Nostalgia, I think, is in the air. My first article was about keeping guinea pigs as pets. Now, that I am nearing the completion of this internship, I feel like going back to the start. Now, of course, since I have already elucidated on the pros of keeping a guinea pig, which are quite a handful, I thought this time I should talk about some, though not necessary, consequences. Like all other animals, guinea pigs are prone to certain diseases and if we are not astute enough while dealing with these ailments, we run the risk of an infection too.

Now, the first and most common one is definitely the Ileus. What you have to do is to monitor your pet cavy, and if you find something unnatural, seek medical help. What you actually have to look for is rather simple, at least when you are considering Ileus. Guinea pigs, if you have one or more will know, are always eating and defecating. If you see that, your cavy has not touched food for quite some time or the amount of excreta is visibly less then there is a great chance that it is infected by Ileus. Let me explain what is actually is. Ileus occurs when there is a gas build-up in the gastrointestinal tract and due to normal peristalsis; the body allows neither food intake nor excretion. This, though it might seem trivial, is actually life threatening for your pet, and requires immediate medical attention. Ileus can occur due to a variety of reasons including introducing a new guinea pig in the cage, respiratory infection, cold, lice or even a change in the weather.

Ileus, although the most common of cavy diseases, is not the only one. Now, what you need to understand is that what is not so lethal to human beings can be quite deadly to guinea pigs owing to their small sizes. However, you might be surprised to find an abject similarity in human and cavy ailments. This, sadly, is one of the reasons why there are so many experiments done on these poor creatures to make products which are claimed to be safe for human consumption.

Lice  and mites are other major concerns if you have a cavy. The most common symptoms would be the visible increase in the loss of hair and the accompanying itching and scratching. Lice, you should be able to notice in the bald patches behind your guinea pig’s ears while the mites, unfortunately, can spread to all over the body but cannot be seen without a microscope. These are extremely contagious parasites and if one of your pet is a carrier, then you should expect the others to be infected as well since they must be sharing their food and bedding. What you can do in such a situation, before seeking medical help that is, is freeze your food and bedding (cover it in a sealed plastic before freezing so that it becomes chilled but not wet) before introducing it into your cavy’s cage.  This will ward of any potential parasites that might have been lurking in the vicinity.

While the abovementioned diseases can occur to male and female alike, there are some which are a bit gender-biased! Female cavies, if housed with a male, run the risk of developing uterine and ovarian problems which might even lead to cancer. Sometimes, the cancer becomes so acute that the uterus and ovaries have to be removed. This can be done only in the first stages of the diseases of the cancer has not spread to other parts of the body, in which case the surgery is bound to be futile.  With guinea pigs, prevention is really better than cure, and the best and definitely the wisest thing to do is to perform a complete ovariohysterectomy when they are about six months of age to prevent both uterine and ovarian diseases. Now, this is a costly affair as you can imagine and a lot of owners do not find justification in paying a lump sum in what they consider a preventive measure. However, if you consider the cost of an emergency treatment which more often than not cannot save your pet, a lot of people side with the preventive measure, which is actually also performed on female dogs and cats for the same purpose.

Guinea pigs are extremely sensitive creatures and prone to respiratory infection or guess what, even pneumonia. If you were thinking about keeping another pet alongwith a cavy, I would advise you against it. As I said before, they are hypersensitive and susceptible to Bordatella bronchiseptica from your pet dog, cat or rabbit. For that reason, you should be very careful while handling your pet, and if you do intend to keep other animals in the house, make sure they are not sick or in the same room which houses your cavy. You must also make sure that you wash your hands thoroughly before touching your guinea pig.

Guinea pigs are really vulnerable creatures! They seem to be prone to myriad ailments that range from a simple cough and cold to bladder stones. Uroliths or bladder stones are formed in the bladder of guinea pigs, causing extreme discomfort. If this happens, you will see your cavy peeing blood due to the irritation caused by these stones. You might, to be more alert about the health of your pet, take it for a regular check up to the vet, and once in a while, get an X-ray done to spot any such stones.

Guinea pigs, and going by what I had told you, might seem to be a cumbersome pet, but trust me, with a little extra care and protection, you can keep your cavy healthy and happy. Keep a close watch on your cavy and make sure it shows no odd symptoms. Cavies, if taken proper care of, are extremely rewarding pets, and these delectable creatures will never let you down if you do not do the same to them.

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Your dog is like your child. Only you know the agony you feel when it falls ill. Whether it gets a mild diarrhea or throws up a little, a responsible and caring owner frets and rushes to the vet to get his dog checked up. Although vets tend to burn a hole in the owner’s pockets, it is aptly said, “Better safe than sorry.” One of my dogs recently went through an ordeal for over a month but he is finally back on his feet and is once more the healthy, handsome dog that he was. This illness of his left me so shaken that I researched about all the viral, bacterial, fungal, protozoal or parasitic infections a dog can contract. Unfortunately, that list is endless but I want to make people aware of the symptoms, treatment and preventive measures of the four of the deadliest viral infections that your dog can catch. Here they are:

1. Parvovirus: It is one of the worst (in terms of mortality rate and the effect it has on your dog’s body) viral infections your dog may catch.

• Typically Parvo is passed from one dog to another from contaminated feces. But this dog disease may also be carried on fur or paws, thereby contaminating the living space of the dog and any objects he comes in contact with.
• Its symptoms include lethargy, vomiting, fever, and diarrhea (usually bloody). These lead to dehydration and secondary infections. Electrolyte balance can become critically affected. Dogs have a distinctive odor in the later stages of the infection. WBC level falls. These factors can lead to shock and death.
• Treatment includes hospitalization, administering antibiotics, antiemetics and IV fluids.
• Prevention includes giving Parvo vaccines and regular boosters for it.

2. Distemper: It is a virus that is quite similar to the virus that causes measles in humans. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, distemper is the number one disease associated with canine deaths worldwide. 80% pups and 50% adult dogs that contract this virus die.

• It is highly contagious and can be contracted through airborne viruses or contact with saliva or feces.
• Symptoms include the virus affecting the respiratory system as well as the nervous system. It causes fever and fatigue, coughing, nasal discharge, vomiting and diarrhea, and finally seizures. Seizures that look as if the dog is chewing gum are unique to distemper.
• There is no specific treatment for the canine distemper. Like for measles the treatment is symptomatic and supportive.
• Prevention includes giving Distemper vaccines and regular boosters for it.

3. Hepatitis: As with humans, Hepatitis dog disease affects the liver.

• The virus is spread in the feces, urine, blood, saliva, and nasal discharge of infected dogs. It is contracted through the mouth or nose, where it replicates in the tonsils. The virus then infects the liver and kidneys.
• Symptoms include fever, depression, loss of appetite, coughing, and a tender abdomen. Corneal edema, jaundice, vomiting, and hepatic encephalopathy, may also occur. Bleeding disorders or hematomas may form in the mouth in severe cases.
• Treatment is symptomatic. Most dogs recover spontaneously without treatment.
• Prevention includes giving Hepatitis vaccines and regular boosters for it.

4. Rabies: Rabies is perhaps the most well-known dog disease.Once the most dreaded dog disease, Rabies is a caused by a virus, which attacks the brain.

• Rabies is a deadly disease that will be contracted through a bite from a rabid wild animal, such as skunks or raccoons, as well as bats. Unlike some dog disease, rabies can be passed to humans as well through a bite, or even just a scratch.
• Symptoms include pica (want to eat ice, clay, chalk, dirt, or sand), fever, seizures, paralysis, hydrophobia (dog has difficulty swallowing, shows panic when presented with liquids to drink, and can’t quench his or her thirst), jaw is dropped, inability to swallow and change in tone of bark. Once symptoms manifest, the disease is fatal.
• There is no treatment once the symptoms manifest but before the rabies virus attacks the brain, some injections can be given to kill the virus. But they are not 100% effective.
• Prevention includes giving Rabies vaccines and regular boosters for it.

From all this research, the conclusion that I drew was that vaccines are the most important preventive measure. Other preventive measures include that your pet should not be allowed to mix with strays or other pets with infections. Do not let it sniff other dog’s feces or get into a brawl with other dogs. But even after all preventive measures are properly followed, your pet might still catch any of the above mentioned infections. Take your pet to the vet immediately if you notice more than 2 or more than 2 symptoms of any of these infections. If you think that your dog will recover on its own, well then sorry to say, you are not fit to be a pet owner. The unconditional love that you receive from your dog is the best thing in life and taking care of that angelic creature is your duty once you have brought it into your house.

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