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  Abyssinian – whorls of short rough hair  Peruvian – long hair

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

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 Bedding  wood shavings – not cedar, pine  shredded paper  not dusty  timothy 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 calcification  mineralization of soft tissues

Feeding Additional Requirements  ~ 6 gm feed/100 gm body weight  % protein  % 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 estrous cycle days gestation 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 fuses  must relax at parturition

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)

Care of Young milk  3.9% fat  8.1% protein  3.0% 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 - pneumonia  do not house with subclinical carriers  rabbits, cats, dogs other infectious diseases are much less common

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

Public Health Risks minimal diseases guinea pigs may carry  Bordetella, Salmonella, Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, Streptococcus