WHEN SHOULD YOU CONSULT YOUR VETERINARIAN?

Guinea pigs have an average lifespan of 4 to 7 years. An annual veterinary exam is recommended in order to ensure that your pet is in good health.

It is important not to wait if a problem develops and consult a veterinarian QUICKLY!

The following behaviors can be associated with signs of pain or sickness that need an URGENT medical intervention.

• Diminished appetite, refusal to eat*;
• Absence or decrease in the production of feces or urine, stools that are smaller and dryer than usual;
• The pet stays hidden or immobile for several hours;
• He has difficulty moving, seems paralyzed, or presents with a limb distorsion;
• He constantly extends its neck to breathe.

*If your companion refuses to eat for no more than half a day, you must consult a veterinarian as soon as possible.

As mentioned before, guinea pigs need to eat hay continually in order to avoid a digestive stasis and the disastrous consequences associated with it. Among the other factors that can also cause a stasis there is stress, obesity, lack of exercise, inadequate nutrition, dental problems, ingestion of objects or other non-digestible materials, pain, or even sickness.