Question by nikkixelizabeth: Help me please, I’m so so so worried for my guinea pig?
Hey guys. Well, i got 2 new guinea pigs a little over a month ago. One of my girls, Zoey, seems to be in fine health. My other girl, Sugar, an albino guinea pig seems to be having health issues. 
At first, we thought she was pregnant. We don’t really think she is anymore, but she still could be. Now, before reading the rest please note that i’m trying to save up enough money to take Sugar to the vet, but i’m only 14 & i can’t get a job so i just need something to help her while i’m saving up.
Okay, well when we first got her, she had one big sore on her back which is now healed up, one on her side, and one on her nose in between her eyes. She sneezes ALOT, when she breathes it makes this noise: (This is an audio of her breathing) http://s921.photobucket.com/albums/ad57/nikkixlizabeth/?action=view¤t=80538288.flv
She started breathing like that a few weeks ago, and I can’t figure out why! There’s tons of possibilities, those being:
1. Our house doesn’t have central air conditioning, but we have ac units in each room. The temperature does change sort of drastically in a small amount of time, and it does cause a bit of a draft. I know this isn’t good for them AT ALL, but i don’t know how to fix this problem? I live in NC & the weathers been really hot, so I have to have it on or else it gets from 75-80 in my room. I know guinea pigs are prone to heat stroke, so i’d never let them sit in that kind of heat. I’m thinking that this is my problem the most, I just can’t find a way around it
2. Possibly allergies? Maybe to the hay, or the laundry detergent i use to wash their fleece with? (I use fleece for bedding!) We plan on switching detergents to see if it makes a difference. Also, she sheds quite a bit, and she’s always close to the ground. Could all the hair and everything else on the cage floor be bothering her? Because she has a really sniffly dry nose.
Another problem, is I think she might have fleas? I don’t know, because today is the first time I saw one on her, and I only saw one. I saw this when i put her on my floor (carpet) for a few minutes. I tried to pick it off of her but I couldn’t catch it. My dogs have fleas, but a now minor case of them because we treated them. Should I just bathe her, and see if it solves my problem, or treat it? I plan on calling my vet tomorrow to ask about that…I won’t give her anything unless I know it’s safe, and I won’t give it to her unless I’ve talked to a vet first. I see them both chewing and nibbling on themselves kind of often, so should I be worried?
PLEASE help me, i’m so scared for her health and I just don’t know what to do?!
THANK YOU!
Best answer:
Answer by Guinea Pig and Dog Helper
does she do it by biting herself then getting all crazy by rubbing their faces and biting every part of their body? If so then that’s normal. She could have mites not fleas because guinea pigs don’t catch fleas. Try using a very thin comb and brushing through her fur and see if it picks up anything. For her breathing she may be having some respirator problems. You should call your vet first thing tomorrow and make sure she is warm. She could have a cold and guinea pigs can die of colds so try to keep it between 20- 25 degrees celsius in the room they live in.
I’m sure you take care of them well! Best wishes for your gp’s!
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