Guinea Pigs & Chinchillas Flashcards
1
Q
What is Hypovitaminosis C in guinea pigs
A
- Results in defective Type IV collagen, laminin, and elastin
- necessary for skin, bone, joint, blood vessel integrity and to anchor teeth
- Clinical signs:
- thin body condition, diarrhea, rough and unkempt hair coat
- Dental malocclusion, difficulty prehending food, teeth grinding, anorexia
- Lameness/paresis, swollen joints, pathologic fractures
- Petechiae on mucous membranes, hematuria
2
Q
Where can a guinea pig have blood drawn? where can they be catherterized?
A
- Venipuncture:
- Jugular v
- Gingival v (in front of mandibular incisors)
- Cranial vena cava is risky and not recommended
- Catheterization:
- Cephalic v (26g)
- Intraosseous
3
Q
What antibiotics should be avoided in guinea pigs
A
- Oral penicillin
- ampicillin/amoxicillin
- bacitracin
- erythromycin
- lancomycin
- clindamycin
- tylosin
- tetracycline
4
Q
What are the normal biological parameters for guinea pigs
A
5
Q
What are the DDx for facial masses on guinea pigs
A
- Abscess
- neoplasm
- lymphadenopathy (neoplasia, cervical lymphadenitis)
- hyperthyroidism
6
Q
What are facial abscesses in guinea pigs (cause, Tx, Dx?)
A
- Typically dental, aural, or trauma related
- Dx:
- FNA and cytology
- CT to determine origin and extent
- Caseous, not purulent material
- lancing and draining may be unrewarding ⇢marsupialize instead
- Requires culture of abscess capsule for organism ID and antimicrobial susceptibility
7
Q
What is cervical lymphadenitis
A
-
Streptococcus equi subsp zooepidemicus
- G+ cocci part of the normal oropharyngeal/nasal flora
- invades via abrasions of oral vacity
- Bacteria invade deeper neck tissues ⇢ LN abscessation
- Present with swellings in ventral neck that occasionally rupture
- Tx: surgical excision or lancing
- broad spectrum antibiotics based on C&S
- Zoonotic potential
8
Q
What is a thyroid tumor in guinea pigs (cause, signs, dx, tx)
A
- Hyperthyroidism is common
- Signs:
- weight loss
- normal to increased appetite
- hair thinning
- PU/PD
- hyperactivity
- tachycardia
- heart murmur
- arrhythmia
- diarrhea
- hair loss
- Dx - thyroid panel
- Tx - radioactive iodine I131
9
Q
What are androgen-dependent sebaceous glands for in guinea pigs
A
- For scent marking
- along dorsum and around anus
10
Q
What common skin masses affect guinea pigs? Dx? Tx
A
- Benign follicular tumors are most common
- Trichofolliculomas/trichoepithelioma
- Typically arise on dorsal rump
- Can become large, ulcerated, exudative, and malodorous
- Others:
- sebaceous adenoma
- fibrosarcoma
- lymphoma
- lipoma/sarcoma
- Dx: FNA, cytology or biopsy & hitopahtolgy
- stage with CT ideally
- Tx: surgical removal +/- radiation, chemotherapy vs palliation
11
Q
What ectoparasites affect guinea pigs? Dx? Tx?
A
-
Trixacarus caviae sarcoptic-like mite - burrows in the skin causing severe CS
- intense pruritus may look like seizure behavior
- self-trauma leads to scaling, crusting, alopecia, and secondary infections
- Others: fur mites (Chirodiscoides caviae), lice
- Dx: skin scraping and microscopic exam
- Tx: ivermectin or selamectin topically
12
Q
What is Dermatophytosis of guinea pigs
A
- Trichophyton mentagrophytes most common
- Signs:
- circular alopecia and crusting on face, feet, pinna and dorsum
- +/- pruritus
- Dx: dermatophyte culture
- Trichophyton does not fluoresce under wood’s lamp
- Tx: oral antifungals (terbinafine) until 2-3 negative cultures
- Zoonotic potential
13
Q
What are ovarian cysts in guinea pigs
A
- Common in middle aged to older females
- typically present with abdominal distension, discomfort, or inappetence
- Other signs: bilateral flank alopecia, mammary hyperkeratosis
- Concurrent uterine pathology is common
- leiomyoma, granulosa cell tumors
- Cystic endometrial hyperplasia
- Endometritis
- Tx: drainage, spay or GnRH agonist for follicular cysts
14
Q
What is urine scald?
A
- Perineal dermatitis and secondary pyoderma
- Causes
- urinary conditions (urolithiasis, UTI)
- back or leg pain
- unsanitary living conditions
- obesity
- Tx: clip, cleaning, antibiotics, analgesia and underlying cause
15
Q
What is pododermatitis
A
- Inflammatino, ulceration, abscessation of palmar or plantar surfaces of the feet
- Predisposing factors:
- rough or wire surfaces
- poor sanitation
- obesity
