Upper respiratory infections in guinea pigs or URIs are mostly preventable. Any illness can hit a guinea pig very hard, because they are so small and can easily dehydrate. Since they are a prey species, guinea pigs or cavies often hide any symptoms of illness until they are far gone. They do this because in the wild any rodent that showed any weakness was immediately targeted by predators. Even after domestication, guinea pigs still retain this instinct.
Please be sure to find a veterinarian experienced with guinea pigs before you bring any guinea pigs home. Time is of the essence when dealing with respiratory infections in guinea pigs, so it is not the time to try and find a vet after the guinea pig gets ill. If a guinea pig with an upper respiratory infection is left untreated, it will get pneumonia and soon die.
Dirty Cages
Cages, pens or hutches that are not cleaned regularly force the guinea pig to live in wet, smelly conditions. Urine and feces grow bacteria which may cause illnesses like URIs. Guinea pigs that have to live in filthy conditions are living in a constant state of stress, which lowers their bodies’ natural defences, making them even more susceptible to catching an illness such as a respiratory infection.
Sitting in a cage soaked from urine-soaked bedding can also make the guinea pig’s fur constantly wet. Eventually, the guinea pig’s food is mixed in with the soiled bedding and any bacteria will contaminate the food. When cleaning a guinea pig’s home, also be sure to remove any old, spoiled food as well as old bedding.
Drafts and Damp
A wet guinea pig can easily catch a chill. Along with regular cage cleaning, bathing should only be done rarely. Always bathe guinea pigs inside a warm room. Before bathing, have a sturdy cardboard box or transport cage filled with hay where the guinea pig can tunnel into and dry safely after being gently towel-dried.
Never keep a guinea pig’s enclosure in the path of a drafty window or doorway. If the pet is to be kept in the garage or basement, this must be warm, dry places free from drafts or the pets will suffer from repeated URIs. Many guinea pig owners and the webiste Guinea Lynx.com advocate always keeping guinea pigs indoors and never using outdoor hutches to avoid exposure to wind and rain, as well as outdoor predators like stray cats.
Another Sick Guinea Pig
When a new guinea pig arrives home, it is incredibly stressed. It should be kept in quarantine away from other guinea pigs for about 21 days, if possible. Some people bring home pairs of guinea pigs so they can keep each other company during this time. Otherwise, you must visit the guinea pig often and keep a radio on softly to keep the guinea pig from being lonely and getting stressed.
Wash your hands after handling the new guinea pig and before handling any other guinea pig. Guinea pigs have been known to pick up illnesses such as respiratory infections from other sick guinea pigs they were housed with or came into contact with.
Bordatella
If a guinea pig goes to cavy shows, visits sick children in hospitals or otherwise comes into contact with a lot of other animals, people or guinea pigs, it will be exposed to viruses like Bordatella that can cause an URI. These guinea pigs can be vaccinated twice a year with a killed Bordatella virus to help prevent infection. Mark Burgess, DVM, cautions that a vaccine of a live virus should never be used on guinea pigs because it will make them very ill.
Additional References
“The Guinea Pig Handbook.” Sharon L. Vanderlip, DVM. Barron’s; 2003.
“Guinea Pigs.” Audrey Pavia, et al. Bow Tie Press; 2005.
Best Friends Animal Society. “Caring for Your Guinea Pig.” Mark Burgess, DVM. http://www.bestfriends.org/theanimals/pdfs/exotics/guineapigs.pdf
