Is it safe to keep guinea pigs outside in a hutch or cage?

If your pigs don't have a safe enclosure outside with shade from the sunlight and a house to hide in, they won't feel comfortable outside. They do not require access to sunlight, but they do require vitamin C. Make certain your pigs get daily vitamin C in their food or water to take care of this requirement.

A clean cage is the most important thing you can do, as the ammonia from the urine causes a lot of irritation to the respiratory tract. Monitor closely for any more coughing or sneezing, and if this occurs she will really need to see a veterinarian for possible respiratory tract infection. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

It can take hours to days for a serious URI to develop. It depends on the guinea pig, environment, diet, etc. Temps below 65F can lead to stress and illness. The ideal range is about 68F-72F. Snuggle sacks make comfortable hiding spots, just be sure she doesn't chew and ingest the fabric. Keep the cage away from cold drafts. Avoid large swings in temperature. Provide plenty of clean bedding and don't forget to supplement with vitamin C.

Thanks for reaching out and not sure if that answer can be 100% answered. In a quick literature search, no documented lyme disease in guinea pigs. The set up should be safe, but a good dermal inspection prior to bringing back indoors is recommended. Good luck.

Do not introduce any new guinea pigs to your current pigs without them being quarantined first for at least 2 weeks. That way no new infections will be introduced. Feed them a high quality diet like Oxbow. Remember, the majority of the diet should be hay (preferably Timothy). ( https://www.viovet.co.uk/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=oxbow ) Make sure all the husbandry is 100% correct - housing, diet, supplements, bedding, etc. Regular vet checks - about once per year - to check their teeth and overall health. ( https://www.petcoach.co/article/the-best-way-to-care-for-and-feed-your-guinea-pig/ )

If your guinea pig is sneezing it could be an indication of an upper respiratory tract infection. These can lead to pneumonia fairly quickly which can be life threatening in guinea pigs. If she is sneezing consistently I would recommend taking her in to see the vet so she can be started on some antibiotics. If the sneezing is just occasional then keep an eye on her to make sure it does not get worse. As far as the smell, all you can do is keep the cage in a well ventilated area, change the bedding frequently like you are doing and bathe your guinea pigs if they start to become smelly. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Boop by Petco!

If the cough is just very occasional and Daisy is otherwise acting normally I would not be too concerned at this time. If however, the cough is increasing in frequency (more than a couple times a day), if Daisy is not eating well, and/or if she has eye or nasal discharge I would recommend taking her to the vet to be examined. Guinea pigs are prone to getting upper respiratory infections that can lead to pneumonia so if the problem progresses you should have her checked out. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Boop by Petco. Best of luck.

Based on what you are describing I would be concerned about a respiratory disease going on with Henry. It would be best if you could take him to be examined by your veterinarian because he will most likely need antibiotics and possibly an anti-inflammatory medication to help stop the cough. The veterinarian may also want to perform radiographs to assess the lungs and heart. I would also recommend you look at this article about nutrition and husbandry for guinea pigs to make sure Henry is getting all the nutrients he needs to stay healthy. https://www.petco.com/shop/PetcoContentDisplayView?storeId=10151&catalogId=10051&langId=-1&path=/content/petco/PetcoStore/en_US/pet-services/resource-center/caresheets/guinea-pig.html I hope this helps. Please let us know if you have any additional questions. Best of luck.

I wouldn't say normal. There could be a few conditions happening. I would make sure his teeth are even and there isn't an uneven surface causing discomfort. Oral and respiratory infections can happen which could cause a sore throat which could change the voice. If there are Cedar or Pine shavings for a bedding this can sometimes cause allergies with Guinea Pigs. Also a diet lacking in Vitamin C could be the cause. Always make sure you have the correct husbandry or it's easy for problems to occur. I would recommend keeping a close eye on him and if he is acting abnormal (not eating, drinking, abnormal feces or urinating) then he should visit a local veterinarian. Guinea pigs are very fragile and can look normal one instant then sick in another. Here is a link for proper husbandry of guinea pigs. Https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/small-pet-care/guinea-pig-care

Hi, and thanks for your question. This could be due to an allergy, although it could also be infection or mites. First of all, in order to rule out skin parasites, you will need to ask the vet to perform a skin scrape - this might reveal an infection or a mite infestation. If all of those came back negative, the next step is to treat the allergy symptomatically and try to discover the cause of the allergy. Three main type of allergies are usually affecting pets: food allergies, flea and parasite related ones and environmental type (allergens coming from trees, pollens, dust etc etc). Some medications can be given by the vet in order to repair any possible skin lesions (like steroids and antibiotics). Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!