How do you know if a guinea pig is sick?
A guinea pig cannot tell its owner either about its mood or how it feels. If a pet suddenly gets sick, due to inattention, we may not notice the first symptoms of malaise and miss precious time when it was easy to deal with the problem. To prevent this from happening, it is necessary to conduct a regular home inspection of the pig and monitor its behavior. Any deviations from the norm will be the first clue that something has gone wrong, and a good reason to contact an experienced specialist.
A healthy guinea pig looks well-groomed and cheerful. She has shiny, moist eyes, shiny fur, a clean nose and ears, and no rashes, scabs, or lesions on her skin.
Dry and dull eyes indicate that the pet is not feeling well. Heavy discharge can be a sign of conjunctivitis. Pay attention to the condition of the skin around the eyes: it should not have redness, peeling, scabs.
Nasal discharge most often indicates a cold and is usually accompanied by sneezing and coughing.
Guinea pigs should not have strong, bad-smelling secretions in their ears. Discharge may be symptoms of an inflammatory reaction. This is a serious problem: the middle and inner ear are located close to the brain, inflammation in an advanced stage can lead to death.
When conducting a home inspection, pay special attention to the pet’s oral cavity. Gently open the pig’s mouth and inspect the condition of the mucous membranes and teeth. Normally, a guinea pig should not have damage, redness and plaque on the mucous membranes, and both incisors of the upper jaw must be connected with the lower ones. If the incisors do not close or grow on top of each other, then they have not formed correctly. This can lead to partial or even complete inability to eat. The situation will help to correct the timely appeal to the veterinarian. He will bring the pet’s oral cavity in order and tell you how to prevent such a situation in the future.
Guinea pigs are very active and funny animals. If the pet is not worried about anything, his appetite will be excellent and the pig will definitely devote at least a few minutes a day to active games with his toys or jogging around the cage.
Lethargy, apathy, a sharp decrease in activity, a manifestation of aggression, any behavior that is not characteristic of your mumps signals a problem.
When getting a guinea pig, read the care and maintenance recommendations in detail and keep in touch with the breeder. If you have questions, you can always discuss them with him. Also, always keep on hand the contact of an experienced veterinarian who works with guinea pigs.
Take care of your pets and be healthy!
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