Guinea pigs sometimes have clogged noses, which will interfere with their breathing and can cause problems with the respiratory organs.
That’s why you need to unclog their nose so they can be happy and breathe normally.
How to unclog a guinea pig’s nose?
When guinea pigs have a clogged nose, the best way to unclog it is to have the ideal temperature for them. If guinea pigs have a clogged nose it could be a sign that something is wrong with their health.
That’s why in today’s article you will learn how to unclog their nose, how to prevent nasal congestion, and similar questions related to the topic.
How to unclog a guinea pig’s nose?
To unclog your guinea pigs you need to keep the room temperature at 65-75F. You can also use a saline solution or humidifier to unclog their nose.
Proper nutrition and clean and fresh water are also important to unblock their nose. Rest is also an important factor in allowing the guinea pig to heal faster and clear its nose.
If your pet continues to have a clogged nose then you must take him to the vet to be examined, as it could be a more serious health problem.
Watch the temperature
Guinea pigs are not used to cold temperatures and then they start to have clogged noses. They come from warmer regions, and therefore if they are cold they catch cold quickly and have blocked noses.
The temperature should always be exactly what they need to be healthy and not have a clogged nose.
The ideal temperature for guinea pigs is between 65-75 F, if the temperature is lower they will have stuffy noses and risk other health problems.
They must also be in a room that is not exposed to drafts because it can cause stuffy noses.
Use a moisturizer
You can use a humidifier to unclog your guinea pigs’ noses. It helps to maintain the correct humidity of the air which will benefit the guinea pigs and clear their nose.
You can also use saline solution which is also very successful in unclogging their nose. To make a saline solution, you only need a glass of warm water and a small spoonful of salt.
Stir to dissolve the salt and drop a few drops directly into the guinea pig’s nose.
Another way to decongest your pet’s nose is by using a warm bath, as the steam from the bath will soften the nasal passage and help unclog the nose.
Water helps to unclog the nose
Water helps to thin the mucus and unclog the guinea pigs’ noses.
That’s why they should always have clean and fresh drinking water in their cage bottle.
If the water becomes dirty or has food residues in it, immediately replace it with new clean water.
Healthy diet
When guinea pigs have a clogged nose you need to provide them with a healthy diet rich in nutrients.
When they have a clogged nose, they will not want to eat much, so it is important that what they eat is healthy food with minerals, vitamins, and other healthy ingredients.
Give them fresh vegetables and fruits, hay, and other food that will meet their nutritional needs even though they will eat small amounts due to their clogged nose.
They need to rest
When guinea pigs have a clogged nose, they need to rest to heal.
It is best to provide them with a quiet environment, without noise and unknown people, so that they can be calm and heal faster.
Add more bedding to keep them warm while their blocked noses clear. After all, we humans also spend more time resting when we are sick, so the same applies to guinea pigs.
Take the guinea pig to the vet
If you notice that you cannot help the guinea pig at home and its nose is still blocked, then you should see a veterinarian.
The vet will examine your pet and give medication if necessary to clear the nose.
Sometimes a blocked nose can also mean respiratory problems, so the veterinarian will check and find out the real reason for the clogged nose.
How do I prevent a clogged nose in my guinea pig?
It is very important to prevent a clogged nose in your guinea pig in a timely manner so that it does not cause major health problems.
That’s why we will give you some tips in that direction, from maintaining the temperature, food, exercise, and other things that will help prevent their nose from getting blocked.
The temperature should be optimal
The temperature in the guinea pig’s room and cage should be between 65-75 F.
If the temperature drops below 65 F, the guinea pig will become sick and have a clogged nose.
It is better to prevent the appearance of a blocked nose in your pet than to treat it or, in the last case, to have to take it to the vet, which will be an additional expense.
Give them healthy food
Food is also an important factor in keeping a guinea pig healthy and strong.
With a proper and healthy diet rich in vitamins and minerals, your pet will be more resistant to diseases and nasal congestion.
It will have a stronger immune system and protection against infections and clogging of the nose.
Therefore, always provide them with fresh food with the correct representation of vegetables and fruits in addition to the main food, which is hay.
Also, give them pellets that are specially made to give them the nutrients that guinea pigs need.
They should have enough physical activities
Guinea pigs need daily exercise to keep them healthy and resistant to clogged noses.
For this purpose, the guinea pigs should have enough toys and other objects in the cage, and of course, you should occasionally let them out of the cage to run.
Physical activity helps to circulate the blood in their body and nourish their organs which makes them stronger and healthier and resistant to diseases.
Sufficient rest and sleep
When guinea pigs sleep and rest, they rest their bodies, which helps keep them healthy.
Therefore, they should have enough silence around their cage so that they can sleep as much as they need. If you see that your pet is sleeping, do not wake them up, because you will disturb their sleep.
Resting definitely helps make them more resistant to blocked noses or other illnesses they may get.
Regular veterinary examinations
You should take guinea pigs for examination even if they are not sick.
This is important because some diseases will be prevented in time if they are treated early before they make your pet more seriously ill.
With regular examinations at the veterinarian, the chances of a blocked nose and other health problems are reduced.
In addition, veterinarians always give advice on how to keep your pet and protect it from diseases and similar problems.
Can I physically unclog the nose of my guinea pigs?
You should never attempt to physically unclog a guinea pig’s nose yourself.
Nasal passages in guinea pigs are delicate and under no circumstances should you try to physically unclog their nose.
If you try to remove it, you risk injuring their nose and causing even greater complications with their health.
What does it mean if my guinea pig has a runny nose?
When guinea pigs have a runny nose, it means that they may have a cold, but it can also be a sign of respiratory disease.
Check the guinea pig’s breathing and see if there are other signs that indicate respiratory disease, such as sneezing, watery eyes, and of course a runny nose.
If it has these symptoms, take your pet to the vet immediately within 24 hours.
Read more: Can Guinea Pigs Have Down Syndrome? All You Need To Know
Are guinea pigs’ noses sensitive?
Guinea pigs have very sensitive noses, they have a well-developed sense of smell and use their nose to help them find food in nature.
Guinea pigs can very quickly sense even the smallest smells in their environment, such as food smells.
Sometimes guinea pigs may lick your fingers on your hands if you don’t wash them after eating because they can sense the smell too well.
Read more: Can Guinea Pigs Catch Human Colds? Let’s Find Out
Is it bad if I can hear my guinea pig breathing?
If you hear certain sounds in guinea pigs when they breathe it could mean that something is wrong with their health.
In particular, I mean the following sounds:
- Clicking
- Crackling
- Wheezing
- Hooting
If you hear the sounds I listed, it means that you should immediately take your pet to the vet, because they usually mean the beginning of diseases and problems with their health.
Read more: How Long Will Guinea Pigs Live With Paralysis? (Find Out Now)
Conclusion
Guinea pigs usually have clogged noses when they are cold, that is when the temperature in their environment drops below 65 degrees.
Apart from the temperature, other things also affect whether they will have a clogged nose, such as a healthy diet, rest, and physical activities.
Guinea pigs should also have clean and fresh water to drink so that their noses don’t get blocked.
If there is a blockage, first set the temperature to be optimal, give him healthy food and rest. If nothing helps and your pet still has a clogged nose, take him to the vet.
