Guinea Pigs And Chinchillas Flashcards by Corinne Perra

What is the species name for guinea pigs?

Cavia porcellus

South American Andes rodent
Domesticated form cavy and farmed for meat in Peru

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What type of GI system do guinea pigs have?

Hindgut fermenting herbivores

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What type of teeth do guinea pigs have?

All open rooted

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What is the lifespan of guinea pigs

5-7yrs

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What vitamin are guinea pigs unable to synthesize?

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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

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T/F: there are 3 separate openings in the female guinea pig for the urethra, vagina, and rectum

True

-easy to catheterize

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Vitamin C is necessary for what?

Collagen integrity

Absorption of iron from GIT

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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

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What dental diseases can you see in guinea pigs?

Malocclusion 
Lack of attrition 
Overgrowth of crowns 
Impacted roots 
Abscesses

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Clinical signs of dental disease?

Ulceration 
Dysphagia 
Ptyalism 
Bruxism 
Anorexia

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How do you treat malocclusions in guinea pigs?

Cut back sharp edges
Crown reduction with drill
Cut incisions carefully
Supportive care

Repeat

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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

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T/F: GI tract stasis is usually a secondary problem

True

= peristalsis shuts down
Post surgery
Due to pain
Due to poor diet

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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

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How do you treat bloat in guinea pig?

Decompress via tube or aspiration 
Parenteral antibiotics 
Analgesics: buprenorphine 
Fluids: IV, SQ, IO 
Famotidine

poor prognosis

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What skin conditions are commonly seen in guinea pigs?

Alopecia 
Dermatophytosis 
Ectoparasites 
Pododermatitis 
Misc tumors

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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