Exotic Mammals: Guinea Pigs & Chinchillas Flashcards
What are male and female guinea pigs called? What are the young like?
- MALES = boars
- FEMALES = sows
pups are precocial - born with hair, open eyes, teeth, and can eat solid food
What is the average lifespan and adult weight of guinea pigs?
5-7 years
- MALE = 900-1200g
- FEMALE = 700-900g
When do guinea pigs reach sexual maturity? How long is gestation? What is the average litter size?
- MALE = 3 months
- FEMALES = 2 months
59-72 days (68 average)
2-4 average (1-13)
How are guinea pigs sexed?
MALE = grease gland at maturity, dot on top the Y on the urogenital opening
FEMALE = no dot on top of the Y of the urogenital opening
What is the palatial ostium?
fusion of the soft palate to the base of the tongue
- makes intubation difficult
What facilitates parturition in guinea pigs?
separation of the pubic tendon to allow >25mm separation
- does NOT separate if first breeding is at 6 months
How do guinea pigs give birth?
- do not nest
- rapid - only a few minutes between pups
- adults are placentophagic
- young are precocious and weaned at 3 weeks
What response do guinea pigs have when scared?
freezes in response to noises and stampedes in response to movement
Guinea pigs are neophobic. What does this mean?
any changes to environment, diet, or dishes can cause inappetance
How should guinea pigs be handled?
support trunk with one hand and hindquarters with the other one
What enclosure is best for guinea pigs?
- 101 in squared, 7” high —> 7 ft squared for first, add 2-4 for each additional
- solid sides for several inches from the bottom, then wire up the sides and top
- ventilation
- keep clean - copious amount of feces/urine is produced
What temperature range should be kept for guinea pigs? Why?
65-79 F —> prone to heat stroke
- supply sipper bottles
- avoid water bowels —> messy, food constantly in mouth
What bedding is discouraged for guinea pigs? What alternatives are used?
aromatic wood shavings and corn cob bedding
- Care Fresh
- Yesterday’s News
- Eco-straw
- wood pellets
- hay placed on top
What type of cage bottoms are avoided with guinea pigs? Why?
wire-bottomed
avoids buildup of moisture that predisposes to pododermatitis
What is a necessary addition to a guinea pigs enclosure?
hiding spot —> hide boxes, PVC pipes
- shy!
What may help with male aggression in guinea pigs? How can stress in hospital be decreased?
- raise together
- neuter
housing with a cage mate
What species should guinea pigs NOT interact with?
rabbits —> can be seriously affected by Bordetella bronchiseptica
- dogs and rabbits are common carriers
What is an important component to guinea pig diets? What 3 things is it needed for?
fiber —> hind gut fermenters!
- wearing teeth normally
- normal GI motility (indigestible fiber)
- maintain cecal flora (fermentable fiber)
What 2 things does low fiber in guinea pig diets cause?
- GI hypomotility —> enterotoxemia
- elongation of cheek teeth
What vitamin are guinea pigs commonly deficient in? Why? What is the best source?
vitamin C (require 10 mg/kg/day; breeding female requires 30 mg/kg/day)
lack L-gulonolactone oxidase required for conversion of glucose to ascorbic acid
fresh veggies —> supplements are labile and have <3 month shelf-life after food is milled
How long does it take for signs of hypovitaminosis C to appear?
Scurvy —> 2 weeks
- spontaneous bleeding
What vegetables are rich in vitamin C and are recommended for guinea pigs?
- broccoli
- asparagus
- brussels sprouts
- mustard greens
- collard greens
- okra
- spinach
- kale
- swiss chard
- bell peppers - red, yellow, orange
- dandelion greens
- parsley
What are 3 important parts of the guinea pig diet? What is typically avoided?
- free choice hay - high quality grass hay
- timothy-based guinea pig pellets 6g/100g/day (in addition to hay, not replacing)
- fresh vegetables high in vitamin C - 2 c/day
alfalfa —> high in protein and Ca, which leads to uroliths
What are some good treats for guinea pigs? What does excess cause?
grains, fruits
high in starch, low in fiber = dysbiosis, diarrhea
What is a crepuscular feeder? What exotic mammal practices this?
eat at twilight
Chinchillas (nocturnal!)
What has caused wild chinchillas to become close to extinction?
fur trade
- only recently domesticated
- limited gene pool descending from 11-13 chinchillas
What are 2 important aspects to chinchilla anatomy?
- long, delicate limbs and long tails are extremely fragile - fractures common
- palatal ostium - oropharynx communicates with the remainder of the pharynx through a hole in the soft palate
How are chinchillas used in research?
model for auditory disease —> large tympanic bullae
What is the average lifespan and adult weight of chinchillas?
10-15 years (20 yr max)
- MALE = 400-500g
- FEMALE = 450-700g
When do chinchillas reach sexual maturity? How long is gestation? Litter size?
7-9 months
105-118 days (111 average)
1-6 (2 average)
How do chinchillas give birth?
- pelvic symphysis does NOT separate
- no nests - provide a nest box or flat board in cage for birthing
- typically occurs in early morning with 1/2-1 hour between deliveries
- females are placentophagic
- young are precocious and weaned at 6-8 weeks
How do chinchillas behave?
- VERY active - need regular handling and socialization
- crepuscular and nocturnal
- quiet, barks, alarm calls
- males can projectile urinate when they feel threatened
How should chinchillas be handled? What is not recommended?
- support hind end and upper body + grasp base of tail
- cover exam table —> slippery, cold
- may jump!
- less is more —> can “fur slip” which will grow back in 6-8 weeks
holding by ears, back of neck, or by the base of the tail
What enclosure is necessary for chinchillas?
- large cage (225 in squared and 12” high due to high activity)
- room for climbing and jumping
- hide box
- dust bowl
What kind of flooring is best for chinchillas? What should be avoided?
solid +/- fine mesh
- wire —> pododermatitis
- wire wheels —> injury to fragile legs common
What bedding and water sources are required for chinchillas?
newspaper or recycled paper pellets (Yesterday’s news, Carefresh) —> change frequently
sipper bottles
Why are wood shavings not recommended for chinchillas or guinea pigs?
all wood shavings may release aromatic oils
cedar > pine > aspen
What is important for maintaining chinchillas’ coats? What does excess lead to?
dust baths several times per week —> blue cloud, blue sparkle, 9:1 silver sand to Fuller’s earth, diatomaceous earth, talc
conjunctivitis
What temperature must be maintained for chinchillas?
do NOT tolerate damp or hot environments over 72 F
- prefer 64-72 F —> risk of heat stroke
- very cold tolerant
What is the diet of chinchillas like?
herbivores, high fiber (recommend 20-35% minimum fiber from hay, grass, and vegetables)
- salt and mineral blocks unnecessary
What are 3 important aspects to a balanced diet for chinchillas?
- free choice hay - timothy or other high quality grass hay (NOT alfalfa)
- high quality, fresh pellets - long timothy pallets allow for ease of handling (1-2 tbsp/animal/day)
- 1-2 cups chopped greens/veggies - introduce gradually to avoid soft feces