Page 14 - Stuart Exposure - January '20

Page 14, Stuart Exposure

TIp of THe TAIl

All About Guinea Pigs Wellness exams: Guinea pigs are not vaccinated for appetite, poor hair coat and teeth grinding.
infectious diseases in the United States. An annual exam Bladder stones can form due to high calcium diets
with the veterinarian is very important. Guinea pigs leading to urinary obstruction.
are adept at hiding illness since they are prey animals. Upper respiratory infections due to Streptococcus
An annual exam may help in detecting abnormalities pneumonia are common leading to ear infections, eye
earlier. Many health problems in guinea pigs are related discharge and pneumonia.
to improper housing and diet so be sure to go over these Other common issues include mites, foot infections
issues with your veterinarian to make sure you are on the and ringworm.
right track. Established in 1981, Palm City Animal Medical
Common guinea pig diseases: Center is dedicated to providing the best possible care
Diarrhea caused by an imbalance in gastrointestinal bacteria. for your pets. With focuses on compassionate care in
This can be caused by stress or an abrupt change in diet. surgery, physical therapy and rehabilitation, preventative
Guinea pigs have continuously growing teeth. They medicine, extensive diagnostics, and emergency service,
must be aligned properly to make sure they are being worn Palm City Animal Medical Center combines exceptional
down. If the alignment is off, the teeth will overgrow. medical care with a caring philosophy for pets and their
Overgrowth of the teeth will prevent pets from eating. owners. For more information, call (772) 283-0920, visit
Have you ever thought about getting a guinea pig for Inadequate Vitamin C intake can lead to hypovitaminosis www.palmcityanimalmedicalcenter.com or find us on
a pet? Guinea pigs can be a lot of fun since they have C resulting in lameness, bleeding, lethargy, loss of Facebook at www.facebook.com/PalmCityAnimalClinic.
distinct personalities. They can be very talkative and love
to interact with their humans. If you are considering it,
here are a few things you should know. CELEBRATING ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL YEAR!
Guinea pigs are native to mountainous regions of South
America where they were domesticated as long as 3,000 Listed at $550,000 Listed at $640,000
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years ago. They live in small groups in the wild and are
often more comfortable in the presence of other guinea D D
pigs. For this reason, It may be a good idea to have at
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least two at a time as pets. There are many varieties. The L L L
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American, Teddy and Abyssinian are most common. The O O
average lifespan of the guinea pig is five to seven years. S S
Housing: Guinea pigs should be kept in well-ventilated,
wire-sided cages with solid bottoms. There should be
enough space in the enclosure for the pet to move around
unencumbered with an area for a hide box. A hide box 3757 SE Doubleton Drive 1758 SW Crane Creek Circle
reduces stress that can lead to disease problems.
Cedar and pine shavings should not be used as they Listed at $325,000 Listed at $499,000
cause skin irritation and respiratory problems. Aspen
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shavings, recycled newspaper products and shredded
paper make good bedding and floor cushions. The bedding D D
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and enclosure should be cleaned two times a week to L L L L
prevent foot infections and respiratory issues. Sipper O O
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bottles work well for water and heavy food bowls should
be used to prevent tipping. S S
Diet: Feed a formulated pelleted diet made for guinea
pigs along with timothy hay and fresh vegetables. The hay
should be available for pets at all times. Limit pelleted 6672 SE Pacific Drive 4413 SE Coventry Lane
diet as guinea pigs will become obese if primarily eating
pellets. Fruits should be limited to treats only or less than Listed at $399,000 Listed at $290,000
10 percent of their overall diet.
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Guinea pigs are unable to make vitamin C on their
own so should be given Vitamin C supplementation. D D
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One-quarter orange per day will provide enough Vitamin L L
C but a Vitamin C supplement tablet is made for guinea O L
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pigs that can be offered daily. Dark leafy greens contain O
Vitamin C as well. S S

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