Article: It is not far from the truth to say that healthy guinea pigs eat constantly, so any changes in eating patterns or frequency should always be cause for concern. Sometimes, not eating or eating less than usual may be the only observable sign of a serious condition. Guinea pigs cannot go more than a few hours without eating before causing potential damage. If your pet has not eaten at all (or very little) in the past 16-20 hours, seek immediate veterinary attention. Make sure your guinea pig is also drinking water as normal. However, remember that many guinea pigs don't drink much and others drink a lot, so look for changes in how much they're drinking. If your guinea pig is normally active and friendly but has begun acting agitated, anxious, or afraid, assume that there is a medical problem involved. You know your pet's personality and normal activities better than anyone, so use your judgment in determining things out of the ordinary, then involve the vet as warranted. While the list could be endless, and will be particular to your guinea pig, common signs of trouble can include: avoiding favorite foods; hiding all the time; lethargy; a change in posture or walking style; or any other change from established behavior patterns. With some pets, a wait-and-see approach is sensible when it comes to deciding whether to seek medical assistance. Because guinea pigs can go from seemingly healthy to critically ill in a matter of hours, however, it is essential to quickly identify and act upon any possible signs of sickness or injury. The potential embarrassment of taking a healthy guinea pig to the vet's office is nothing compared to the pain you will feel if you wait too long to seek treatment for an illness that could have easily been addressed. Guinea pigs, for instance, are more susceptible to having adverse reactions to certain antibiotics than many other pets. This means that you need to seek out an exotic pets veterinarian with ample experience with guinea pigs and that you need to keep a close eye on your pet's behavior even after antibiotic treatment has begun. Your vigilance in watching for potential signs of illness needs to be matched by your vigilance in ensuring healthy conditions for your guinea pig. This combination of prevention and close observation offers your best bet for enjoying years of health and happiness with your pet. Provide your guinea pig with an appropriate, consistent diet (mainly hay and leafy vegetables see How to Care for Guinea Pigs for details) and ample fresh water. Keep its bedding and enclosure clean, and offer it a low-stress living environment and regular exercise. Guinea pigs often do better in pairs or groups than alone, but always quarantine a new arrival for two to three weeks before introducing it to the group.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Check its eating patterns. Identify activity changes. Do not wait to seek help. Practice prevention.
Article: To take the apical pulse, you will need to access the bare chest. Feel for the clavicle. The clavicle is also called the collarbone. It can be felt at the top of the rib cage. Directly below the clavicle, you should feel the first rib. The space between two ribs is called the intercostal space. Feel for the first intercostal spacethe space between the first and second ribs. From the first intercostal space, move your fingers down to the fifth intercostal space by counting the ribs. The fifth intercostal space should be located between the fifth and sixth ribs. If you're taking the apical pulse on a female, you can use three fingers to feel directly below the left breast. Usually, this same method will work on a man, as well. This allows you to take the pulse without counting the ribs. This is called the midclavicular line. The apical pulse can be felt and heard at the intersection of the fifth intercostal space and the midclavicular line. The apical pulse can be taken by touch or by using a stethoscope. It can be very difficult to feel an apical pulse, especially in women where breast tissue may lie over the pulse. A stethoscope may be easier for this purpose. In most people, it's almost impossible to feel an apical pulse using just your fingers. Unless the person is upset or in shock, their apical pulse will likely be too faint to detect without a stethoscope. Put on your stethoscope by putting the earpieces into your ears. Hold the diaphragm, which is the part of the stethoscope you use to listen to the patient's chest, in your hand. Rub the diaphragm (the end of the stethoscope) a bit to warm it up and tap it to make sure that you can hear the noises through the diaphragm. If you can't hear anything through the diaphragm, check that it is tightly attached to the stethoscope. If it's loose, you may not hear anything. Tell the person to breathe normally through his or her nose because doing so will decrease the sound of the breath and make hearing the heart easier. You should hear two sounds: lub and dub. This is considered one beat. Ask the person to face away from you, which can make it easier for you to hear. A heartbeat usually sounds like a galloping horse. This is the pulse rate, or heart rate. Think about how you might describe the pulse. Is it loud? Strong? Is the rhythm regular, or does it seem irregular? Be ready with a watch that has a second hand so you can count the pulse rate. Count how many "lub-dubs" you hear in a minute (60 seconds). The normal pulse rate for adults is 60 100 beats per minute. It differs with children. With newborns to three years old, the normal heart rate is 80-140. For four to nine year olds, 75-120 is a normal heart rate. For 10 to 15 years old, 50-90 beats per minute is the normal pulse rate.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Start by asking the patient to take off their shirt. Feel the first rib by finding the clavicle. Count the ribs as your work your way down. Draw an imaginary line from the middle of the left clavicle through the nipple. Decide between using regular touch or a stethoscope. Prepare your stethoscope. Place the stethoscope on the spot where you found the apical pulse. Count how many lub-dub sets you hear in one minute. Find the person's heart rate.