Expert: Dr. Christina Chambreau - 5/27/2009

Question
My guniea pig is a boy and hes probably about a year old. I got him last November. He is the only guniea pig in the house and im worried. I have been trying to find this answer forever!!! My guniea pig does NOT sqweek. At all. Like he has twice once when my mom picked him up from his hair because he was scared. And another when he got mad i put him back in his cage. So why doesn't he? It scares me because my boyfriend has a guniea and she sqweeks everytime she sees me! I love that noise!!! But my GP also has a side lip. It sags on one side and i don't know if he is just retarted or if its just a birth defect. Do you think those could be connected? And he also itches alot/ So much to where he is leaveing bumps and skin spots. Near his ear is some bald spots now since he itches so much. I do clip his nails so when he does its not that bad. One time he got his ear and it healed up ok. I would take my GP to the Vet but i dont have any money and my parnets dont either so we cant take him. Plus, Sometimes white gooey like milk comes out of his eyes when he itches his head with his paws.That also happend once when i gave him a bathe,And i almost faited. I think i get too worried but stuff like this shouldn't happen.I care for my GP so much and i dont want him to be hurting since i cannot tell. So please help me and figure these questions for me so i wont be so scared!!!
Thanks.
<3

Answer
First, if you are going to have a pet, you MUST save money for veterinary care. Start now working a job. You can do it at any age. My daughter was working for neighbors at age 7. You could call your local veterinarian and offer to clean the yard, or the windows or sort papers to exchange for care for your guinea pig.

You: My guniea pig is a boy and hes probably about a year old. I got him last November. He is the only guniea pig in the house and im worried. I have been trying to find this answer forever!!! My guniea pig does NOT sqweek. At all. Like he has twice once when my mom picked him up from his hair because he was scared. And another when he got mad i put him back in his cage. So why doesn't he? It scares me because my boyfriend has a guniea and she sqweeks everytime she sees me! I love that noise!!!

ME: Some GPs just do not squeak. It is ok.
But my GP also has a side lip. It sags on one side and i don't know if he is just retarted or if its just a birth defect. Do you think those could be connected?

ME: I do not think they are connected.

And he also itches alot/ So much to where he is leaveing bumps and skin spots. Near his ear is some bald spots now since he itches so much. I do clip his nails so when he does its not that bad. One time he got his ear and it healed up ok.

ME: Good for you to clip his nails. Keep up with that. The best food for GPs is fresh grass, dandelions, plantain, garlic mustard and other weeds that have no fertilizers or pesticides used on it - free, too. If you have a yard with no chemicals used, you can build a pen for him and move it around. Otherwise - cut the greens every day. Lettuce is not good for GPs.

I would take my GP to the Vet but i dont have any money and my parnets dont either so we cant take him. Plus, Sometimes white gooey like milk comes out of his eyes when he itches his head with his paws.That also happend once when i gave him a bathe,And i almost faited.

ME: you probably got some soap or water in his eye, so that was a good thing. When it happens when he scratches, it could be trying to heal a scratch.

I think i get too worried but stuff like this shouldn't happen.I care for my GP so much and i dont want him to be hurting since i cannot tell. So please help me and figure these questions for me so i wont be so scared!!!
Thanks.

Call Dr. Yearout in Washington state and find out how much he would charge to do a phone consult for your GP. Then work till you have the money for a consult. He does holistic and homeopathic care of small critters like GPs and you will learn SOOOO much from him.425-334-8171