The Guinea Pig Vet

09/12/2024

What should I do if my guinea pig isn't eating as much as normal? 💬 If your guinea pig is not eating as much as normal, it is very important to start syringe feeding them straight away, book an appointment to see your vet and monitor your guinea pig's behaviour. 💚 Regardless of the cause of your guinea pig not eating, syringe feeding before you can get to the vets can improve their prognosis.

07/12/2024

Don't miss The Keepers of the Pigs on Netflix in the USA, Canada and Australia. ❤️🎉 It will be Amazon for USA & Australia ###

15/11/2024

Worried about hair loss or noticed your guinea pig is losing hair? Hair loss is most likely either ectoparasites, a fungal infection or a medical condition such as cystic ovaries or hyperthyroidism. It is advised to see a vet to distinguish between the possible causes of hair loss and to decide on the best treatment. If you notice hair loss with your guinea pigs, it would be advisable not to introduce any new pigs but bonded groups should stay together.👍

13/11/2024

We hope you're enjoying the sunshine and having a fabulous Wednesday. 🤩🌞😎🍂

27/09/2024

Want to know more about Vitamin C and guinea pigs? Check out our new blog 👀🧡😎🤩 https://www.theguineapigvet.co.uk/post/guinea-pigs-need-vitamin-c

26/09/2024

Limited Supply - End of Line Clearance Boxes Now Available https://www.theguineapigvet.co.uk/the-guinea-pig-shop

The Guinea Pig Shop is changing gears and moving away from creating food and treat items. For a short time only - we will have a limited supply of 'end of line boxes' available for £20 (normal retail value of £40). Each boxes will contain hand selected Hay Toppers, H2O Pigtails (cold water infusions) and Orchard Sticks. 🤩

We thank you for your support over the years with our food and treat ranges.🥰

25/09/2024

Did you know that guinea pigs need Vitamin C in their diet 🧡🍓🥦👀
This is because guinea pigs lack the enzyme that can convert glucose to Vitamin C. Guinea Pig pelleted food has added Vitamin C and vitamin c is also contained in many vegetables. Vitamin C can also be supplemented in the form of tablets or liquid to add to the water. 🤩 Guinea Pig Awareness Week

*Please note the original post above is a short post to highlight the forms that vitamin c comes in, not the best way to administer vitamin c. Due to the confusion and criticism more information has been provided.

The preferred method of vitamin c provision is through the pellets, veg or tablet. However, water supplementation is an available option. It is the least preferential method as it may taint the flavour of the water (unsupplemented water should always be offered as well), the vitamin c also degrades over time (the supplemented water should be changed frequently) and it can be hard to know how much the guinea is getting. Pelleted food that contains vitamin c can also degrade overtime. Food should be kept in a sealed container, ideally out of direct sunlight and shouldn't be open for more than 6 months.

Vitamin c requirements in a healthy guinea pig is 10mg per day. This is normally achieved with pellets and veg alone without the need for supplementation. In times of ill health requirements can rise to 30mg per day. It is important not to over supplement as this can lead to some health problems too.

23/09/2024

Did you know that regular weigh-ins can be a simple but crucial tool for keeping your guinea pig healthy? By monitoring their weight, you can spot potential health issues early on.

Why is weight important?
* Weight loss: Could indicate a variety of problems, including dental issues, digestive problems, or an underlying illness.

* Weight gain: Sudden weight gain can also be a sign of health problems.

What to look for besides weight:
* Changes in eating habits: If your guinea pig isn't eating as much as usual, it could be a sign of something amiss.
* Lethargy: A decrease in activity levels can also be a red flag.

Remember: If you notice any concerning changes in your guinea pig's weight or behaviour, consult your vet promptly. Early detection can make a big difference in their recovery. Guinea Pig Awareness Week

20/09/2024

Guinea pig awareness week is just around the corner. Find out more about the week and download initialisation from Guinea Pig Awareness Week

19/09/2024

It is great to see lots of people with different backgrounds (academics, first opinion vets and nurses, rescue centres, guinea pig businesses) coming together to discuss how we can improve the health, welfare and husbandry of guinea pigs. ❤️🧑‍⚕️ Guinea Pig Welfare Forum

03/08/2024

We hope everyone has a great weeeekend!
🌞😆🎉

Image: It's a Guinea Pig World

29/07/2024

Get ready guinea pig lovers ❤️🎉😎

Just under a WHEEK to go until the film launches on Netflix UK & Ireland! We're featured in the coming soon section now! Next Wednesday we'll be on Good Morning Britain talking all about the film & the incredible work rescue centres do so tune in if you can 🐹🎬❤️

17/07/2024

My colleagues thought I was twinning with one of our visitors 😆. Do you look like any of your guinea pigs? Show us in the comments.📷

24/06/2024

Crumble visited us a few months ago as she was getting wet and smelly around the back end. She was passing some blood in her urine and appearing painful when she urinated. She responded well to pain relief and antibiotics. However, as soon as her medication ended signs would return. A couple of weeks later her bladder area felt thickened. This thickening worsened over the coming weeks so an ultrasound scan was advised. This revealed a cervical tumour with the bladder adhered to it. Crumble had surgery. The mass, along with the rest of her uterus and ovaries were successfully removed. She recovered very well and has had no further urinary issues.🥰

07/05/2024

A personal story about one of my family's guinea pigs called Jolly. Jolly had a remarkable recovery from illness last week. We thought we would share her story to highlight how quickly guinea pigs can get very ill and how, sometimes, they can recover equally as quickly.🌼

On Wednesday - we noticed that Jolly was a little quieter and eating a little less enthusiastically than normal.

By Thursday - she could not stand on her legs or walk properly. Also, Jolly was not eating or passing faeces.💩

On the clinical exam nothing specific was found other than pain from her hips and caudal abdomen.

An x-ray showed some increased gas in her stomach/caecum. So over the next 24hrs I started her with syringe feeding, pain relief, massaging her abdomen and gut medication We are happy to announce that Jolly made a full recovery and is now completely back to normal (within 24 hours).❤️

14/04/2024

New blog post on options for euthanasia in Guinea Pigs. https://wix.to/alFz5Qr

Euthanasia is often a very challenging and emotional time for both you and your veterinary surgeon. It is also a very important moment for you as a pet owner. Understanding the process more clearly and the possible options available may help to make the process a little less daunting for you.

https://wix.to/alFz5Qr

27/03/2024

Meet Meggie the guinea pig. This is inside Meggie's mouth. Meggie's owner had noticed she was eating more slowly, making faces whilst eating and that she had an unusual aroma from her mouth.

Meggie must've eaten something sharp. Causing a wound down the inside of her cheek and across her lower lip, with a lesion also on the side of her tongue. Meggie had pain relief and antibiotics and has made a full recovery.😍

15/03/2024

Meet Sid 👋🏻 he visited us recently for a check over. Sid is now 6.5 years old. 2 years ago he had surgery to remove a large intra-abdominal mass. He is still looking the picture of health.😍