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Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the facility design, environment, and basic husbandry recommendations for the guinea pig. Although general laboratory animal facility design and principles for rats, mice, and hamsters have applicability to the guinea pig, characteristics and behavior unique to this species have fostered implementation of new and/or adjunct husbandry practices to improve the care and use of this laboratory animal. In addition to the natural behavior and physiology of the species, the nature of the research activity performed considers planning, design, or modifications of guinea pig holding rooms. Quarantine facilities, breeding colonies, conventional and infectious disease research have different requirements for housing. The Guinea pigs are generally docile and seldom bite; however, they are easily frightened and will try to avoid capture or being held. This chapter further explains the housing condition required for guinea pigs, which includes the right ventilation, illumination, temperature, humidity, sanitation, noise conditions, and space requirements. Ventilation for laboratory animals should balance air quality, animal comfort, and energy efficiency to provide cage environments that will optimize animal welfare and research results. Furthermore, the chapter reviews the nutritional diseases and record keeping of guinea pigs. For the identification of the animals, cage cards are used and the cards should include the strain of guinea pigs, sex, number, principal investigator, and research protocol identification. |
