1. GUINEA PIG MANAGEMENT Cavia porcellus

2. Origin Cavia porcellus – domesticated Cavia aperia – wild wild – Peru, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay also known as Cavies domesticated 16 th century – England

3. Varieties of Guinea Pigs Traditional  American or English – short hair  Abyssinian – whorls of short rough hair  Peruvian – long hair

4. 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

5. Traditional varieties of guinea pigs

6. American – short hair

7. Abyssinian – whorls of short hair

8. Peruvian – long hair

9. New varieties of guinea pigs

10. Silky – soft, medium hair

11. Teddy – short, coarse hair

12. American crested – contrasting whorl on head

13. Rex – very short, soft hair

14. Hairless – (well, almost)

15. Basic Guinea Pig compact stocky body tailless diurnal – actually  short naps night and day sebaceous marking glands - rump open rooted teeth 

16. 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.

17. Uses of Guinea Pigs Pets Scientific research Food

18. 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

19. Home Sweet Home Bedding  wood shavings – not cedar, pine  shredded paper  not dusty  timothy hay overlay optional  clean weekly

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

21. Digestive System Strict herbivores Hind gut fermenters – cecum  Lactobacilli sp.  primary fatty acid – propionic acid

22. 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

23. Feeding Additional Requirements  ~ 6 gm feed/100 gm body weight  18-20 % protein  10-16 % crude fiber Use guinea pig feed!!! NOT RABBIT FEED  no vit. C and high in vit. D

24. Feeding Management Messy feeders Use J-feeders not bowl

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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

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

29. SEXING male: straight slit female: Y-shaped

30. SEXING male: straight slit

31. SEXING female: Y-shaped

32. 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

33. 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)

34. Care of Young milk  3.9% fat  8.1% protein  3.0% lactose

35. DISEASES genetic infectious environmental nutritional others

36. 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

37. INFECTIOUS DISEASES Bordetella bronchiseptica - pneumonia  do not house with subclinical carriers  rabbits, cats, dogs other infectious diseases are much less common

38. 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

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