If your guinea pig is ill there are certain steps you will wish to take in order to ensure quick recovery. Additionally to providing correct care, the important key in aiding piggy recovery is consistently monitoring their condition. The sooner you notice a worsening of symptoms or a failure to thrive, the faster you'll be able to get facilitate for your pet before the condition becomes life threatening.
Keep in mind, the recommendation below is supplemental for folks who have already taken their guinea pigs to determine a veterinarian. Don't try to self treat any serious condition while not facilitate from an expert.
Supplies You Can Need:
Digital kitchen or postal scale
Towels
Hot water bottle or Thermacare wraps - Will be found at your local drugstore. Thermacare wraps are used for the relief of pain and muscle aches. The wrap will produce heat for up to eight hours when exposed to air. Keep in mind the contents of this product don't seem to be meant to be eaten thus supervise pets and children.
Food pellets for sick guineas pigs (like Oxbow Important Care) - Out there through veterinarians. Avoid low fiber foods at these times as this will increase digestive discomfort and bloating.
Small syringe without needle for feeding food and water
Probiotics (if your piggy is on antibiotics) - Will be found in gel capsule type at health food stores. Keep in mind, guinea pigs ought to not consume animal products therefore don't substitute yogurt.
Step 1: Move to a Separate Cage
A sick guinea pig can profit from space from rowdy cage mates. It can additionally make it easier for you to observe their condition and determine exactly how a lot of they are eating.
Step a pair of: Weight Your Guinea Pig
This is often vital for two reasons - one, it will help you track whether they're losing, gaining, or maintaining weight. If your guinea pig appears to still be healthy enough to eat on their own however over the course of a pair days starts to lose weight, this is often an indicator that supplemental hand feeding is needed. Two, you'll use the burden of your pet to calculate how a lot of food they should be eating. This is especially helpful if you're going to be hand feeding as it is invariably difficult to tell if your piggy is getting enough food.
Step three: Monitor Urine and Stool Output
Take into account keeping your sick guinea pig on folded towels instead of their normal bedding. This could be a lot of comfortable for them AND it makes it easier for you to determine if they are passing waste normally. An absence of urine or stool output can be a sign of additional health problems or dehydration.
Step four: Keep Them Warm
Extra warmth will very be helpful for guinea pigs that are not feeling well. Using a heat water bottle wrapped in a very towel will work quite well just be sure not to place scalding water in and replace when the temperature cools. A self heating pad will also work well provided you do not have any issues together with your pet attempting to chew on it (not too doubtless if she or he is sick.)
Step 5: Prepare the Food
If your guinea pig isn't eating on his or her own, you may need to organize a pellet mash. All you would like so as to try and do this can be to soak the pellets in liquid till they become soft and you'll be able to mash them into a soft paste. Some piggies also get pleasure from the mixture if warmed slightly (be sure to check on the within of your wrist.) If you do not have the time to soak the pellets till they are soft, you can grind them employing a food processor or occasional grinder and then combine with water. Some people conjointly like to add baby food or juice for further nutrition or flavor. Another various is to use the prevailing contemporary foods you had available already and cooking them until soft and then mixing into a paste. The key when creating the hand feeding paste is to keep the combination on the thicker facet as liquid is simpler to accidentally inhale. Strive one part water to four parts feed and see how that works.
Step 6: Feeding
Take the small syringe you bought and remove the tip if it's super small as you'll need food to be able to pass through. Be sure to sand off any rough edges.T ry to carry your guinea pig during a vertical position. You'll find it easier to wrap them up in a very cloth initial for higher grip. Fill the syringe together with your combine and gently insert into your piggy's mouth. Push until you feel the back teeth. Currently gently push a very little food into their mouth and see if your guinea pig reacts by chewing a little. This is often a smart sign. Wait for the chewing to prevent and then feed a very little more. Continue till food is gone. Follow up with water as well. Add vitamin C supplements if you think that they are needed. Be positive to keep regular solid food offered within the cage as well as you want your pet to go back to a regular routine of self feeding while possible.
Optional Step: Probiotics
If you piggy is on a course of antibiotics, supplemental probiotics might aid digestion. Try adding a little probiotic powder to your guinea pigs food or water a couple hours after each dose of medication.
Author Resource:
Riley Jones has been writing articles online for nearly 2 years now. Not only does this author specialize in Philosophy, you can also check out his latest website about:
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.look4articles.com/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.look4articles.com/images/rss.jpg "XML Feed For RSS")