Guinea Pigs (Cavy) Flashcards
suborder and species of guinea pigs
suborder: hystrictomorpha
species: cavia porcellus
what makes hystricomorphs different from myomorphs?
- 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
English/American guinea pigs
most common, smooth short hair directed caudally with a lot of different patterns
Peruvian guinea pigs have __ hair
LONG
guinea pigs are the first pocket pet with a __ tooth
premolar
what percent of the GI tract is in the cecum?
65% - very sensitive to antibiotics
how many digits do guinea pigs have on the front and back?
front: 4 digits
back: 3 digits
how to sex a guinea pig
males have os penis and stylets
t/f: you should hole a guinea pig by the scruff or neck
F
life span of guinea pigs
5-7 years
guinea pig urine is thick and __ with a pH of __
guinea pig urine is thick and caustic with a pH of 9
T/F: guinea pigs like changes to their environment
F!
what/how should you feed guinea pigs?
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
T/F: guinea pigs may stampede/trample young if frightened
T
Guinea pigs cannot make __
vitamin C
Guinea pigs daily requirement of vitamin C is __
15-25mg/kg/day
female guinea pigs have a __ shaped opening and males have a __ line where the penis can be extruded
female guinea pigs have a Y shaped opening and males have a straight line where the penis can be extruded
T/F: we use anogenital distance to sex guinea pigs
F
Describe the vaginal closure membrane
in place until first estrus and opens right before then closes until parturition
describe the female public symphysis in guinea pigs
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
Guinea pigs neonates are __ at birth
precocious
guinea pigs litter size
2-5 pups
Guinea pigs are weaned at __ days of age and sexually matured at __
Guinea pigs are weaned at 21 days of age and sexually matured at 5 weeks females and 8 weeks for males
Client animal blood draws are best using the __
lateral saphenous
what are Kurloff cells
mononuclear leukocyte with oval inclusion bodies
NAVLE
Describe respiratory disease
young and stressed animals with bordetella and strep pneumonia as culprits. Treat with enrofloxacin (careful of cecum)
Scurvy
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
what foods are high in vitamin C
broccoli, guave, red peppers, parsley
when do diets lose vitamin C/potency
> 90 days after milling
Antibiotic associated enterotoxemia
primarily caused by C. difficile
- reestablish the normal GI flora, supportive care, and give safe antibiotics (TMS/chloramphenicol/enrofloxacin)
guinea pigs with urinary calculi will have a __ posture and are best diagnosed by __ with __ being the most common stone
guinea pigs with urinary calculi will have a hunched posture and are best diagnosed by radiographs with calcium oxalate being the most common stone
bilateral symmetrical alopecia in guinea pigs is likely what?
ovarian cysts
cervical lymphadenitis (lumps)
ZOONOTIC bc of strep zooepidemicus. Lance the SQ masses which will have yellow/white exudate and surgically excuse then put on systemic antibiotics
dermatitis causes in guinea pigs
mites, live, cystic ovaries, dermatophytosis (ringworm)
pregnancy toxemia type 1
pre-eclampsia that causes vascular changes resulting in ischemia of uteroplacental mass and is most common in obese stressed sows.
pregnancy toxemia type 2
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
