Sessions

Guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) are popular companion animals; however, owners’ knowledge regarding their husbandry and nutrition may be incomplete. The primary aim of my research was to assess the occurrence of diseases, particularly those that could also result from improper nutrition. Data collection was carried out on guinea pigs examined at the Exo-Pet Exotic Veterinary Clinic in Budapest between 2015 and 2025. Using medical records, I recorded data and diseases from 590 guinea pigs, based on 1,753 veterinary examinations. Of the guinea pigs, 48.4% (n = 282) were ≤ 3 years of age and 51.6% (n = 301) were > 3 years; 51.5% (n = 304) were male and 47.3% (n = 279) were female. The animals belonged to 15 breeds, with the most common being the English short-haired (51.5%, n = 300). The most frequently diagnosed disorder was cheek teeth malocclusion (28.0%, n = 165). Incisor malocclusion occurred in 13.4% (n = 79) of the animals, while dental abscesses were found in 28 individuals (4.7%). Neoplastic diseases (21.2%, n = 125) and conditions caused by ectoparasites and fungi (18.0%, n = 106) were also common. Disorders of the urinary and reproductive systems were diagnosed in 15.8% (n = 93) of cases, with ovarian cysts affecting 33.3% (n = 93) of females. Respiratory diseases were diagnosed in 14.6% (n = 86) of the guinea pigs. Gastrointestinal disorders occurred in 12.7% (n = 75), and obesity in 10.2% (n = 60). Ocular diseases were observed in 10.2% (n = 60) of the animals. The occurrence of specific diseases in relation to age, breed, and sex was analyzed using the chi-square test. Age was significantly associated with a higher prevalence of neoplastic diseases (p < 0.001), gastrointestinal disorders (p = 0.001823), dental abscesses (p = 0.001595), incisor malocclusion (p = 0.001522), cheek teeth malocclusion (p < 0.001), urinary and reproductive disorders (p < 0.001), respiratory diseases (p = 0.006695), parasitic and fungal diseases (p = 0.03426), and ovarian cysts (p < 0.001), all of which were more frequent in guinea pigs > 3 years of age. Regarding sex, gastrointestinal disorders (p = 0.02824), incisor malocclusion (p = 0.004385), and cheek teeth malocclusion (p = 0.007932) occurred significantly more often in males. Concerning breed, gastrointestinal problems were more common in short-haired than in long-haired breeds (p = 0.005272). Diseases that could also be associated with nutrition were found to occur in a substantial proportion of the cases examined in my study, highlighting the importance of educating owners about proper nutritional practices.