Veterinary Clinical Services

Guinea Pig Retroorbital Bleeds

Anesthetize the guinea pig - use a small plastic beaker with holes in the bottom. Place metofane soaked gauze in beaker and cover with a piece of wire mesh.
After anesthetizing, hold guinea pig in one hand using the palm of the hand to support the head and back.
Use a heparinized capillary tube, break off 1/3 of tube so you are only using 2/3’s of original length. Using the smooth, non-broken end, place the capillary tube in the medial canthus of the eye. Use a firm twisting motion to seat the capillary tube in the orbital sinus.
Blood will flow through the capillary tube. Applying intermittent pressure to the jugular with your thumb and holding the animal’s head down may facilitate blood flow through the capillary tube.
Collect blood by allowing it to flow into an open corvac tube set in a test tube rack.
When a sufficient amount has been collected, remove the capillary tube and apply digital pressure to the eye with a piece of gauze for at least 1 minute.
Check that all bleeding has stopped before returning animal to cage.

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