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The Anatomy and Physiology of Guinea Pigs:
Guinea pigs have stocky bodies with
very short legs and they have no tail. They are rodents, and, therefore,
are monogastrics with a large cecum. Their oral cavity is small
and narrow and their teeth are open-rooted. The gastrointestinal
tract is sensitive to antibiotics.
Guinea
Pig Reproduction:
Sexing guinea pigs can be challenging, because the
anogenital distance is similar and both males and females have two
pair of mammary glands. The female guinea pig (sow) has a
Y-shaped vaginal opening and a vaginal membrane
except when in estrus and approaching parturition.
Female Guinea Pigs should be bred before she is six
to eight months old, because her pelvis fuses about this age.
During normal parturition, hormones cause relaxing of the pelvic
ligament, so the large pups can be delivered. If the pelvis has
fused, however, dystocia will result.
.The harem system is most frequently used by guinea
pig breeders.
The Guinea Pig's long gestation (average 63 days) results in a litter of precocial pups. The pups begin eating solid food when they
are one week old, but should not be weaned for at least 3
weeks.
Guinea Pig Temperament:
Guinea Pigs are social, docile and rarely bite.
They are easily streseed, however, and may stampede or freeze when
frightened. Guinea pigs are vocal about any situation,
especially the rustle of a cellophane bag containing food.
Guinea pig pups are much more active than their
parents and jump like popcorn when they play.
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Technical Procedures on Guinea Pigs:
Guinea Pigs must be restrained carefully, supporting
theupper body with one hand and the hindquarters with the other.
Your grasp around the pig's thorax should be loose, so that it does
not compromise the guinea pig's ability to breathe. Scruffing is
very difficult with guinea pigs, because there is little loose skin
and the hair pulls out readily.
The Animal Welfare Act requires permanent
identification for animals the size of a guinea pig or larger.
Identification methods include physical appearance, ear tags or
notching, tattooing and microchips.
The ear vein or artery, the anterior vena cava and
the saphenous veins are the most commonly used vessels for blood
collection.
Guinea Pig Husbandry:
Guinea pigs don't jump, nor are they
able to climb out of cages. They should be housed directly on
the bedding. Cage cleaning can be difficult, because guinea pig
urine is high in minerals, which forms "scale" on the cage,
and because guinea pigs produce large quantities of feces. Group
housing is preferred, because guinea pigs are herd animals.
Guinea pigs should be fed high
quality commercial pellets. Because guinea pigs do not produce
vitamin C, food must be used within 3 months of milling date or the
levels of vitamin C will be too low. Some pigs are neophobic--they're
very wary of new foods. Like hamsters, guinea pigs have a blunt
face, so make sure that they can obtain food from their feeder.
Supplementation with a grass hay is essential (to maintain
gastrointestinal motility) and fresh fruits and vegetables are also
recommended.
Guinea Pig Health and Disease:
Like chinchillas, guinea pigs are susceptible to a variety of
gastrointestinal disorders, including Tyzzer's disease, salmonellosis
and antibiotic-associated enteropathy.
All rodents have open rooted teeth, and guinea pigs
are no exception. They may develop malocclusion of incisors or
molars. When molars are affected, hyperptylism (drooling),
anorexia and weight loss can occur.
Guinea pigs are very susceptible to Bordetella
pneumonia. This bacterium is the cause of kennel cough in dogs
and is also very common, but asymptomatic, in rabbits. In guinea
pigs, especially the young, this disease can cause dyspnea and
death.
Because of their inability to manufacture vitamin C, guinea pigs on
poor diets may develop scurvy, with swollen painful joints, hemorrhage
of mucous membranes and poor bone and teeth development.
Female guinea pigs are prone to reproductive maladies.
Dystocia can occur in females that are bred after their pelvic bones
fuse. She may also develop pregnancy toxemia during late
pregnancy and during the first two weeks postpartum, especially if the
sow is overweight or stressed. It is very difficult to treat an
affected sow; she usually dies, often after seizuring.
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