Guinea pigs

Question 1

Foa-kurloff cells

Answer 1

• Leucocytes unique to guinea pigs
• contain large intracytoplasmic inclusions
• proliferate during oestrus and pregancy

Question 2

Common nutritional problems in guinea pigs (5)

Answer 2

• scurvy (hypovitaminosis C)
• Barbering
• dental disease
• GI disorders
• renal and urinary stones and sludge

Question 3

Common infectious diseases in guinea pigs (8)

Answer 3

• Bordatella bronchiseptica
• Streptococcal pneumonia
• Mycoplasma
• Cervical lymphadenitis
• Yersiniosis
• Salmonellosis
• Chlamydial conjunctivitis
• Lymphocytic choriomeningitis

Question 4

Common parasitic diseases in guinea pigs (4)

Answer 4

• Trixacarus caviae
• Trichophyton mentagrophytes (ring worm)
• Coccidiosis
• Pediculosis (lice)

Question 5

Miscellaneous common problems in guinea pigs (7)

Answer 5

• Ovarian cysts
• Cystic calculi
• Non-caecotrophy
• pododermatitis
• dental malocclusion
• cheilitis
• kerato conjunctivitis

Question 6

Scurvy in guinea pigs

Answer 6

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

Question 7

Barbering in guinea pigs

Answer 7

Chewing the hairs on the body short

Usually a response to lack of fibre

Tends to be on the flanks

Question 8

What can feeding museli foods and sugary diets cause?

Answer 8

• dental disease
• GI disorders
• renal and urinary stones and sludge

Question 9

Bordatella bronchiseptica in guinea pigs

Answer 9

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

Question 10

Cervical lymphadenitis in guinea pigs

Answer 10

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

Question 11

Yersiniosis in guinea pigs

Answer 11

Not common

Yersinia pseudotuberculosis

weight loss and diarrhoea

abscessation in the gut

antibiotics 2-4 weeks min, maybe up to months

zoonotic

Question 12

Chlamydial conjunctivitis in guinea pigs

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Lymphocytic choriomeningitis

Answer 13

very rarely seen

zoonotic

hindlimb paresis

meningitis

infeciton mainly via urine

more often in rats and mice etc.

Question 14

Trixacarus caviae in guinea pigs

Answer 14

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

Question 15

Trichophyton mentagrophytes in guinea pigs

Answer 15

Less common

often starts with the head

zoonotic

treat with enilconazole, itraconzaole, clotimazole

Question 16

Coccidiosis in guinea pigs

Answer 16

Eimeria caviae

usually when poor hygiene and overcrowding

Baycox or Co-trimazole

Not common

Question 17

Pediculosis in guinea pigs

Answer 17

not uncommon

Gyropus ovalis and Gliricola porcelli

chewing lice

treat with ivermectin

Question 18

Ovarian cysts in guinea pigs

Answer 18

Very common

can be functional or non-functional

painful

symmetric alopecia as well as main signs relating to pain and space occupation

Question 19

Cystic calculi in guinea pigs

Answer 19

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.

Question 20

non-caecotrophy

Answer 20

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

Question 21

Pododermatitis in guinea pigs

Answer 21

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

Question 22

Dental malocclusion in guinea pigs

Answer 22

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

Question 23

Cheilitis in guinea pigs

Answer 23

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

Question 24

Kerato-conjunctivitis

Answer 24

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