Elderly guinea pigs – how to care for them

Contrary to common wisdom, many well-kept guinea pigs live long and happy lives. With better owner education, improved diets and husbandry, and better medical care, more guinea pigs are living into their senior years.

Guinea pigs often live between 6-8 years. Early literature reported guinea pigs living only 3-4 years. This misconception was likely because of guinea pigs dying at an early age due to poor management, incorrect diets and general lack of understanding of the needs of guinea pigs. Added to this, being a prey animal, guinea pigs will hide signs of illness and pain for as long as possible, so by the time they are showing signs they are often very poorly. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the record-breaking age for a guinea pig was 14 years and 10 ½ months and was named Snowball.

There is no rule as to when a guinea pig is considered ‘old’. Like people, guinea pigs age differently, but as a general rule, a guinea pig over 4-5 years of age would be deemed as elderly. As guinea pigs reach ‘old age’ they will need some special considerations towards their senior years care. Signs of ageing may be noticed in guinea pigs as young as 3 or 4 years of age. Decreased activity and sleeping more, weight gain or loss, problems with mobility (especially problems with back legs), dental problems, problems with eyesight and hearing, growths on skin or mucous membranes, and changes in behaviour may all herald old age in your pet, although all these signs can be seen in younger animals.

Ageing is inevitable but there are things you can do to slow the process and make your pet more comfortable in its senior years.

Establish a routine so you can learn your guinea pigs’ behavior and notice anything out of the ordinary. The first change you may notice in the older guinea pig is a decrease in activity. This may start with moving at a slower pace and progress to a reluctance to venture far from favourite places. Changes in activity may be due to weight gain, weakness, and aches and pains from back problems and/or arthritis. Also, if they feel they can’t run away from potential danger, they will not venture far from where they feel safe. Keeping your guinea pig active will help keep him fit and slow this ageing process. Any weight loss or weight gain should ring alarm bells. Get into the habit of weighing our guinea pigs on a weekly basis to spot any signs early on.

Growing old is not a disease but there are a few things that guinea pigs can develop at an older age:

• Osteoarthritis: if you notice that your guinea pig is struggling to get around or seems uncomfortable when they move, then it is best to speak to your veterinarian.
• Dental disease: this can occur in older guinea pigs, often due to arthritis in the jaw joint or lack of eating enough hay. If you notice that your guinea pig is eating less, they are losing weight, their droppings are smaller and fewer it is worth a trip to the veterinary practice to have the teeth looked at.
• Lumps: check your guinea pig over every week for any lumps and you are likely to need to clip their claws more frequently due to their sedentary lifestyle.
• Kidney disease: your guinea pig will lose weight and often drink and urinate more. Whilst nothing can be done to cure kidney disease, your veterinarian may be able to suggest some steps that you could take to support your guinea pig, such as increasing their water intake.

Medication to help with joint pain can be prescribed for guinea pigs. Don’t put off caring for mobility problems. Properly diagnosed, your veterinarian can make a significant difference for these guinea pigs.

Back and neck problems can occur in guinea pigs. Ruptured intervertebral disks and arthritic spinal problems both result in partial to total paralysis. The onset of paralysis may be acute or chronically progressive. Early intervention in these cases similarly improves their long-term prognosis. Radiographs (X-rays) are often needed to diagnose these problems. Again, keeping your pet slim with a good high fiber, low calorie diet and regular exercise will aid in preventing back and neck problems. Treatment for spinal diseases includes those medications mentioned for arthritis above as well as judicious use of steroidal and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory therapy.

A complication of arthritis and spinal disease is urine scald caused by urine dripping or spraying on the skin between the guinea pigs back legs causing irritation. The best treatment for this problem is to correct the underlying cause whilst alleviating any discomfort the urine scalding is causing, however this may not be possible in all cases. Shaving the hair from the affected area, bathing with mild soap, pain relief and the use of topical products offer temporary relief.

Dental problems may plague the older guinea pig. This is most often due to the gradual tipping of the cheek teeth leading to sharp edges forming that can irritate the tongue or cheek. The lower cheek teeth can also bridge over the tongue, preventing the guinea pig from eating. Signs of this problem include the gradual rejection of hard foods (hay, pellets, and hard vegetables such as carrots), salivation and a foul or sweet odor to the guinea pig. As the problem progresses the guinea pig may lose weight or stop eating altogether. An oral examination under anaesthesia may be required to diagnose the problem. Sharp edges are filed from the teeth to correct the problem.

Many guinea pigs ultimately die of renal (kidney) failure. Early signs of kidney problems include increased frequency of urination or urine volume, or increased thirst. Urinary tract infections, bladder stones or sludge and kidney stones may make a guinea pig more prone to kidney failure. Early treatment and good follow up of these problems are highly recommended to keep your guinea pig healthy. Feeding a correct diet, good litter box hygiene and lots of fresh water will help prevent urinary tract disease as well.

Keeping your guinea pig on a diet high in fiber (grass hay) and low in simple carbohydrates (grains, refined carbohydrates and sugars) will help him stay slim. Guinea pigs must spend time out of their cage to get regular exercise. A confined guinea pig will live a shorter life and have a poorer quality of life.

Guinea pigs should be examined annually by a veterinarian familiar with exotics. Your veterinarian may wish to take blood and urine tests at this time. Guinea pigs with decreased mobility should have survey radiographs taken to rule out early arthritis or spinal disease.

Care must be taken to provide a healthy diet to the older guinea pig and not allow him to become obese. As with all guinea pigs, a diet of grass hay, dark leafy greens and limited, if any, high fibre pellets are recommended. This diet will promote a healthy gastrointestinal tract and prevent obesity.

Most elderly guinea pigs are less agile and therefore find climbing up and down steps or ramps more difficult. Adjust your guinea pigs housing so that everything is on one level. In winter you will need to bring your guinea pig indoors or house them in a shed, as they will struggle in the winter months outside, especially when the temperature drops near to or below freezing.

Some older guinea pigs may struggle to keep themselves clean and may need periodic bottom baths or their eyes wiping. Bathing can be stressful, so it should be kept to a minimum and only performed when necessary. Always ensure that they are dried properly, to prevent them from getting cold.

Guinea pigs are social animals and need the company of their own kind. When a guinea pig loses a companion, they may become withdrawn. If you notice any changes in your guinea pig’s behavior or eating habits after the loss of a companion they are likely to be mourning and feeling lonely.

Strongly consider getting your guinea pig another companion – another elderly guinea pig from a rescue centre is often a good solution or pair of younger guinea pigs to bond into a threesome.

The saddest part of owning animals is when we have to say goodbye to them. Some may pass away in their sleep peacefully, but this is not common and often as owners we have to make the decision to put them to sleep.

Eventually the time comes when the ageing process causes pets to have aches and pains. Many new analgesics (pain killers) are on the market that hold promise of helping in these times. Never forget that the quality of our pet’s lives is more important than the quantity. All too soon the time comes to say good-bye and offer euthanasia to an old friend no longer happy with his daily existence. Signs that this may be the case include refusal of food, and ceasing of grooming behavior. Your veterinarian will be able to help you with this decision when the time comes. Euthanasia is typically accomplished with an overdose of an injectable anesthetic. A gas anesthetic may be administered initially to minimize any restraint or perception of the injection. The best way to have your guinea pig live a long and healthy life is to offer him a happy healthy environment, a healthy diet and regular medical care. Not surprisingly, avoiding fattening foods, getting exercise and a happy social environment all contribute. Early attention to health problems and a good preventative health program will keep little problems from turning into life threatening ones.

Quality of life is key – the guinea pig must be able to live a pain free life, get around their enclosure, eat and drink comfortably, sleep peacefully and be able to enjoy life. Old age is not a disease, but when illness is causing pain that cannot be controlled, or that the guinea pig cannot enjoy life, then sadly the decision to put them to sleep may need to be made.