Cheilitis in a guinea pig

7 Cheilitis in a guinea pig




INITIAL PRESENTATION


Crusting on the lips in a guinea pig.



Introduction


Guinea pigs generally fare well in captivity (Box 7.1), but are susceptible to many stressors. Careful attention should be paid to husbandry conditions both to reduce various diseases and also to optimize the environment during recovery.



BOX 7.1 Ecology of guinea pigs



• Originally from the Andes, guinea pigs are domesticated descendants of wild cavies. Therefore they do not exist naturally in the wild

• Normal habitat of cavies: grassy plains. Seek shelter in burrows, crevices or tunnels in vegetation. Crepuscular activity

• Social groups, usually consisting of several sows, one boar and offspring. Communicate primarily using vocalization

• Susceptible to heat stress

• Average weight: 0.7–1.2 kg

• Length: 20–25 cm

• Free-ranging diet: predominantly grasses. Perform caecotrophy

• Reproduction: gestation 59–72 days (average 63–68 days). Litter of 1–6 pups (average 3). Precocial young. Pelvic symphysis usually fuses at 9–12 months of age in the female, and dystocia is likely if the initial pregnancy occurs after this

• Longevity: up to 8 years (longest recorded lifespan in captivity 14 years).


CASE PRESENTING SIGNS


A 15-month-old female entire guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) presented with crusting around the lips (cheilitis) and reduced appetite.



Husbandry


The guinea pig was housed with a sibling companion – another female – mainly in an outdoor hutch with an attached run over grass. During the winter months, the animals were moved to an indoor enclosure to protect them from inclement weather. They had sawdust as the substrate in the main enclosure, with some straw in the bedding area.


They were fed on hay and proprietary guinea pig concentrate pellets, along with fresh vegetables (cabbage, carrot and cucumber) daily and occasional fruit. Water was offered in a water bottle. No specific vitamin C supplement was given.



Case History


The guinea pig presented in the autumn (late September). Both guinea pigs had been seen 4 months previously with ectoparasites (lice), which had been treated with topical application of fipronil, off licence. For the week prior to the current presentation, the owner had noticed crusts around the lips of this guinea pig. The lesions appeared to wax and wane. Her appetite was slightly reduced.



Clinical Examination


The guinea pig (Fig. 7.1) was examined with the following findings:


• Good body condition, weighing 724 g

• Auscultation of chest and abdominal palpation revealed no abnormalities

• Skeleto-muscular assessment – no sign of lameness or limb discomfort

• General coat condition good, with no evidence of the previous ectoparasites

• Crusting around lips, particularly at commissures.

image

Figure 7.1 Guinea pig on presentation with crusting around lips.


The companion animal had some lesions, but these were much less severe.



DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSES


The differential causes for these crusting lesions were:


• Secondary to a diet of abrasive and acidic food

• Bacterial infection, which may be primary or secondary

• Fungal infection: dermatophytosis mostly affects the nose, face and ears, and results in alopecia and scaling. Other fungal infections, such as Cryptococcus neoformans, Candida albicans and Malassezia ovale, may result in ulcerative dermatitis

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Sep 3, 2016 | Posted by in SMALL ANIMAL | Comments Off on Cheilitis in a guinea pig

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