The guinea pig is subject to a form of gastrointestinal meteorism with the formation of large amounts of gas in the stomach and/or caecum. The onset is sudden and accompanied by a bloated and tender abdomen and profound dejection. The distended stomach causes difficulty with breathing and vascular shock. Abdominal X-rays show the presence of a large collection of gas in the stomach or, sometimes, in the caecum, with marked dilatation of the organ (Figs. 1 and 2).
Possible causes include inappropriate foods, obstruction by a foreign body (for example, trichobezoars), acute bacterial gastroenteritis and ileus due to a fibre-poor, carbohydrate-rich diet.
The condition is very serious and the prognosis dismal. The stomach must be rapidly deflated by using an orogastric tube or paracentesis (which does, however, carry a significant risk of causing peritonitis), and the animal must be given simethicone, oral antibiotics and support therapy. If obstruction by a foreign body is suspected, surgery will be needed although it is unlikely to be successful. Euthanasia is recommended for cases that do not respond to therapy.