First of all, if there's any doubt about the nature of the disease, take your guinea pig to a veterinarian right away! Sometimes a simple medical procedure can clear up a problem that would otherwise be fatal. That said, here are some common symptoms with what illnesses they may indicate. with sneezing, some scratching is completely normal. Guinea pigs spend most of their time grooming themselves.

There's no denying that the ultimate purpose of a clinical trial is to answer a medical question. People who take part in clinical trials may need to do certain things or have certain tests done to stay in the study. But this does not mean that you will not receive excellent, compassionate care while in the study. In fact, most people enrolled in clinical trials appreciate the extra attention they receive from their health care team.

A guinea pig's main diet should consist of dried meadow hay supplemented by pellets or crushed oats and fresh vegetables. If meadow hay is not feasible, a legume hay such as clover may be substituted. Whichever hay you use should be available at all times. Use ONLY the plain kind of guinea pig/rabbit pellets or oats (without nuts and dried fruits, which are high in fat and not good for your guinea pig).

It's normal for a guinea pig to be afraid of you at first, and some guinea pigs, depending on personality, are always a little shy. However, with patience and love, you can almost always make good friends with a guinea pig. The younger they are when you start, the easier it will be to gain their trust.The thing to remember is that you are very large and frightening to a guinea pig.

Yes, you will probably need to trim your guinea pig's toenails, unless he or she does a lot of running around on bricks or concrete or other rough surfaces that will keep the nails short. Once the nails start getting long there is nothing but you clipping them to remedy the situation; the nails will eventually either curl back into the pad of the foot, crippling the guinea pig, or else break off and sometimes cause bleeding and infections in the process.

Guinea pigs are very social and enjoy living together. So if you can get at least two to keep each other company, that is best. If you can only have one, though, don’t despair, because you will be its friend. However, if you do have more than one, keep in mind that you must have a large enough cage for both. I have even heard that when one guinea pig dies, the remaining one can have difficulty adjusting, sometimes refusing to eat. That’s how closely bonded they can become.

Why do you think it is too fat ? Pigs vary in size and are supposed to be a nice chunky handful - they can be anywhere between 2lb and even over 3.

It is possible to have allergies to either the guinea pig itself or items such as hay or other bedding and associated dust. The best advice I can give on this subject is to get all members of the family to handle some guinea pigs and the bedding options you may use prior to obtaining your new pet - to see if anyone has signs of an allergy - rashes, breathing difficulties, sniffles etc.

No, piggies don't need any vaccinations. However, you may want to get any new pig's that come to live with you treated with some Ivermectin by your vet, in case they are harbouring mites / parasites which live in and under the skin and cause them no end of irritation. Might be a precaution well worth taking.

If you are in any doubt about the health of your guinea pig please consult a vet without delay - by the time it is showing symptoms it has probably been ill for a little while - please remember - the answers given are just my personal opinion.

If you really must breed your piggy, rather than provide a home for an existing 'home-seeking' piggy, then the best age for breeding your guinea pig for the first time is approx 5 months. NEVER breed a female guinea pig that is over the age of 12 months (unless she has previously had pups) as her pelvic bones will have fused and she will most likely lose her own and her pups life. Click here for more info and useful links.

Yes ! Pigs can, and do pass wind - mainly caused by eating things like cabbage and brocolli ! A little amount of gas is relatively normal (as it is in humans!) and shouldn't be anything to worry about ! However, if your pig looks very bloated and swollen take her to the vets to get checked out - this is not normal.

Things you can try are freezing a plastic drinks bottle (almost full of water) then wrap it in a towel and place in your pigs cage - if they feel too hot they can lay next to it and cool down. Make sure you keep their fluids up by providing plenty of fresh foods (fruit/veg) - keep an eye on their droppings if you are providing more than usual ! Make sure you have your air-conditioning on (if you have it) and if you have a portable fan, turn that on (but make sure your pigs are not in a draught).

Spiral CAT scan has been used for several years and is non-experimental. In 1998, the FDA approved LIFE bronchoscopy for detection of early lung cancer. Both tests have been used at Roswell Park Cancer Institute for years.

The best place to start would be at laser research centers. University physicians are often in the forefront of testing new technology and laser applications, as well as training new physicians and medical personnel. Another place to check would be private practices; sometimes these physicians may be involved with testing new lasers or conducting clinical studies. Laser companies may also be able to tell you where their own lasers might be involved in clinical studies.

I hold all of my pigs almost everyday so that they will be comfortable with humans. If you never hold them, they will

I personally know of no way to determine exactly how old a guinea pig - ie by checking the teeth like you would a horse etc ! The only guidelines I can give are as follows: quot;The guinea pig increases in weight and length until about 15 months - after which, weight changes are secondary to loss or gain in stored body fat. The length, measured from nose tip to last vertebra, for mature males is 30-35cm and for mature females 28-32cm.

Guinea pigs should eat Timothy Hay (50% of its diet), guinea pig pellets (25%), and fresh produce (25%). There is a misconception that alfalfa hay is good for guinea pigs. Alfalfa hay is only good for YOUNG guinea pigs. After the first six months, a grass-based hay such as Timothy hay should be used. A wonderful source of tasty, fresh green hay is Oxbow Hay Company. I have also been able to find it at a local PetSaver store.

Your guinea pig will need a water bottle, food dish, and a place to hide or sleep. Some guinea pigs enjoy chewing on toilet paper or paper towel tubes. Our guinea pigs love hide under, chew on, and run through corrugated cardboard boxes that we make into houses/tunnels, by turning them upside down and cutting out door holes.

To get a new pet piggy used to you, you should be very patient yet still interact with him (or her) every day. He will be very scared at first, so let him get used to his new surroundings for the first day or two. Make sure he has a good, safe hiding spot. Allow him to eat his food in their and keep his food and water nearby, so he doesn’t sit in the hiding spot and starve himself out of fear.

Guinea pigs don’t do a lot of tricks like dogs, but you can get them to do some fun things. Like they will start to squeal for treats when they hear the sounds that are usually made for treats, such as crinkling a bag or opening the refrigerator or opening the door to go outside and get them grass. So you can take advantage of this and get them to squeak for a certain sound if you make that sound every time you give them food.

Approximately five years, but as long as 8 to 10 years. If you decide to have a pet guinea pig, be sure that you can commit to taking care of it for that length of time.

Short answer: it’s not easy to tell. The long answer is excerpted from the best guinea pig guidebook I know, The Proper Care of Guinea Pigs by Peter Gurney: There is usually a telltale sign that a successful mating has taken place. You will find what appears to be a small plug of candle wax lying on the floor of the mated pair's quarters. This is produced by the boar only after he has successfully ejaculated in the sow and is meant to seal in his sperm.” p.

I will answer this with more information from the wonderful book, The Proper Care of Guinea Pigs by Peter Gurney: Remove the boar as soon as you are sure that the sow is pregnant. This will not only avoid upsetting her with any changes closer to her time but will also be a precaution against another pregnancy and risking her babies! A boar will never intentionally harm his young.

For her first litter, a sow (female) usually has about 2 or 3. Subsequent litters can produce as many as 6 or 8.

This is really a matter only you and your child can decide.

First of all I'd like to ask why on earth you would want to breed from her immediately ? Please think very carefully before breeding your pigs at all - any breeding carries risks for the mother and the resulting babies - and breeding straight away would put a terrible strain on the mother - as she recovers from the stress of giving birth to the first litter ! Perhaps you can offer a home to a needy/homeless pig from a rescue organisation instead ? If you really are intent on breeding your pig ag.

Welts on the feet of guinea pigs can have various causes. Mostly, very well fed animals with little exercise and relatively hard litter are affected. As these pads can become infected and therefore be very unpleasant to the animals, you should change the conditions in which your guinea pig is kept. More exercise and a little less food help to reduce weight. In addition, you should use very soft litter. 4-5 cm thick litter of soft hay with paper reduces the pressure on the legs.

The guinea pig courses are incredibly popular and in fact there is usually a waiting list. They tend to be Czech people who like the variety that a CELTA class brings compared to the usual classes in the school. We always take care to make sure each student is at the right level and the students even pay a small fee to secure their place so we can guarantee that a trainee will have a ready, willing class awaiting them on the first day of a course.Top

Every animal is different. Mine don't play with many toys because they have each other. I always have wood chew sticks and some small cat balls for them to move around. Other favorites are tunnels to crawl in, bells (make sure they can't be swallowed), toilet paper tubes and they love to run around in a 6 foot stock tank for exercise.