Changes

Diabetes is a common occurrence in guinea pigs together with polydipsia and weight loss despite a strong appetite. Some guinea pigs will develop cataracts and glycosuria. <br />

Diabetes is a common occurrence in guinea pigs together with polydipsia and weight loss despite a strong appetite. Some guinea pigs will develop cataracts and glycosuria. <br />

Exogenous insulin is not required in treatment for this disease and guinea pigs often have spontaneous remissions.<br />

Exogenous insulin is not required in treatment for this disease and guinea pigs often have spontaneous remissions.<br />

===Respiratory System===

==Respiratory System==

==Epistaxis==

===Epistaxis===

Bleeding from the nose is often a symptom of vitamin K deficiency caused by a lack of greenstuffs in the diet.<br />

Bleeding from the nose is often a symptom of vitamin K deficiency caused by a lack of greenstuffs in the diet.<br />

==Nasal Discharge==

===Nasal Discharge===

Mucopurulent discharges are often a symptom of upper or lower respiratory tract infections. Respiratory tract infections are also associated with “ruttling” which is a wheezy breathing sound. Predisposing factors for respiratory infections are a change in environmental temperature, humidity or ventilation. Ammonia build up as a consequence of dirty bedding/environment is known to weaken the resistance of the respiratory tract.<br />

Mucopurulent discharges are often a symptom of upper or lower respiratory tract infections. Respiratory tract infections are also associated with “ruttling” which is a wheezy breathing sound. Predisposing factors for respiratory infections are a change in environmental temperature, humidity or ventilation. Ammonia build up as a consequence of dirty bedding/environment is known to weaken the resistance of the respiratory tract.<br />

Any nasal discharge should not be confused with a milky type of fluid secreted from the eyes and nose as part of the normal guinea pig grooming process.<br />

Any nasal discharge should not be confused with a milky type of fluid secreted from the eyes and nose as part of the normal guinea pig grooming process.<br />

==Pneumonia==

===Pneumonia===

The clinical symptoms of pneumonia include dyspnoea, ruttling (see above), sneezing, nasal discharge and coughing. If left untreated, guinea pigs can become depressed anorexic and it can become a fatal infection. In guinea pigs pneumonia can be caused be various bacterial and viral agents including Bordetella bronchiseptica, Streptococcus zooepidemicus, Streptococcus pneumonia, Klebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Pasturella spp.<br />

The clinical symptoms of pneumonia include dyspnoea, ruttling (see above), sneezing, nasal discharge and coughing. If left untreated, guinea pigs can become depressed anorexic and it can become a fatal infection. In guinea pigs pneumonia can be caused be various bacterial and viral agents including Bordetella bronchiseptica, Streptococcus zooepidemicus, Streptococcus pneumonia, Klebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Pasturella spp.<br />

Diagnosis is via isolation of the causal agent from a culture of the nasal discharge.<br />

Diagnosis is via isolation of the causal agent from a culture of the nasal discharge.<br />

==Adenovirus==

===Adenovirus===

Adenoviridae do not require co-infection with bacteria in order to become pathogenic within the respiratory system. The infection may have no clinical symptoms but in susceptible animals such as those that are stressed or immune-deficient it can be fatal.

Adenoviridae do not require co-infection with bacteria in order to become pathogenic within the respiratory system. The infection may have no clinical symptoms but in susceptible animals such as those that are stressed or immune-deficient it can be fatal.