9 Reasons Why There’s Blood In Your Guinea Pig’s Cage

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So, you start to clean your guinea pig’s cage and notice that there are a few spots of blood on the bottom. Maybe you start to worry about what could have happened and wonder why is there blood in your guinea pigs cage?

You’re right to be concerned.

Spotting blood in the cage is a sign that something might be wrong with your guinea pig, and it’s important to take notice before things get out of hand. Here are some of the most common reasons:

1. Wound From A Fight

2. Parasites

3. Urinary Tract Infection

4. Cage Accident

5. Bladder Stones

6. Reproductive Organ Issues

7. Ringworm

8. Cancer

9. Tumor

It’s important to note that blood in the cage might mean that your piggie has any number of health issues going on, both major and minor. If you see blood in the cage, it’s best to take him or her to the vet for a proper diagnosis. (Guessing and worrying yourself sick won’t help anything).

a pic of a beige guinea pig scared because of blood in his cage

Until then, take steps to clean the cage and keep an eye on your guinea pig for any other signs of illness.

Let’s dive into the guinea pig cage and explore these possible causes to find out why there’s blood in your cavy’s cage.

1. Wound From A Fight

woman screaming because she doesn't know why there's blood in her guinea pig cage
The freak out is real.

It’s highly possible that your piggie has suffered some sort of wound from a fight with a cage mate. Guinea pigs can get into fights for any number of reasons, but here’s two of the most common:

  • You’ve introduced a new guinea pig to a group. Maybe you thought that everything was fine, but piggies (especially dominant ones) can be very territorial. If you introduce a new guinea pig to an established group, there’s bound to be some fighting at least until everyone gets comfortable with each other again.
  • Hormonal tiffs between teenage piggies (8 months or so) and other guinea pigs in the cage can cause stress and fighting – especially involving boars (naughty, little stinkers). If your little friends are fighting, it could be due to a rise in hormones as he or she enters puberty.
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In either case, your piggie will likely have some wounds from the fight – possibly bloody. If you see blood in your cavy’s cage and can’t identify any other possible causes, this is most likely the culprit.

And if that’s the case, it’s important to separate them immediately (unless you want to create an environment for a guinea pig “Fight Club”)

If they stay together, they’ll keep fighting until one of your fur babies gets seriously hurt.

Generally, once blood has been drawn between cavies that effectively ends the relationship – and the piggies can’t live in the same cage together anymore.

I’m not talking a permanent break up though.

Lots of piggies that can’t be cage mates (for various reasons) end up being awesome neighbors. Just keep them in separate cages close to each other in the same room.

That way they can still enjoy each other’s company WITHOUT the risk of piggie flying fists of fur breaking out.

2. Parasites

One of the most common reasons for blood in guinea pigs’ cages is parasites. Parasites like lice or mites can cause cavies to scratch themselves raw and bleed, leading to unsightly blood spots in the cage.

Mange mites can make your guinea pig insanely itchy (as in One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest insane). This makes them go into seizures and die.

It’s possible that your little friend can scratch themselves bloody (poor things) if they’re infested with mange mites.

And, unlike ringworm, medicated baths won’t get rid of mange mites. It makes the problem worse, because the mange mites burrow deeper into the skin – which causes cavies A LOT of pain.

If you suspect your furry potato might have parasites, it’s important to take him or her to the vet for a proper diagnosis and treatment.

In the meantime, take steps to clean the cage and keep an eye on your furry potatoes’ behavior for any other signs of illness.

3. Urinary Tract Infection

UTIs (or urinary tract infections) are another common culprit when it comes to blood in your little friends’ cages.

They can lead to bloody urine, blood in guinea pig feces, and even blood spots on the cage floor – making it look like your fuzz spud has drawn some sort of sick piggie version of Jackson Pollock’s “Red Tear.”

If your cavy has a UTI, you’ll probably notice clinical signs (symptoms) like:

  • urinating all the time
  • pain while urinating (like shrieking when they pee)
  • a lot less active
  • not eating very much
  • peeing blood

UTIs require antibiotic treatments. So, get your fur baby to the exotic vet as soon as possible for diagnosis and treatment if you see blood in your cavy’s cage.

4. Cage Accident

Your piggies can get cut on loose wires or cords in their cage.

So, make sure you put it on your weekly routine to give your piggies cage a good check to make sure there aren’t any sharp or loose cage parts that can hurt your little friends and cause bleeding

And, falling off an elevated platform in the enclosure (like a shelf) can also cause some nasty cuts (I know, yikes!) – depending on how or where they fall and what kind of bedding you use.

If your little friend gets a cut or scratch in his or her cage, it could easily become infected if not treated. So make sure that you clean and treat any  cuts as soon as you notice them.

5. Bladder Stones

Guinea pigs that are fed huge amounts of high-calcium veggies tend to get bladder or kidney stones.

The calcium in the veggies doesn’t get absorbed by their bodies and instead starts to form stones in the bladder or kidneys. 

These stones can cause your fur babies  a lot of pain and eventually leads to bloody urine and (quite possibly) blood spots on the cage floor.

If your guinea pig is having trouble urinating (peeing), seems to be in pain, has blood in his or her urine, or is just not acting like himself, it might be time to take him or her to the vet for a check-up.

Stones can often be removed with surgery (but I know you’re not trying to go down that route if you can help it).

So, prevention (by feeding lower-calcium veggies) is always better than cure.

6. Reproductive Organ Issues

Reproductive organs can be a guinea pigs’ blood spot nightmare. There’s different issues that can pop up in older piggies – especially females that can make them pee blood (and you end up with blood spots in guinea pig cage).

Health issues like:

  • Ovarian cysts – Typically these cysts aren’t cancerous. They are fluid filled sacs that form on or inside the ovaries. And they’re caused by hormonal imbalances in your piggies.
  • Pyometra – Pyometra is when your piggie’s uterus becomes infected. Symptoms include blood in your urine and loss of appetite.

In either case, it’s important that you act quickly and take your guinea pig to the vet for treatment ASAP.

Both conditions are usually treated with surgery or antibiotics – but there’s no guarantee that your guinea pig will pull through it all (depending on how far along they are).

So, if you notice blood spots in guinea pigs’ cage or any other symptoms of pyometra or ovarian cysts, get your guinea pig to the vet as soon as possible.

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7. Ringworm

Ringworm is a fungal infection that can cause hair loss, redness, and scaly skin on your guinea pig.

It’s contagious to both humans and other animals (including piggies).

If you think that your guinea pig might have ringworm, it’s important to take him or her to the vet for a proper diagnosis and treatment.

Like mites, ringworm can make your piggies VERY itchy and uncomfortable.

Depending on how severe the case is, the ringworm might make your cavies scratch so much that they break the skin and make themselves bleed.

8. Cancer

Some types of cancer can cause guinea pigs to pee blood or to release blood from their bodies in clots. It is more common for older guinea pigs to get the disease, but younger piggies having cancer is possible, too.

There are many types of cancer that can affect guinea pigs:

A lymphosarcoma is the most common type of piggie cancer. The lymphatic system is made up of organs, blood vessels, and lymph nodes. It’s an important part of your fur baby’s immune system.

Signs that your guinea pig might have lymphosarcoma include:

  • bigger lymph nodes
  • having trouble peeing
  • pain
  • neck and face swelling
  • not much of an appetite
  • losing a lot of weight

And some guinea pigs don’t show any symptoms at all – aside from the blood spots or clots you notice in the cage.

If you notice a clot of blood, take your piggie and the blood clot to vet to be examined. The vet can let you know what the clot is made of and if there’s something else going on with your guinea pig.

9. Tumor

A tumor is caused by an out of control growth of cells in the body. A tumor might not be cancerous. Tumors aren’t necessarily cancerous, but they can be just as serious as cancers – especially if they’re growing near or on organs in your piggies.

Guinea pigs can urinate blood if there’s tumors pressed up against their bladder or other reproductive organs.

If you think that your little friend might have a tumor, it’s important to get him or her to the vet for a diagnosis and treatment. Depending on the size, location, and type of tumor, your guinea pig might need surgery.

Are You Sure It’s Really Blood?

At some point you’re probably going to find blood in your piggie’s cage.

It’s normal.

Before you start freaking yourself out (and I don’t blame you if you do), it’s important figure out if what you’re seeing is actually blood or something else like:

  • pink tinged urine from you feeding your pigs beets, dandelion, or pink cabbage (certain veggies and fruits make
  • a stain from food that was left in their cage for a long time. The food might have been strawberries or cherries.

So, how do you tell the difference?

There are a few ways you can check to see if the liquid that looks like blood is actually blood.

  • Note the color of the stain. If it’s a brown color, then it may be blood.
  • If you want to know if a stain is blood, pour hydrogen peroxide on it. If it bubbles, then it’s probably blood.

Bottom line:

It’s always best to take your guinea pig to the veterinarian if you’re ever unsure. Isn’t it better safe than sorry?

What To Do If Your Find Blood In Your Guinea Pig’s Cage

 If there’s not doubt in your mind that the spots that you found in your guinea pigs cage are blood, then there’s a few things that you need to do:

  1. Check your little friend for exterior wounds and nicks. Treat any wounds that you find, monitor the wound for infection, and take your cavy to the vet if necessary.
  2. If you can’t find an exterior wound on your fur baby, then it’s right to the vet you should go. If there’s internal bleeding going on, you’re working against the clock. The sooner you get your guinea pig to the vet, the better.

The most important thing to do is to stay calm and avoid panic. There’s lot of reasons why guinea pigs bleed. Some of them are serious, but many of them can be treated…if the issue it caught early enough.

Do Guinea Pigs Have Blood Periods?

Female guinea pigs don’t have blood periods. If you notice blood coming from your guinea pig’s vagina, it’s likely a sign of an infection or some other health issue and you should take her to the vet. 

It’s not normal for healthy guinea pigs to pee blood or for healthy guinea pigs to have blood coming from any part of their bodies. If you notice blood coming out of your little friend, then it’s time for a visit to the vet.

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Final Thoughts

So, why is there blood in my guinea pigs’ cage?

There are many possible reasons – some more serious than others.

If you’re ever unsure if the blood spots or clots in your guinea pig’s cage is a cause for concern, it’s always best to take your guinea pig to the vet for a diagnosis.  A urine sample or a examination from a pathologist.

The vet can help you determine the cause and, if necessary, provide treatment.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to leave a comment below.

I’ll get back to you as soon as possible. 🙂

Guinea pig care. (n.d.). Animal Humane Society. https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/adoption/guinea-pig-care

Behaviour – Guinea pigs – Our pets. (n.d.). The Largest Animal Welfare Charity in the UK | RSPCA. https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/rodents/guineapigs/behaviour

Disorders and diseases of Guinea pigs – All other pets – Merck veterinary manual. (n.d.). Merck Veterinary Manual. https://www.merckvetmanual.com/all-other-pets/guinea-pigs/disorders-and-diseases-of-guinea-pigs

Domestic Guinea pig. (n.d.). BioWeb Home. https://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/s2008/nickel_sara/interactions.htm

DVM, S. L. (2015). The Guinea pig handbook. Barron’s Educational Series.

Guinea pig companionship. (n.d.). pet-care-guide. https://www.erinsark-petcareguide.com/guinea-pig-companionship

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