guineapigs

Uploaded from authorPOINTLite
Views:
 
Category: Entertainment
     
 

Presentation Description

No description available.

Comments

Presentation Transcript

GUINEA PIG MANAGEMENT: 

GUINEA PIG MANAGEMENT Cavia porcellus

Origin: 

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

Varieties of Guinea Pigs: 

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

Varieties of Guinea Pigs: 

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: 

Traditional varieties of guinea pigs

American – short hair: 

American – short hair

Abyssinian – whorls of short hair: 

Abyssinian – whorls of short hair

Peruvian – long hair: 

Peruvian – long hair

New varieties of guinea pigs: 

New varieties of guinea pigs

Silky – soft, medium hair: 

Silky – soft, medium hair

Teddy – short, coarse hair: 

Teddy – short, coarse hair

American crested – contrasting whorl on head: 

American crested – contrasting whorl on head

Rex – very short, soft hair: 

Rex – very short, soft hair

Hairless – (well, almost): 

Hairless – (well, almost)

Basic Guinea Pig: 

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

Additional characteristics: 

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: 

Uses of Guinea Pigs Pets Scientific research Food

Home Sweet Home: 

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: 

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

Home Sweet Home: 

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

Digestive System: 

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

NUTRITION: 

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: 

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

Feeding Management: 

Feeding Management Messy feeders Use J-feeders not bowl

Water Management: 

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: 

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: 

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: 

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

SEXING: 

SEXING male: straight slit female: Y-shaped

SEXING male: straight slit: 

SEXING male: straight slit

SEXING female: Y-shaped: 

SEXING female: Y-shaped

BREEDING: 

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: 

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: 

Care of Young milk 3.9% fat 8.1% protein 3.0% lactose

DISEASES: 

DISEASES genetic infectious environmental nutritional others

DISEASES: 

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: 

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

OTHER DISEASES: 

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: 

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