Ear disease

Guinea pigs do not commonly suffer with ear problems, but there are some problems that can affect their ears which can be painful if not treated correctly.

Guinea pigs have sensitive hearing and can hear well – just rustle a packet of food and you will soon see how well they can hear! They get easily startled by loud noises and use their hearing to detect sounds that may be of danger.

Ear infections are relatively rare in guinea pigs. However, they can suffer from ear mites and middle and/or inner ear disease which can be serious so needs prompt veterinary attention.

They can also suffer from injures to their ears, such as bites from other guinea pigs which can lead to abscesses forming.

The signs will vary depending upon the cause, but signs that your guinea pig may have an ear problem include:

• Excess scratching of the ear/s.
• Excess head shaking.
• Head tilt, loss of balance or rolling around.
• Pus or discharge from the ear/s.
• Pain from the ear/s – the guinea pig may resent being touched around their ears.
• Difference in their hearing – a guinea pig who normally would be vocal around feeding time may be quieter as they don’t hear as well.
• Loss of appetite.
• Swelling around the ear/s and base of the ear/s.

If you are worried about your guinea pig, even if you are unsure what the problem may be, it is important to seek advice from your vet as soon as possible since guinea pigs health can deteriorate rapidly.

Rabbit ear mites (Psoroptes cuniculi) may affect guinea pigs and are passed between guinea pigs, so if one has been diagnosed with them it is wise to treat all in contact with the guinea pig.

Respiratory disease is a common cause of ear disease since it can spread from the respiratory system into the middle and inner ear. Bacterial infections are another common cause.

Your vet will want to perform a full clinical examination of your guinea pig, which will include looking down the ears for signs of mites or other problems.

They may recommend skull x-rays to view the middle ear for signs of disease. Sometimes x-rays are not able to pick these up and a CT scan is needed for this.

If there are signs of an abscess then the vet may perform a fine needle aspirate to confirm the presence of pus. Abscesses frequently require surgery to try and cure the problem.

If ear mites are the problem then your vet will prescribe some medication to kill the mites off. You will need to clean the environment thoroughly also as the eggs can live in the environment and re-infect the guinea pig.

Abscesses often require surgery, which can be extensive. The surgery will need to be discussed with your vet to determine the best course of action.

Middle and inner ear disease is a serious problem and it may not be possible to cure the problem. Your vet will want to ensure the guinea pig is not in pain, so pain relief is likely to be prescribed. Antibiotics will also be needed and your vet may prescribe ear drops too. If the guinea pig is not eating or drinking then fluids and syringe feeding, along with prokinetic medication to support the gastrointestinal tract will be required.

Once stabilised your vet may want to give your guinea pig a general anaesthetic or sedation to try and flush the ears.

You cannot prevent ear problems from occurring, but you can lessen the likelihood of them developing by ensuring your guinea pigs are not overcrowded and new guinea pigs are placed into isolation and given a thorough health check prior to being mixed with the others.

Ensure you clean your guinea pigs housing out regularly and if you notice any signs of possible ear disease then take your guinea pig to see your vet as soon as possible as often the earlier problems are detected the quicker and easier they are to treat, and are more likely to have a successful outcome.