A sick guinea pig is a real grief for the owner. The question is that rodents are always more difficult to diagnose and treat. And not everyone knows what diseases of guinea pigs are most common. We propose to talk about them, as well as about their symptoms, treatment and what a caring owner needs to do.

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Is sick mumps dangerous for people?

In principle, cases of human infection from are rare. These funny animals generally have fairly good health and rarely get sick. In addition, if your rodent spends all the time in its cage, it is quite difficult for it to catch any dangerous disease. However, if you purchased an already sick animal, there is, of course, a risk. Diseases that are common to both us and our pets are called zooanthroponoses.

There is also an opinion that you can become infected with tuberculosis or vector-borne diseases from a guinea pig, that is, those caused by the activity of fleas and ticks. However, the transmission mechanism has not been studied, which is why this statement is highly controversial.

It is believed that a person with strong immunity is quite capable of withstanding contact with a sick guinea pig without consequences for himself.

What can your pet get sick with?

Diarrhea

Most often, diarrhea in guinea pigs is caused by poor nutrition or feeding spoiled food. Dirty and rotten water in the drinking bowl can also cause diarrhea.

The first treatment for diarrhea is to adjust your pet's menu. It is necessary to exclude succulent foods, because they are known to have a laxative effect. Raw potatoes also have a positive effect on diarrhea, the starch of which can affect the consistency of the animal’s stool. If the diarrhea is severe and persistent, you should contact your veterinarian; more serious treatment may be needed.

Most often, for diarrhea, guinea pigs are prescribed Bifitrilak, Smecta, and activated carbon. Prolonged diarrhea is dangerous due to dehydration, so make sure that the animal drinks enough. If necessary, give your pet injections of saline and glucose during diarrhea, in doses recommended by your veterinarian. This will restore the water balance disturbed by diarrhea.

Constipation

If, on the other hand, you notice that your guinea pig's stools are too hard, he may be constipated. With constipation, feces are small, hard, and may be completely absent for some time. In this case, the animal will refuse food and become lethargic and hunched over. Constipation is caused in most cases by poor diet. For normal stool, a guinea pig needs a sufficient amount of fiber, and therefore it must always have dried hay.

Constipation can also be caused by insufficient water intake and low physical activity. Constipation is quite a dangerous phenomenon and in advanced cases can cause the death of a pet, and therefore should not be neglected. The fact is that prolonged constipation leads to intoxication of the body and puts unnecessary stress on the liver. Vaseline or castor oil is traditionally used to treat constipation.

However, experienced pig breeders advise avoiding castor oil. And give the pigs olive, flaxseed, sesame or sunflower oil 2-4 ml every 3-4 hours until the alarming symptoms stop. You may also need an analgesic if constipation has already become quite painful, and a probiotic to restore normal microflora. Of course, it is advisable to have a veterinarian supervise the treatment.

Sneezing

If you notice strange sneezes in your guinea pig, the first step is to analyze the conditions in which it is kept. One of the reasons may be a draft, which in some cases causes colds. Also make sure that your pig does not walk on a cold floor, which can also cause signs of a cold.

In addition to sneezing, a cold is accompanied by rhinitis, wheezing, and general weakness. If all of these symptoms are present, it is best to take your pig to the vet. After all, a cold without treatment can develop into a more serious illness - bronchitis or pneumonia.

In addition, sometimes a guinea pig sneezes due to an individual allergy to bedding components. Therefore, use anti-allergenic and natural fillers for bedding, which you change when dirty.

Also make sure that the filler fractions are not too fine. In rare cases, they can enter the respiratory system, irritate them and cause sneezing.

Festering eyes

Suppuration in the eye area in guinea pigs most often indicates conjunctivitis or mechanical injuries to the eye. If you notice that only one eye is festering, there may have been an injury. If both eyes are affected, then most likely we are talking about bilateral conjunctivitis of an infectious nature. Conjunctivitis, which is an inflammation of the cornea of ​​the eye, is the result of injury or bacterial infection.

In this case, the first symptoms of conjunctivitis are watery eyes, swelling and redness of the eyes. Purulent discharge is observed in later stages of the disease, when there was no initial treatment. Purulent discharge sticks together the eyelids and causes irritation of the skin around the eyes. Clouding of the cornea is considered a very serious disorder, which can lead to complete or partial loss of vision.

Antibiotic ointments, such as tetracycline or hydrocortisone, are used to treat purulent discharge from the eyes. But before this, you need to soak the purulent crusts, for which the eyes are wiped with Chlorhexidine, saline solution or Albucid. Then carefully clean the eye from suppuration using a cotton swab and tweezers. For effective treatment, you should try to place the ointment under the eyelid.

Cheilitis

Cheilitis is a specific disease of guinea pigs.

Its main symptoms are:

1. Crusts and cracks on the lips of a rodent. They can be brown to blood red in color.
2. Unnatural yellowish or greenish plaque on the teeth.

Cheilitis is typical for animals with weakened immune systems that are kept in inappropriate conditions on low-quality diets.

The following factors will also contribute to the development of cheilitis:

1. Lack or deficiency of vitamins A, C, B vitamins.
2. Deficiency of fatty acids in the diet.
3. An abundance of sour foods, excessive infatuation with sour fruits, apples, and citrus fruits can provoke cheilitis. By the way, both deficiency and excess of vitamin C can act as a provoking factor.
4. Infection with specific types of mites that live on the palate of a guinea pig.

In addition, cheilitis can develop if your pig has suffered lip injuries in a fight or if she likes to chew on her cage or other objects. Non-healing wounds on the lips can become symptoms of incipient cheilitis. To treat the disease, the drugs Clotrimazole, Lorinden S, Candide cream or Terbinafine are used. Remember that under no circumstances should you pick off scabs and growths on your pig’s lips!

To avoid such an unpleasant disease as cheilitis, it is important to give the animal enough succulent food with vitamins. And then for your attention there is a video with a detailed description of the maintenance and nutrition of guinea pigs.

Tumor

Cancer in guinea pigs is an atypical situation. Fortunately, these animals are not susceptible to cancer. Therefore, a guinea pig with cancer is rather an exception to the rule.

Possible tumors in a pet rodent may include:

1. Lymphosarcoma. This type of tumor is not cancer and is characterized by involvement of the pet's lymph nodes. Lymphosarcoma can lead to leukemia and also affects the liver and spleen. Unfortunately, it is fleeting, and its treatment is not always effective. Therefore, within 2-5 weeks you can have a sad outcome when your guinea pig suddenly dies.
2. Breast cancer. It is rare, and both female and male individuals are not immune from it. Mammary cancer is an age-related disease that sometimes kills older pets, but is not observed in young animals.
3. Skin cancer. In rare cases, tumor processes can be observed on the skin of domestic rodents. Most often, cancer affects the skin of the hind legs. As the tumor grows, it takes on the appearance of an open purulent wound. Treatment consists of surgical removal of the cancer, and the sooner this is done, the greater the chance of a complete recovery.

Theoretically, a cancerous tumor in a guinea pig can grow on any organ, especially if your rodent is elderly. Alas, the mechanism of cancer formation in guinea pigs has not been fully studied, as has the treatment of this terrible disease. And therefore, alas, guinea pigs with cancer often die.

Why is he chewing on the cage?

If you observe such strange behavior in your pet, then we hasten to reassure you, most likely this is not related to health problems. The most common answer to the question: why does a guinea pig chew on its cage is stress. Yes, guinea pigs are much more social than they might seem at first glance. They experience real mental anguish, being left alone for a long time, and even in a small cage.

Therefore, if your pig is seen doing an atypical activity, the reasons are as follows:

• the pet is bored and this affects her behavior, perhaps she does not have enough toys;
• the guinea pig's cage is too small;
• lack of certain vitamins in her diet.

To stop your guinea pig's strange behavior, do the following:

• improve her living conditions;
• if possible, buy a same-sex friend for your pet;
• They give him enough succulent food with vitamins, and he should also be given twigs to chew on.

Disease Prevention

As we have already said, guinea pigs are generally healthy animals with strong immunity.

And to ensure that your pig doesn’t develop any health problems, you need to:

1. Feed her with specialized food, supplementing the menu with vitamin complexes and treats if necessary.
2. Maintain hygiene in her cage and use natural materials for bedding.
3. Choose a comfortable, spacious and functional cage for your guinea pig, communicate with the animal, and often call it by name.
4. In the warm season, be sure to give the rodent twigs and fresh grass - an additional source of vitamins.
5. If possible, carry out preventive examinations with a veterinarian and pay attention to possible symptoms in a timely manner.

Photo gallery

Video “To prevent guinea pigs from getting sick”

The main cause of health problems in domestic rodents is poor nutrition, the video will further tell you about the correct diet of adorable pigs!

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Guinea pigs have long won the hearts of many. It is extremely difficult not to fall in love with these beauties, especially since there are a large number of their breeds. You can choose a pet for even the most capricious rodent lover.

Pigs live on average 8-10 years. But how long the animal will live in your home depends in almost all cases on the conditions of detention and proper care. If you feed and care for a rodent incorrectly, it will definitely get sick. How do you know if your guinea pig is sick and needs veterinary help?

What diseases of guinea pigs exist?

Diseases of pigs can be divided into 5 groups:

If you have a toothy pet at home, then the first thing you should do is ensure that it is properly maintained and also find a doctor. You may not need a veterinarian, but if suddenly something happens to your whistling animal, then you will already be prepared and will know what to do, where to call if the pig does not eat anything. So who should you contact and when?

Not every veterinarian will treat a guinea pig. It's a very difficult specialization. Therefore, look for a clinic with a ratologist (that’s what a veterinarian for rodents is called).

But you should contact him both when you notice signs of illness in an animal, and when you want to make sure that everything is fine with your overseas pet. What symptoms should alert a rodent owner?

Some symptoms should immediately alert the rodent owner. Having noticed them, you must immediately contact a veterinary clinic and see a veterinarian, who will make a diagnosis based on clinical signs and prescribe treatment. You shouldn’t let the situation take its course and hope that the pet will recover on its own. The same applies to therapy: do not give any medicine yourself. With such a small animal, there is a high risk of exceeding the dosage tenfold or even giving something that will kill the rodent.

If you notice at least one of the above, immediately seek help! There is no need to wait until all the signs “gather” at once or the animal gets completely unwell. Many drugs are lethal to guinea pigs, so only a veterinarian can treat them.

The most common diseases of guinea pigs

1. Most often, eye diseases are recorded in rodents. This includes conjunctivitis and cataracts (often diabetic). In pigs, a bone formation called a limbus often appears on the outer surface of the eye.
2. Another disease that is recorded in overseas rodents is pseudotuberculosis (a disease of bacterial etiology). With it, nodules form on the affected organs/tissues. With pseudotuberculosis, the animal has loss of appetite (followed by exhaustion), diarrhea, even paralysis. Treatment of the animal should take place exclusively in a hospital, but not at home!
3. Sometimes paratyphoid fever is registered in pigs, during which the pet’s appetite disappears (the animal does not eat anything), the fur becomes ruffled, the eyes become dull, diarrhea and lethargy appear. As soon as the owner notices such symptoms, he should immediately ensure that the animal is examined by a veterinarian. The doctor will select treatment, prescribe antibiotics, as well as a drug that will destroy the causative agent of the disease (so-called bacteriophages).
4. If the animal’s fur near its nostrils becomes wet, coughing and sneezing appears, the baby rubs its nose with its paws, breathes wheezingly and heavily, then it may be pasteurellosis (humans can also have this disease). What to do in this case? Contact a veterinarian immediately (alas, the animal will have to be euthanized, because treatment almost always fails)!
5. Not only the respiratory system suffers in a guinea pig, but the digestive system often “fails.” It’s one thing if the problem is improper feeding, in this case it will be enough to change the diet. But diarrhea, vomiting and loss of appetite (the pig doesn’t eat anything, even the most favorite treats) are associated with much more serious illnesses (for example, infectious diseases).
6. Rickets is registered in dogs, guinea pigs, and humans. With a lack of calcium and vitamin D in the diet, the bones become soft, brittle, easily bent and broken. And if you feed the rodent incorrectly, do not give it vitamin supplements, and keep it in a dark corner, then the rodent will get sick very quickly.

Aujeski, or false rabies - a disease that affects the nervous system. The guinea pig is showing signs of rabies: rushing around the cage, itching. Animals rarely survive, since it can only be saved in the first stages, and obvious symptoms appear before death. Death occurs due to paralysis of the larynx.

Conjunctivitis- eye disease resulting from injury or infection. It develops in 3 phases: first, the eyes water, the eyelids swell, then pus appears, which sticks the eyelids together, and the last stage - the cornea becomes cloudy. The danger of conjunctivitis is that the guinea pig can go blind.

Parafit- the pig becomes lethargic, eats little, and the fur sticks together. Infection occurs due to dirty water in drinking bowls.

Plague - fatal viral disease. Its signs are paralysis of the limbs, loss of coordination, apathy, and the animal refuses to eat. The consequences are only death, which occurs 10 days after the onset of symptoms. It is recommended to euthanize the pig immediately after diagnosis. Her neighbors are quarantined for 21 days, everything is disinfected.

Rickets In guinea pigs, its course is similar to that of humans: deformation of the limbs, dislocations of joints, sagging back. Most often it appears in babies born in winter. The cage in which the pig with rickets lives is placed in a sunny place. It is important to take into account the temperature so as not to catch a cold on a sunny and cold windowsill or fry in direct rays. Trivitamin is also dripped into the water.

Pneumonia in pets occurs like in humans: fever, purulent discharge. A characteristic sign is that the animal begins to rub its nose on the litter and scratch its nose with its paws. She is being treated with antibiotics. The danger is that the causative agents of pneumonia in guinea pigs also affect humans, so the animal must be isolated immediately after diagnosis. The disease is provoked by low air humidity, so it is not recommended to place the cage near a heating radiator in winter.

Pseudotuberculosis manifests itself in the form of diarrhea and refusal to eat. Then convulsions join. Guinea pig death occurs from dehydration or complete paralysis. This disease is characterized by suddenness. Transmission of bacteria is through food and bedding.

Alopecia- a disease that frightens owners due to hair loss. It occurs in 2 cases: stress or keeping several guinea pigs in a cramped cage, which causes them to pluck each other’s fur. It is treated by eliminating the root cause.

Enteritis: The pet's stomach is swollen, he diarrhea, and ketone bodies are found in the urine. Appears due to changes in feed, hay deficiency and abundant feeding of vegetables, as well as as a result of treatment with antibiotics. It can take up to 2 months to restore the guinea pig's intestinal microflora. There is also infectious enteritis, which is characterized by bloody diarrhea. Such enteritis always ends in death.

Guinea pigs are creatures immune to disease. They rarely get sick, but there are always exceptions. Therefore, owners of guinea pigs should be attentive to deviations in the health of their pets and promptly seek help from a specialist in order to avoid consequences.

Guinea pig diseases

Conventionally, all diseases that can occur in guinea pigs can be divided into 6 groups. These include:

1. Diseases of a genetic nature: hereditary defects.
2. Infectious diseases.
3. Diseases caused by bacteria or virus carriers.
4. Pathologies associated with improper feeding.
5. Pathologies associated with inappropriate living conditions.
6. Diseases associated with injuries and mechanical damage.

The most common diseases of guinea pigs include the following diseases:

• pseudotuberculosis;
• paraphyte;
• pasteurellosis.

Pseudotuberculosis- the most common disease among guinea pigs. Its causative agent is pathogenic bacteria. Infection occurs through food. Signs of the disease: diarrhea, poor appetite and progressive exhaustion leading to paralysis. A sick animal must be isolated and consult a veterinarian.

Parafit- infection. The causative agent of the disease is pathogenic microbes. The animal becomes infected through food and water. In an acute, rapidly occurring form, the animal is inactive, refuses food, and diarrhea appears. In the chronic form, appetite decreases, the fur becomes ruffled, the animal becomes lethargic and diarrhea. To treat the disease, antityphoid bacteriophage and antibiotics are used as prescribed by a veterinarian.

Pseudotuberculosis is the most common disease among guinea pigs. Its causative agent is pathogenic bacteria. Infection occurs through food. Signs of the disease: diarrhea, poor appetite and progressive exhaustion leading to paralysis. A sick animal must be isolated and consult a veterinarian.

Pasteurellosis- another infectious disease. The causative agent is pathogenic microbes. It is not stable in the external environment and can be quickly destroyed with disinfectants. A characteristic sign of the disease is a runny nose. The animal begins to sneeze endlessly and rub its nose with its front paws. First mucus flows from the nose, and then pus. Breathing is heavy, with wheezing. The disease can last for several months, either subsiding or worsening. There are complications in the form of ulcers on various parts of the body. If the causative agent of pasteurellosis enters the blood, it becomes infected, accompanied by high fever, general weakness, diarrhea, and sometimes convulsions. There is no specific treatment for this disease. Sick animals with obvious clinical signs are euthanized so that they do not suffer. If a disease is suspected, animals are treated symptomatically, giving oral antibiotics and sulfonamide drugs as prescribed by a veterinarian.

Symptoms of diseases in guinea pigs

A sensitive and caring owner will always understand that something is wrong with his pet. As a rule, an animal that begins to get sick becomes strange: it hides in a corner, does not eat, does not drink. In addition, there are many symptoms that can indicate that your guinea pig is sick. Among the most common symptoms are:

• rapid difficulty breathing;
• changes in behavior out of character;
• lies with eyes closed;
• cough;
• increased thirst;
• disheveled, matted fur;
• hair falls out easily when touched lightly;
• nasal discharge, runny nose;
• purulent eyelids and eyes;
• formation of ulcers, abrasions and scratches on the skin;
• trembles with small tremors;
• frequent dry or loose stools;
• convulsions and paralysis;
• the presence of small blood-sucking insects (fleas, lice).

A characteristic sign of the disease is a runny nose. The animal begins to sneeze endlessly and rub its nose with its front paws. First mucus flows from the nose, and then pus. Breathing is heavy, with wheezing. The disease can last for several months, either subsiding or worsening. There are complications in the form of ulcers on various parts of the body. If the causative agent of pasteurellosis enters the blood, it becomes infected, accompanied by high fever, general weakness, diarrhea, and sometimes convulsions.

Treatment of diseases in guinea pigs

As soon as you notice any illness in your guinea pig, you need to sound the alarm - call a veterinarian for help. Only he can provide your pet with timely assistance.

Usually, having suspected something was wrong with a guinea pig, the owners give the animal pomegranate peel or peeled galangal root. It is believed that thanks to them the pet’s condition can return to normal. This is partly true only if your pet has problems with stool, he has become lethargic and does not eat well. Then these tools really help. Among the medications, phthalazole and etazol help well. You need to give 1/8 tablets 2 times a day. You can also apply a weak solution of potassium permanganate and give the pig a drink. If these actions do not have the desired effect, then it is advisable to consult a veterinarian.

A good veterinarian, having carried out the necessary diagnostics, can not only identify the problem, but also correctly eliminate it. The owner needs to carefully monitor his pet in order to promptly notice that something is wrong and promptly begin treatment for the disease in the guinea pig. Often such animals die because people cannot identify the first signs and symptoms of the disease. It is worth noting that guinea pigs are very calm and calm, therefore, when sick, they may not show their condition in any way. In such cases, a serious illness may go undetected, and when it is discovered, it may already be very late. To prevent the irreparable, you need to understand that any, even the smallest deviation from the norm is a reason to contact a veterinary clinic.

When should you sound the alarm?

Let's look at the first signs of illness in a guinea pig:

Lack of vitamins and minerals

Special balanced food is produced for rodents, which contains all the components necessary for the health of the animals. However, many diseases of guinea pigs are associated precisely with a lack of one or another substance. A similar situation can occur due to improper formation of the animal’s diet. For example, a common problem in such pets is a lack of vitamin C. It is worth noting that the guinea pig’s body cannot produce this component on its own, so the owner needs to make sure there is enough of it in the food. Otherwise, the rodent may develop scurvy and weaken its immunity, as a result of which it will get sick even from a small draft. To prevent your guinea pigs from getting sick, you need to give them enough vegetables and fruits. Parsley tops and rosehip infusion will also be useful.

If there is a deficiency of vitamin D, your pet may develop rickets. Typically, this problem occurs in young pigs in winter due to insufficient sunlight. Symptoms of the disease in guinea pigs include enlarged joints, arching of the back, stunted growth and bowed limbs.

As a result of a lack of vitamin A, skin problems and various eye diseases can occur. Vitamin E deficiency affects the coat of guinea pigs, and low intake of vitamin K makes the animal immune to external irritants.

Eye diseases in guinea pigs

• Anophthalmia is a disease in which one or both eyes are missing.
• Microphthalmia is a congenital pathology in which the eye size is smaller than normal. It occurs when animals with lethal genes mate during the period of intrauterine development, and is often accompanied by an inflammatory process.
• Blindness is a complete or partial absence of vision. It can be congenital or acquired as a result of damage to the cornea, diabetes, infection, poisoning, a fall from a height, or aging.
• Keratitis, keratoconjunctivitis, conjunctivitis occur due to foreign body entry, injury, or infection. Symptoms include redness, watery eyes, and purulent and mucous discharge.
• Cataract is clouding of the lens, which leads to vision impairment and even loss of vision. It can be congenital, acquired or age-related.
• Nystagmus is characterized by twitching of the eyeball due to injury or disruption of the vestibular apparatus. Accompanied by inflammation of the inner ear.

• Retrobulbar abscess is a protrusion of the eyeballs as a result of injury to the walls of the orbit by overgrown tooth roots. This eye needs to be removed.
• "Fat" eye - protrusion of the conjunctival sac, needs plastic surgery.
• Entropion is a hereditary disease in guinea pigs in which the eyelashes rub against the eyeballs. They should be glued with a special ointment to the upper eyelid.
• Ossification of the eye can be congenital or occurs when mineral metabolism is disrupted. At the same time, the outflow of fluid inside the eye becomes difficult, eye pressure increases, and nerve cells are destroyed, which can cause vision loss.

Treatment of eye diseases

Without prior consultation with a veterinarian, no treatment should be carried out, since this can only worsen the situation. Before using corticosteroids, you must make sure that the cornea is not damaged, since such drugs interfere with its recovery and are therefore contraindicated in such situations. The condition of the cornea is checked using special test strips containing fluorescein, which colors the damaged area yellow.

Before treating a sore eye, it is necessary to remove pus and dirt so that the effect and concentration of medications does not decrease. To do this, use warm 0.9% saline solution or acetylcysteine, which dissolves mucus. The discharge can be removed with a cotton pad, which is pre-moistened with a furatsilin solution or ordinary boiled water. Please note that tea leaves and chamomile decoction are strictly contraindicated, as they dry out the mucous membranes and promote the development of fungi and bacteria.

Eye diseases of guinea pigs, the symptoms and treatment of which are closely interrelated, require special attention from a veterinary ophthalmologist. An important step is the restoration of the cornea with the help of vitamins A and C. Artificial tear preparations are indicated to eliminate dry eye. Antibacterial ointments and drops are used up to 4 times a day, sometimes more often.

Serious eye injuries require the following medications:

• "Tobrex";
• "Tsiprovet";
• "Levomycetin";
• "Tsipromed".

If the cornea is injured, the following medications are added to the above:

• "Korneregel" (gel);
• "Solcoseryl" (gel);
• "Balarpan" (drops).

Viral diseases

What diseases in guinea pigs can be caused by viruses? The most dangerous viral pathologies are paralysis and pestilence. Such diseases are manifested by convulsions and paralysis of the limbs. The animal must be taken to the veterinarian immediately.

Symptoms of other viral diseases include:

• diarrhea;
• matted fur;
• unusual behavior;
• nasal discharge.

Among the bacterial diseases, it is worth noting pseudotuberculosis, in which the guinea pig experiences frequent diarrhea, causing severe exhaustion. This disease is contagious, so the animal must be isolated so that the others do not die.

Digestive system problems

Diseases of guinea pigs and their treatment are issues that must be addressed by a specialist. However, it is worth paying attention to the fact that most health problems arise due to improper nutrition and care. Unfortunately, owners often give their pets foods that are generally contraindicated for them. In addition, a guinea pig can get sick from hypothermia, so you should pay close attention to this point as well.

Symptoms of digestive system diseases include:

• loose stools;
• decreased appetite;
• general weakness;
• apathy.

If your animal exhibits such manifestations, it is worth giving it a gastric lavage. To do this, take a teaspoon of castor or vaseline oil and pour it into the guinea pig's mouth. Then you need to give your pet a third of a tablet twice a day of one of the following drugs: Enteroseptol, Levomycetin, Phthalazol, Biomycin, Sintomycin. For constipation, only castor or vaseline oil should be given. If symptoms persist, take your animal to the vet immediately.

Respiratory diseases

We continue to consider diseases of guinea pigs. The photos presented in the article show us cute and harmless little animals that really need proper care and proper nutrition. These rodents are often diagnosed with pneumonia, which develops due to severe hypothermia. Guinea pigs should not be allowed to run on a cold floor or kept in a draft. It is important to promptly treat a runny nose in an animal, which can also lead to pulmonary inflammation and even death.

Pay attention to the following symptoms:

• the pig almost does not react to stimuli and lies on its back;
• the animal has nasal discharge;
• the animal refuses to eat, it is lethargic and hardly moves;
• any sounds that the animal usually makes are absent;
• the rodent is constantly trying to hide.

Prevention

• choose the right diet for your pet;
• keep the hay clean and the water fresh;
• to sharpen teeth, give your pet hard wood;
• place the cage away from dampness and drafts, keep it clean;
• do not allow the animal to become hypothermic, overheated or wet;
• let your guinea pig run around, this is good for its health;
• control the length of your pet’s claws so that they do not grow too long.

Finally

In order for an animal to live a long and happy life, it is necessary to provide it with proper care. Guinea pigs, unfortunately, do not live very long, so you need to create comfortable conditions for them so that they will delight you longer with their cute antics and mischief.