Veterinary Clinics of North America: Exotic Animal Practice
MammalDystocia Caused by Ectopic Pregnancy in a Guinea Pig (Cavia porcellus)
Section snippets
Case report
The patient, a 1-year-old female short-haired guinea pig, was kept with a male guinea pig in a cage with wood shavings as bedding. The diet consisted of unlimited amounts of timothy hay and guinea pig pellets, some seeds and green vegetables, and a small amount of fresh fruit daily. Occasionally some drops of a vitamin C supplement were given.
The patient had been bred previously, at approximately 5 months old, and had delivered a litter of three stillborn pups without difficulty.
The sow was in
Summary
Although most cases of dystocia in female guinea pigs are associated with incomplete separation of the pubic symphysis, clinicians should be aware of other, less common situations that may lead to the same presentation.
Although the literature contains a number of reports of ectopic pregnancy in this and other species of rodent [2], [3], few were associated with dystocia. Full development of three fetuses in an extrauterine location makes this case even more extraordinary.
Given the absence of
References (3)
- Quesenberry KE, Donnelly TM, Hillyer EV. Biology, husbandry and clinical techniques of guinea pigs and chinchillas. In:...