Injury to the ribs, lungs or liver may result. Pigs are usually docile and do not struggle if held gently but securely. Vitamin C is an absolute dietary requirement. Food changes must be made slowly. Pigs should not be housed with rabbits who may give them some respiratory viruses.
Some gastrointestinal upsets can be rapidly fatal.
Malocclusion of the teeth can occur in the guinea pig but unlike the rabbits and hamsters, the teeth involved are not the front incisors but the back premolars and molars. Drooling and weight loss may be the only signs. Lack of vitamin C can lead to swollen, painful joints, sensitivity to being touched, weight loss, and convulsions. An injection of vitamin C and oral supplements can help correct the condition. Some antibiotics can be fatal to guinea pigs.