Find a healthy pet you can have for years.
Owning a guinea pig can be interesting and rewarding. However, it's possible to bring home a new guinea pig with an illness. When you opt to buy a guinea pig, view several guinea pigs before making a decision. This will allow you to spot differences in behaviors, which can help determine a healthy guinea pig from a sick one.
Instructions
1. Choose a reputable pet store, breeder or animal shelter to get a guinea pig from. If you know a friend or family member who owns a guinea pig, ask him if we would recommend buying from the place he purchased his pet.
2. Inspect the guinea pig for signs of illness. Guinea pigs will either exhibit a timid or curious response when you try to handle them, according to Cavies Galore. Sick guinea pigs will have runny noses, crusty eyes or other noticeable issues.
3. Look for signs of good health. Healthy guinea pigs will have a shiny coat. A healthy guinea pig shouldn't have any wounds or bald patches. If more than one guinea pig is housed in a cage, the animals should exhibit socialization instead of sitting off in corners by themselves.
4. Listen to the guinea pig's breathing. Audible wheezing or any other unusual sounds can indicate a respiratory illness. When possible, check for signs of diarrhea in the guinea pig's cage. This can indicate a bacterial infection.
5. Ask the person you intend to purchase your guinea pig from if males and females are housed together. It's possible to purchase a pregnant guinea pig without knowing it.
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