Did hiccups lead to guinea pig’s death?

#Middlebury #GuineaPigs

DEAR PAW’S CORNER: Our beloved guinea pig died suddenly this morning. I’m not sure what happened, and because there is no veterinarian near us who can treat guinea pigs, I’m searching for an answer. He developed an ear problem recently that was causing him to tilt his head, and to treat this, we were giving him Nurokind and 5 ml of water through a syringe. This morning, he started to hiccup, and an hour later he passed away. Is there any clue that you can provide as to why? – N. Dwarakanath

DEAR N.: My sincere condolences on the loss of your guinea pig. They’re such wonderful pets.

When guinea pigs get sick, it can be difficult to figure out the exact treatment. Head tilt is one of those illnesses that could be an ear infection but could also be something more serious like pneumonia or another infection.

I’m a little curious about using Nurokind (Mecobalamin) to treat the illness, as it is a treatment for vitamin B-12 deficiency in humans. Perhaps a guinea pig owner out there can respond with the answer. Keeping your guinea pig hydrated was good, as this helps them when they’re stressed out or sick.

When an illness is prolonged in guinea pigs, the stress and pain make them weaker, and they begin to experience other problems. The hiccupping is usually a sign of indigestion in healthy guinea pigs, but even for them, it’s very uncomfortable and stressful. That may have been the last straw for his system.

I wish I could give you a definitive answer. Because there is no qualified vet near you, I encourage you to search online for guinea pig owner forums, as they are a very supportive and informative community.

Send your questions to ask@pawscorner.com.

© 2022 King Features Synd., Inc.