Guinea pigs Flashcards
Foa-kurloff cells
- Leucocytes unique to guinea pigs
- contain large intracytoplasmic inclusions
- proliferate during oestrus and pregancy
Common nutritional problems in guinea pigs (5)
- scurvy (hypovitaminosis C)
- Barbering
- dental disease
- GI disorders
- renal and urinary stones and sludge
Common infectious diseases in guinea pigs (8)
- Bordatella bronchiseptica
- Streptococcal pneumonia
- Mycoplasma
- Cervical lymphadenitis
- Yersiniosis
- Salmonellosis
- Chlamydial conjunctivitis
- Lymphocytic choriomeningitis
Common parasitic diseases in guinea pigs (4)
- Trixacarus caviae
- Trichophyton mentagrophytes (ring worm)
- Coccidiosis
- Pediculosis (lice)
Miscellaneous common problems in guinea pigs (7)
- Ovarian cysts
- Cystic calculi
- Non-caecotrophy
- pododermatitis
- dental malocclusion
- cheilitis
- kerato conjunctivitis
Scurvy in guinea pigs
Hypovitaminosis C
Young animals: poor growth, joint swelling and pain (do not usually recover)
Adults: dental disease due to poor periodontal ligaments
Treatment: Supplement at 100ml/kg/day
Barbering in guinea pigs
Chewing the hairs on the body short
Usually a response to lack of fibre
Tends to be on the flanks
What can feeding museli foods and sugary diets cause?
- dental disease
- GI disorders
- renal and urinary stones and sludge
Bordatella bronchiseptica in guinea pigs
Upper or lower resp tract disease
may be carried asymptomatically
vigorous treatment required
- nebulisation
- antibiotic therapy
- fluids
- NSAIDs
- anxiolytic if very stressed
- warmth and support feeding
Cervical lymphadenitis in guinea pigs
Lumps, not always confined to cervical LNs
Treat by lancing or surgical incision plus antibiotics
Strep. zooepidemicus
remember to consider vit C status
separate from other animals
Yersiniosis in guinea pigs
Not common
Yersinia pseudotuberculosis
weight loss and diarrhoea
abscessation in the gut
antibiotics 2-4 weeks min, maybe up to months
zoonotic
Chlamydial conjunctivitis in guinea pigs
Chlamydophila cavia
gram -ve obligate intracellular bacterium
self limiting conjunctivitis, but may cause severe inflammation
treat with tetracycline derivative therapies and supportive therapies
highly infections
Lymphocytic choriomeningitis
very rarely seen
zoonotic
hindlimb paresis
meningitis
infeciton mainly via urine
more often in rats and mice etc.
Trixacarus caviae in guinea pigs
Pruritis, sometimes causing bronchospasm +/- seizures
Crusting, hair loss, self mutilation
Infection by direct/indirect contact
Very, very common
Mites- can be fatal
Treat with Ivermectin spot on and NSAIDs for pain relief
Trichophyton mentagrophytes in guinea pigs
Less common
often starts with the head
zoonotic
treat with enilconazole, itraconzaole, clotimazole
Coccidiosis in guinea pigs
Eimeria caviae
usually when poor hygiene and overcrowding
Baycox or Co-trimazole
Not common
Pediculosis in guinea pigs
not uncommon
Gyropus ovalis and Gliricola porcelli
chewing lice
treat with ivermectin
Ovarian cysts in guinea pigs
Very common
can be functional or non-functional
painful
symmetric alopecia as well as main signs relating to pain and space occupation
Cystic calculi in guinea pigs
Usually calcium carbonate/oxalate
Look very carefully at two radiographic views (remember there is an os penis)
Often presents with haematuria, cystitis, and signs of pain
Can be a true emergency
prevent by keeping outdoors, deep litter, analgesia, antibiotics when appropriate etc.
non-caecotrophy
Impaction of terminal rectum with soft caecal faeces
Often in obese or older, possibly arthritic animals
More common in males?
Get owners to check and aid cleaning if necessary
Pododermatitis in guinea pigs
thin ulcerating skin on soles of feet
factors include poor hygiene, obesity, hypovitaminosis C
may progress to osteomyelitis
painful
treat wounds, consider substrate, address vit C status, treat underling conditions
Dental malocclusion in guinea pigs
Often linked to hypovitaminosis C/poor diet
Natural slanting angle
(impacted food, difficult when conscious)
treat pain as well as the malocclusion
recommend radiographs
correct diet
likely recurrent and progressive
Cheilitis in guinea pigs
Scabbing +/- ulceration of the muco-cutaneous junction round the lips and nose
Nutritional?
Allergic?
Pox virus?
Is painful
Try to treat topically and systemically, and sort out diet
Once on pain relief can start to work scabs off gently
Kerato-conjunctivitis
Because guinea pigs have a vascular cornea, mild
injuries rapidly look severe
But settle fast with treatment as well
Always check for foreign bodies - most common eye injury, can be really small
