Guinea Pigs Flashcards
Guinea pigs belong to the class Mammalia, order____ and family ___
Order rodentia
Family caviidae
True or false
Guinea pig incisors and molars grow continuously through life
True
Why do Guinea pigs require a dietary source of Vitamin C, what can they get if they do not have this source?
Because they cannot synthesize their own (like humans)
Can lead to Scurvy
What do Guinea pigs have in the area if their dorsal tail (no actual tail)
A sebaceous gland
True or false
Like rabbits, Guinea pigs produce and ingest cecotrophs
True
When is the best time to breed Guinea pigs, why?
Best done before 6 months of age
Their pubic symphysis closes at 6-9 months of age and can cause dystocia
What is a Guinea pigs gestation period
59-72 days
What is a Guinea pigs life span
5-6 years
What are some common disease or problems seen in Guinea pigs
Scurvy Antibiotic associated enterotoxemia Dental malocclusions Bloat Cystic ovaries
Describe scurvy in Guinea pigs
Vitamin C deficiency
Guinea pigs require 15-25 mg/kg/day (up to 50-100 mg/kg/day if treating the deficiency) (can’t over dose on Vit C -it is water soluble and will get excreted by kidneys)
Leads to defective collagen in the body causing bleeding into the joints and SG and loss of teeth
Supplement diet with human grade vitamin C tablets (cheap and have higher doses)
What is antibiotic associated enterotoxemia in Guinea pigs
Same as seen in rabbits, they have sensitivities to oral medications as well
From clostridia overgrowth (clostridium dificile) (produces a toxin)
Severe watery often hemorrhagic diarrhea
Can be fatal
Treat with metronidazole if caught early
Describe common dental problems seen in Guinea pigs
Same as rabbits
Teeth grow continuously, if not worn down they over grow and can cause ulcerations/laceration in the mouth and anorexia due to reluctance to eat (can lead to GI stasis)
May have a genetic component
Upper cheek teeth may grow laterally, lower cheek teeth may grow medically (uneven wear results in sharp edges of the teeth and cause damage to the mouth -like seen in horses)
Describe GI bloat in Guinea pigs
Usually due to a diet change
Diagnosis: can see gas in radiographs and feel on palpation
Treatment: pain meds, force feeding, fluids
Prognosis: guarded to poor
What are cystic ovaries in Guinea pigs
Very common (>75% of females between 1.5-5yo)
Signs: abdominal distension, possibly bilateral alopecia
Diagnosis: ultrasound
Treatment: ultrasound guided drainage or surgical ovariohysterectomy
Why do most diseases seen in Guinea pigs have a guarded to poor prognosis
They die very easily
Describe housing husbandry for Guinea pigs
Simple housing (no elaborate platform, ramps or wire flooring)
Should be minimum 36 in or 3 feet long
Need at least one hiding area/box
Using wire siding for good ventilation, easy cleaning and protection from other pets (no aquariums due to ammonia and nitrogen accumulation that will cause respiratory disease)
Substrate: newspaper or aspen shavings (no cedar or pine shavings -will irritate the lungs)
Use food hopper and supper bottle
Urinate and defecate without preference so bowls will get dirty
What’s important to know about guinea pigs water needs
Need large amounts of water
Dehydrate easily and quickly so monitor water bottle
Drink with mouth fulls of food so check for dirty or blocked bottles often
Describe handling and restraint of Guinea pigs
Easy to handle and enjoy interactions/handling (not common biters but they are very vocal)
Fully support then when lifting/holding or they will struggle (one hand under throat and one under hind end and hold close to your body)
Never scruff (scary and painful)
Have very poor eyesight and depth perception be careful on high surfaces
Use towels to wrap and make surfaces less slippery
Describe blood collection in Guinea pigs
Small fragile blood vessels (easily collapsed-worse than rabbits)
Small volumes: lateral saphenous and cephalic
Larger volume: jugular and cranial vena cava (requires sedation)
Use insulin or tuberculin syringes
Describe fluid therapy in Guinea pigs
IV catheters are very difficult (use IO into greater tubercle of the femur)
SQ fluids are more painful than in other species due to fat pad between scapulae and little SQ space -will vocalize
50-100ml/kg/day
Monitor for over hydration
Isotonic fluids most commonly used
Describe general anesthesia in guinea pigs
Difficult to intubate (small and long/narrow oral cavity) easiest to mask down
Once in proper GA plane need to swab out oral cavity
Why should you only fast a Guinea pig for 2-4 hours prior to surgery
Prone to GI upset/stasis, blood sugar issues
Fasting for these guys is normally just to get food out of the oral cavity
Why should you decrease intubation time and handling in order to reduce stress
Stress can cause catastrophic results and even death
What should be used with radiography in Guinea pigs
Sedation and positioning aids
