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GUINEA PIG MANAGEMENT

GUINEA PIG MANAGEMENT. Cavia porcellus. Origin. Cavia porcellus – domesticated Cavia aperia – wild wild – Peru, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay also known as Cavies domesticated 16 th century – England. Varieties of Guinea Pigs. Traditional American or English – short hair

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GUINEA PIG MANAGEMENT

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  1. GUINEA PIG MANAGEMENT Cavia porcellus

  2. Origin • Cavia porcellus – domesticated • Cavia aperia – wild • wild – Peru, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay • also known as Cavies • domesticated 16th century – England

  3. Varieties of Guinea Pigs • Traditional • American or English – short hair • Abyssinian – whorls of short rough hair • Peruvian – long hair

  4. Varieties of Guinea Pigs • New varieties • Silky – medium length soft hair • Teddy – short, coarse hair • American Crested – short hair with contrasting whorl on forehead • Rex – very short, soft hair • Hairless

  5. Traditional varieties of guinea pigs

  6. American – short hair

  7. Abyssinian – whorls of short hair

  8. Peruvian – long hair

  9. New varieties of guinea pigs

  10. Silky – soft, medium hair

  11. Teddy – short, coarse hair

  12. American crested – contrasting whorl on head

  13. Rex – very short, soft hair

  14. Hairless – (well, almost)

  15. Basic Guinea Pig  • compact stocky body • tailless • diurnal – actually • short naps night and day • sebaceous marking glands - rump • open rooted teeth

  16. Additional characteristics • vocalize – at least 11 sounds • good swimmers • seldom jump • rarely bite or scratch • need frequent handling • lifespan – 5 yr average, ~8 yr max.

  17. Uses of Guinea Pigs • Pets • Scientific research • Food

  18. Home Sweet Home • Temperature: 70, 65 – 79 • Space • < 350 gm 60 sq. in. • > 350 gm 101 sq. in. • max size 1.2 x 3.8 cm mesh or solid

  19. Home Sweet Home • Bedding • wood shavings – not cedar, pine • shredded paper • not dusty • timothy hay overlay optional • clean weekly

  20. Home Sweet Home • Humidity 50%; 40 – 70 • Light cycle 12:12 • Air changes 10 – 15 per hour

  21. Digestive System • Strict herbivores • Hind gut fermenters – cecum • Lactobacilli sp. • primary fatty acid – propionic acid

  22. NUTRITION • require vitamin C • have higher folic acid requirement • sensitive to excess Ca, Vit. A, Vit. D • leads to metastatic calcification • mineralization of soft tissues

  23. Feeding • Additional Requirements • ~ 6 gm feed/100 gm body weight • 18-20 % protein • 10-16 % crude fiber • Use guinea pig feed!!! • NOT RABBIT FEED • no vit. C and high in vit. D

  24. Feeding Management • Messy feeders • Use J-feeders not bowl

  25. Water Management • Glass/clear bottles preferred • Like to play with waterers • will empty water bottle and/or • stop up the opening • check frequently • Change & Clean water bottle daily • Automatic waterers • check daily; acidify water at source • reduces pseudomonas

  26. Water Management • Glass/clear bottles preferred • Like to play with waterers • will empty water bottle and/or • stop up the opening • check frequently • Change & Clean water bottle daily • Automatic waterers • check daily; acidify water at source • reduces pseudomonas

  27. Water Management • Glass/clear bottles preferred • Like to play with waterers • will empty water bottle and/or • stop up the opening • check frequently • Change & Clean water bottle daily • Automatic waterers • check daily; acidify water at source • reduces pseudomonas

  28. REPRODUCTION • age to sexual maturity 68-70 • estrous cycle 15-17 days • gestation 59-72 days

  29. SEXING male: straight slit female: Y-shaped

  30. SEXING male: straight slit

  31. SEXING female: Y-shaped

  32. BREEDING • females pair at 400gm; 2-3 months • males pair at 600 gm; 3-4 months • breed females before 6 months • otherwise pubic symphysis fuses • must relax at parturition

  33. Care of Young • precocial – born • furred, eyes open, teeth erupted • walking within 2 hours • two nipples – inguinal region • can care for four young • litters 3-4 (range 1-6)

  34. Care of Young • milk • 3.9% fat • 8.1% protein • 3.0% lactose

  35. DISEASES • genetic • infectious • environmental • nutritional • others

  36. DISEASES • malocclusion – over growth of teeth • causes • environmental • inadequate opportunity wear down teeth • genetic • teeth do not meet properly • in guinea pigs • lower premolars may be tilted inward • eventually tongue is trapped

  37. INFECTIOUS DISEASES • Bordetella bronchiseptica - pneumonia • do not house with subclinical carriers • rabbits, cats, dogs • other infectious diseases are much less common

  38. OTHER DISEASES • vitamin C deficiency – scurvy • metastatic calcification • mineralization of soft tissues • heat stroke • 85º F+, high humidity, lack of ventilation • barbering • small bald patches

  39. Public Health Risks • minimal • diseases guinea pigs may carry • Bordetella, Salmonella, Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, Streptococcus

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