Infectious diseases of guinea pigs
By it's nature guinea pigs are not very susceptible to all kinds of diseases. But improper care and malnutritiontake their own. Therefore, if you discovered unusual behavior of your pet, if he became not so agile as usual, does not publish characteristic sounds, began refusing to eat, you should carefully watch him for some time.
If the animal is sluggish, shivering, the coat is disheveled or breathing is quickened, appetite, liquid stool is reduced, then it is necessary to show it to the vet. One of the most common infectious diseases of guinea pigs is pasteurellosis. The cause of this disease is a microbial stickpasteella. The course of the disease depends on the overall health of the rodent and care for it. Often, guinea pigs become infected with pasteurellosis from diseased or sick animals. Also, the source of infection can serve as grain and hay.
A characteristic feature of the disease isa runny nose, but at first there is only moistening of the hairs around the nostrils, then sneezing, and sometimes you can even notice how the animal rubs its nose with its front paws. After a while, pus begins to flow from the nostrils of the animal, breathing becomes heavy, with wheezing. The disease can last several several months, then fading, then becoming aggravated.
When the causative agent of this disease enters the bloodthere is a blood infection, which is accompanied by high fever, general weakness, diarrhea, and sometimes convulsions. Effective treatment of this disease at the last stage (when the body of the animal begins to fester) has not yet been invented and, in the main, the diseased guinea pigs are euthanized.
therefore at the first signs of the disease, they are treated with atibiotics and sulfanilamide preparations (1 tablet a day), as prescribed by the veterinarian. The animal is placed in a clean, separate cage,which must be cleaned every day. Water is changed 2-3 times a day and added to it a weak solution of potassium permanganate. In the diet should be present only high-quality feed and well-dried hay.
Colibacteriosis is also a very common bacterial disease that takes the lives of many animals. This disease is caused by a special bacterium,which, getting into the digestive tract, begins its destructive effect. As a rule, at the beginning of the disease, guinea pigs behave apathetically, refuse the food they offer, do not drink. Also, they have diarrhea with an admixture of blood, because of what they get dirty with wool. The disease develops very quickly, and animals often die from acute toxic infection.
How can you save your pet from such a fate? Rodents, who became ill with colibacillosis, immediatelythe same isolate, put in a cage with a fresh litter, which is changed 1-2 times a day. It is necessary to wash off the animal of bloody pollution. As with pasteurellosis, antibiotics and sulfonamides are used, as well as water tinted with potassium permanganate.
Another serious disease is paraffin, but, unlike the previous two, it does not often lead to death. It is caused by specific microorganisms,which enter the guinea pig through drinking water and feed mixtures. The first signs of paraffin disease are that the sick animal refuses food, becomes sluggish and inactive, often sticks in a corner and does not go out for a long time. The wool of the guinea pig sticks together and thinens. Of course, you need to immediately show the pet specialist. Basically, prescribe antibiotic treatment.
