Guinea Pigs (Cavy)

Question 1

suborder and species of guinea pigs

Answer 1

suborder: hystrictomorpha

species: cavia porcellus

Question 2

what makes hystricomorphs different from myomorphs?

Answer 2

• hystricomorphs have longer gestation periods
• the young are precocious
• have a cellular membrane that closes over the vaginal opening except during estrus and parturition

important

Question 3

English/American guinea pigs

Answer 3

most common, smooth short hair directed caudally with a lot of different patterns

Question 4

Peruvian guinea pigs have __ hair

Answer 4

LONG

Question 5

guinea pigs are the first pocket pet with a __ tooth

Answer 5

premolar

Question 6

what percent of the GI tract is in the cecum?

Answer 6

65% - very sensitive to antibiotics

Question 7

how many digits do guinea pigs have on the front and back?

Answer 7

front: 4 digits
back: 3 digits

Question 8

how to sex a guinea pig

Answer 8

males have os penis and stylets

Question 9

t/f: you should hole a guinea pig by the scruff or neck

Answer 9

F

Question 10

life span of guinea pigs

Answer 10

5-7 years

Question 11

guinea pig urine is thick and __ with a pH of __

Answer 11

guinea pig urine is thick and caustic with a pH of 9

Question 12

T/F: guinea pigs like changes to their environment

Answer 12

F!

Question 13

what/how should you feed guinea pigs?

Answer 13

They’re strictly herbivorous. Start them out with a varied diet early in life as this is when food preferences are established

very resistant to changes in food

Question 14

T/F: guinea pigs may stampede/trample young if frightened

Answer 14

T

Question 15

Guinea pigs cannot make __

Answer 15

vitamin C

Question 16

Guinea pigs daily requirement of vitamin C is __

Answer 16

15-25mg/kg/day

Question 17

female guinea pigs have a __ shaped opening and males have a __ line where the penis can be extruded

Answer 17

female guinea pigs have a Y shaped opening and males have a straight line where the penis can be extruded

Question 18

T/F: we use anogenital distance to sex guinea pigs

Answer 18

F

Question 19

Describe the vaginal closure membrane

Answer 19

in place until first estrus and opens right before then closes until parturition

Question 20

describe the female public symphysis in guinea pigs

Answer 20

It relaxes and separates prior to parturition to increase diameter of the birth canal. They must be bred and deliver prior to 6-8 months of age with failure to do so resulting in permanent fusion of the pubic symphysis

Question 21

Guinea pigs neonates are __ at birth

Answer 21

precocious

Question 22

guinea pigs litter size

Answer 22

2-5 pups

Question 23

Guinea pigs are weaned at __ days of age and sexually matured at __

Answer 23

Guinea pigs are weaned at 21 days of age and sexually matured at 5 weeks females and 8 weeks for males

Question 24

Client animal blood draws are best using the __

Answer 24

lateral saphenous

Question 25

what are Kurloff cells

Answer 25

mononuclear leukocyte with oval inclusion bodies *NAVLE*

Question 26

Describe respiratory disease

Answer 26

young and stressed animals with bordetella and strep pneumonia as culprits. Treat with enrofloxacin (careful of cecum)

Question 27

Scurvy

Answer 27

Vitamin C deficiency in guinea pigs taht takes 2 weeks to show signs. It causes many signs including impaired collagen synthesis, lameness, resp disease, malocclusion, diarrhea, joint stiffness and sometimes rosary bead disease. Adults require 10mg/kg/day for maintenance and pregnant animals require 30mg/kg/day. Most commercial diets provide 200mg/kg and you can treat with high doses (50mg/kg) during clinical illness

Question 28

what foods are high in vitamin C

Answer 28

broccoli, guave, red peppers, parsley

Question 29

when do diets lose vitamin C/potency

Answer 29

>90 days after milling

Question 30

Antibiotic associated enterotoxemia

Answer 30

primarily caused by C. difficile - reestablish the normal GI flora, supportive care, and give safe antibiotics (TMS/chloramphenicol/enrofloxacin)

Question 31

guinea pigs with urinary calculi will have a __ posture and are best diagnosed by __ with __ being the most common stone

Answer 31

guinea pigs with urinary calculi will have a hunched posture and are best diagnosed by radiographs with calcium oxalate being the most common stone

Question 32

bilateral symmetrical alopecia in guinea pigs is likely what?

Answer 32

ovarian cysts

Question 33

cervical lymphadenitis (lumps)

Answer 33

ZOONOTIC bc of strep zooepidemicus. Lance the SQ masses which will have yellow/white exudate and surgically excuse then put on systemic antibiotics

Question 34

dermatitis causes in guinea pigs

Answer 34

mites, live, cystic ovaries, dermatophytosis (ringworm)

Question 35

pregnancy toxemia type 1

Answer 35

pre-eclampsia that causes vascular changes resulting in ischemia of uteroplacental mass and is most common in obese stressed sows.

Question 36

pregnancy toxemia type 2

Answer 36

this is a fasting ketosis that results in hypoglycemia, lipid mobilization and fatty liver, typically in the last trimester. Avoid obesity, stress, and fasting during pregnancy