Just like people guinea pigs can get sick from the cold

If you love your guinea pig one of the things you need to do is to make sure they are warm enough in winter. Winter can be a difficult time for guinea pigs, particularly for older guinea pigs, as well as very young ones or sick guinea pigs.

Just like people guinea pigs can be prone to various respiratory problems during winter, and you need to take appropriate action is to make sure your piggy is toasty and warm.

Of course it doesn’t matter if you keep your piggy inside the house, normal indoor temperatures are fine and it really makes very little difference whether it’s winter or summer.

However many people keep their guinea pigs outdoors right throughout the year. And many people also keep them in small guinea pig hutches, often with large areas of wire so that the wind blows right through.

This winter we brought our guinea pigs indoors. They were housed in a large shed with plenty of protection from the wind and rain, however once it got to the point where there were many frosty nights we thought it was nicer to keep them all indoors.

There’s a few things you can do to make sure they are warm if your piggies are housed in an outdoor guinea pig hutch.

If the hutch has many exposed areas cover the hutch on the coldest days and overnight. Anything that covers the hutch sufficiently to prevent the wind getting in will do the job, for instance tarpaulins or blankets.

Just remember to put weights around them so that they are not a lot off by the wind. And also make sure that during the warmer part of the day they are removed so that some natural daylight enters.

Also make sure that there is a good supply of warm bedding. Plenty of highly or some fluffy materials will allow your piggy to snuggle in underneath, providing some installation. Make sure the cages cleaned regularly so there is no dampness.

We also go to the local supermarket and get some small boxes and cut an entrance at one end so that they can snuggle inside the box at night.

And make sure they are well fed with plenty of appropriate food, just like us, guinea pigs need energy to stay warm and so need to eat well.

And of course the best way is to bring the guinea pig hutch indoors during the winter, so your piggy is snugly and warm and right to hand so you can give them a cuddle.

Keep your guinea pig healthy and avoid a trip to the vet

Information about the common diseases of guinea pigs that pet owners should know about and how to address these diseases is offered.

Common parasites affecting guinea pigs are ringworm, lice, mange and ciccodioses. Ringworm and mange are parasitic diseases that target the skin of guinea pigs and are the cause of skin irritations in the species and can be managed by either oral or topical medication.

Lice are also a skin parasite that bites and suck blood from the guinea pigs and is usually found attached to the hair follicles and can be treated by applying a medicated shampoo. On the other hand, ciccodioses is an intestinal and liver disease caused by a single-celled parasite and usually came from food or water that has been contaminated with feces.

Another common disease is scurvy or vitamin C deficiency that can cause weakness, lethargy and disfigured bone and teeth development and is reversed through changes in diet or vitamin C dietary supplements.

Pet owners should need to be aware of hair loss in guinea pigs, as it occurs in various phases in their life, including in weaning infants and breeding females. However, it warns that it could also occur as a result of fungal disease and external parasite infestation.

Pneumonia is considered as the most common bacterial disease in guinea pigs and is caused by stress and inadequate diet and can be detected when the pets experienced labored or rapid breathing, lack of desire to eat and lethargy. Recommended treatments for this bacterial disease are antibiotic injection and rest.

Malocclusion is also considered a common health problem with guinea pigs, which occurs when their growing teeth do not wear properly and can be corrected by regularly trimming the teeth by a veterinarian. Obesity is also a problem and is caused by overfeeding the pet or by wrong food.

Skin diseases that can be suffered by guinea pigs include red swollen skin and sore hocks. It also reveals that guinea pigs are prone to overheating due to their stout, compact body, so it is not advisable to expose them to extreme heat. Read the rest of this entry

The basics of guinea pig care aren’t difficult

Pet owners who want to choose guinea pigs as their pets should know some things on how to take care of this species. This knowledge is significant to ensure that the pets are both healthy and pampered at the same time.

The first thing to be taken into consideration is adequate housing for guinea pigs, which is a cage. A large cage with a solid bottom is recommended for guinea pigs to allow them to move freely. Preparing a cage includes the use of old newspapers to line the sides of the cage and to use wood shavings as bedding and this should be used and changed once or twice weekly.

The bedding should be soft because guinea pigs have sensitive feet. It is also important for the cage to let in sunlight and air and should feature food and water containers. Another recommended thing is to include a toy inside the cage, like a wheel, a ball or a wood, to enable them to exercise.

The next thing concerns their food, which mainly consists of dry pellets that contain nutrients and fiber. Other food supplements that will keep guinea pigs healthy include vegetables such as carrots as they are strict vegans. Food should be provided and changed on a daily basis.

For their water supply, owners should see to it that the water container is shallow and these should be supplied with water on a regular basis. Also, the water bottle and the cage itself should be cleaned at least once a week to get rid of bacteria and waste that may have accumulated.

One advantage for choosing guinea pigs as pets is that they are low maintenance. However, it is still essential to keep them well groomed by ensuring that their hair, nails and teeth are clean. For guinea pigs with long hair coat, a regular trimming is recommended. It is also suggested that they will have a bath every 3-4 months and warns of frequent bathing because it could dry out their skin and could lead to skin irritation.

Their nails should be trimmed at least once every 4-6 weeks because long nails could cause pain and infections to their pads. Read the rest of this entry