guinea pigs

Housing your guinea pig

By PraveenPosted on 6th August 2018Posted in guinea pigs, owning a guinea pigNo Comments

Proper housing plays a major role in the maintenance of healthy guinea pigs. The well-being of the animals must be a primary consideration. What sort of housing should I provide for my guinea pig? Guinea pigs can be housed within several different designed enclosures, the most suitable being: Wooden hutch with a wire front and/or [...]

Handling your guinea pig

By PraveenPosted on 6th August 2018Posted in guinea pigs, owning a guinea pigNo Comments

Guinea pigs rarely violently struggle when they are being picked up but they sometimes make a "squeal of protest", which sounds pig-like to many people. Nevertheless, great care should be taken not to injure them when picking them up. Due to the size of their rotund belly, their spines and hindquarters should always be supported [...]

Guinea pigs: a history

By PraveenPosted on 6th August 2018Posted in guinea pigs, owning a guinea pigNo Comments

Guinea pigs are hystricomorph rodents (related to chinchillas and porcupines) that originated from the Andes Mountains region of South America. Traditionally, guinea pigs were used for ceremonial meals by indigenous people in the Andean highlands, and it continues to be a major part of the diet in Peru. The history Guinea pigs were probably first [...]

Pneumonia

By PraveenPosted on 6th August 2018Posted in guinea pigs, miscellaneous health problemsNo Comments

Pneumonia is one of the most common bacterial diseases of pet guinea pigs. A number of potential disease-causing bacteria may inhabit the respiratory tracts of otherwise normal guinea pigs. How will I know if my guinea pig has pneumonia? Stress, inadequate diet, and improper home care often predispose a pet guinea pig to respiratory infection, [...]

Routine health care

By PraveenPosted on 6th August 2018Posted in caring for your guinea pig, guinea pigsNo Comments

We are all familiar with the phrase "A healthy pet is a happy pet" - but there is probably also something to be said for keeping your pet happy in order to maintain its health. If you know your pet you will probably quickly recognise the signs that suggest it is not well. What are [...]

Health checks: how to examine your guinea pig

By PraveenPosted on 6th August 2018Posted in caring for your guinea pig, guinea pigsNo Comments

In order to keep your guinea pig in the best possible condition, you will need to handle him daily, check him over for signs of illness and injuries. Because they are a prey species, guinea pigs are very good at hiding signs of pain and illness so it is important to know their usual routines [...]

Parasitic skin diseases

By PraveenPosted on 30th July 2018Posted in guinea pigs, skin diseaseNo Comments

Lice and mites are the most common external parasites of guinea pigs. Lice are tiny, wingless, flattened insects that live within the hair coat; both the adults and their eggs are found attached to individual hairs. A mite similar to the scabies mite of people causes serious infestations in pet guinea pig. How will I [...]

Breeding from your guinea pig

By PraveenPosted on 30th July 2018Posted in guinea pigs, owning a guinea pigNo Comments

The single most important breeding consideration is that female guinea pigs should be first bred before 7 months of age. If the first breeding is delayed beyond this time, serious (sometimes life-threatening) problems with delivery are encountered. Females should be first bred between 3 and 7 months of age, and males should be 34 months [...]

Miscellaneous health problems in guinea pigs

By PraveenPosted on 30th July 201812th July 2019Posted in guinea pigs, miscellaneous health problemsNo Comments

Two medical conditions of guinea pigs that demand special mentions are dental disease (teeth malocclusion) and pneumonia, therefore these are covered in separate factsheets. However, there are other medical conditions that affect guinea pigs that are briefly covered here. There are many new emerging diseases seen in guinea pigs so this list is not exhaustive [...]

Sensitivity to antibiotics

By PraveenPosted on 30th July 2018Posted in gastrointestinal conditions, guinea pigsNo Comments

Guinea pigs as a group are unusually sensitive to certain antibiotics, whether they are given orally or by injection. Potentially harmful antibiotics include ampicillin, penicillin, bacitracin, erythromycin, lincomycin, gentamicin, clindamycin, streptomycin, vancomycin and sometimes tetracycline. Interestingly, even certain antibiotics used topically may produce lethal effects. Why are guinea pigs so sensitive to antibiotics? The major [...]