Guinea Pigs And Chinchillas Flashcards
What is the species name for guinea pigs?
Cavia porcellus
South American Andes rodent
Domesticated form cavy and farmed for meat in Peru
What type of GI system do guinea pigs have?
Hindgut fermenting herbivores
What type of teeth do guinea pigs have?
All open rooted
What is the lifespan of guinea pigs
5-7yrs
What vitamin are guinea pigs unable to synthesize?
C
The pubic symphysis of the guinea pigs closes at what age? They will have dystocia if they are bread after this time.
8months
— if they have a litter before this age, the symphysis will stay open
T/F: there are 3 separate openings in the female guinea pig for the urethra, vagina, and rectum
True
-easy to catheterize
How many openings are there in the male guinea pig penis?
Two
The flaccid one is the urethra. The more muscular one is a dead end
What gland is on the rump of guinea pigs and is more prominent in males
Sebaceous gland
— can have many sebaceous glands —> predispose to sebaceous gland tumors
What type of diet is recommended for guinea pigs?
High fiber
No grain
Grass hay fed ad lib
Fresh produce, leafy greens
Vit C 25-50mg/day
Low alfalfa diet
What diet related diseases can you see in guinea pigs?
Vit C deficiency: surgery
Dental disease
Gut stasis: low fiber
Bacterial overgrowth
Gastric impaction and bloat
Vitamin C is necessary for what?
Collagen integrity
Absorption of iron from GIT
What are clinical signs of a vitamin C Deficiency?
Swollen painful joints (like when you do the volcano hike)
Poor haircoat (like when you get tropical rainstorms but have mandatory class)
Bad teeth
Poor wound healing
What dental diseases can you see in guinea pigs?
Malocclusion Lack of attrition Overgrowth of crowns Impacted roots Abscesses
Clinical signs of dental disease?
Ulceration Dysphagia Ptyalism Bruxism Anorexia
How do you treat malocclusions in guinea pigs?
Cut back sharp edges
Crown reduction with drill
Cut incisions carefully
Supportive care
Repeat
How will you treat a dental abscess in a Guinea pig?
Can involve tooth roots and bone Radiographs are important Surgical debridement Marsupilaize Pack open pocket Antibiotic gauze, honey
T/F: GI tract stasis is usually a secondary problem
True
= peristalsis shuts down
Post surgery
Due to pain
Due to poor diet
T/F: rabbits a Guiana pigs often get gastric torsions leading to bloat
False
Guinea pigs often get torsion leading to bloat
Rabbits never get torsion because their stomach is anchored, however they can get liver torsions
How do you treat bloat in guinea pig?
Decompress via tube or aspiration Parenteral antibiotics Analgesics: buprenorphine Fluids: IV, SQ, IO Famotidine
poor prognosis
What skin conditions are commonly seen in guinea pigs?
Alopecia Dermatophytosis Ectoparasites Pododermatitis Misc tumors
What is the most common skin tumor in guinea pig?
Trichoepithelioma
Benign but can get really big — surgical removal can be curative
How does dermatophytosis appear? How would you diagnose and treat?
White, non-puritic crusts
Fungal culture (trichopyton sp)
Topical griseofluvin or itraconazole
Common causes of parasitic dermatitis in Guinea pigs?
Lice
Mange mites
What clinical signs is closely associated with sarcoptic mange in guinea pigs>?
Seizures
What is the treatment for parasitic dermatitis?
Shave fur
Topical/injectable rx
Ivermectin (lg animal injectable )
Selamectin (revolution)
Moxidectin (advantage)
Pred for pruritus
Pododermatitis is commonly secondary to ??
Pain
T/F: you should remove the scabs and debride the feet in a pododermatitis case in a Guinea pig?
False
Don’t remove scab
What are the urogenital diseases of guinea pigs?
Dystocia Urolithiasis Cystic ovaries Uterine tumors Mammary gland tumors
T/F: mammary gland tumors of guinea pigs are more common in females than males
False
Males>females
What are your top DDX for mammary tumor in guinea pig
Adenocarcinoma
Fibroadenoma
Mets uncommon
Urolithiasis in guinea pigs are usually what type of stones?
Calcium carbonate
Treatment of urolithiasis in guinea pig?
Low calcium diet
Surgical removal
Often recur
What is often associated with alopecia and uterine bleeding in guinea pigs.. what would the treatment be?
Cystic ovaries
Leuprolide - turn off ovarian activity
Cystorelin aspiration
Spay= 75% occurrence rates
How can you diagnose cystic ovaries?
Palpation
Radiographs
Ultrasound
Surgical biopsy
Common respiratory diseases of guinea pigs?
URI: rhinitis, otitis media Pneumonia Bordetella Streptococcus Neoplasia
Cardiac conditions
What antibiotics can be used in the guinea pig and chinchillas?
Quinolones
Chloramphenicol
Metronidazole
Sulfa drugs
NO penicillin or cephalosporins
What are the characteristics of the chinchillas teeth?
Open rooted
Pigmented incisors
What type of GI system does the chinchilla have?
Hind gut fermetor
What is the lifespan of the chinchilla?
15-20yrs
What are the dietary recommendations for chinchilla ?
Diet high in “chew factor”
Grass hay
Small bits of greens
Limited pellet
No grain
T/F: both guinea pigs and chinchilla are seasonal polygestrus with long gestation
True
How can you determine if a female chinchilla is in heat?
Has an open vaginal membrane
What is the natural habitat and social characteristics of chinchillas?
Social, live in large groups
Crepuscular-nocutrnal
Prey mentality
Fastidious groomers and dust baths
T/F: the proper way to retrain a chinchilla is by the scruff
False
Fur slips
Where can blood be taken from the chinchilla
?
Jugular
Has very small veins
What is the most common problem seen in chinchillas?
Dental disease
From chronic Low fiber diets
Cheek teeth affected most
What are clinical signs of overgrowth molar crowns or roots?
Mouth forced open Drooping Cannot swallow Painful masticating Palpable lumps on mandible
Epiphora — roots compressing nasolacrimal duct— obstruction leads to excessive tearing
What are causes of GI stasis in chinchillas?
Gernalized ileus (secondary)
Impaction
Intussusception
Gas distention and bloat
Treatment of GI stasis in chinchillas?
Decompress Prn
Motility meds: cisapride, metoclopramide
Parenteral antibiotics
Analgesics: buprenorphine
Fluids: IV, IO, SQ
Famotidine
Long bone fractures are common in chinchillas, often associated with cage/environmental trauma.. how are these commonly treated?
Amputations
— do poorly with bandages and non-unions are common
T/F: ectoparasites are rare in chinchillas due to dense hair coat
True
The degu appears like a gerbil on steroids.. what species is it very similar to regarding diet, anatomy, GI and sexing?
Chinchillas
