old guinea pig
Usually guinea pigs live 5-8 years, but there are cases when these animals lived up to 15 years. We know of a reliable case in which a female long-haired guinea pig bred normally at the age of seven years.
Aging females (starting from the age of four) should be excluded from breeding.
From the age of five, pigs begin to age and require special care. Elderly animals often lose weight, as they are no longer able to absorb part of the feed. In the diet of aging animals, it is necessary to increase the proportion of concentrated, nutrient-rich feed, as well as the amount of vitamins. Sometimes they begin to have problems with their teeth, and the animals are no longer able to eat such solid food as grain.
Elderly animals are also given pieces of cucumber, pumpkin, melon, banana, which they eat with pleasure. Aging guinea pigs are prone to various diseases, they often have diarrhea or just softer, unformed elongated peas typical of pigs, feces. Often there are sores on the pads of the hind legs. If your old guinea pig has such sores, cover the inflamed pads with white streptocide powder. Previously, we tried to apply bandages, but this did not lead to the desired results. The bandages got wet quickly, as the pigs excreted a lot of urine, and only contributed to further irritation of the soles of the feet. In our experience, the following procedure gives good results: thoroughly rinse the inflamed pads with a weak solution of potassium permanganate, dry them, then cover them with white streptocide powder and hold the pig in your hands for 15-20 minutes, so that it could not step on its paws. Then glue the heels of the animal with BF-b medical glue. The procedure must be repeated every other day, usually by this time the adhesive coating is destroyed.
Long-haired aging pigs are especially difficult to tolerate the spring molt and need a lot of vitamins at this time. Usually, by the age of seven, their coat fades, becomes not so thick, bare areas appear on the body. A pig at the age of seven can be considered a deep old woman, and such an animal needs special attention and care.
Usually guinea pigs live 5-8 years, but there are cases when these animals lived up to 15 years. We know of a reliable case in which a female long-haired guinea pig bred normally at the age of seven years.
Aging females (starting from the age of four) should be excluded from breeding.
From the age of five, pigs begin to age and require special care. Elderly animals often lose weight, as they are no longer able to absorb part of the feed. In the diet of aging animals, it is necessary to increase the proportion of concentrated, nutrient-rich feed, as well as the amount of vitamins. Sometimes they begin to have problems with their teeth, and the animals are no longer able to eat such solid food as grain.
Elderly animals are also given pieces of cucumber, pumpkin, melon, banana, which they eat with pleasure. Aging guinea pigs are prone to various diseases, they often have diarrhea or just softer, unformed elongated peas typical of pigs, feces. Often there are sores on the pads of the hind legs. If your old guinea pig has such sores, cover the inflamed pads with white streptocide powder. Previously, we tried to apply bandages, but this did not lead to the desired results. The bandages got wet quickly, as the pigs excreted a lot of urine, and only contributed to further irritation of the soles of the feet. In our experience, the following procedure gives good results: thoroughly rinse the inflamed pads with a weak solution of potassium permanganate, dry them, then cover them with white streptocide powder and hold the pig in your hands for 15-20 minutes, so that it could not step on its paws. Then glue the heels of the animal with BF-b medical glue. The procedure must be repeated every other day, usually by this time the adhesive coating is destroyed.
Long-haired aging pigs are especially difficult to tolerate the spring molt and need a lot of vitamins at this time. Usually, by the age of seven, their coat fades, becomes not so thick, bare areas appear on the body. A pig at the age of seven can be considered a deep old woman, and such an animal needs special attention and care.
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