GUINEA PIG MANAGEMENT Cavia porcellus
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