Most Effective Health Practices for Aging Guinea Pigs

As we humans get older, we have different dietary and health needs from when we were younger- and our dear guinea pigs are the same. This blog will address some of the needs that older guinea pigs require. 

A guinea pig is generally considered a senior at 4 years old. And while there is no definitive life span for guinea pigs, it is generally accepted as they will live for 5-7 years. I’ve had guinea pigs that haven’t lived that long and one guinea pig, Snickers, that lived to be just over 9 years old! 

While a guinea pigs’ hereditary may have some bearing on your pig’s health, your little friend relies on your help so he (she) can live their life to the fullest, even as they are in their older years. 

 

PERSONALITY AND PHYSICAL CHANGES 

Older guinea pigs are less likely to popcorn (jump up and down when walking) and are prone to taking more naps. Because they may spend more time in one place (napping and relaxing), it’s important to check their bedding regularly to make sure there is no excess poop or urine from spending increased time in the same area. Bumblefoot, a painful bacterial condition that can be caused by lying in the same soiled area, is also a possible concern. CAREFRESH bedding is excellent for these situations due to its great absorbance. CAREFRESH also provides a great fluffy base to help deter bumblefoot. 

Older pigs are also likely to lose some muscle weight and tone, so it is important to do weight checks more often. Weekly or biweekly is recommended. 

Weight checks are best done in grams (or converted to grams from pounds and ounces) as that is the unit of measurement that veterinarians use. It is also very important to do weight checks at the same time of day to ensure consistency and accuracy. There will always be some variance each time, but a weight that is a variance of 30 or more grams from the last weight check is worthy of noting. A more frequent weight check is now recommended. If during the next check more weight is lost, a veterinarian wellness visit would be in order. 

It’s not unusual, however, for an older pig to weigh 80-100 grams less than he (she) was around 2-3 years old. HOWEVER, this weight loss would occur over many months, not weeks. For me, Cosmo, who was a tad chubby, has gone from a regular weight of 1270g on average to 1185g on average in the last 10 months, a slow and steady decrease, but that is now the weight he remains at. Bentley, however, has remained essentially the same at 1090g average since adulthood. 

Weighing is easy. A standard digital kitchen scale will work and should offer grams in addition to ounces. If your piggy won’t stand still, like mine, simply place them in a hideaway or blanket- but then weigh just the item you used to place the piggy in and deduct its weight from the overall total to get an accurate reading. 

Weight is often the easiest way to determine if your guinea pig is having health issues that you can’t detect from any different behavior or looks.

 

MEDICAL ISSUES 

No matter what possible issues you may have concerns with, nothing replaces taking your furry friend to a good veterinarian. If you are noticing your guinea pig is just not eating (or eating very little) you can offer a product like Oxbow’s critical care to help keep food in your pigs' digestive system- absolutely crucial- until you can get to your vet. 

Critical care has the proper nutritional to help replace what the guinea pig isn’t getting. Chewy and other popular online retail sites offer critical care. It may be frozen and it is encouraged that EVERY herbivore owner (guinea pigs, rabbits, etc.) always have some for emergencies. 

While some health issues are more likely to occur in older guinea pigs, they basically have the same issues and signs/symptoms of younger pigs, but Older pigs are more susceptible to arthritis, dental problems, and cataracts, to name a few. 

Guinea pigs also don't do well with temperature swings and drafts, but older ones are especially susceptible so try to limit large temperature variations and make sure their cage or home is not in an area that experiences drafts, especially from outside. 

As you may know, a piggy’s teeth never stop growing. Unlimited hay helps keep the teeth worn down, but dental issues tend to increase with age. Signs of tooth issues include drooling, dropping food, smaller and irregular stools, and facial swelling among others. 

In females, ovary cysts can be a concern and crusty nipples may offer signs of that problem. A visit to the veterinarian is in order. Spaying at an older age may be risky due to age and general overall health, so a consultation with your veterinarian is in order. 

Males are suspect to impaction in the anus. This is when the muscles in the anus weaken over time, and the cecotropes, or more mushy feces that guinea pigs expel, and then will re-ingest because the cecotropes contain undigested vitamins, will tend to get stuck in the anus, which then holds back the ability to expel regular feces. 

It’s a relatively easy problem to deal with, but not particularly fun. You’ll basically need to clean the anal area out on a daily basis. Once again, a vet visit to diagnose this problem and to have the vet demonstrate how to clear impacts is highly recommended. 

The key word is observe!

Always observe your furry one’s behavior and look for anything unusual. Older guinea pigs are prone to painful kidney (calcium) stones and the most likely culprit of that condition is too much calcium in their diet. Consider switching to a pellet that has more fiber and less calcium and protein. Offer less vegetables higher in calcium like dark leafy greens (dandelion, mustard, etc). As always, good quality hay, like timothy, should be available in an unlimited quantity, as should fresh water.  

Also watch water intake. If a piggy is drinking more water than usual, it could be a sign of diabetes and/or kidney issues. 

OH NO! SO MUCH TO WORRY ABOUT. WHAT TO DO????? 

Remember that these are things that older guinea pigs are more likely to experience, but not all will experience them and most, if they do experience any, it will likely be one or two of the issues described above and not all of them. 

Currently, neither of my guinea pigs are experiencing any health issues associated with aging. Knock on wood. 

Of course, visits to the veterinarian can be pricey. However, if you can set aside, say $5 a week from the time you get your piggy, then by the time a possible serious condition develops later in their life, you will have saved enough to greatly offset any high costs that may be associated with giving your little one the proper care they need. Remember, a guinea pig deserves as much attention, love, and professional medical care as any other pet. 

As mentioned before, the most important thing of all is to “observe, observe, observe” your guinea pigs’ behavior. Know what is normal behavior for yours and what is not normal behavior. This can be a great help in getting a headstart on addressing any possible medical issue your cuddly friend may have. 

While this blog is simply meant as an introduction and education of some different needs and medical issues to be aware of for your guinea pig as he or she ages and in their senior years, hopefully you will find it helpful as you enjoy your piggies as they grow older.

 

Guest Post by Craig N. - long time Guinea Pig parent, currently of Bentley and Cosmo (pictured above), and they invite you to follow their antics @ https://www.facebook.com/briochepig 

Until next time….

Read Craig's other Blog Posts:

Introduction to the many different guinea pig breeds

What do Guinea Pigs See and Taste? Plus, Other Common Questions

The Ultimate Guinea Pig Diet Guide

Interesting History Facts About Guinea Pigs and What You Should Know

What Do Guinea Pig Noises Actually Mean? How to Interpret Their Adorab