Frankly, any old rag will do. Please dont use antiseptics that you can find at home. Start by wetting a cotton ball or soft cloth with warm water. "This article helped me affirm I was doing what's best for our guinea pig. However, it can lead to infection, which could easily turn a simple wound into a life-threatening situation. Part 1 Diagnosing the Cause 1 Visit your vet. However, understanding which foods should be avoided is essential information to have. Once cleaned, your guinea pig cage should not necessarily smell of anything, and especially not cleaner or added scents. In some cases, an infestation can lead to death, such as that with fur mites. Gently pull back on the plunger to suction out the discharge. 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. With just a little bit of time and effort, you can help keep your guinea pigs nose healthy and clean. Answer 4: If you dont clean a guinea pigs nose, the discharge can build up and block the nostrils, making it difficult for the guinea pig to breathe. Sometimes when you focus your attention on the wound itself so much that you might miss some other tell-tale signs that could indicate infection. flinching screaming or squealing, Read More Is Your Guinea Pig In Pain? } (10 Surprising Reasons). What is the best way to clear a guinea pigs nose? What should you use to clean your guinea pigs nose? Lets talk about each in a little more detail. OUR AMAZON RECOMMENDATION FOR SCRUBBERS: Scrubbing Tool for Guinea Pig Cage. Make sure your guinea pig is comfortable and clean, so it can rest and heal in peace. Other dental complications such as fractured teeth and teeth that are too long are common for guinea pigs and are easy to spot. (n.d.). If you accidentally use a cloth that is too rough for your guinea pigs nose, you should stop and try a different cloth or cotton swab. For a guinea pig, a runny nose shouldnt be ignored or taken for granted at any time, but rather be considered a basis for visiting a vet, to ensure the well-being of the respiratory system of the pig. You should take your guinea pig to the vet for a checkup. Use Soap, Neosporin, Shampoo, or Other Cleaning Products, 4. When faced with the challenge of looking after their wounds, you need to clean them a little differently. Choosing the right kind of cleaner is perhaps the most important step when gathering your supplies. Also, watch out for blood in the urine or droppings, for this could be a warning sign that there are other infections in the body. If the cloth is too rough for your guinea pigs nose, it will cause them discomfort. https://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/pets/small-mammals/salmonella.html, Abscesses in Guinea pigs. Keep cages away from heating vents, since this might also expose the pigs to the stress of too much heat and other complications. Do this for about three to five minutes to ensure that the clotting is not interrupted. Massage gently across your pet's body using a finger and avoid getting any shampoo on its face as it can sting. I think my guinea pig has a cold. These symptoms lead your piggies to bite and scratch their own skin. https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/news/new-zoo-guinea-pigs, Salmonella from small mammals | Healthy pets, healthy people | CDC. On suspicion of dental disorders or overgrown tooth roots, its crucial to have an x-ray diagnosis done on the skull of the pig, to make informed decisions on the next step to take. How to Prevent Runny Nose in Guinea Pigs? Below we have put together a complete list of the supplies you will need. 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. Congratulations to our Photo Competition Winner - @fur&feathers. Step 2. A discharge will build up naturally in the corners of their eyes that the guinea pig will remove by his or herself with their front paws. Guinea pigs can play with toilet paper rolls. Especially if its very severe, but youre not able to get your fur babies to the vet right away. Its natural for guinea pigs to try to lick on, or even nibble on, an injury. Good info! But what did guinea pigs eat in the wild? Not really, but it is worth it to keep your little furry friends healthy and happy. 89.70, Eglu Go Guinea Pig Hutch with 1m Run Package - Leaf Green, 379.00 If your guinea pig is sneezing a lot, it is important to have it checked by a vet to rule out any serious problems. Is there anything wrong with taking your guinea pig for an outdoors stroll to nibble on some fresh, green grass? However, if you notice that the eyes are crusty, cloudy, protruding or ulcerated, there is a health problem that needs addressing. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. As such, it requires its own set of cleaning supplies, all of which must be safe for your guinea pigs! Answer 7: If you cant get all the discharge out of a guinea pigs nose, you can try using a syringe to suction it out. Be on the look out for signs such as swelling or reddening around the wound, sluggishness in your guinea pig, and loss of appetite. This evening I went out to clean them out and say goodnight to them but as soon as I lifted the lid off the hutch I heard one of them making a strange noise. 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. This includes soap, hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol and anything else that you might use to treat human wounds. Double check our supplies list above to be sure you have everything you need for a successful cleaning venture. } Guinea pigs are one of the most popular pets in the world. Stop getting dirty looks from your piggies, because you forgot to do something for themAGAIN. The Largest Animal Welfare Charity in the UK | RSPCA. One guinea pigs will often take the subordinate role and start grooming the dominant one. Is it normal for your guinea pig to sneeze when you clean its nose? Make sure you are in the right outfit and have your gloves on. Fill the syringe with warm water and insert the tip into the nostril. This could be a sign of a respiratory infection or another health problem. $65.00, $695.00 Generally, there are three causes of this type of injury: fighting, parasite infections, and cage a ccidents. Most animal experts recommend giving your guinea pig a hiding place inside its cage. Guinea pigs need a constant temperature. Treaclelove Junior Guinea Pig Joined Sep 7, 2015 Messages 16 Reaction score 5 Points 145 Location Aberdeenshire, UK Aug 22, 2016 #5 Wiebke said: Company Reg. Antibiotics can also be harmful to the bacteria keeping the digestive tract healthy, and is, therefore, necessary to watch out for signs of distress. You should properly ensure every aspect before deciding the next course of action, like medication for your guinea pigs. Mycoplasma and Pasteurella pneumonia are infections that occur in the lower respiratory tract and the lungs. However, we understand that washing these liners can be an added pain if you do not have access to a washing machine. In this sense, cleaning your guinea pigs wound may seem to be a piece of cake. The grease gland secretes an oily substance use to mark their territory. Guinea pig lungs are sensitive, and they can even have asthma! Remember to constantly replace the carpeting around the guinea pigs cage, or shampoo it thoroughly to avoid instances of a dusty environment to the pig. Just like our own noses, guinea pigs noses can get dirty and full of gunk. All out too. But, from time to time, they also get cuts from loose wires or from getting stuck in the areas like cage bottoms. Cedar bedding can cause many health problems, as can pine. Mix in even amounts of both liquids into a spray bottle and you are set. If you live in a hot climate, you are set. For advice on how to keep your guinea pig comfortable while you clean the cage, read on! Once the cotton pad is soiled, switch it out for a fresh one and repeat this step until their nose is entirely clear of dirt. Good news: there are no specific guinea pig cage cleaning gloves you need to buy at a premium price. A cavy can catch these parasites from another infected guinea pig. Can guinea pigs eat rice? How to clean your guinea pig's grease gland when the grease builds up. 2 Refill food and water. mypetguineapig.com may be compensated when users click on links and sign-up with their associated offers located in content or anywhere else on the page. Since this should happen once a week, using sponges each time could not only add up in cost, but produces far more waste. What is the Best Treatment For A Runny Nose in Guinea Pigs? Always make available high fiber foods especially good quality hay to prevent dental disease. Give your guinea pig a treat after finishing with the cleaning process. Some signs that your guinea pig is sick include if it has a runny nose, if it is sneezing more than usual, if it has a loss of appetite, or if it is lethargic. @media screen and (max-width: 767px) { Check out what you can learn from this. Wanna read something more boring than watching paint dry? Guinea pigs aren't big fans of change. How can you tell if a cloth is too rough for your guinea pigs nose? OUR AMAZON RECOMMENDATION FOR CLEANER: Oxyfresh Crate & Cage Cleaner. Calm down your guinea pigs and inspect their ears. Since so much cold air slips through the frames in windows and doors, the air around gets so cold that the pig might catch a cold, and this may pose a threat to respiratory health if the pig. (n.d.). Even rough handling sometimes can lead to serious injuries. They should however be introduced gradually to the pigs to avoid digestive upset. I can't stand the smell of vinegar. If you want some tips on how to better understand your fur babies, check out these posts: Can A Dirty Cage Kill Your Guinea Pig? Why Does Your Guinea Pig Run Up Your Neck? Home nebulization using normal saline can also help in air humidification to avoid a runny nose. It doesnt take much for a guinea pig to get injured. Our personal recommendation is to get a reusable and washable cage liner. That way, they can prescribe the proper treatment. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. But, when two cavies are introduced or share a cage, theres a chance that a fight for dominance will break out. Some of the most commonly used, effective, and safe oral antibiotics include trimethoprim-sulfa, metronidazole, enrofloxacin, doxycycline, chloramphenicol, and ciprofloxacin. After all, why would they want to hang out in their cage while you are turning it topsy-turvy? For example, crusty eyes and a runny nose indicates a respiratory . Antibiotics should be carefully administered to the ailing pig depending on the nature and culture of the bacterium causing the infection. If your guinea pig's eyes need cleaning, and yet they dont seem able to do it themselves, this too may indicate a health problem. Cleaning guinea pig cages after all can take up valuable time, so any additional pro-tips will always be welcome. We will tell you in advance and in all honesty, this can be a messy process. It may seem confusing or even downright stressful but dont panic. No, you should not clean your guinea pigs nose with water. If you have none of those options, then rinsing your guinea pig cage in the shower might be your best bet. Bite wounds sustained from cage fights should be checked immediately. While guinea pigs love to nibble on their food or surrounding objects, they only resort to biting their cage buddy when they feel threatened, scared, unhappy, or in pain. 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. [1] Check! Rinse the wound with the solution to remove debris and sterilize the cut. ", Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow, http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/guinea_pigs/, http://www.ahwla.org.uk/site/tutorials/BVA/BVA07-GPig/GPig.html, http://pets.petsmart.com/guides/guinea-pigs/caring-guinea-pig.shtml, https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/small-pet-care/guinea-pig-care, http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=18+1798&aid=3579, http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/guinea_pigs/tips/guinea_pig_feeding.html, http://www.peta.org/living/companion-animals/caring-animal-companions/caring-guinea-pigs/, http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/guinea_pigs/tips/guinea_pig_housing.html?credit=web_id139895298, http://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/rodents/guineapigs/environment. An exotic pet veterinarian can help diagnose the cause of the abscess as well as the best treatment. Is Rice Safe For Guinea Pigs To Eat? Step 3: Remove the Bedding and Other Items, Step 5: Wash the Cage or Enclosure Itself. Or even a large bowl. } Want to know more? 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