Guinea Pig

Question 1

What is the suborder of the guinea pig?

Answer 1

Hystricomorpha

Question 2

Complete the sentence for the suborder hystricomorpha:
- (Shorter/Longer) gestation periods
- Produce (precocial/altricial) offspring at birth
- Cellular membrane closed over vaginal opening during (estrus/diestrus) and parturition.

Answer 2

• Longer gestation periods
• Produces precocial offspring at birth
• Cellular membrane closed over vaginal opening during estrus and parturition

Question 3

What are the three main biomedical research uses of guinea pigs.

Answer 3

Pregnancy toxemia/ketoacidosis
Scurvey
Tuberculosis

Question 4

(T/F) Guinea pigs have predominant incisor teeth, no tails, 4 digits in both front and hind legs, and their mouths do not open wide.

Answer 4

False - everything is true except they have 4 digits on the front feet and 3 on the hind feet

Question 5

Why do guinea pigs not do well with systemic antibiotic administration.

Answer 5

Large cecum present (with taeniae)
It is 65% of total GI tract capacity

Question 6

What do both sexes in guinea pigs have that is different than other species?

Answer 6

Inguinal mammae
(Male only has the os penis with two styles)

Question 7

(T/F) It is fine to scruff the neck of a chinchilla and support the rear quarters.

Answer 7

False - Should not scruff the neck
Proper handling: Support chest and rear quarters

Question 8

How long do guinea pigs live for?

Answer 8

5-7 years

Question 9

What is different of the urine in guinea pigs than other species?

Answer 9

Normally thick and cloudy, pH alkaline
(will eat away at metal cages cause it is caustic)
In comparison - they do not pee a lot

Question 10

Guinea pigs will (run/freeze) with loud sounds and (run/freeze) with motion.

Answer 10

Freeze - loud sounds
Run - Motion

Question 11

(T/F) Guinea pigs HATE diet changes and just changes in general

Answer 11

True

Question 12

Guinea pigs are strictly ____ when it comes to their nutrition.

Answer 12

Herbivores

Question 13

(T/F) Guinea pigs do not partake in coprophagy practices.

Answer 13

False - they do

Question 14

What vitamin do guinea pigs require in their daily intake because they cannot make it?

Answer 14

Vitamin C

Question 15

If the cages have wires in guinea pigs what can this lead to?

Answer 15

Pododermatitis and finger injury

Question 16

What is unacceptable bedding for guinea pigs?

Answer 16

Cedar and saw dust

Question 17

How do you sex guinea pigs?

Answer 17

Females: Y shape opening
Males: Might be able to extrude penis

Question 18

Why do guinea pigs have to be bred and deliver their first litter before 6-8 months of age?

Answer 18

Permanent fusion of pubic symphysis

Question 19

What age should guinea pigs should be weaned?

Answer 19

3 weeks

Question 20

Which two locations would you take blood collection for guinea pigs?

Answer 20

Lateral saphenous/Cephalic vein
Jugular vein

Question 21

What are the differences between rats/mice and guinea pigs on hematology results?

Answer 21

Lower RBC
Lower hemoglobin
Variable amount of erythrocytes

Question 22

If you do a smear of a guinea pig blood what is a different cell they have that might confuse the tech?

Answer 22

Kurloff cells - Mononuclear leukocyte with oval inclusion bodies

Question 23

What main bacteria can cause respiratory disease in guinea pigs?

Answer 23

Bordetella bronchiseptica
(can also have strep. pneumonia)

Question 24

What clinical sign can Strep pneumonia can cause apart from resp disease in guinea pigs?

Answer 24

Abortion

Question 25

What deficiency do guinea pigs have to have to get scurvy (Ricketts)?

Answer 25

Vitamin C deficiency

Question 26

Who are the ones that get clinical signs of scurvy? (guinea pigs)

Answer 26

Young (2 week old) guinea pigs

Question 27

In what disease do guinea pigs get rosary bead disease (multiple bumps along costochondral junction ribs)?

Answer 27

Scurvy

Question 28

Who (what population) needs more vitamin C to not get scurvy in guinea pigs?

Answer 28

Pregnant females need 3x more Vit C

Question 29

What bacteria is associated with antibiotic associated enterotoxemia in guinea pigs?

Answer 29

Clostridium difficile

Question 30

What are the two treatments of antibiotic associated enterotoxemia in guinea pigs?

Answer 30

Re-establish normal GI flora:
Lactobacillus
Transfaunation

Question 31

Why is it important to know if a guinea pig has salmonellosis?

Answer 31

Zoonotic and they can be asymptomatic carriers

Question 32

What are the two urogenital diseases of guinea pigs?

Answer 32

Urinary calculi and ovarian cyst

Question 33

In an ovarian cysts in guinea pigs have a specific clinical sign that you can see when they come in to the clinic, what is it?

Answer 33

Bilateral symmetrical alopecia
Gotta do an OHE to treat

Question 34

What is the difference between type 1 and 2 of pregnancy toxemia in guinea pigs?

Answer 34

Type 1: Pre-eclampsia/circulatory form
Happens in multiparous, obese and under stress
Type 2: Fasting ketosis/metabolic or nutritional form
Fasting resulting in hypoglycemia/lipid metabolism
Last trimester/obese

Question 35

What is the organism in guinea pigs that causes cervical lymphadenitis?

Answer 35

Strep zooepidemicus

Question 36

What does cervical lymphadenitis cause and how is it treated in guinea pigs?

Answer 36

SQ cervical masses which yield yellow/white exudate and they might have no other signs.
Lance/flush surgical excision and systemic antibiotics

Question 37

(T/F) Cervical lymphadenitis is zoonotic.

Answer 37

True