Acta Vet. Brno 2026, 95: 309-316
Changes in medial canthus surface temperature and behaviour in guinea pigs during an exhibition
Animal exhibitions may represent a significant stressor for guinea pigs due to environmental changes, altered routines, and close proximity to unfamiliar people. This study aimed to evaluate changes in surface temperature of the medial canthus of the eye and behavioural responses of guinea pigs during an exhibition. Twenty US Teddy guinea pigs aged 1–2 years, each with one prior exhibition experience, were included. Surface temperature of the medial canthus was measured at five time points throughout the exhibition day. Behaviour was analysed from 15-min video recordings following each measurement using continuous sampling. Surface temperature changed significantly during the exhibition (P < 0.05). Higher temperatures were recorded immediately after human interaction, whereas lower values were observed during measurements not preceded by handling (P < 0.05). Behavioural analysis revealed significant differences in the distribution of behavioural categories across time points (P < 0.05). The occurrence of freezing decreased progressively over the course of the exhibition day (P < 0.05). Hiding behaviour was most frequent after handling. Abnormal behaviour was highest during the first measurement (P < 0.05) and declined significantly in subsequent measurements. In all observations, guinea pigs preferred lying along the enclosure wall rather than in the open area of the enclosure (P < 0.05). The results indicate that physiological responses were primarily associated with immediate handling, whereas behavioural changes reflected both acute stress responses and gradual adaptation to the exhibition environment.
Funding
This study was supported by the Internal Creative Agency of the University of Veterinary Sciences Brno (Project No. 2025ITA25).
