In this week’s Pet Talk, Maneka explains how taking a bath could be stressful for a guinea pig and more

By Maneka Gandhi

Is it alright to let my young children play with guinea pigs?

Guinea pigs are delicate creatures, so ensure your children are supervised while playing with their pet guinea pig. Teach your children how to carefully handle their pet with love and care, bring them their daily dose of fruits for Vitamin C, clean up the cage and other duties, so that your children and their pet bond together.

My guinea pig seems to have blood in his urine. What should I do?

If your guinea pig is peeing red coloured urine then it can be a symptom of Uroliths or bladder stones. This can be very serious ailment for your pet and very painful as well. Sometimes, if the stone are small they can pass out on their own, but if they are big they can get struck in the urethra or cause irritation in the bladder. Sometimes these stones can cause a tear inside the bladder leading to serious complications. If you notice any symptoms like blood in the urine, pain in the abdomen area, change in urination patterns or not urinating at all, then immediately consult your vet. It is possible to avoid further complications and problems if the condition is caught early. As preventive measures, give your guinea pig plenty of water and a healthy and balanced diet to reduce chances of getting Uroliths.

My guinea pig has become slow and listless these days. Is something wrong?

Generally, if you notice a change in behaviour in your guinea pig, it is wise to check for other symptoms as well. Immediately check if your guinea pig has laboured breathing, bloated abdomen, is he/she eating and drinking normally, are there any changes in the faeces or urine passed? If you notice any of these symptoms, it is best to consult a vet, as a disease or any condition can make your pet go downhill very quickly. Generally, if you notice lethargy in your guinea pig, it can be a sign of an URI (Upper Respiratory Infection) or allergies. URI is a serious condition and will require immediate action. guinea pigs are prone to pneumonia because they do not do well in cold environment. So, ensure that your guinea pig is warm and there are no drafts, and stay away if you have a cold.

My guinea pig is chewing on the plastic bars of the cage. How do I make it stop?

There could be several reasons why your guinea pig is chewing on his/her cage. One of the more concerning reasons is that he/she is having some dental problem, like an overgrown teeth, which can be easily diagnosed and fixed by a vet. Other reasons are that he/she is bored or nervous or just wants your attention. To stop him/her from chewing on plastic, you could observe your guinea’s chewing habits for a couple of days. 

Notice if there is a particular time or incident when he/she starts chewing on the plastic. Has there been a change in the environment? Does it happen if there is a commotion or loud noise nearby? Or does he/she start chewing if left alone for some time? If this is the case then the chewing can by psychological. 

You can introduce some non-toxic chew sticks, or nibble toys, for your guinea pig to chew on. If your guinea is feeling lonely, or needs more attention, try to spend more time playing with him/her. If your guinea pig is bored then try changing things up in his/her cage by putting in new toys, or some new hay or putting in a new hideout. Or take him out of the cage.

My guinea pig seems to be shivering. Is something wrong?

Generally Guinea pigs shiver because of fear. If there are any animals in the vicinity of your guinea pig, or if he/she is in a new environment, then he/she could be experiencing fear. Make him/her comfortable, spend time with him/her and ensure that no animals in the vicinity are scaring your pig.

Another cause of shivering is if your pet is cold. Guinea pigs can’t handle cold well. Even if it feels warm to you, it might not be warm enough for your guinea pig. Ensure that there is no wind or drafts near your guinea pig’s cage and that it is sufficiently warm and cosy. Guinea pigs are prone to pneumonia and respiratory infections so, if you notice any abnormal amount of shivering with other symptoms, immediately get your guinea pig checked out.

Do I need to bathe my guinea pig? 

No. Guinea pigs are quite capable of cleaning themselves and taking care of their hygiene. In fact, taking a bath could be stressful. They are naturally not swimmers and they are prone to cold, so taking a bath could lead to some serious diseases. Your guinea pigs have natural body oils which get stripped when they take a bath, leaving them susceptible to parasites infestation. You should not give your guinea pigs a bath. If they are very dirty and need to be cleaned up, if your guinea pig recently had a parasite infestation and you need to clean out the dead parasites, if he/she has a dirty rump because of bladder infection or diarrhoea and you must give your guinea pig a bath, make sure of the following details:

• The water is not too cold.

• The room in which you are giving your guinea pig a bath is not too cold.

• Do not use a deep washing bowl, and ensure the water is not higher than your guinea pig’s height.

• After the bath, immediately dry your guinea pig with a towel or flannels by gently rubbing or patting down in the direction of the fur.

My guinea pig is eating its droppings. Is this normal?

This is very normal and healthy. Even though humans might find this action abnormal and dirty, your guinea pig eats his/her own droppings to completely absorb the nutrients in the food. Guinea pigs have two types of food — dark solid droppings and soft squishy droppings called caecals or cecotropes. Caecals are lighter in colour with a green or yellowish tint to them. Plant material is difficult to digest in one go, therefore many of the nutrients don’t get absorbed in the intestine and pass out of the body as faecal matter. Like a cow chews the cud, a guinea pig eating its caecals is a similar process. The food is first consumed and broken down by bacteria in the intestines of the Guinea pig. This results in partial absorption of the nutrients in the food, the Guinea pig will then consume the caecal again to thoroughly absorb the nutrients. Therefore, ensure that your Guinea pig gets an adequate balanced diet to keep him/her healthy.

My guinea pig’s teeth fell out. Should I be concerned?

If it has happened for the first time it is not a major cause of concern. Guinea pigs have ‘open-rooted’ teeth which keep growing throughout their life because of wear and tear of the teeth enamel from the round plant-based diet. However, if the teeth are discoloured, or your guinea pig is having difficulty consuming food then you might have to hand feed him/her. Falling of teeth could indicate a lack of Vitamin C in your pet. But, if the growing teeth seemed to be misaligned or causing gum sores, or breaking the skin, consult a good Vet.

My guinea pigs always have a strong smell coming from them even if I clean up the cage regularly. Is this normal?

Typically, guinea pigs keep themselves very clean. Sometimes a musky smell can come from your guinea pig (especially a male) due to natural hormone fluctuations, or during the period a baby guinea pig to growing up into an adult. The other reason could be that the faecal matter or urine is getting stuck on your guinea pig’s bottom fur which could lead to foul odour. To clean his/her bottom, you can take a cotton ball dabbed with a little coconut oil and gently clean the bottom of your guinea pig.

Are guinea pigs suited to the hot temperatures such as in India?

The ideal temperature range for a guinea pig is between 18-25 degrees Celsius. Anything above or below this range can lead to your pet guinea pig becoming stressed. In hot weathers, such as in many parts of India, guinea pigs can suffer from heat stress, lethargy, heat exhaustion, heatstroke, and dehydration. Even though your guinea pig might not display very obvious signs of being affected by the heat, hot climate can take a considerable toll on your pet’s health. So, before adopting a guinea pig, please ensure that the climate where you live is suitable for your pet as well.