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*See bottom of post for author & source*

Blowfly strike

#1
This is a terrible way to die!

"The eggs of the blowfly can hatch within twelve hours of being laid in the animal and they immediately start to burrow deeper under the skin or anus, nostrils, mouth and ears. If they are not immediately eliminated using anti parasitic drugs or dips, the animal will die within twenty four to forty eight hours."

FOR MORE INFORMATION -- http://www.oginet.com/pgurney/blowfly.htm

#2
"Myiasis is an animal or human disease caused by parasitic fly larvae feeding on the host's living tissue."

FOR MORE INFORMATION -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myiasis

#1
"This kind of behaviour is not a dominance thing. It usually is one guinea pig doing it to another."

FOR MORE INFORMATION -- http://www.oginet.com/pgurney/barbering.htm


#2
"Although they may have all the hay they want, no lack of nutrients, and ample space to move about, some guinea pigs are bound and determined to chew on the hair of their cage mates."

FOR MORE INFORMATION -- http://www.guinealynx.info/hairloss.html#barbering

#1
"No person or veterinary authority has ever got the the bottom of this very common problem in guinea pigs. When it was first noticed, the theory was that it was because they were housed in cages with wire mesh flooring. But there is no correlation between the type of housing guinea pigs live in, and Bumblefoot."

FOR MORE INFORMATION -- http://www.oginet.com/pgurney/bumblefoot.htm


#2
"Bumblefoot in rodents is not necessarily associated with wire-floor cages, the only exception is in guinea pigs where the infection is caused by exposure to wire mesh floors, but there is no conclusive evidence yet exists that would directly link this infection to these factors."

FOR MORE INFORMATION - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bumblefoot_(infection)

#3
" Ulcerative pododermatitis, also known as bumblefoot, is an extremely painful infection of the footpad."

FOR MORE INFORMATION -- http://www.guinealynx.info/pododermatitis.html

"Most bite wounds are minor and occur, mostly on the rump, or in the neck area. This is because when guinea pigs fight they aim for the head and eyes. But they are usually good at ducking, & weaving."

FOR MORE INFORMATION -- http://www.oginet.com/pgurney/bitew.htm

*SEE ALSO "BITING" LOWER ON THIS PAGE.

#1
"Bloat in guinea pigs is a very difficult problem to deal with, and it is also difficult to get them back to good health. The most common cause is intestinal blockage. the other is caused by a build up of gas in the gut."

FOR MORE INFORMATION --- http://www.oginet.com/pgurney/bloat.htm

#2
"Bloat is a medical condition in which the stomach becomes overstretched by excessive gas content. The word bloat is often used as a general term to cover gas distension of the stomach with or without twisting."

FOR MORE INFORMATION -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloat

"Kidney, or diabetiies conditions can produce an acetone scent. But the animal would be showing many more signs of illness before it reached this stage known as "Ketosis" that produces the characteristic odour. This odour is very much like the fluid used to remove nail polish."

FOR MORE INFORMATION -- http://web.onetel.net.uk/~petergurney/b.html#BAD_BREATH

#1
"Never ever bed them on sawdust or wood shavings. This is the worst kind of bedding possible. There is always very fine dust in it which can cause respiratory problems in guinea pigs."

FOR MORE INFORMATION -- http://web.onetel.net.uk/~petergurney/b.html#BEDDING

#2
CareFRESH, Absorption Corporation
1-800-242-2287
Wood pulp fibers too short to make paper processed to the appearance and texture of shredded egg cartons.

Eco-Bedding, RanPak Corporation
1-800-726-7257
Thin crinkled strips of kraft paper (brown paper one grade below grocery bags). Recyclable even with animal waste.

Gentle Touch Litter, Gentle Touch Corporation
1-800-545-9853
These pellets made from aspen wood are very absorbent and excellent at controlling odor.

Critter Country, Mountain Meadow Pet Products, Inc.
1-800-752-8864
The company claims that these pellets made from wheat grass actually prevent the formation of ammonia.

Bio-Flush, Ampro Industries Inc.
1-800-482-3130
Pellets made from recycled newspaper printed only with soy ink. Contains a natural, safe odor control agent.

Yesterday's News, Canbrands International Ltd.
1-800-267-5287
Pellets made from recycled newspaper with an odor absorbing ingredient. Comes in regular pellets, and softer texture pellets.

In addition, you can use aspen shavings. This is not as absorbent as the above but is also a natural material that does not harm the cavy. Most of these products are biodegradable.

FOR MORE INFORMATION -- http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/2517/bedding.html

#3
BEDDING OVERVIEW

"People use all types of products as bedding for their guinea pigs -- towels, pine shavings, paper products, and more. What bedding works for you may not only depend on the bedding itself, but your cage arrangement, cost, and your time."

FOR MORE INFORMATION PROVIDED BY -- http://www.guinealynx.info/bedding.html

See also Pregnancy under "P"

See also Breeding lower on this page.

#1
"Boars have more problems with these than sows. Some stones are able to pass on their own, while others require surgery by a qualified vet."

FOR MORE INFORMATION -- http://web.onetel.net.uk/~petergurney/b.html#BLADDER_STONES

#2
"Bladder stones are a common occurrence in domestic animals. The stones form in the urinary bladder in varying size and numbers secondary to infection, dietary influences, and genetics."

FOR MORE INFORMATION --- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bladder_stone_(animal)

#3
"Bladder stones are hard, stone-like structures which form in the bladder."

FOR MORE INFORMATION -- http://www.guinealynx.info/stones.html

SEE ALSO "BLADDER INFECTION" LOWER ON THIS PAGE.

"Heavy bleeding from a serious wound is a case for emergency veterinary care."

FOR MORE INFORMATION -- http://web.onetel.net.uk/~petergurney/b.html#BLEEDING

"Grooming is the main way that guinea pigs bond, most of it done around the head area. Some guinea pigs have a favourite spot where a it likes to be groomed."

FOR MORE INFORMATION -- http://web.onetel.net.uk/~petergurney/b.html#BONDING

"The normal respiration rate for a guinea pig is about 80 per minute. But some guinea pigs hyperventilate at times to almost double this rate."

FOR MORE INFORMATION -- http://web.onetel.net.uk/~petergurney/b.html#BREATHING

"This term describes a loss of hair in the middle to lower part of the back of guinea pigs and is quite common. It is usually because of a mild fungal skin condition."

FOR MORE INFORMATION -- http://web.onetel.net.uk/~petergurney/b.html#BROKEN_BACK

#1
"Blindness for guinea pigs seems to be no problem whatsoever. Even those that are not born blind, quickly learn to cope."

FOR MORE INFORMATION --- http://web.onetel.net.uk/~petergurney/b.html#BLINDNESS

#2
" Guinea pigs seem to have poor eyesight to begin with. Some guinea pigs are blind due to age, injury or gene

FOR MORE INFORMATION -- http://www.guinealynx.info/eyes.html#blindness

#1
"Guinea Pigs are very vocal creatures and they combine these sounds with clear body language."

"Males are aggressive towards strange males. Teeth chattering and bottom waggling with small tense steps are signs of aggression. Low purring and soft bottom waggling are signs that the boar likes a female!"

FOR MORE INFORMATION -- http://www.galensgarden.co.uk/herbivores/cavy/behaviour.php

#2
"On first arriving home, your pet will appreciate being left alone for a day to adjust to the new environment. Although new cavies may not like to be picked up at first and will race around the cage to avoid it, a little bribery with some enticing veggies and some patience will help get them used to your company."

FOR MORE INFORMATION -- http://www.guinealynx.info/behavior.html

"Bactrim is a commonly used human and veterinary antibiotic."

FOR MORE INFORMATION SEE GuineaLynx @ http://www.guinealynx.info/antibiotics.html#bactrim

"The new guinea pig owner, after reading about hair loss and mites, lice and fungus diseases, will hurriedly run over to check their own pig, and be alarmed to find that it has what appear to be a couple large, fur-less areas behind the ears."

FOR MORE INFORMATION SEE -- http://www.guinealynx.info/hairloss.html#baldspots

See GuineaLynx @ http://www.guinealynx.info/bandaging.html

"Guinea pigs seldom "need" baths and some are never bathed. But if they do require one, a shampoo formulated especially for small animals will help avoid drying their skin."

FOR MORE INFORMATION SEE GUINEALYNX -- http://www.guinealynx.info/grooming.html#bathing

"Baytril is considered one of the "big guns", frequently used to treat guinea pigs with bacterial infections."

FOR MORE INFORMATION SEE GUINEALYNX -- http://www.guinealynx.info/antibiotics.html#baytril

"Occasionally a new guinea pig may bite. "

FOR MORE INFORMATION -- http://www.guinealynx.info/links.html#biting

See "UTI" under U.

Or See GuineaLynx @ http://www.guinealynx.info/uti.html

"Breeding guinea pigs is not recommended.

Not only is it risky, it is difficult to find homes for the young with responsible and caring people -- your candidates may "disappear" when the time comes to adopt out the babies. "

FOR MORE INFORMATION --- http://www.guinealynx.info/breeding.html

"Broken teeth can be the result of a fall, injury or accident. A cavy living on a poor diet can be vulnerable to broken teeth, especially if the diet is deficient in vitamin C, which is essential for bone and tooth growth."

FOR MORE INFORMATION -- http://www.guinealynx.info/teeth_broken.html

See GuineaLynx @ http://www.guinealynx.info/send_separators.php