03/06/2023
People always say "piggies hide illness very well". I think this is nonsense. Guinea pig's most common illnesses are painfully obvious. Their many skin issues such as mites or ring worm can be noticed easily as soon as you look at them. Bumblefoot or the lumps they get with abscesses or mammary gland tumors can be seen or felt by simply holding them. Various illnesses can be detected by paying attention to their urine and p**p. Kidney stones or any stomach issues show up in the color of urine or formation of p**ps that we should all be noticing. Ovarian cysts have signs in hair loss or crusty ni***es. Look your piggies in the eyes every day. Do they look wide eyed and bright? If not inspect them further. Are your piggies coming out wheeking or interested when you feed them? Something is wrong if they aren't. Watch to see if they are grazing often. If not check their teeth right away. Pay attention to their weight, if not with regular weighing just look at them, hold them, weight loss is noticeable. Piggies tell us they are not feeling well in so many ways. I always know when mine are sick. They hunch up and sit in corners if they have no other visible signs. Sometimes it may be an early sign of UTI or URI or scurvy. Check eyes for crustiness, watch their breathing, listen to their sounds, feel their bodies. My pigs get routine body checks at minimum once per week for lumps, skin irritations, a**l glands. Don't be afraid to check them all over. Know your piggies! They tell us in so many ways something is wrong. They don't hide illness well at all if we just know the signs and pay attention to them.