Here go for Guinea Pigs and the Way to Raise Them!
Guinea pigs are quite the trend of the pet community right now.
Having a chubby look, soft fur, and some short legs, they are able to instantly melt anyone’s heart with just one look.
These guys are often quite small in size. Thus, there will be no issue at all for people to keep them around. Children, especially, can utilize this benefit the most.
As the guinea pigs are indeed quite a sociable bunch, it is more likely for them to be enjoying their life as pets if they are kept as a group or at least a pair.
I can guarantee that every single pet lover will experience the most pleasant feeling ever just from watching these furballs squabbling about.
However, as is the same case with any other kind of pet, guinea pigs do need their owners to care for them properly.
In addition, they also require quite a bunch of attention.
Although it is actually quite easy raising these guys in comparison with different kinds of domesticated pets, you still have a chance of running into some troubles while raising them.
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In the following paragraphs, I will include some of the most asked questions on these little friends so that you can have something to look for when raising one of them.
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FAQs on Guinea Pigs
My guinea pig has been sneezing. Do I need to worry about his health?
In the case of the guinea pig sneezing, it can be quite serious.
First of all, you should listen to his breathing. To do this, hold the nose and mouth area of the pig to your ear, then listen to him breathing.
If you hear something like a “snick, snick, snick” sound, then it is likely that the pig has respiratory distress.
The little friends can be subjected to Bordatella, a kind of respiratory infection that can be quite contagious as well as fatal potentially.
Thus, it is required for the pig to be seen in the case of you hearing the snick sound or the case of the sneezing keeps happening.
In addition, if one of the pigs got Bordatella, then the mates in his cage should be seen, too.
You should never attempt buying antibiotics and treating the guinea pigs by yourself.
This is due to the fact that antibiotics need to be given in dosages that are dependent on weight.
Thus, the animal getting antibiotics need to be weighed carefully by qualified vets. After all, a seemingly small dosage difference can be quite an issue for little animals like guinea pigs.
Why does my guinea pig sneeze?
Sometimes, just like we do, guinea pigs can expel air from the nose and then sneeze.
This sound will be quite high-pitched. However, it is still a sneeze without a doubt.
This is not often something that you should be concerned about due to the most probable cause being dust.
Nonetheless, if the little friend is sneezing too often, then you may need to be worried, as he may have gotten an allergy or infection.
In the case of your pig sneezing and having any of these symptoms, then they may have contracted an infection in the upper respiratory area.
Then, they should see the vet immediately:
- Semi-closed eyes
- Discharge from the nose or eyes
- Crackling sounds from within
- Labored or heavy breathing
- Coughing
- Wheezing
If not, then it is likely that the pig got an allergy from something in the house.
However, you should still have a vet check them out to be sure.
Are guinea pigs under-rated in terms of intelligence?
Yes, absolutely. In fact, most of the animals are actually far smarter than we generally recognize them as.
We should never judge them by the standards of ourselves.
The more effort and time you put into training these guys, the more you will be able to discover about their potentials.
All kinds of animals have their own way of responding, playing, and learning.
The trick to raising them is to figure out which way is the best for the individual animal. With love, patience, ingenuity, and work, there is no limit!
However, you should realize that it is best to start training the guinea pig a lot later than you would with dogs or cats.
It is the best scenario if you start the training process when they reach 9 or 10 months old.
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These small friends do have an advantage though, they can actually tell apart the voices that they heard.
In addition, they can learn a lot of little tricks that you want to teach.
You will only have to prepare is a sufficient supply of treats and some patience.
Why do some guinea pigs eat their own babies?
This is a misconception between hamsters and guinea pigs that is in fact quite common.
Hamsters, these guys are no herbivore, and the mothers usually eat the majority of the offsprings for no real reason.
Of course, there are still some cases of cannibalism in the world of guinea pigs.
However, they are all results of extreme negligence.
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The fathers may not be as involved in the parenting process in comparisons to other animals.
However, they do not consume any kind of meat if they can help it.
The worst thing that they can do to their pups is accidentally stepping on those guys.
The mothers are relatively great at the parenting process. They will feed and clean the babies dutifully.
In addition, they will absolutely come running if a pup’s wheeking got into their ears.
Attention is the most important thing
These little friends can become quite a frustration to raise up.
However, it will always be worth it for any true pet lover. After all, they are just so lovable and cute.
Thus, you should remember that you should not forget to give attention to them.
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