Guinea Pigs

Vet 215- lab animals

Scientific name of the guinea pig

cavia porcellus

nickname for guinea pig

cavy

Varieties of guinea pigs (3)

English/American

Abyssinian

Peruvian

What stocks/strains of g. pigs are used in reasearch

Dunkin-Hartley and Hartley (Outbred)

Strain 2 and strain 13 (Inbred strains)

g. pigs are used in what studies - make sure to know main one

TUBERCULOSIS

nutrition

allergies

audiology

immunologic

Describe behavior of g pig

docile, rarely bite

Social

barbers

burrow- don’t make their own

vocal

can’t jump or climb

Housing conditions for g. pigs:

Solid bottom cages w bedding

can be open top if height 10”+

rectangular preferred over square

g. pigs are to be fed strictly fresh produce. T/F

False

g. pigs are ____ivores - nutrition

herb-

Due to the breakdown of vitamin c, how long after the milling date does g. pig food last?

90 days

g. pigs should be fed:

a. strictly timothy hay

b. commerical feed

c. commercial feed and hay

d. strictly alfalfa

c. commercial feed and hay

While rabbits swallow their cecotrophs, g. pigs do what instead:

chew on them

What is the double-bonded and stable form of vitamin c to be used as supplement for g. pigs?

a. ascorbic acid

b. L-ascorbyl 2 phosphate

c. L-ascorbyl 3 phosphate

d. citric acid

b. ascorbyl 2 phosphate

Guinea pig TPR

T: 99-103.1F
P: 240-310bpm

R:7-130bpm

neonate guinea pig

pup

mature male g. pig

boars

mature female g. pig

sow

G. pig lifespan

5-6 years

Guinea pigs have a short stubby tail. T/F

False

G. Pig dental formula

2( I 1/1, C 0/0, P 1/1, M 3/3)

Only the guinea pig’s incisors are open rooted. T/F

False. All are open rooted

The guinea pig has a unique pharynx, the soft palate is continuous and has a hole in it, called the

palatal ostium.

Female g pigs must be bred before 6 months, why?

Prevent fusion of the pelvic symphysis.

g. pig- estrous cycle length

15-17 days

g. pig- gestation period

59-72 days

g. pigs are seasonal or non-seasonal polyestrous.

non-seasonal

g. pigs have post-partum estrous how long after parturition

2-10 hours

Farrowing g. pigs take how long - parturition

30 minutes

g. pig pups are born precocious or altricial?

precocious

Appropriate blood collection amount in ml- g. pig

4-8ml

Respiratory diseases of the g. pig

Bordetella bronchiseptica

Streptococcus pneumoniae

Aka “Lumps”, this is a bacterial disease in g. pigs causing abscess of the cervical lymph node, swlling and otitis

Cervical lymphadenitis

Gi disease in g. pigs are caused by

Salmonella species

Tyzzer’s disease affects g. pigs and is hard to eradicate due to resistant spores. WHat causes tyzzer’s disease

clostridium piliforme

Viral disease found in 70-80% of g. pigs-

cytomegalovirus

G. pigs are very tolerant to antibiotic treatment. T/F

False

Explain antibiotic toxicity

Sensitivity to antibiotics that kill off gram + bacteria. Upsets the natural flora in the gut allowing “bad” and gram - bacteria to proliferate.

Which variety of g. pig has short coarse hair with whorls

Abyssinian

Which g. pig has long fine silky hair

Peruviam

What is the most common g. pig outbred stock used?

Dunkin- Hartley