Diseases of geriatric Guinea pigs and chinchillas

Respiratory Diseases in Guinea Pigs, Chinchillas and Degus

The diagnosis and treatment of respiratory disease in pet guinea pigs, chinchillas, and degus still face profoundly serious challenges owing to their relatively small size, conspicuous clinical signs, difficulty for sampling, and insufficient scientific evidence to correlate signs and particular pathologies. This article is intended to summarize the available information on the relevant anatomy, physiology, and respiratory pathology in these species.

Penile amputation and pre-scrotal urethrostomy in a male guinea pig (Cavia porcellus)

Male guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus), especially older animals, are prone to urethritis and posthitis. Severe, chronic balanoposthitis/posthitis can result in fibrosis, localised infection and the deposition of mineralised plaques in the prepuce. Severe cases may require surgical intervention, such as penile amputation and urethrostomy, to achieve resolution.

Geriatric Care of Rabbits, Guinea Pigs, and Chinchillas

Specialized veterinary care needed for geriatric rabbits, guinea pigs, and chinchillas is described along with medical conditions common in this age group. Clinical signs of pain, safe analgesics, therapeutics, and alternative modalities are outlined along with guidelines for end-of-life care and decision-making. A handout containing advice for small mammal herbivore clients with geriatric pets is included.

Use of the guinea pig in studies on the development and prevention of acquired sensorineural hearing loss, with an emphasis on noise

Guinea pigs have been used in diverse studies to better understand acquired hearing loss induced by noise and ototoxic drugs. The guinea pig has its best hearing at slightly higher frequencies relative to humans, but its hearing is more similar to humans than the rat or mouse. Like other rodents, it is more vulnerable to noise injury than the human or nonhuman primate models. There is a wealth of information on auditory function and vulnerability of the inner ear to diverse insults in the guinea pig. With respect to the assessment of potential otoprotective agents, guinea pigs are also docile animals that are relatively easy to dose via systemic injections or gavage. Of interest, the cochlea and the round window are easily accessible, notably for direct cochlear therapy, as in the chinchilla, making the guinea pig a most relevant and suitable model for hearing. This article reviews the use of the guinea pig in basic auditory research, provides detailed discussion of its use in studies on noise injury and other injuries leading to acquired sensorineural hearing loss, and lists some therapeutics assessed in these laboratory animal models to prevent acquired sensorineural hearing loss.

Urethral diverticulum and urolithiasis in a female guinea pig (Cavia porcellus)

CASE DESCRIPTION A 5-year-old sexually intact female guinea pig was evaluated because of mild dysuria and a subcutaneous mass located cranioventral to the urogenital openings. CLINICAL FINDINGS Non-contrast-enhanced CT and surgical exploration of the distal aspect of the urethra revealed a urethral diverticulum with an intraluminal urolith. Analysis revealed that the urolith was composed of calcium carbonate and struvite. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME The urolith was surgically removed and ablation of the urethral diverticulum was attempted. Approximately 3 months later, the guinea pig was reevaluated for masses in the perineal region, and positive-contrast urethrocystography revealed 2 uroliths present in the same diverticulum. Uroliths were manually expressed with the patient under general anesthesia. Approximately 2 weeks later, urethroplasty was performed to create an enlarged stoma with the diverticulum, thereby preventing urine from pooling in the diverticulum and potentially reducing the risk of future urolith formation. The urethroplasty site healed well with no reported complications or evidence of urolith recurrence 6 months after surgery. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Urolithiasis is common in guinea pigs, and urethral diverticulum and intraluminal urolith formation should be considered as a potential differential diagnosis for a subcutaneous mass along the distal aspect of the urethra. Creation of a urethral stoma from a urethral diverticulum via urethroplasty achieved a successful outcome in this patient.

ExNOTic: Should We Be Keeping Exotic Pets?

There has been a recent trend towards keeping non-traditional companion animals, also known as exotic pets. These pets include parrots, reptiles, amphibians and rabbits, as well as small species of rodent such as degus and guinea pigs. Many of these exotic pet species are not domesticated, and often have special requirements in captivity, which many owners do not have the facilities or knowledge to provide. Keeping animals in settings to which they are poorly adapted is a threat to their welfare. Additionally, owner satisfaction with the animal may be poor due to a misalignment of expectations, which further impacts on welfare, as it may lead to repeated rehoming or neglect. We investigate a range of commonly kept exotic species in terms of their suitability as companion animals from the point of view of animal welfare and owner satisfaction, and make recommendations on the suitability of various species as pets.

Reproductive Medicine in Guinea Pigs, Chinchillas and Degus

Guinea pigs, chinchillas, and degus are hystricomorph rodents originating from South America. They are commonly presented as exotic pets in veterinary practice. Reviewing the anatomy and physiology of their reproductive tract helps to offer better client education about preventive medicine and helps to act faster in emergency situations. Choosing the right anesthetic protocol helps to prevent complications. This article should aid as a guideline on the most common reproductive problems of these 3 species and help in making decisions regarding the best treatment options.

Pathology of the exotic companion mammal gastrointestinal system

A variety of disease agents can affect the gastrointestinal tract of the exotic companion mammal, some of which can pose zoonotic health concerns. Many conditions present with nonspecific clinical signs (lethargy, variable degrees of diarrhea, and for most sick rodents, presenting hunched with spiky fur), necessitating additional laboratory testing to reach a diagnosis. Primary tumors of the digestive tract are also presented as well as miscellaneous conditions ranging from toxins to trauma.

Ovarian cysts in the guinea pig (Cavia porcellus)

This article reviews ovarian cysts in the guinea pig (Cavia porcellus), a disease commonly associated with symmetric, nonpruritic alopecia of the dorsum and flanks. Relevant anatomy is discussed and current theories of pathogenesis are reviewed. Prevalence, predisposing factors, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis are presented.

Respiratory system anatomy, physiology, and disease: Guinea pigs and chinchillas

Respiratory diseases are common in guinea pigs and chinchillas. There are multifactorial causes of respiratory involvement in these species of rodents, from infectious (bacterial, viral, and fungal) to neoplastic causes. Toxicoses and diseases affecting other systems may also induce respiratory signs. Knowledge of biology, including husbandry, nutritional requirements, and behavior, are important clues for the clinician to determine the role these issues may play in the development, progression, and prognosis of respiratory clinical cases in rodents. Current approaches in the diagnosis and therapy for respiratory disease in small mammals warrant more research concerning response-to-treatment reports.