12 



RAISING GUINEA PIGS. 



DISEASES AND ENEMIES. 



As already stated, guinea pigs are not subject to many diseases. 

 Their susceptibility to ailments is closely related to the quality, 

 quantity, and kind of food eaten. Improper, irregular, and deficient 

 feeding are common causes of inflammation of the stomach and bowels, 

 from which losses among the animals may be very great. Sudden 

 changes of temperature, particularly downward to the freezing pomt, 

 and msuflicient and improper ventilation are common causes of 

 pneumonia, which is an extremely fatal disease among guinea pigs. 

 Bountiful and judicious feeding, cleanliness of surroundings, pure 

 water, abundant room, reasonably constant temperature, and proper 

 ventilation are almost certain preventives of disease. The coats of 

 guinea pigs should not be allowed to become wet, and the hutches 

 should be carefully guarded against dampness, which is a common 

 cause of fatalities among the animals. 



The chief enemy of the guinea pig is the common rat. This pest 

 is popularly supposed to avoid premises where guinea pigs are kept. 

 On the contrary it is attracted by the gram fed, and will not only 

 steal the food of the cavies, but has been known to gnaw through the 

 hutch walls and devour the young. The extermination of rats after 

 they have thoroughly established themselves about the premises is 

 no easy task. Preventive measures are usually much more effective. 

 In a neighborhood that is rat-infested, buildings intended for housing 

 guinea pigs should be made rat proof. 



CONCLUSION. 



The rearing of guinea pigs requires no extraordinary knowledge 

 and no great outlay of capital. Little space is needed to accommo- 

 date the animals, which are hardy and easily managed. They make 

 interesting pets and are useful food animals. The constantly increas- 

 ing demand for them in scientific investigations and medical research 

 insure a ready market for reasonable numbers at prices that should 

 be remunerative to the producer. 



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