Page 1178 - Small Animal Clinical Nutrition 5th Edition

1228 Small Animal Clinical Nutrition

Feeding is best accomplished by wrapping the animal gently Abyssinian, which has a coat arranged in whorls or rosettes and
VetBooks.ir in a towel, placing the feeding syringe into the diastema, 3) the Peruvian, which can have a coat several inches long.
Various coat colors and multicolored patterns also exist for each
expressing small volumes into the oral cavity and allowing the
animal to swallow. One-ml syringes can be used to feed mice,
species. Pet guinea pigs live for five to seven years and weigh
and 3- to 10-ml catheter-tipped syringes used to feed larger 450 to 750 g. Gestation averages 68 days, and litter size ranges
rodents. Owners can be shown how to feed their pets at home; from two to four young (Clark, 1984; Anderson, 1987;
however, they must be able to recognize when the animal is Quesenberry et al, 2004).
responsive enough to allow force feeding, to minimize potential Guinea pigs are herbivores with simple stomachs.Their teeth
problems with aspiration. Small meals should be fed several are open-rooted and erupt continuously. The dental formula is
times throughout the day. I1/1, C0/0, P1/1 and M3/3. The incisors are white unlike that
of other rodents, which normally have yellow incisors. Guinea
Malocclusion pigs have a long digestive tract with a gastric emptying time of
Malocclusion is another common clinical problem in pet approximately two hours and a total GI transit time from eight
rodents. The incisor teeth are usually involved, although the to 20 hours. Normal GI flora consists primarily of Lactobacillus
cheek teeth may also be maloccluded, depending on the species. and occasionally Streptococcus spp., yeast and soil bacteria (Man-
Etiologies include genetic, dietary, infectious and traumatic fac- ning et al, 1984; Harkness and Wagner, 1995a). Much of the
tors. Overgrown teeth can result in tongue and oral ulcers, ptyal- digestive process occurs in the cecum,which is a thin-walled sac
ism, anorexia and weight loss. An oral examination is an impor- divided into numerous lateral pouches by smooth muscle bands
tant but often difficult component of a rodent physical examina- (taenia coli). The cecum is normally found on the central and
tion. An otoscope may help visualize cheek teeth, but the patient left side of the abdomen and may contain as much as 65% of
may require sedation for the procedure.Skull radiographs are also the GI contents (Richardson, 1992; Quesenberry et al, 2004).
useful for assessing severe malocclusion and tooth root abscesses. Guinea pigs are coprophagous.
Specialized equipment, including specula, mouth gags and long-
shank dental burrs, are available for use in rodents. Special Nutritional Needs
Inhalant anesthesia, preferably isoflurane administered Guinea pigs, people and other primates are unable to synthe-
through a facemask, is adequate for short dental procedures, size vitamin C (ascorbic acid) because they lack the enzyme L-
such as trimming incisor teeth.The animal is masked down and gluconolactone oxidase, which is needed to convert glucose to
the mask is removed when the animal attains an appropriate ascorbic acid. Adequate dietary supplementation is, therefore,
level of anesthesia. Its mouth is held open with a specialized critical to prevent hypovitaminosis C (scurvy), as detailed
speculum or gauze strips around the upper and lower incisors, below. (See Feeding Plan.)
and the incisor teeth are cut quickly, preferably with a high- Guinea pigs display behavioral characteristics that influence
speed dental drill. A variable-speed, rotary power tool with a their overall nutritional status. For example, they are extremely
d
circular cutting blade (Dremel Moto-Tool ) can also be used. susceptible to stressful situations such as inadequate housing,
Care should be used not to injure the tongue and surrounding moving into a new household or different cage and changing
tissues. Although sharp clippers have been used to trim the feeding schedules. Stressed guinea pigs may become anorectic
teeth of smaller rodents, teeth may split or shatter with this and lose weight. Furthermore, guinea pigs do not tolerate
method; therefore, this technique is not recommended. Inhal- dietary or environmental changes well. Guinea pigs develop
ant anesthesia delivered by facemask may be challenging for dietary preferences early in life and do not adapt readily to
lengthier dental procedures on cheek teeth, which may require change. For this reason, young guinea pigs should be exposed
clipping with bone rongeurs or, preferably, using a guarded flat to different dietary items to allow them to become accustomed
or taper fissure burr in a straight, low-speed dental handpiece to variety (Quesenbery et al, 2004).
(Quesenberry, 1994; Harkness and Wagner, 1995; Crossley and Proper housing accommodations can be provided by an
Aiken, 2004). Injectable anesthesia may be required for these open-topped enclosure at least 10 inches high, with a floor
procedures because small rodents are very difficult to intubate. space of at least 101 square inches for an adult animal, and
Rodents with chronic malocclusion problems may need teeth twice this floor space for a breeding sow. Either solid or wire
trimming every few months. Owners should monitor animals flooring can be provided. Wire flooring allows for feces and
for anorexia and drooling. Breeding rodents with malocclusion urine to drop to the bottom of the cage. However, it may cause
problems should be discouraged. foot injuries and subsequent pododermatitis. Wire flooring
should consist of a rectangular mesh 38 by 12 mm. At least a
Guinea Pigs portion of the cage should have a solid bottom (Quesenberry,
Husbandry 1994). Solid floors with a substrate of shredded paper or hard-
Domestic guinea pigs belong in the Caviidae family, which wood shavings generally require more frequent cleaning but are
consists of short-tailed or tailless rodents that have one pair of preferable for pet guinea pigs.
mammary glands, four digits on the forefeet and three digits on Because guinea pigs are easily startled, the cage should be
the hindfeet. The most commonly seen breeds are: 1) the placed in a quiet area in the home to minimize exposure to sud-
Shorthair or English, which has very uniform short hair, 2) the den movements and loud noises. Ideally, a relatively constant