GUINEA PIG MANAGEMENT

Cavia porcellus

Origin

Cavia porcellus – domesticated Cavia aperia – wild wild – Peru, Argentina, Brazil,

Uruguay also known as Cavies

domesticated 16th century – England

Varieties of Guinea Pigs

TraditionalAmerican or English – short hairAbyssinian – whorls of short rough hairPeruvian – long hair

Varieties of Guinea Pigs

New varietiesSilky – medium length soft hairTeddy – short, coarse hairAmerican Crested – short hair with

contrasting whorl on foreheadRex – very short, soft hairHairless

Traditional varieties of guinea pigs

American – short hair

Abyssinian – whorls of short hair

Peruvian – long hair

New varieties of guinea pigs

Silky – soft, medium hair

Teddy – short, coarse hair

American crested – contrasting whorl on head

Rex – very short, soft hair

Hairless – (well, almost)

Basic Guinea Pig

compact stocky body tailless diurnal – actually

short naps night and day

sebaceous marking glands - rump open rooted teeth

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.

Uses of Guinea Pigs

Pets Scientific research Food

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

Home Sweet Home

Beddingwood shavings – not cedar, pineshredded paper

not dustytimothy hay overlay optional

clean weekly

Home Sweet Home

Humidity 50%; 40 – 70 Light cycle 12:12 Air changes 10 – 15 per hour

Digestive System

Strict herbivores Hind gut fermenters – cecum

Lactobacilli sp.primary fatty acid – propionic acid

NUTRITION

require vitamin C have higher folic acid requirement sensitive to excess Ca, Vit. A, Vit. D

leads to metastatic calcificationmineralization of soft tissues

Feeding

Additional Requirements~ 6 gm feed/100 gm body weight18-20 % protein10-16 % crude fiber

Use guinea pig feed!!! NOT RABBIT FEED

no vit. C and high in vit. D

Feeding Management

Messy feeders Use J-feeders not bowl

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

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

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

REPRODUCTION

age to sexual maturity 68-70 estrous cycle 15-17 days gestation 59-72 days

SEXING

male: straight slit female: Y-shaped

SEXING male: straight slit

SEXING female: Y-shaped

BREEDING

females pair at 400gm; 2-3 months males pair at 600 gm; 3-4 months breed females before 6 months

otherwise pubic symphysis fusesmust relax at parturition

Care of Young

precocial – bornfurred, eyes open, teeth eruptedwalking within 2 hours

two nipples – inguinal regioncan care for four younglitters 3-4 (range 1-6)

Care of Young

milk3.9% fat8.1% protein3.0% lactose

DISEASES

genetic infectious environmental nutritional others

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

INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Bordetella bronchiseptica - pneumoniado not house with subclinical carriersrabbits, cats, dogs

other infectious diseases are much less common

OTHER DISEASES

vitamin C deficiency – scurvy metastatic calcification

mineralization of soft tissues

heat stroke85º F+, high humidity, lack of ventilation

barberingsmall bald patches

Public Health Risks

minimal diseases guinea pigs may carry

Bordetella, Salmonella, Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, Streptococcus