Post by Dawn - Admin on Jun 5, 2007 7:17:41 GMT
LET'S KEEP IT SIMPLE by Vedra Stanly-Spatcher F.M.B.A.R. of the Cambridge Cavy Trust
Vedra's easy to follow guide on how to avoid some of the most frequently occurring problems with cavies.
1 Avoid causing respiratory disease by refusing to keep them on wood shavings or saw dust, Current Health and Safety Rules and Regulations protect humans working in a 'lung threatening' environment.
1a If you have only a few guinea pig's, use Russell Rabbit bedding on newspaper, If you have lots, use Chaff (from farmer's suppliers) on newspaper.
2 Avoid diarrhoea by removing any fruit or veg left over from the previous day, make sure that their grazing area is free of buttercup, daisy, moss, bindweed, flowers which grow from bulbs and evergreens and last but not least farmers spray drift!
2a Another common cause of diarrhoea is the build up of bacteria in static drinking water. The heat of the sun brews up a real cocktail of bacteria in drinking water, a common cause of death among the just weaned youngsters. Brush out the bottle and sipper tube daily (with household salt) small brushes for the tube can be obtained from a music shop, trumpet valve brushes are ideal, rinse well before refilling.
3 Avoid heat stroke by keeping them protected from direct sunlight or hot wooden garden sheds. If the summer gets really hot, bring them indoors in temporary boxes during the day. If you have so many you cannot give them this standard of care…. You have too many, reduce you stock or invest in an air conditioning unit…. It's not as daft as it sounds; you will be surprised how many members of the family will be eager to help with the chores… In the nice cool shed!
Many lives will be saved; these portable units can be purchased quite cheaply or hired.
Unlike some animals Guinea Pigs do not possess sweat glands nor can they pant to dissipate heat. If the body temperature rises they collate fluid in the lungs and need urgent treatment with diuretics and wrapping up in a cold wet towels, (do not plunge them into buckets of cold water, you will run the risk of causing a heart attack). Re-hydration fluids must be given by Mouth if they are unable to swallow, or sterile fluids, 10ml of either ringer's solution or dulphalyte injected sub; cut at the shoulder. Once the body temperature has been reduced, dry the animal and keep it warm to avoid chilling, (wrap in dry towel).
4 Avoid skin problems by shampooing at least monthly in both an anti parasitic and an anti fungal shampoo. Please make sure that you work the lather well into the insides of the ears. If you do not remove the mites from here they will re-infest the rest of the animal again within days. If you are worried about getting soap in the ears buy brolene eye ointment from the chemist and apply a protective smear across the surface of the eye.
4a Anti parasitic shampoos available from the chemist's are Prioderm or Quellada, do not use lotion if shampoo cannot be ordered use lyclear rinse. It is a good idea to use an anti fungal shampoo from the chemist as well and there is a choice between Nizarol, Denorrex, Alphosyl, T-gel or lenium. If your pets are unfortunate enough to pick up scabies mite you will need to paint lesions daily with Benzyl Benzoate which can also be obtained direct from the chemist (you may need to ask them to order it), you do not need a prescription.
5 Avoid eye problems by avoiding wood shavings and sawdust. Fine particles of dust block the tear duct. Hayseeds can get lodged under the eyelid, use Optrex to flush them out. If visible remove carefully with blunt ended tweezers and apply Brolene, and continue to do so three times daily. Expect the surface to have a cloudy appearance for 5-7 days. Sometimes a skin complaint causing scratching can result in a hind foot claw accidentally scratching the eye surface, if a cut on the eye surface is visible, an antibiotic eye ointment will be required, keep a close watch on this as an abscess could develop.
6 Avoid bladder and kidney problems by making sure that they drink well, gives bowls as well as a bottle. If you know they do not drink as much sit them on your lap (when you're watching tv) and syringe them some water or diluted fruit juice. Those who do not drink seldom live as long as good drinkers and a very large percentage develop renal stone. Do not give spinach as this causes a problem and avoid any feed mix, which contains coloured additives (these E colourants have no nutritional values, are highly suspected in causing renal problems), I would never use feed containing them, in view of recent investigations… when in doubt… leave it out!
6a If the guinea pig is head squeaking when urinating it is usually because of the pH of the urine has changed from being alkaline to acidic. It could be due to any of the aforementioned reasons or it could have bacterial cystitis. Either way it will feel less sore in the bladder if you give it cystitis treatment available over the counter in the chemist. If this does not clear up in four or five days, it might need an antibiotic to clear it up. If this fails a x-ray (without anaesthetic) needs to be done. This should be taken with the animal lying on its back (not on its side!). Bladder surgery is not a problem in this species. The majority (but not all) with renal stones will strain and grunt as well as squeak when urinating.
7 It now only remains to say that chronic rhinitis will respond better to antibiotic treatment, if the antibiotic is dripped directly into each nostril (on at a time), rather than injecting it.
8 Mouth sores, usually caused by giving large chunks of apple, (cut it up into small dice shapes), biting bits off a large chunk can cause acid to burn sensitive animals, or from licking round the genital area if they have cystitis.
8a Remove the scabs with tweezers, apply Cymex ointment (available from the chemist without a prescription) use 4-5 times daily and continue to use for at least a week after all signs have clear up (longer if necessary).
Follow this guide and you should sail through the year without too many problems. Please remember that should your animal fall sick, it will be safer to talk to a rodentologist about your animal before you consult a veterinary surgeon. All of whom do an excellent job on cats and dogs because the R.C.V.S. have provided adequate training in these species; they do their best with rodents. But please be aware that the majority have no in depth training on this species… and the scant information (some of which is wrong) that is part of an exotic pets lecture is optional to attend! And forms no part of their examinations.
Rodentologist's have in depth training on their subject, and the good news is that we now have some veterinary surgeons currently in practice in the U.K. now doing our training course, in an effort to plug the gap in their knowledge... at last! ….. Perhaps things will now improve in the new millennium.
I hope it goes without saying that it is NEVER necessary to give an anaesthetic to look at or correct dental problems involving either the front or rear teeth!
With thanks to Vedra for allowing us to reproduce this article from the CCT Summer 2000 Newsletter.
Vedra's easy to follow guide on how to avoid some of the most frequently occurring problems with cavies.
1 Avoid causing respiratory disease by refusing to keep them on wood shavings or saw dust, Current Health and Safety Rules and Regulations protect humans working in a 'lung threatening' environment.
1a If you have only a few guinea pig's, use Russell Rabbit bedding on newspaper, If you have lots, use Chaff (from farmer's suppliers) on newspaper.
2 Avoid diarrhoea by removing any fruit or veg left over from the previous day, make sure that their grazing area is free of buttercup, daisy, moss, bindweed, flowers which grow from bulbs and evergreens and last but not least farmers spray drift!
2a Another common cause of diarrhoea is the build up of bacteria in static drinking water. The heat of the sun brews up a real cocktail of bacteria in drinking water, a common cause of death among the just weaned youngsters. Brush out the bottle and sipper tube daily (with household salt) small brushes for the tube can be obtained from a music shop, trumpet valve brushes are ideal, rinse well before refilling.
3 Avoid heat stroke by keeping them protected from direct sunlight or hot wooden garden sheds. If the summer gets really hot, bring them indoors in temporary boxes during the day. If you have so many you cannot give them this standard of care…. You have too many, reduce you stock or invest in an air conditioning unit…. It's not as daft as it sounds; you will be surprised how many members of the family will be eager to help with the chores… In the nice cool shed!
Many lives will be saved; these portable units can be purchased quite cheaply or hired.
Unlike some animals Guinea Pigs do not possess sweat glands nor can they pant to dissipate heat. If the body temperature rises they collate fluid in the lungs and need urgent treatment with diuretics and wrapping up in a cold wet towels, (do not plunge them into buckets of cold water, you will run the risk of causing a heart attack). Re-hydration fluids must be given by Mouth if they are unable to swallow, or sterile fluids, 10ml of either ringer's solution or dulphalyte injected sub; cut at the shoulder. Once the body temperature has been reduced, dry the animal and keep it warm to avoid chilling, (wrap in dry towel).
4 Avoid skin problems by shampooing at least monthly in both an anti parasitic and an anti fungal shampoo. Please make sure that you work the lather well into the insides of the ears. If you do not remove the mites from here they will re-infest the rest of the animal again within days. If you are worried about getting soap in the ears buy brolene eye ointment from the chemist and apply a protective smear across the surface of the eye.
4a Anti parasitic shampoos available from the chemist's are Prioderm or Quellada, do not use lotion if shampoo cannot be ordered use lyclear rinse. It is a good idea to use an anti fungal shampoo from the chemist as well and there is a choice between Nizarol, Denorrex, Alphosyl, T-gel or lenium. If your pets are unfortunate enough to pick up scabies mite you will need to paint lesions daily with Benzyl Benzoate which can also be obtained direct from the chemist (you may need to ask them to order it), you do not need a prescription.
5 Avoid eye problems by avoiding wood shavings and sawdust. Fine particles of dust block the tear duct. Hayseeds can get lodged under the eyelid, use Optrex to flush them out. If visible remove carefully with blunt ended tweezers and apply Brolene, and continue to do so three times daily. Expect the surface to have a cloudy appearance for 5-7 days. Sometimes a skin complaint causing scratching can result in a hind foot claw accidentally scratching the eye surface, if a cut on the eye surface is visible, an antibiotic eye ointment will be required, keep a close watch on this as an abscess could develop.
6 Avoid bladder and kidney problems by making sure that they drink well, gives bowls as well as a bottle. If you know they do not drink as much sit them on your lap (when you're watching tv) and syringe them some water or diluted fruit juice. Those who do not drink seldom live as long as good drinkers and a very large percentage develop renal stone. Do not give spinach as this causes a problem and avoid any feed mix, which contains coloured additives (these E colourants have no nutritional values, are highly suspected in causing renal problems), I would never use feed containing them, in view of recent investigations… when in doubt… leave it out!
6a If the guinea pig is head squeaking when urinating it is usually because of the pH of the urine has changed from being alkaline to acidic. It could be due to any of the aforementioned reasons or it could have bacterial cystitis. Either way it will feel less sore in the bladder if you give it cystitis treatment available over the counter in the chemist. If this does not clear up in four or five days, it might need an antibiotic to clear it up. If this fails a x-ray (without anaesthetic) needs to be done. This should be taken with the animal lying on its back (not on its side!). Bladder surgery is not a problem in this species. The majority (but not all) with renal stones will strain and grunt as well as squeak when urinating.
7 It now only remains to say that chronic rhinitis will respond better to antibiotic treatment, if the antibiotic is dripped directly into each nostril (on at a time), rather than injecting it.
8 Mouth sores, usually caused by giving large chunks of apple, (cut it up into small dice shapes), biting bits off a large chunk can cause acid to burn sensitive animals, or from licking round the genital area if they have cystitis.
8a Remove the scabs with tweezers, apply Cymex ointment (available from the chemist without a prescription) use 4-5 times daily and continue to use for at least a week after all signs have clear up (longer if necessary).
Follow this guide and you should sail through the year without too many problems. Please remember that should your animal fall sick, it will be safer to talk to a rodentologist about your animal before you consult a veterinary surgeon. All of whom do an excellent job on cats and dogs because the R.C.V.S. have provided adequate training in these species; they do their best with rodents. But please be aware that the majority have no in depth training on this species… and the scant information (some of which is wrong) that is part of an exotic pets lecture is optional to attend! And forms no part of their examinations.
Rodentologist's have in depth training on their subject, and the good news is that we now have some veterinary surgeons currently in practice in the U.K. now doing our training course, in an effort to plug the gap in their knowledge... at last! ….. Perhaps things will now improve in the new millennium.
I hope it goes without saying that it is NEVER necessary to give an anaesthetic to look at or correct dental problems involving either the front or rear teeth!
With thanks to Vedra for allowing us to reproduce this article from the CCT Summer 2000 Newsletter.
