Small Mammals Q&A 01

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A three-year-old female guinea pig has had an unpleasant body odor for three days. Six days ago the owner took the guinea pig to another veterinarian to have her feet examined because the plantar surfaces were reddened. The veterinarian diagnosed pododermatitis. The owner was instructed to take the guinea pig off wire flooring and place it on shredded paper. The veterinarian also prescribed oral amoxicillin with clavulinic acid to treat the infection. The feces in the carrier have a thick-liquid consistency. The guinea pig is still eating and drinking.

Question	Answer		Article
What is the source of the odour?	Faeces have soiled the perineal area. Other causes of strong body odor in the guinea pig include perineal soiling due to urinary tract or uterine disease, soiling of fur around the mouth due to dental disease, smegma in the perineal sac (which occurs in both male and female) and infections or neoplasia of the perianal sebaceous glands.		Link to Article
What is the cause of the soft stools?	Antibiotic associated diarrhoea of guinea pigs. The use of Gram-positive spectrum oral antibiotics can seriously alter the sensitive balance of bacterial flora in the caecum. These antibiotics decrease the populations of dominant bacteria allowing species such as Clostridia spp. and Escherichia coli, which are normally present in small numbers, to colonize the caecum rapidly. These bacteria produce enterotoxins which are absorbed systemically. The result of the cecal dysbiosis and enterotoxin production is diarrhoea, systemic toxicosis and ultimately death. Remember antibiotics to be avoided by the ‘PLACE’ rule (penicillin, lincomycin, ampicillin, amoxicillin, cephalosporins, clindamycin, erythromycin). Sulfa-trimethoprim combinations, enrofloxacin and chloramphenicol are rarely associated with GI disturbance in guinea pigs.		Link to Article