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Common Guinea Pig Health Problems. |
Guinea pig owners must be able to understand the many health problems their pets can suffer from if they are not cared for properly. In this article I want to go over common guinea pig health problems, and what you can do to treat them.
Guinea pigs cough and sneeze like humans, so if it happens every so often, don't be alarmed. However, if you notice that it happens constantly, and fluid is flowing from the guinea pig's nose, it may have a bacterial infection. These infections are common, and can be treated with antibiotics. Despite this, if the guinea pig seems like it is having trouble breathing, this may be a sign of respiratory problems, and you will want to take him to the vet immediately.
If you find that your guinea pig is not drinking or eating as regularly as it should, you should take this problem seriously. This usually means that the guinea pig has a deficiency of vitamin C or respiratory problems. Sometimes the guinea pig's front teeth will grow so large that he is not able to use them to eat, though he wants to.
You also want to keep track of the guinea pig's weight. If it begins losing more than 2 to 3 ounces, this means the guinea pig is sick, and you will want to take him to the veterinarian as soon as possible. You should also keep track of how much water the guinea pig drinks. Some owners feel that their guinea pigs don't drink enough water.
Guinea pigs are like humans, and cannot manufacture their own vitamin C. Because of this, they are at risk for a variety of health problems. Guinea pig pellet food is full of vitamin C, but you want to make sure that you keep the vitamins in the dark and cool parts of the cage so that it does not lose its effectiveness. Fresh fruits and vegetables are also good choices for feeding your guinea pig.
Pregnant guinea pigs need much more vitamin C than normal. You want to give them twice the amount of vitamin C that you normally give them. Recent research shows it is possible for your guinea pig to overdose on vitamin C, so you will need to make sure you measure the amount that you give them. You want to make sure you don't leave fruits in the cage for too long, as they will go bad.
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