Accidental poisoning in guinea pigs can be a critical situation for your pet. There are two main categories: organic and chemical. Recognising the symptoms and seeking speedy treatment is of utmost importance.
Regardless of the type of poisoning you suspect, always immediately rush your guinea pig to the vet. While there are some home treatments for organic poisoning, it’s vital to get professional care, especially when uncertain about the type of poisoning.
Organic Poisoning
Guinea pigs can suffer from organic poisoning if they consume unsafe vegetables, such as tomato leaves or rhubarb. If they’ve been out on a lawn, they might inadvertently ingest harmful plants like buttercups or daisies. Hazards like evergreen plants might also overhang their run, enticing them to nibble. If you forage for wild plants to feed them and aren’t careful about what you pick, this can also lead to organic poisoning. It’s crucial to be aware that plants grown from bulbs are particularly toxic to guinea pigs.
Organic poisoning symptoms
- Weakness
- Muscle tremors
- Struggling to hold up the head
Immediate Treatment for Organic Poisoning
If you’re sure it’s organic poisoning, guinea pig expert Peter Gurney recommends a quick home remedy:
- Make a mixture by grinding a 100mg charcoal tablet* with water.
- Administer this mixture to the guinea pig using a syringe.
- Wait 30 minutes to an hour, then give 1.5 ml of liquid paraffin.
- Place the guinea pig in a warm, quiet, dark environment with ample hay, food, and water. A covered microwaveable heat pad can provide added warmth.
The success of this treatment depends on its speedy application. Within 24 hours, the guinea pig might show full recovery or, unfortunately, might succumb to the effects.
*Finding 100g charcoal tablets might be challenging. However, you can purchase a lower dosage and then adjust by cutting the tablet as needed. For example, each Braggs charcoal tablet weighs 300mg, making it relatively easy to break up.
Chemical Poisoning
Chemical poisoning can occur from various sources like agricultural sprays, food tainted with chemicals, or exposure to mouse droppings or urine in hay, which might contain rat poisons. Even household fly sprays can be hazardous.
Symptoms of chemical poisoning
- Severe diarrhoea
- Runny nose
- Respiratory issues
- Collapse
Treatment for Chemical Poisoning
If you suspect your guinea pig has been exposed to chemical poisoning, seek emergency veterinary care immediately. Regardless of whether the poisoning comes from a chemical spray or eating something tainted with chemicals, immediate professional attention is critical.
How to prevent accidental poisoning
Accidents can happen, but there are preventive measures you can take to safeguard your guinea pigs from potential poisoning:
- Outdoor Safety: Before placing them outside in a run, ensure no poisonous plants are within their reach. Also, be cautious of overhanging trees or plants, and don’t assume guinea pigs will know they are poisonous.
- Safe Foraging: Before you forage, always confirm the safety of a plant. It’s crucial to correctly identify plants because some look very similar, although one may be safe and the other toxic.
- Fresh Foods: Stick to feeding them fruits and vegetables that are known to be safe for guinea pigs. Steer clear of hazardous foods like tomato leaves and rhubarb.
- Chemical Safety: Store all chemicals and pesticides securely, ensuring none are used in their run area or on foraged plants to prevent accidental ingestion.
- Avoid Sprays: Never use chemical sprays in or near your guinea pig cage. This especially includes fly sprays, flea sprays and cleaning sprays. Air fresheners should also be avoided.
- Cleaning Food: Wash all fresh foods before feeding them to your guinea pig.
- Safe Hay: Ensure your hay comes from a trusted source.
For a detailed list of foods and plants unsafe for guinea pigs, please refer to our dedicated page: “What Can Guinea Pigs NOT Eat?”.