Preventative Health Care for Guinea Pigs
The basic health care for your guinea pig is that you should brush it’s coat at least once a week if it is a short haired pig and more often if it is a longer coated variety. Check and cut your pigs nails and be prepared to trim the nails every month. You can trim more often if necessary. Keep an eye on your pigs teeth. They continuously grow and can cause problems if they are not ground away by regular chewing. If there is any sign of the teeth overgrowing you will have to speak to a vet.
Fleas can be controlled by using any topical treatment designed for puppies or kittens. Make sure that the treatment is designed for young animal. The adult treatments would be too strong for a little pig. You will have to make sure that your piggy’s cage is kept clean and dry and that any old foodstuff is cleaned away. The food that you give the pigs should be quality and not food that is beginning to get spoiled. You will have to make sure that your pig has [plenty of vitamin C and there are plenty of vegetables available that are rich in Vitamin C including dandelion leaves which pigs love and brussel sprouts. If you are not too sure you may consider a vitamin C Supplement.
Make sure that your little pig does not overeat and put on too much weight because an overweight pig is as unhealthy as any person that is overweight. Your piggy needs plenty of attention and love and you can take the time when you are playing with your pig to check out their general health conditions. Is their hair starting to fall out or becoming patchy, are there any wounds or open sore spots that you can see. Your little pig needs plenty of attention every day.
Some of the things to look for are. How is your pigs breathing. Is there any snuffling or discharge from the nose. Can you see any crusting around the eyes or swollen eye lids. Is there an excess of saliva causing the pig to dribble or slobber. This could be the teeth growing too large. This could also be the case if your pig is off its food or losing a lot of weight. If their teeth grow too long they have difficulties chewing and eating. Does your pig have the runs, its droppings may be very runny instead of being pelletized. This is normally because the cage needs cleaning.
There’s quite a bit to remember to look for when you’re keeping guinea pigs but most of the checking can be done when you are just having fun with your little friend.
