlife]

Just wondering how many of you have actually had medical problems with you pigs?

As I mentioned in a previous post, I'm not getting a piggie until the beginning of November, but I'm preparing and reading up now. I've read over all the medical issues associated with piggies, and I'm curious if many of you have faced several issues, or if issues are reasonably uncommon.

[Froggirl009]

I have had my guinea pig for 3 months. I am taking her to the vet for the first time today because she is not eating :(. It is good to have a vet in mind that treats guinea pigs and a back up vet in case some thong happened to the first vet.

[PrayerWarrior]

Mites are very common. My first two (adopted) developed them about two weeks in. My latest one (rescue), came to us sick. He had a URI, dandruff from poor nutrition, vitamin C deficiency, and was treated for mites even though he tested negative.

Different things are more common than others, but it comes and goes. As long as you know what to look for, you and your pigs will be happy and healthy.

[PIGGYMAMMA495]

Yes. Alot of the pigs that are surrendered have mites, teeth problems, not eating what they should be. Make sure you have a good vet who is seeing guinea pigs regurlary. So ask him how many has he seen. If its 60 pigs ask if its 60 pigs in the past 3 months, or since he became a vet. I know I asked that and it helps acutally see how many pigs he is treating, doing surgery on, and ect. ect. The thing I have noticed is that the pigs will seem fine for a while and unless they get vet checked you may not know something is wrong. If you feed them well with good quality products and give them excerise at floor time, they shouldnt get sick often. Ive had quite a few foster pigs and other than the mites, really that's all I have had to worry about. But every pig is different and thats what happened with mine. Hope this helps.

[Haley0489]

My piggies had lice, two of them have had abscesses, treated one for a URI and now I'm looking into one of them having a heart problem.

Parasites [mites/lice] and URIs seem to be the biggest issue in pigs.

[Jennicat]

Every one of my personal pigs had had health problems except one.

Gizmo (now deceased), came originally from a pet store with bordetella. Years later he got another URI and it quickly degenerated into pneumonia. He also had mites.

Mogwai was one of my original pair, he also came from a pet store at the same time as Gizmo. He came home with mites, and has had one respiratory infection.

Picadilly was adopted, he has had problems with penis infections and impactions, and is currently under treatment for osteodystrophy.

Hobo was adopted, he has had problems with penis infections, he had a testicular tumor, and has gone into stats 3-4 times, and tends to produce grit, though we've never found bladder stones.

Mnemosyne was adopted, and is currently in the process of trying to pass a bladder stone, and has a history of urinary tract infections.

Lethe has not had any health problems yet.

Mogwai is 4, Pica is ~3, Hobo is ~3, Mnemie is ~3, and Lethe is ~3.

[camende]

It really depends on a lot of different issues

One of my original pigs (from a pet store) had heart problems. She only lived about a year and a half.

Roxy, I rescued from horrible living conditions...She was treated for mites when I first got her. She also had an abcess at one point. When she passed away, she was almost 8 years old.

Tootu, just passed. I only had her for 15 months. The last 2-3 months, I had her at the vet multiple times. We treated for an URI with 3 courses of antibiotics but my vet suspected something else...possibly heart problems..but, she passed away before we could figure out what was wrong.

The other 5 have had no problems and I have had them between 1+ and 4 years (depending on the pig).

I think the most important thing is to have a good exotic vet...and, you need to have the funds to treat your piggies if they have any medical issues.

[alm_nin]

I have had a total of five guinea pigs over the past 6 years. GP had an illness where she lost a lot of weight. I took her to two different vets, but neither of them could find anything wrong with her and she passed away at around 4 years old. Peg developed a foot infection which required a few trips to the vet, medicines, and daily foot soaks, but the infection still spread and she passed away at around 4 years old. I still have Hope, Jesper, and Anders, who are all around 5 years old. Hope has had skin issues on and off throughout the 4 years I have had her, which has required a few vet visits. I have had Jesper and Anders since they were babies, and neither of them has ever had any medical problem (except for occasionally treating for mites). So I think it just depends on the individual pig (and luck).

[adayinourlife]

Oh man! Maybe I don't want to do this. This doesn't sound very encouraging. I wouldn't want to be in the vets every month, spending unga bunga amount of money all the time.

[alm_nin]

Sorry, I didn't mean to be discouraging at all. I think that overall I have had to take my pigs to the vet much less than my dogs or cats. Before GP and Peg got ill and passed away, they had never had any other health issues, and they were both 4 years old when they passed. And like I said, Jesper and Anders have never had to go to the vet and they are 5 years old. None of this has discouraged me at all, I'm currently looking into adopting two more pigs! I think it's just like owning any other kind of pet, where sometimes it seems like one thing after another goes wrong, and sometimes you go years without any health problems! But you do have to be prepared to see a vet if something does go wrong.

[alm_nin]

I'm still fairly new to this forum though, so I would wait and see how other people respond...

[camende]

I wouldn't say I have spent lots of money at the vet. I personally think that every dime I have spent is worth it. I love my piggies and I want them to be healthy and happy. That being said, my vet is very reasonable. I don't think I have ever spent more then $70 for a visit. And, that would usually include the visit and medication. Usually, most visits are less then $50.

I think if you are unsure, then you should wait.

[lilcavy]

I had one of my ginny pigs have a ear infection.

[gooberific]

You have to consider, also, the number of people who have never had anything wrong, may not respond because they haven't had any problems. :D

[camende]

I probably have more then the average number of piggies...so, of course, the more you have, the more likely to have one with problems...

[Ly&Pigs]

I've had pigs since late October 2004 and the only problems I've ever had was two eye injuries, one boar that had a slight fungal problem and one sow that died of suspected liver cancer. One of the eye injuries was pretty severe and the other one was pretty minor. I treat all new pigs for mites when they come into my home.

[PrayerWarrior]

Originally Posted by adayinourlife

Oh man! Maybe I don't want to do this. This doesn't sound very encouraging. I wouldn't want to be in the vets every month, spending unga bunga amount of money all the time.

I was discouraged when I was researching about cavies, too. I was also convinced I didn't want boars because I thought impaction was a 100% guarantee. Now, I wouldn't give them up for anything, and all three are boars!

Just have Guinea Lynx bookmarked and a great exotic vet lined up, and you should be just fine, m'dear.

[PIGGYMAMMA495]

My vet is only 30.00 for a scheduled visit and 50.00 for an emergency. I mean yes its still alot of money. But think of it this way, if you do everything you can right, keep the cage clean and get it from a reputable rescue center you should not have many problems. Yes guinea pigs do need check ups like you and I but it's worth it if you love them. I didnt have many problems other than the mites from a few that were given to me because owners couldnt take care of them anymore. Of course with any species you will have problems. Think of how many dogs and cats are having problems? I think you will be a great cavy mommy and do a great job.
Just feed good quality pellets and hay(Oxbow products) And good organic fruits and veggies. Make your own guinea pig treats (post of mine in diet and nutrition section) instead of using those unhealthy store bought treats, and give them lots of floor time and exercise.
And you'll do great. If you ever have a question or want to learn something just hop on here and read away. Good luck!

[PiggieMamaKelly]

Of the 7 pigs I've owned, 5 have been to the vet for something. It has ranged from mites to major surgery.

It does sound a bit discouraging, but the truth is that guinea pigs are very fragile animals. They just seem to have problems sometimes. I've had a pig who lived to be 6 with nothing more serious than mites, and I've had others who have had problem after problem. You just never know.

[Newpiggiemom]

I have three boars and have had to go to the vet twice. (For problems, that is). Chester knocked his front teeth out, how I don't know. Jack had an abscess from a fight that had to be treated and that was expensive--about $250. Other than that they've been OK.