Guinea Pigs

Question 1

Answer 1

Abyssinian

Question 2

when can you safely breed a guinea pig because she is sexually mature

Answer 2

before 6 months

Question 3

a female guinea pig should be bred before what age and why

Answer 3

6 months

pelvis symphysis fuses between 6 and 9 months. Once these bones are fused she can have a difficult and life threatening delivery.

Question 4

how many pups can a guinea pig have in a litter

Answer 4

4 to 12

Question 5

True/false Guinea pigs should be fed a diet consisting of primarily timothy grass hay free-choice.

Explain your answer

Answer 5

False

They need to also have guinea pig pellets because they need the Vitamin C in the pellets. They should have Timothy hay available free choice as well.

Question 6

What is the usual life span for a guinea pig?

Answer 6

5 to 6 years

Question 7

what kind of bottoms do guinea pig cages need and why

Answer 7

Cages need to have a solid bottom because their legs can be injured in metal bottom cages.

Question 8

as long as cages are _____ inches, it does not need a lid because guinea pigs don’t jump or climb

Answer 8

10 inches

Question 9

T or F:

Guinea pigs need a place to hide or burrow

Answer 9

true

Question 10

three types of bedding for Guinea pigs

Answer 10

corn cobs
shredded paper
wood shavings (avoid cedar shavings)

Question 11

The genus and species name for the guinea pig is:

Answer 11

Cavia Porcellus

Question 12

Gestation period of guinea pigs

Answer 12

68 days

Question 13

how long should it take a guinea pig sow to deliver all of her pups

Answer 13

30 mins

Question 14

how often should a guinea pig sow deliver pups

Answer 14

one every 5 mins

Question 15

three signs of dystocia in guinea pigs

Answer 15

depression
straining
uterine bleeding

Question 16

Define farrowing.

Answer 16

Parturition, the birthing process

Question 17

why can dystocia happen in guinea pigs

Answer 17

if she was bread after 6 months and the pelvic symphysis has already fused, when the fusion has happened the sows pelvis isn’t wide enough to deliver her pups

Question 18

means they are born hairless, blind and helpless

Answer 18

altrical

Question 19

means they are born being able to eat solid food within several hours, fully haired and have their eyes open

Answer 19

precocious

Question 20

are guinea pig pups altricial or precocious at birth

Answer 20

precocious

Question 21

What nutritional disease do guinea pigs commonly get if lacking Vitamin C in diet?

Answer 21

scurvy

Question 22

three symptoms of scurvy in guinea pigs

Answer 22

rear leg paralysis
bleeding gums
poor skin and hair coat

Question 23

With regards to behavior of guinea pigs:
a. They tend to be nocturnal animals
b. They dig and hibernate
C. They react to fear by stomping of their feet
d. They “borrow” other’s nest

Answer 23

They “borrow” other’s nest

Question 24

Reproductive behavior from the female that shows the male she is ready to mate

Answer 24

lordosis

Question 25

two signs of lordosis in guinea pigs

Answer 25

arching of the back
swaying of the hindquarters

Question 26

Which test should be done by a DVM prior to treating a guinea pig with antibiotics? Why?

Answer 26

Culture and Sensitivity Test (C&S)

Need to find the drug that will work the best the FIRST time to avoid AB toxicity.

Question 27

Name the most common problem/injury of pet guinea pigs that live with children.

Answer 27

Fractured tibia from kids dropping them