18. Chinchillas and Degus Flashcards
Suborder for Degus
Histricomorpha
What do degus do that indicate social standing?
Heap twigs in a pile
Are degus nocturnal or diurnal?
Diurnal
Sign of aggression degus
Leg kicks
What sound do degus make after grooming?
Warbling
Maimum speed of degus
10.7 mph
Do degus have internal carotids?
no
Thymus of degus
Cervical and mediastinal. Mediastinal thymus eventually regresses
Degu adrenal glands
Synthesize both corticosterone and cortisol
Scrotum of degus
No true scrotum (like other histricomorphs)
Female degu repro tract
Bicornuate with vaginal membrane open during estrus and proestrus
Degus are what kind of ovulators?
Spontaneous
When to start breeding degus?
6 months of age
Gestation period for degus
87-95days
Degu babies are precocious or altricial?
Precocious
Degu babies are weaned at what age/
5 weeks
Why do degus metabolize drugs differently from other rodents?
Greater cytochrome p450 in liver
Higher tolerance to morphine and pentobarbital
DM is possible in degus under what conditions?
Diet high in carbs
DM is associated with what other sequelae in degus?
Cataracts, amyloidosis, islet cell hyperplasia
Why are degus idea for circ rhythm studies?
They are diurnal
They are social
Breed well in captivity
Slower maturation rate compared to other rodents
Circ rhythm undergoes changes during puberty (like in humans)
What do degus develop at 5 years of age?
Alzheimer’s disease - homology between degu and human AB protein
Natural defensive move of females
Stand on hind legs, spray urine
Chinchillas are cursorial. What does this mean?
They have been adapted to run
Chinchilla urinalysis
High pH, high calcium carbonate, high USG
Female chinchilla repro tract
Bicornuate, dual cervices, large urogenital papilla, vaginal closure membrane
Chinchillas have how many pairs of mammary glands?
3 - one inguinal, two thoracic
How to restrain Chinchilla?
Grasp by base of tail - scruffing will result in fur slip
Light:dark cycle of chinchilla
12:12 or 14:10
Space and height recommendations for Chins
1-2ft^2, 12 inches recommended (nothing in Guide or AWA)
Sexual maturity for Chins
4-12 months
When to breed female Chins?
6 mos
Chin estrus cycle length
38 days
Gestation length in chins
111 days
Newborn chins are precocial or altricial?
Precocial
How to prevent pseudomonas in chins
Chlorinate water
C/S of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis or enterocolitica in chins
Mucosal hemorrhage and ulceration of ileum, cecum, colon
Viral diseases are rare in chins - T or F?
T
Which human herpesviruses are chins susceptible to?
Human Herpesvirus -1: Conjunctivitis, neuro signs, meningitis
2 fungal diseases in chins
Histoplasma capsulatum, dermatophytosis (Trichophyton mentagrophytes)
C/S of toxo in chins
Meningoencephalitis, pulmonayr hemorrhages
Sarcocystis-like protozoa in chins
Frenkelia
Prevention of slobbers
Lava stone, regular dental care, free choice hay
Bloat in chins is caused by what?
Lactating females
Sudden changes in food
Overeating of clover hay
Why is ectopic pregnancy a concern in chins?
They don’t have an ovarian bursa
8 repro issues in female chins
- Fetal resorption (high rate in chins)
- Dystocia
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Pulmonary trophoblastic emboli
- Retained placenta
- Paraphimosis
- Endometrial hyperplasia and chronic endometritis
- Stump pyometra
Neoplasia is common in chins - T or F?
F
Urogenital disorder in chins
Urolithiasis
Heat stroke can happen in chins when?
Temps over 80F
Fur chewing can lead to what in chins?
Trichobezoars
4 reasons why chins are used in auditory and vestibular research
- Large bullae
- Lack of susceptibliity to middle ear infections
- Auditory capabilities close to humans
- Absence of presbycusis (loss of hearing in older humans)
