Guinea Pig

Group housing female guinea pigs

Group housing [female] guinea pigs can save space and money, while improving housing standards. The authors describe enclosure design, enrichments, and husbandry techniques that facilitate group housing female guinea pigs. No data are included in this article.

Year Published: 2000Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Husbandry & Management, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Guinea Pig, Rodent

Citation: Raje, S. S., Stewart, K. L. 2000. Group housing female guinea pigs. Lab Animal 29(8), 31-32.

Housing for Laboratory Rats, Mice, Guinea Pigs and Rabbits

General recommendations for the species-adequate housing of rats, mice, guinea pigs and rabbits

Year Published: 2000Animal Type: Guinea Pig, Mouse, Rabbit, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Hargreaves, A. L. 2000. Housing for Laboratory Rats, Mice, Guinea Pigs and Rabbits. Australian and New Zealand Council for the Care of Animals in Research and Testing, Wellington, New Zealand.

Early-life handling stimulation and environmental enrichment: Are some of their effects mediated by similar neural mechanisms? Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior 73(1), 233-245

Neonatal (early) handling (EH) and environmental enrichment (EE) of laboratory rodents have been the two most commonly used methods of providing supplementary environmental stimulation in order to study behavioral and neurobiological plasticity. A large body of research has been generated...

Year Published: 2002Topics: Environmental Enrichment, HandlingAnimal Type: Chinchilla, Gerbil, Guinea Pig, Hamster, Mouse, Other Rodent, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Fernández-Teruel, A., Giménez-Llort, L., Escorihuela, R. M. et al. 2002. Early-life handling stimulation and environmental enrichment: Are some of their effects mediated by similar neural mechanisms? Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior 73(1), 233-245.

Presence of mother and unfamiliar female alters levels of testosterone, progesterone, cortisol, adrenocorticotropin, and behavior in maturing guinea pigs

Although the guinea pig is characterized by precocial physical development and minimal active maternal care, studies suggest the presence of the mother can influence neuroendocrine and behavioral activity of offspring even well beyond weaning. ... The present study examined ~40-day-old...

Year Published: 2002Animal Type: Guinea Pig, Rodent

Citation: Hennessy, M. B., Maken, D. S., Graves, F. C. 2002. Presence of mother and unfamiliar female alters levels of testosterone, progesterone, cortisol, adrenocorticotropin, and behavior in maturing guinea pigs . Hormones and Behavior 42, 42-52.

Comfortable quarters for guinea-pigs in research institutions

Practical guidelines for the species-adequate housing of guinea pigs in research facilities. Animals living in groups should be provided a floor area of no less than 1200 cm2 per breeding female, and no less then 750 cm2 per weaned, non-breeding...

Year Published: 2002Animal Type: Guinea Pig, Rodent

Citation: Reinhardt, V. 2002. Comfortable quarters for guinea-pigs in research institutions. In: Comfortable Quarters for Laboratory Animals, Ninth Edition. Reinhardt, V. , Reinhardt, A. (eds.), 39-43. Animal Welfare Institute, Washington, DC.

Progression of environmental enrichment at Sequani Limited

Several enrichment options for beagles, rabbits and guinea pigs are described.

Year Published: 2002Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Dog, Guinea Pig, Rabbit, Rodent

Citation: Prowse, L. 2002. Progression of environmental enrichment at Sequani Limited. Animal Technology and Welfare 1, 119-121.

Guinea pig enrichment

Some feeding and inanimate enrichment options are listed.

Year Published: 2002Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Guinea Pig, Rodent

Citation: White, E., Hartner, M. 2002. Guinea pig enrichment. Tech Talk [The Newsletter for Laboratory Animal Science Technicians] 7(1), 7.

Sex specific difference in social support – a study in female guinea pigs

In female guinea pigs social support can be provided by social partners. In contrast to males, however, not only the bonding partner is able to reduce the female's stress responses, but also a familiar conspecific, though in a less effective...

Year Published: 2003Animal Type: Guinea Pig, Rodent

Citation: Kaiser, S., Kirtzeck, M., Hornschuh, G. et al. 2003. Sex specific difference in social support - a study in female guinea pigs. Physiology and Behavior 79, 297-303.

Guidelines for the Care and Use of Mammals in Neuroscience and Behavioral Research

Expanding on the National Research Council's Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, this book deals specifically with mammals in neuroscience and behavioral research laboratories. It offers flexible guidelines for the care of these animals, and guidance on...

Year Published: 2003Topics: Regulations & Ethical Review, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Baboon, Capuchin, Cat, Chimpanzee, Chinchilla, Dog, Ferret, Gerbil, Guinea Pig, Hamster, Lemur, Macaque, Marmoset, Mouse, Nonhuman Primate, Other Nonhuman Primate, Other Rodent, Owl Monkey, Pig, Rabbit, Rat, Rodent, Squirrel Monkey, Vervet (African Green Monkey)

Citation: National Research Council. 2003. Guidelines for the Care and Use of Mammals in Neuroscience and Behavioral Research. National Academic Press: Washington, DC, 223 pp.

Social environment affects peripheral oxytocin and cortisol during stress responses in guinea-pigs

Cortisol was elevated in individually housed animals compared to male-female pairs. The stress-induced behavioral immobility response after exposure to a noise stressor was significantly reduced in preferred males and to a lesser extent in their female partners.

Year Published: 2004Animal Type: Guinea Pig, Rodent

Citation: Machatschke, I. H., Wallner, B., Schams, D. et al. 2004. Social environment affects peripheral oxytocin and cortisol during stress responses in guinea-pigs. Ethology 110, 161-176.