Taxonomy

1
(No Transcript)
2
Taxonomy

• Kingdom Animalia
• Phylum Chordata
• Class Mammalia
• Order Rodentia
• Sub-Order Hystrichomorpha
• Family Cavidae
• Genus Cavia
• Species porcellus

3
(a)
(b)
Figure 7.5 Guinea pigs are available in a variety
of coat colors. Shown here are a white guinea
pig (a) and a brown and black one (b).
Photograph (a) by Jim Roy. Courtesy Hilltop Lab
Animals, Inc. and (b) by Jeff Rathmann. Courtesy
PetMarket Place pet store, Webster Groves, MO.
4
(No Transcript)
5
Uses of Guinea Pigs

• Pets
• Scientific research
• Food

6
Guinea Pigs

• South America- Peru Brazil to Argentina
• Bred for food consumption for 3000 yrs
• Live in mountains, swamps, grasslands
• Year-round breeders groups of 5-10
• Spaniards brought to Europe in 1500s
• Closer related to chinchillas and porcupines than
  to rats and mice

7
(No Transcript)
8
Cavia Porcellus

• Crepuscular, non-burrowing, herbivorous
• Friendly disposition, low odor, quiet
• Not fastidious, more messy than other rodents
• Research uses for immunology, genetics,
  infectious diseases, nutrition
• George Bernard Shaw guinea pigs

9
(No Transcript)
10
Guinea Pig

• Short, stocky, no tails, short legs, unfurred
  ears, 4 digits front-3 digit rear.
• Females -1 pair inguinal mammary glands
• Teeth grow throughout life malocclusion
• Three main breeds short haired (American
  English), long-haired (Peruvian), and
  rosette-haired (Abyssinian)
• Amer. Cavy Breeders Assn lists 13 breeds

11
American short hair
12
(No Transcript)
13
Peruvian long hair
14
(No Transcript)
15
Abyssinian whorls of short hair
16
(No Transcript)
17
New varieties of guinea pigs
18
Silky soft, medium hair
19
Teddy short, coarse hair
20
American crested contrasting whorl on head
21
Rex very short, soft hair
22
Hairless (well, almost)
23
(No Transcript)
24
(No Transcript)
25
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.

26
Home Sweet Home

• Bedding
• wood shavings not cedar, pine
• shredded paper
• not dusty
• timothy hay overlay optional
• clean weekly

27
(No Transcript)
28
Home Sweet Home

• Humidity 50 40 70
• Light cycle 1212
• Air changes 10 15 per hour
• Temperature 70, 65 79

29
Guinea Pig

• House in solid-bottom cages with bedding, 101 sq
  in, 7 high, polycarbonate or other easily
  cleaned material very messy.
• Scatter feed, play in water
• Will defecate in feed and water

30
(No Transcript)
31
Digestive System

• Strict herbivores
• Hind gut fermenters cecum
• Have higher folic acid requirement
• Sensitive to excess Ca, Vit. A, Vit. D
• Require vitamin C

32
Guinea Pig

• Fussy eaters stop eating if diet is changed
• May starve rather than eat strange food
• Monogastric herbivore functions like a horse
• Food and water should not be in bowls
• Food dispenser and sipper bottle
• Forage eaters

33
Feeding Management

• Messy feeders
• Use J-feeders not bowl

34
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 disease

35
Guinea Pig

• Male-dominated hierarchies
• Adults rarely fight-new male cage mates may
• Tendency to freezethen scatter! frightened or
  startled may jump from cage
• Preyer or pinna reflex..turn head and direct
  ears toward a sound

36
SEXING male straight slit
37
SEXING female Y-shaped
38
Guinea Pig

• Males are boars, females are sows
• Polygamous (1-10) or monogamus
• Female can remain with male through preg
  depends upon cage size
• Males and females can be repro active _at_ 30
  days..wait until 3-4 mo for males (600 gm), 2-3
  mo for females (400 gm).
• If more than 7 mo for first breeding, pubic
  symphysis will have fused dystocia
• Gestation is 68 days

39
(No Transcript)
40
(No Transcript)
41
(No Transcript)
42
DISEASES

• genetic
• infectious
• environmental
• nutritional
• others

43
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

44
INFECTIOUS DISEASES

• Bordetella bronchiseptica - pneumonia
• do not house with subclinical carriers
• rabbits, cats, dogs
• other infectious diseases are much less common

45
OTHER DISEASES

• vitamin C deficiency scurvy
• heat stroke
• 85º F, high humidity, lack of ventilation
• barbering
• small bald patches

46
Public Health Risks

• minimal
• diseases guinea pigs may carry
• Bordetella, Salmonella, Yersinia
  pseudotuberculosis, Streptococcus

47
(No Transcript)
48
(No Transcript)
49
SEXING

• male straight slit female Y-shaped