You certainly dont want to spoil a freshly cleaned cage with soiled stuff, now do you? ", keeping our sweet pet's home clean and safe for him to thrive. Keep Your Guinea Pig's Nostrils Clean When cavies have a runny nose, their nasal cavity can easily get blocked with discharge and mucous, making it difficult for them to breathe. If you notice that your guinea pig is overgrooming or scratching excessively, it may be a sign of parasites in the skin and should be checked by a veterinarian. He spends hours on Instagram browsing guinea pigs, wombats, hedgehogs, and Dungeons & Dragons. mypetguineapig.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. How Often Should I Clean My Guinea Pig Cage? } Such kits usually include probiotics, saline solution, critical care feed, and other necessary items that can help your piggie when youre unable to get them to vet right away. My guinea pig seems to be in pain when I touch its nose. If the discharge is excessive or contains blood, this could be a sign of a respiratory infection and you should take your guinea pig to the vet. The grass had been cut that day, could that have caused it? display: block; If you have more than one guinea pig clean it two times a week. (Find Out Now) You should check them out. I have a 30 x 20" guinea pig cage with upper kitchen area, would that be suitable for 1 guinea pig? What To Do If Your Guinea Pig Has A Runny Nose? Its a good idea to keep a guinea pig first aid kit handy in your house. wikiHow is the best website I've ever visited, there is so much great and reliable advice!". https://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/pets/small-mammals/salmonella.html, Abscesses in Guinea pigs. Otherwise, a bucket will do just fine. However, many of us do not have distilled white vinegar laying around the house. Once cleaned, your guinea pig cage should not necessarily smell of anything, and especially not cleaner or added scents. Its important that their cage be kept very clean. Scoop out any soiled bedding and replace it with dry, fresh bedding. A healthy guinea pig requires about 10-30 mg of vitamin C per day. But damp hay can harbor fungal growth, and dry, dusty hay could cause respiratory problems. https://www.erinsark-petcareguide.com/guinea-pig-companionship, Its important to understand what to feed your guinea pigs. You can clean your guinea pig's nose with a warm, damp cloth. Check with your vet for any illness-specific cleaning instructions to ensure a smooth and effective cleaning effort. This goes for both humans and animals. Periodic trimming of overgrown teeth is also necessary. You should take your guinea pig to the vet for a checkup. First, start with getting yourself in a comfortable position and then hold your pig. 3. Damp corners are breeding grounds for dangerous bacteria and germs! Now you have something to lift the stink and stains from your guinea pigs cage, but you still need something to do the (literally) dirty work. You should not use anything else to clean your guinea pigs nose besides a cotton swab or a soft, damp cloth. @media screen and (max-width: 767px) { Piggies are social animals. What Is the Proper Way of Cleaning a Guinea Pig's Wound? No skimping on plentiful grass hay, fresh water, and vitamin C. The guinea pig diet is mainly hay; we're talking about 80% hay. Instead of cleaning them yourself, we recommend asking your vet for advice. Breathing is a quite easy and healthy activity. Find The Best Deals on Your Favorite guinea pig Products and Save! } This often occurs when we are confident that the wounds have been treated. The sensitivity of the pig to the antibiotics should also be put into consideration, to avoid the introduction of new allergens to the system of the already ailing pig. When a part of the skin is cut open, the first thing you need to do is disinfect to avoid infection. How to use this code: This link cantains your affiliate code and can be placed anywhere a normal tag could be placed. Remove any excessive damp hay or bedding and scrub away any significant clumps of waste. However, it can lead to infection, which could easily turn a simple wound into a life-threatening situation. Keep rinsing until all soap and scum is washed away. All rights reserved. Itchy and inflamed eyes may also show conjunctivitis, which is an infection of the eyes. Remove excess food and waste and spot-clean the cage as needed with a wet paper towel. Mycoplasma pneumonia is majorly caused by a slow-growing bacterium known as Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae. The pig might also reduce its water intake due to a change in the taste of water, and this might also lead to other health issues. New and inexperienced guinea pig owners need to learn a lot to take proper care of their pets and have a lot of questions and worries, including how to deal with a guinea pig runny nose. The best water dispenser is a guinea pig/rabbit bottle with a ball inside the spout to prevent water leaks. Fill the syringe with warm water and insert the tip into the nostril. How to use this code: This link cantains your affiliate code and can be placed anywhere a normal tag could be placed. Infections can also occur due to dental disease that results from overgrown tooth roots that affect the sinuses, therefore leading to upper respiratory infections. Antibiotics can also be harmful to the bacteria keeping the digestive tract healthy, and is, therefore, necessary to watch out for signs of distress. Is Rice Safe For Guinea Pigs To Eat? (2014, December 10). The water bottle itself can be cleaned by placing uncooked rice and a little water in the bottle and then shaking it vigorously. and Why Do Guinea Pigs Twitch? Fleece is usually better for this task than shavings or paper bedding. Now this might make you wonder if your pet can play with toilet paper rolls. Alongside vitamin C-rich vegetables, supplements, like tablets, are also available when a high deficiency arises. Enjoy! Antibiotics should be carefully administered to the ailing pig depending on the nature and culture of the bacterium causing the infection. It may seem confusing or even downright stressful but dont panic. While there are plenty of pet-specific scrubs or sponges out there, a rag is generally enough. They stare at you, other people, other animals, food and objects in their environment. If you notice rattling, clicking, and wheezing sounds when breathing, these are signs that show your pet might be having respiratory distress. If you have any additional cage-cleaning tips or tricks to share, please let us know in the comments below. However, understanding which foods should be avoided is essential information to have. Additionally, a reusable liner saves you money in the long run! Once scrubbed to utter cleanliness, give everything a solid rinse. In fact, we recommend using rags instead of sponges because they are easier to clean and use for your next cage cleaning. That way, they can prescribe the proper treatment. Now, that does not mean you need to go out and buy guinea-pig specific products, but it does mean we need to consider what we use in our guinea pigs living environment. That means an increase of spot cleaning and deep cleaning. *Please Read*Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheSmallPetShop Giving Snoopy a bath, some people bath their guinea pigs in the sink but I find this easier, b. } Is this normal? } Will it be fun to wash their cage or enclosure? Just leave your guinea pig cage out to air-dry for an hour or so and you are good to go. Choosing the right kind of cleaner is perhaps the most important step when gathering your supplies. Cleaning your pig's cage at least every week is very important in maintaining your pet's health. If your answer was yes, you do your thing, we wont judgetoo much. Instead, snag a pair of (ideally hot pink) reusable dishwashing (or similar) gloves and you are set. (What You Need to Know), Can Guinea Pigs Suffer or Die From Depression? Mr. Spaghett demonstrates how to do this process we perform monthly. When it comes to outdoors guinea pigs, treat them like you would tender plants. For most aspects of grooming, a weekly check should be enough. Our guide takes this into consideration, and is built to provide the fastest and most efficient way to clean your guinea pigs cage or enclosure. What is a Group of Guinea Pigs Called? (11 Ways To Find Out Now), Can Rats Kill Guinea Pigs? Rice shouldnt be fed to guinea pigs. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Unless your guinea pig has gotten sticky or smelly, it should only need to be bathed a maximum of 2-3 times per year. Once everything is cleaned, dried, and replaced, your guinea pig can return to their enclosure. Have all your supplies? However, we understand many of you might not live in such a convenient locale. Poke Around in the Wound 3. I will try take him to the vet tomorrow to get him checked out but I was just wondering if anyone had experienced anything similar and knew what it was or what was causing it. The air humidifiers are responsible for keeping the conditions around the pig optimal to avoid catching a cold, that can lead to nasal discharge. Hay is necessary because of its high-fiber content, which helps maintain the guinea pig digestive tract and also wears down constantly growing teeth. When you tend to your guinea pigs, pay close attention to the state of their tiny home. For a healthy guinea pig, breathing is quiet and easy. display: block; Having a functional air humidifier around the little pigs can play a crucial role in mobilizing the nasal discharge from the pigs. What could be wrong? If you notice dry nasal discharge on their nose, dip a cotton pad in warm water and gently wipe their nose. } A guinea pig may, however, develop health problems that need a veterinary doctors attention, or you may sometimes manage the complications without necessarily involving a vet. What Happens if Guinea Pig Wounds Are Untreated? You can also use a Q-tip to clean the hard-to-reach areas of the nose. The rabbit might also bully the guinea pig, leading to stress if the pig cannot find a safe spot to escape to. So, sterilize the wound before infection can occur. Why is it necessary to clean your Guinea Pigs ears? Guinea pigs can play with toilet paper rolls. A cavy can catch these parasites from another infected guinea pig. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); This article received 12 testimonials and 84% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. Are there any other abrasions? link to What Did Guinea Pigs Eat in the Wild? ), bacterial infection to the respiratory system, Antibiotics should be carefully administered, guinea pigs do not produce their vitamin C, good vacuum cleaner fitted with HEPA filters. One guinea pigs will often take the subordinate role and start grooming the dominant one. However, ensure that someone is keeping an eye on them to keep them safe. Also, I learned a few tips to employ in, "Thanks for the help! Other dental complications such as fractured teeth and teeth that are too long are common for guinea pigs and are easy to spot. Know When To Contact The Vet 5 Don'ts Of Wound Cleaning 1. (Find Out Now) , Why Does Your Guinea Pig Run Up Your Neck? What is the Best Treatment For A Runny Nose in Guinea Pigs? 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