Disease Problems of Guinea Pigs

Myringotomy as a Diagnostic and Therapeutic Tool in a Case of Otitis Media in a Guinea Pig (Cavia porcellus)

“…Otitis media is commonly associated with dental disease and oral flora is often isolated from the ear, indicating a possible opportunistic infection via the eustachian tube secondary to dental disease [3]. Clinical signs associated with otitis media and interna in guinea pigs include head tilt, ataxia and circling, torticollis, and facial nerve paralysis with secondary ulcerative exposure keratitis [3].…”

Bordetella Bronchiseptica Vaccines in Pet Guinea Pigs? A Review of the Literature

“…Guinea pigs that have contact with the diseased guinea pig should be separated and occurrence of clinical signs should be monitorized at least until the diseased guinea pig has been cured. It is good practice to perform x-rays of the head and chest of the guinea pigs that are in contact with the diseased ones because a subclinical or early-stage disease can be detected [1][2][3].…”

“…The incidence of Bb in a colony is usually 20% lower in laboratory animals if no action is taken, but this incidence is unknown in guinea pigs [7]. Disease caused by Bb in pet guinea pigs is mostly a poor understood disease because what is known of the disease is mostly by studies conducted in laboratory guinea pigs, and not in pet guinea pigs [1][2][3]. Nakagawa (1969) describes the respiratory disease produced by Bb in guinea pigs as being low virulent with little or no mortality [7].…”

“…Various treatment protocols have been proposed in pet guinea pigs based on support therapy, systemic antibiotherapy (best based on bacterial culture and sensitivity testing) and chamber nebulization with antibiotic but effectiveness of these treatments have not been proven [1][2][3].…”

“…Guinea pigs that have contact with the diseased guinea pig should be separated and occurrence of clinical signs should be monitorized at least until the diseased guinea pig has been cured. It is good practice to perform x-rays of the head and chest of the guinea pigs that are in contact with the diseased ones because a subclinical or early-stage disease can be detected [1][2][3].Bordetella bronchiseptica causes severe respiratory disease in guinea pigs, firstly described at the end of the 19th century [4] (Figure 1). Stillbirths, abortions, infertility and infections of the reproductive system can occur if haematonous spread of the bacteria develops; also the tympanic bullae may contain purulent exudates in affected animals due to ascending infection [1,5,6] (Figure 2,3).…”