Common things occur commonly: Diagnosing and managing the most common conditions in guinea pigs

Guinea pigs are wonderful, interactive characters, making them popular as pets. They can, however, be a challenging species to treat in the veterinary clinic. As a rodent species, they often exhibit the typical stoical nature of many prey species, meaning chronic disease can often go unnoticed by owners until disease is advanced. Six-month health checks are therefore strongly recommended throughout the life of the guinea pig, and this could be established into practice pet health plans. This lecture reviews the most common presenting ailments and considers the most appropriate diagnostic tests and treatment plans. Geriatric health concerns and how to tackle multiple co-morbidities are also considered.

Learning Outcomes
1. Apply the principles of how to perform an effective clinical examination in a guinea pig, by following a systematic approach 2. Understand the most common clinical conditions in the guinea pig 3. Appreciate the need for proactive monitoring and the likelihood of multiple co-morbidities in the same patient 4. Apply knowledge to create long term management plans for chronic conditions to promote patient welfare

Chairperson
Linda Belton, President - RCVS

Speakers
Jenna Richardson, Head of Department - Dick Vet Rabbit and Exotic Animal Practice - The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies

Presented at London Vet Show 2024

Please note this session is not RACE-approved but you can still earn a CPD certificate