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Vetdle Archive

Archive Case #150: Guinea Pig Ovarian Cysts

Exotic veterinary case - Easy - July 31, 2026

Clinical Clues

  1. An older female guinea pig is presented for bilateral hair loss over the flanks.
  2. The owner reports intermittent mounting behaviour and irritability.
  3. On abdominal palpation, fluid-filled structures can be felt in the caudal abdomen.
  4. The guinea pig remains bright but has become less comfortable when handled.
  5. Ultrasound confirms cystic enlargement of the ovaries.
  6. Functional ovarian cysts are a common cause of flank alopecia and behavioural change in female guinea pigs.

Diagnosis

Guinea Pig Ovarian Cysts

This case is most consistent with Guinea Pig Ovarian Cysts because the patient has classic bilateral flank alopecia with palpable cystic ovarian enlargement. The most important clues are the sex, alopecia pattern, and ultrasound findings, which make ectoparasites less likely.

Learning review

Review the case evidence

Use the paired clues to explain how the evidence in this exotic case supports the provided diagnosis, Guinea Pig Ovarian Cysts, then compare your reasoning with the case explanation.

Evidence checkpoints

Clues 1-2

  1. Clue 1: An older female guinea pig is presented for bilateral hair loss over the flanks.
  2. Clue 2: The owner reports intermittent mounting behaviour and irritability.

Clues 3-4

  1. Clue 3: On abdominal palpation, fluid-filled structures can be felt in the caudal abdomen.
  2. Clue 4: The guinea pig remains bright but has become less comfortable when handled.

Clues 5-6

  1. Clue 5: Ultrasound confirms cystic enlargement of the ovaries.
  2. Clue 6: Functional ovarian cysts are a common cause of flank alopecia and behavioural change in female guinea pigs.

Self-review prompts

  1. After clues 1-2, what evidence from this exotic case shaped your initial interpretation?
  2. When you compare clues 3-4 with clues 1-2, what changed in your reasoning about Guinea Pig Ovarian Cysts?
  3. How do clues 5-6 align with the case explanation for Guinea Pig Ovarian Cysts?

Educational Use

Vetdle archive cases are educational veterinary games for diagnostic reasoning practice. They do not provide veterinary advice, diagnosis, treatment, or professional medical guidance.