Guinea Pigs Flashcards
Abyssinian
when can you safely breed a guinea pig because she is sexually mature
before 6 months
a female guinea pig should be bred before what age and why
6 months
pelvis symphysis fuses between 6 and 9 months. Once these bones are fused she can have a difficult and life threatening delivery.
how many pups can a guinea pig have in a litter
4 to 12
True/false Guinea pigs should be fed a diet consisting of primarily timothy grass hay free-choice.
Explain your answer
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.
What is the usual life span for a guinea pig?
5 to 6 years
what kind of bottoms do guinea pig cages need and why
Cages need to have a solid bottom because their legs can be injured in metal bottom cages.
as long as cages are _____ inches, it does not need a lid because guinea pigs don’t jump or climb
10 inches
T or F:
Guinea pigs need a place to hide or burrow
true
three types of bedding for Guinea pigs
corn cobs
shredded paper
wood shavings (avoid cedar shavings)
The genus and species name for the guinea pig is:
Cavia Porcellus
Gestation period of guinea pigs
68 days
how long should it take a guinea pig sow to deliver all of her pups
30 mins
how often should a guinea pig sow deliver pups
one every 5 mins
three signs of dystocia in guinea pigs
depression
straining
uterine bleeding
Define farrowing.
Parturition, the birthing process
why can dystocia happen in guinea pigs
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
means they are born hairless, blind and helpless
altrical
means they are born being able to eat solid food within several hours, fully haired and have their eyes open
precocious
are guinea pig pups altricial or precocious at birth
precocious
What nutritional disease do guinea pigs commonly get if lacking Vitamin C in diet?
scurvy
three symptoms of scurvy in guinea pigs
rear leg paralysis
bleeding gums
poor skin and hair coat
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
They “borrow” other’s nest
Reproductive behavior from the female that shows the male she is ready to mate
lordosis
two signs of lordosis in guinea pigs
arching of the back
swaying of the hindquarters
Which test should be done by a DVM prior to treating a guinea pig with antibiotics? Why?
Culture and Sensitivity Test (C&S)
Need to find the drug that will work the best the FIRST time to avoid AB toxicity.
Name the most common problem/injury of pet guinea pigs that live with children.
Fractured tibia from kids dropping them
