Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

SMALL ANIMAL > 16.8.4: Neutering in small mammals > Flashcards

16.8.4: Neutering in small mammals Flashcards

1
Q

What suture material should you use in a rabbit and how should you close the skin?

A
  • Use a monofilament suture material for ligatures, muscle, subcut and skin
  • Avoid skin glue if possible
  • Do intradermals rather than skin sutures - the rabbit and its friend may nibble at visible sutures
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What should you remember when doing a scrotal castration in small mammals?

A
  • If open technique: the inguinal ring is large so must be closed to prevent abdominal contents falling through
  • Remove the large testicular fat pad alongside the testes
  • Skin glue has to be used to close the skin because scrotal skin is hard to close
  • This is not the preferred method of castration
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is the preferred method of castration in small mammals? Why is this?

A

Pre-scrotal or abdominal castration
Reduced chances of some post-op complications compared to scrotal castration e.g.:
* One incision instead of two
* Wound is further away from the ground so infection is less likely
* Less sensitive skin so self-trauma less likely
* Can suture the skin closed so you can avoid using itchy skin glue

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Clinical signs of reproductive disease in small mammals

A
  • Changes to body shape
  • Pain e.g. gut stasis, reluctance to move or inappetence
  • Discharge or genitalia changes e.g. pus, discharge, swollen vulva, crusts
  • Fur loss/ changes
  • Weight loss
  • Changes to urination e.g. blocked or dysuria (prostate)
  • Swellings/ masses e.g. enlarged mammary glands, neoplasia, hernias
  • Prolonged labour e.g. dystocia
  • Behavioural changes e.g. sexual behaviour, aggression
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Common conditions in rabbits

A
  • Testicular neoplasia
  • Cryptorchidism
  • Scrotal trauma - common between fighting males
  • Inguinal hernia
  • Uterine adenocarcinoma
  • Pregnancy toxaemia
  • Pseudopregnancy
  • Syphilis
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Prevention and treatment of uterine adenocarcinoma

A
  • Ovariohysterectomy
  • May need to wait to correct anaemia (due to bleeding) before taking to surgery
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Clinical considerations before taking a rabbit with uterine adenocarcinoma to surgery

A
  • Metastasises by direct contact, blood and lymph -> taken thoracic rads before surgery!
  • Endometrial hyperplasia/ endometritis/ pyometra might be present
  • Endometrial venous aneuryisms can cause potentially life-threatening haematuria
  • Rabbits bleeding a little on the outside can bleed a lot on the inside. At the very least, take a PCV.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q
A
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Causative agent and clinical signs of Syphilis

A

Treponema cuniculi (spirochete)
* Spread during copulation and close contact
* Presenting signs: crusting lesions on the mucocutaneous junction of the nose, lips, eyelids, genitalia, anus; can look similar to myxomatosis
* Zoonotic but not a major risk to humans

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Common conditions in guinea pigs

A
  • Testicular neoplasia
  • Spermatic plugs
  • Inguinal hernia
  • Orchitis
  • Uterine and ovarian neoplasia
  • Uterine prolapse
  • Pregnancy toxaemia
  • Ovarian cysts
  • Dystocia
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Signalment and clinical signs of ovarian cysts

A

Signalment and diagnosis
* Common in entire female guinea pigs; can happen at any age
* Easily palpated on physical exam (care not to rupture); can confirm with ultrasound
* May have repeated history of ileus/ gut stasis over a few months

Clinical signs
* Hair loss over flanks without pruritus and with normal skin
* Pear shape
* Behaviour -> mounting, aggression
* Lethargy
* Reduced appetite
* Discomfort when handled

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Causes of dystocia in guinea pigs

A
  • If owner does not breed before 8 months old, pubic symphysis will be unable to separate -> dystocia
  • Also caused by obesity, large foetuses, uterine inertia
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Common conditions in chinchillas

A
  • Fur ring -> paraphimosis
  • Spermatic plugs
  • Inguinal hernia
  • Uterine neoplasia
  • Pyometra
  • Dystocia
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Common conditions in gerbils

A
  • Cystic ovaries
  • Neoplasia
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Common conditions in hamsters

A
  • Cystic ovaries
  • Neoplasia
  • Pyometra (some creamy vulval discharge is normal following oestrus)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Common conditions in rats

A
  • Pyometra
  • Neoplasia e.g. mammary
17
Q

Common conditions in hedgehogs

A
  • Pyometra
  • Neoplasia
18
Q

What is the most likely cause of mammary masses in guinea pigs?

A

Benign hyperplasia most likely (if female). If male, more likely to be malignant.

19
Q

What are the most common forms of mammary tumours in rats and how do they present?

A

Most common type = fibroadenomas
* Found anywhere on the body, even the spine
* Can become very large, ulcerate, and infiltrate locally -> poor QOL
* Ideally remove when they are small. These do not tend to metastasise

20
Q

What forms of mammary tumours are most common in mice and gerbils?

A

Adenocarcinomas
* Highly malignant
* Metastasis common
* Poor prognosis

21
Q

Are most mammary tumours in hamsters benign or malignant?

A

Benign

22
Q

Common conditions in ferrets

A
  • Testicular neoplasia
  • Prostate hyperplasia
  • Ovarian neoplasia
  • Pyometra
  • Pregnancy toxaemia
  • Persistent oestrus
  • Hyperadrenocorticism
23
Q

Pathogenesis of persistent oestrus in ferrets

A
  • Ferret breeding season = March-September
  • Jills are induced ovulators and about 50% of them will remain in oestrus unless mated
  • Prolonged oestrus results in oestrogen-induced bone marrow toxicosis / hyperoestrogenism
  • This results in pancytopaenia and eventually death
24
Q

Clinical signs of persistent oestrus in ferrets

A
  • Swollen vulva
  • Pale mucus membranes
  • Symmetrical bilateral alopecia of the flanks and tail
  • Petechiae and/or ecchymoses
25
Q

Causes and pathogenesis of hyperadrenocorticism in ferrets

A
  • This is not Cushing’s; in ferrets, HAC is related to sex hormones
  • Suspected causes: >12hrs daylight hours, early neutering, possible genetic component
26
Q

Clinical signs of hyperadrenocorticism in ferrets

A
  • Signs start in spring, may regress and return next year
  • Symmetrical/ bilateral alopecia and rat tail
  • Vulvar swelling in neutered jills
  • Sexual behaviour in neutered hobs
  • Pruritus (no erythema)
  • Dysuria/ urinary obstruction in males (due to enlarged prostate)
  • Mammary hyperplasua
27
Q

Treatment of HAC in female ferrets

A
  • Keep females with a vasectomised hob to induce ovulation
  • OR leave entire and use ‘jill jab’ to bring out of season (proligestone injection as soon as they come into heat)
  • OR use the hormone implant to chemical neuter on its own (deslorelin)
28
Q

Treatment of HAC in male ferrets

A
  • Vasectomised hobs
  • Use the hormone implant to chemically neuter e.g. deslorelin - can work for up to 4 yrs
29
Q

Why do GnRH help treat HAC in ferrets?

A
30
Q

Diagnostic testing for reproductive disease in small mammals

A
  • Can often diagnose on clinical exam and history e.g. syphilis, persistent oestrus
  • Blood e.g. biochemistry can help rule other differentials in or out
  • Skin scrapes or hair plucks when hair loss is involved
  • Diagnostic imaging for neoplasia, cysts, adrenal gland size
  • Some specific hormone assays at exotic labs
  • Culture and sensitivity for treating infections
  • Exploratory laparatomy sometimes used to diagnose and treat
31
Q

Compare the different imaging modalities and their usefulness for small mammal reproductive disease

A
  • Radiographs: useful for screening e.g. SOLs, can be hard to identify structure involved
  • Ultrasound: more detail cf rads, can be challenging in hindgut fermenters due to gas build up
  • CT: superior for diagnosis but expensive, often requires referral
32
Q

Treatment for syphilis

A

Penicillin injectable (NOT ORAL; this will kill the rabbit)

33
Q

Treatment for cystic ovaries

A
  • Ultrasound guided cyst-aspiration
  • GnRH injections
34
Q

Treatment for mammary masses in rats

A

Removal ± cabergoline

35
Q

Surgical treatment of HAC in ferrets

A
  • Left adrenalectomy relatively straight forward; right much higher risk
  • Post-op medical treatment required if partial adrenalectomy
36
Q

Medical treatment options for persistent oestrus and how they work

A
  • hCG -> stimulates ovulation
  • Proligestone (Delvosterone) -> suppression of oestrus
  • Deslorelin (Suprelorin) -> GnRH agonist implant

These all take time to work (10-14 days) and bone marrow suppression occurs 4 weeks into season, with death at 8 weeks.

37
Q

Treatment for the severely ill ferret due persistent oestrus

A
  • Blood transfusion may be required
  • Could perform OVH but must stabilise first (and this comes with the risk of HAC)
38
Q

A recently rescued 5 y.o. female ferret presents with symmetrical hair loss over flanks. On clinical exam you find a swollen vulva. The ferret is UTD with vaccines and the owner thinks she was neutered before they got her.

What are your differentials and the first diagnostic tests you will do?

A

Differentials
* Retained ovarian remnant
* Persistent oestrus (HAC)
* Gonad neoplasia
* Allergic and non-allergic skin disease

First diagnostic tests
* Skin scrape, hair pluck
* Abdo ultrasound -> this revealed enlarged left adrenal gland

Diagnosis: HAC

SMALL ANIMAL (90 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions