Not only guinea pigs, but also rabbits, rats, and even horses are included in this classification.
That may sound good on the surface, but it is not true. Inability to vomit means that your guinea pig will be unable to eliminate waste from their stomach.
If they eat too much, they run the risk of having a gastrointestinal obstruction.
Let us learn more about some of the health risks that have arisen as a result of this.
Why can’t guinea pigs vomit?
Because guinea pigs do not have a gag reflex, they are unable to throw up. What makes a human throw up cannot be applied to guinea pigs because they are not human. Guinea pigs will continue to eat regardless of whether or not they are in danger of dying.
Guinea pigs do not only lack a gag reflex, but they also have a weak diaphragm, which makes them vulnerable to infection. This means that your guinea pigs are unable to vomit due to a lack of strength.
The digestive system of the guinea pig is a one-way street, with food entering through the mouth and exiting as poop.
Because guinea pigs are completely unaware of the concept of vomiting, they are not cautious when it occurs.
We go through a series of specific warnings that inform us that it has the potential to make us sick. Unfortunately, guinea pigs are incapable of comprehending the same concepts.
Guinea pigs will always rely on you, despite the fact that they do not understand why. Guinea pigs should never be pushed to the point where they have to vomit on their own.
Do guinea pigs throw up in any way?
The nearest thing that guinea pigs can come to throwing up is coughing.
Guinea pigs have a bunch of molars hidden in the backside of their mouth.
The four incisors are necessary, but the real wonder happens in the back of their mouth, behind the closed cheeks.
Guinea pigs chew their food in this place before it goes down to their stomach.
When guinea pigs develop any problem with their back teeth, they are most likely to spit out their half-chewed that they have not swallowed yet.
If your guinea pig is coughing, there can be two reasons for the following:
- Your guinea pig is not well: Your guinea pig may be suffering from an infection.
- The Guinea pig has something stuck in their throat that they are trying to get rid of.
If Guinea pig has a choked throat, it will not be possible for them to even breathe, let alone eating something.
There is no way to induce your guinea pig to vomit. So, if something is stuck, you need to reach out for professional help immediately.
Medical issues caused by not throwing up
If your guinea pigs cannot vomit, it reduces your cleaning up work.
Despite this, the inability to throw up is not an excellent characteristic of your guinea pigs. It can lead to many health issues in our guinea pigs.
Some of them are as follows:
- Digestive Blockages: Guinea pigs come under constant risk of digestive blockages. If your piggies overeat, they will not be able to vomit out the undigested food. It will be stuck in their digestive tract, leading to Obstruction.
- Choking: If food is stuck in your guinea pig’s throat, it will be tough for them to get rid of it. You will have to immediately help them out as if it continues for a long time. It may be possible that they may lose their breath.
- Toxicity: Sometimes guinea pigs might consume something toxic, they can get rid of it by throwing up. Not only guinea but many other small animals also similar problems with vomiting.
Guinea pig’s inability to throw up should never be taken lightly.
You must make sure that you feed your guinea pig a healthy diet and always keep them far away from toxic food.
Inability to vomit can block a guinea pig’s gut
The best thing you could do for your guinea pig would be to be extremely cautious when you are feeding him.
Although your guinea pig may appear to be very small to you, their diet is not in fact that small. Many guinea pigs will eat whatever is placed in front of them.
When you sit down to eat, your guinea pigs will make every effort to convince you that they don’t even want to eat.
We will, however, advise you not to share your meal with your guinea pigs, even if they express their desire by making noises during the meal.
Foods such as meat and bread can have disastrous consequences because your guinea pig will be unable to digest them, which can result in a gastrointestinal obstruction.
What happens when your guinea pigs eat more than their digestive system can handle is explained in detail below. Unsuitable food that your guinea pigs consume will remain in their stomachs for a long period of time. Insufficient nutrition and hydration will prevent guinea pigs from growing properly.
Therefore, the best option is to consistently provide a large amount of fresh hay to your guinea pigs (or other small animals). The guinea pigs are unable to consume an excessive amount of hay.
Guinea pigs would be extremely content if you provided them with a plentiful supply of hay. Pellets can also be served in small quantities in addition to the larger portions. In addition, if you want to give your guinea pigs a treat, you can give them small slices of fruits or vegetables.
Maintain constant observation over the grooming of your guinea pigs, as we recommend. Because they are unable to vomit, it is possible that they will become ill if they swallow fur. If they are not careful, they may end up filling their stomach with their own hair.
The presence of a small number of hairballs can be expected, but if you notice them struggling to eliminate, it is possible that their hair has accumulated and is preventing them from passing waste. Guinea pigs will require immediate medical attention if they are exposed to such conditions.
Blockage in air passage in guinea pigs
Your guinea pigs are more prone to choking since they cannot vomit. If your guinea pig has overeaten, or too quickly, their airways can be blocked.
Some of the guinea pigs prefer to eat fast are liable to this condition. Some signs of blockage in the air passage of guinea pigs include:
- Try to breathe by their mouth: Guinea pigs are nasal breathers. If you find your guinea pig’s mouth open, then there is something wrong.
- Head shaking: Your guinea pig must be struggling to lose something that is stuck.
- Walking backward on the rear legs: If you find your guinea pigs head tilted back, your piggie is desperately struggling to take a breath.
- Swollen eyes: This is a general sign from guinea pig which indicates the storage of oxygen in their body.
You can also hear and see your guinea pig making a variety of different sounds in the video.
Coughing and sneezing are more likely to occur in this situation. Guinea pigs are generally peaceful animals. If they are making noises, this indicates that there is something wrong with them, and you will need to find out what it is as soon as you can.
If your guinea pig’s airway is blocked, it is likely that they are choking, which can be extremely dangerous if not treated immediately.
Guinea pig has something stuck in the throat
We understand that you can’t stay calm while you are seeing your guinea pig choking. But we will advise you not to panic, and follow the two methods that can help your guinea pig.
Here is where you must begin:
- Gently hold your guinea pig by your chest and make sure that you have covered your piggie from their neck
- Face your guinea pig nose downward, it can be a little awkward, but it is essential.
- Give a massage to your guinea pig using your finger on their stomach from the bottom of the abdomen to their ribs.
- Do it very softly as they have a very delicate body. You can break their ribs if you push hard. You should give a little pressure, though.
- It will help to give pressure on the lungs of your guinea pig, which will help to create a flow of air. If everything goes well, it will be sufficient to remove the trapped object from the throat.
The trapped object will fall out of the guinea pig’s mouth. As their head is facing earthward, it will not be able to get back to their throat.
It is possible that this method does not give fruitful results. In such a case, you can apply the second method, which is as follows:
- Gently hold your guinea pigs in between your arms.
- Firmly, hold your guinea pig in the air. Your piggie mustn’t wriggle.
- Then your next step is to move your arms downward. It will help to push your guinea pig’s internal body parts up into their body, as this applies pressure on their lungs.
- Your guinea pig will take a deep breath, which is enough to get the choked item out.
You should attempt this for 2-3 times for better results.
After such an incident, we will advise you to take your guinea pig to a vet as your guinea pig might be stressed. Some pieces of the items may also remain in their throat.
Guinea pigs cannot vomit after eating anything toxins
The inability of your guinea pig to vomit poses a significant threat to its health, as does the consumption of toxins.
Once your guinea pig has swallowed the poison, there is no way for them to vomit it up.
It will also not be possible for you to induce vomiting in order for them to get rid of the substance.
Toxins of any kind should never be allowed to come into contact with your guinea pigs. These are some examples:
- Plants and grass contain chemicals that are toxic to humans.
- Any type of rodent poison that is used for pest control purposes.
- They should not be allowed to come into contact with wild plants because they are poisonous. Even some houseplants are toxic in small doses.
- Medications for humans
- Products containing lead.
- If you have pets, you should keep them away from moldy or spoiled food.
- Any type of flea treatment that is not supervised by a veterinarian.
If you suspect that your guinea pig has become ill as a result of a toxin infection, contact your veterinarian immediately for assistance.
Seizures, changes in body temperature, being unable to move, not eating, and other symptoms may be present, among others.
You should always keep an eye on their food intake and keep them away from anything potentially harmful to their health.
Conclusion
Guinea pigs are unable to vomit because of a lack of strength in their muscles.
The inability to throw up can result in numerous health issues for your guinea pigs, which can be extremely dangerous for them.
Overeating can cause an intestinal blockage in your guinea pig, which is potentially fatal.
It is also possible that your guinea pigs’ airways will become obstructed if they do not throw up.
In order to avoid poisoning the animals, it is recommended that they be kept away from potentially harmful substances such as pesticides and herbicides.
Finally, we would advise you to take good care of your guinea pigs and to keep them away from any harmful toxins, as this could have very negative consequences for our guinea pigs’ health and wellbeing.
In addition to this, make sure to show them your affection and concern at all times.
