Guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) drinking preferences: do nipple drinkers compensate for behaviourally deficient diets?

Nutritional Considerations for Juvenile Exotic Companion Animals

Pediatric exotic companion animal nutrition is a broad topic, spanning small mammals, reptiles, and birds. Little research has been performed focusing on the juvenile life stages of these species because they are largely acquired by clients at the young adult stage. The information that does exist has been compiled by wildlife rehabilitators, commercial breeders, and/or exotic captive breeding programs, such as those that exist in zoologic facilities. In this article, we discuss natural history, feeding strategies, energy requirements, digestive physiology and diet digestibility, and key nutrients of concern as factors for determining an appropriate diet for pediatric exotic species.

Rodent Pediatrics

This article reviews the development, hand-rearing, feeding, housing, and social behavior of common pet rodent species (rats, mice, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, chinchillas, and degus). In addition, common gastrointestinal, respiratory, cardiovascular, dermatologic, musculoskeletal, neurologic, and ophthalmic disorders in pediatric pet rodents are reviewed. Preventative care and indications for spaying and neutering are discussed.

Retrospective analysis of risk factors, clinical features, and prognostic indicators for urolithiasis in guinea pigs: 158 cases (2009-2019)

OBJECTIVE

To investigate risk factors, clinical features, and prognostic indicators in guinea pigs with urolithiasis.

ANIMALS

158 guinea pigs with urolithiasis.

PROCEDURES

Medical records of an exotics animal specialty service were searched, identifying guinea pigs with urolithiasis. Signalment, clinical data, and outcomes were recorded. Variables of interest were analyzed for statistical associations with outcome.

RESULTS

Overall, 54.4% (86/158) of animals survived to discharge. Median survival time was 177 days. Females (53.2%; 84/158) were more common than males (46.8%; 74/158). Males were presented younger (mean age, 3.64 years) than females (4.41 years). In 81 of 154 (52.5%) cases, animals were presented with primary urinary concerns, while 73 (47.5%) presented for nonurinary primary concerns. Females more commonly presented with distal urinary tract urolithiasis (63/84; 75%) but fared better overall with a longer median survival time (1,149 days) than males (59 days). Surgical intervention was not a risk factor for nonsurvival; however, increased age (> 4.1 years), male sex, anorexia, weight loss, and lower rectal temperature (< 37.2 °C) on presentation were associated with nonsurvival. Reoccurrence was noted in 13.9% (22/158) of cases, at an average of 284 days.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Urolithiasis should always be considered a differential diagnosis for any unwell guinea pig. In particular, distal urinary tract urolithiasis should be considered in females. A poorer prognosis was associated with older, male guinea pigs, and those displaying anorexia, weight loss, and hypothermia. The need for surgical intervention should not confer a poorer outcome. Further studies are needed to determine specific risk factors and identify possible preventative measures.

Nutritional value of some raw materials for guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) feeding

To formulate economically viable foods and achieve high performance in guinea pig production, it is important to know the nutritional value of the feeds, which requires determining their chemical composition, availability of nutrients, and energy content. Chemical analysis, digestibility tests, and digestible energy (DE) and metabolizable energy (ME) content of 63 feeds were determined using male guinea pigs of 4–5 mo of age. The test feeds were fodder, agricultural residues, agro-industrial and kitchen waste, energy flours, and protein flours of animal and vegetable origin. The result showed wide variability in the chemical composition and energy density of the feeds evaluated. In the case of forages, the main feed source for the guinea pigs, the average contents ± SD of crude protein (CP), crude fiber (CF), organic matter (OM), DE, and ME were 18.06 ± 6.50%, 23.08 ± 7.14%, 89.95 ± 2.62%, 2963.71 ± 442.68, and 2430.24 ± 363.00 kcal/kg; for the agro-industrial and kitchen waste, the values were 11.52 ± 4.72%, 22.80 ± 14.61%, 91.37 ± 4.74%, 3006.31 ± 554.01, and 2465.18 ± 454.29 kcal/kg; for protein feeds, the values were 55.18 ± 22.87%, 5.11 ± 5.72%, 91.18 ± 6.92%, 3681.94 ± 433. 24, and 3019.19 ± 355.26 kcal/kg; for energy feeds, the values were 12.73 ± 3.22%, 5.46 ± 1.96%, 95.33 ± 3.32%, 3705.41 ± 171.78, and 3038.43 ± 140.86 kcal/kg. The ME content is directly associated with CP content (R² = 0.19) and OM digestibility (R² = 0.56) and inversely with CF (R² = 0.40) and ash (R² = 0.13) content (P < 0.01). The results of this study can be used to design feeding programs for family and commercial guinea pig production for meat.

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.