guinea pig care of
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How to Take Care of a Guinea Pig
Guinea Pig Weekly Care
Cleaning
You will want to completely clean out your guinea pig’s cage once per week. Take all bedding out and place it in a garbage bag. Look at the cage. Do you see any stuck on bits? If so these will need to be scraped off.
Once solid matter is remove you will need to sterilize the cage. Here you have a couple choices. You can either wash the cage in soapy water (and then rinse with a white vinegar solution to remove soap scum) or you can use a spray disinfectant specifically for use with animals. These types of products can be found online or at your local pet store. Personally, I am not a big fan of chemicals and I prefer soap and water. The choice is up to you.
After the cage has dried, go ahead and refill with clean bedding.
Water bottles and food bowls should also be washed and sterilized. Hot soapy water should be fine. Water bottles especially need to be sterilized as they hold standing water day in and day out. This can lead to the growth of all kinds of unwanted things. Bacteria in water and food bowls can cause guinea pig diarrhea.
Health
Every week you want to check your guinea pig for health problems. What should you be looking for? Weight gain or loss, if the coat is clean and shiny, clear eyes and nose, any kind of skin problems like lumps, cuts, scabs and bugs. Also check nail length – if they are too long, its time for a trim.
Grooming
Go ahead and use a regular nail clipper. You don’t really need special equipment. If your guinea pig has transparent nails, look for the vein running part of the way through. This is called the “quick” and you do not want to cut this as it will cause pain and bleeding. If you cannot see the quick, do your best to estimate. You will find that having a good grip on your guinea pig will be important as you will want to hold each toe still as you cut to avoid accidents. If you do cut the quick there are products that will stop the bleeding such as “Kwik stop.”
Shorter hair guinea pigs will need to be brushed once per week. This is a pretty easy task and will make their coat shiny. Just make sure you brush the hair in the direction it grows naturally as brushing “against” the grain, so to say, can be uncomfortable.
Common Health Problems
Guinea pigs are prone to a number of preventable health problems. One of the best things you can do to keep your guinea pig in good health is catch a condition before it becomes serious. Honestly, this is really important as once a guinea pig develops a problem sometimes it goes from not serious to serious incredibly quickly.
Bloody Urine
Bladder stones occur when your guinea pig consumes too much calcium from sources such as alfalfa and dried food. Why is this? Certain foods contain a form of calcium called calcium carbonate which would not be eaten by guinea pigs in large quantities in the wild. Once it enters the system the calcium can break down and then reform into small solids before being excreted. What are signs that your guinea pig is affected by bladder stones? Pink or red urine. Note: Red urine can also be caused by eating beets. If you are concerned your guinea pig may have bladder stones, please contact your veterinarian.
Foot Calluses
Guinea pig calluses are a lot like foot calluses you might get, small hard bumps on the feet. However, unlike humans, if these calluses are not removed serious problems can develop, such as infection. What causes calluses? Daily wear and tear for the most part. Sometimes this is an indicator bedding is too rough or that you guinea pig needs special creams and foot treatment.
Foot Infection
Bumblefoot is the result of a callus neglected to the point it becomes infected, pus filled, and sometimes swollen to the point that your guinea pig has trouble walking. Bumblefoot is a life threatening condition and if spotted must be treated by a veterinarian right away.
Overgrown Teeth
One of the unique qualities of rodents is that their teeth continue to grow over the course of a lifetime. If one’s guinea pig does not have enough abrasive food (timothy hay and or fibrous vegetables) or chew toys the teeth can grow to a point where they are a health problem. Problems can include difficulty eating and the permanent deformity of the jaw. Please do not attempt to file your guinea pig’s teeth on your own. This is a job for a qualified veterinarian.
Matted Grease Gland
Your guinea pig has a scent gland located above his or her anus which exudes a sort of sticky substance. Sometimes this grease production becomes excessive and the hair can begin to tangle and a scab can form. The best way to deal with this problem is to wash the grease gland with a oil removing soap like Dawn.
Blocked Oil Glands
This is a bump of skin filled with thick waxy oil. This is a normal condition and not serious unless infection occurs or the cyst refuses to heal. This condition is most commonly dealt with by removing the blockage.
Constipation (also known as impacted stomach)
Symptoms of an impacted stomach include discomfort and a lack of bowel movements. Contact a veterinarian for treatment advice. Some people have good luck with supplementing their guinea pig’s diet with probiotics. You can use specially formulated products or just break open a portion of a dietary gel tab and sprinkle into food or water. Make sure you do not treat with yogurt as guinea pigs should not consume animal products.
Itching, Bumps, and Hair Loss
All signs of parasites such as mites or lice. While over the counter treatments are available, it is best to contact a veterinarian first to determine the right course of treatment.
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