2. Small Mammal husbandry

Question 1

How long to rabbits generally live?

Answer 1

8-12 years in captivity

Question 2

How to identify a relaxed rabbit?

Answer 2

Lying down with ears close together, facing slightly backwards and pointing outwards sometimes with eyes partially closed

Question 3

How to identify a dutch rabbit?

Answer 3

Distinctive white markings

• can be black, brown, ginger/white but have a white blaze on nose and white saddle on back
• medium sized rabbit with a compact body and upright ears

Question 4

How to identify a english rabbit?

Answer 4

number of colour varieties
- all share butterfly nose markings, eye circles, cheek spots, line of coloured fur down the back, coloured ears and a chain of spots

Question 5

How to identify a rex rabbit?

Answer 5

Result of a recessive genetic mutation, guard hairs that aren’t longer than the undercoat - coat has a velvety texture
- compact round body in a wide range of colours

Question 6

How to identify a continental giant rabbit?

Answer 6

Usually over 5kg and have large ears

• soft coat with dense fur
• wide range of colours
• often have a shorter lifespan of around 4-6yrs

Question 7

How to identify a mini/dwarf lop rabbit?

Answer 7

Distinguished by their size - usually below 1.6kg but can be up to 2.4kg

• wide range of colours
• pendulous ears
• often have brachycephalic faces

Question 8

How to identify a netherland dwarf rabbit?

Answer 8

One of the smallest breeds

• can also be identified by their short upright ears
• variety of colours
• flighty and typically need a lot of space to burn energy

Question 9

How to identify a lionhead rabbit?

Answer 9

Small, short, well rounded body, long hair surrounding the face

• an attempt to produce a long coated dwarf rabbit by crossing a miniature swiss fox and a belgian dwarf
• partly rounded head and shorter, thicker ears

Question 10

How to identify a male rabbit?

Answer 10

have a longer ano-genital distance

- genital opening is round and prepuce can often be extruded

Question 11

How to identify a female rabbit?

Answer 11

Shorter ano-genital distance

- genital opening is slit like

Question 12

How to safely handle a rabbit?

Answer 12

Approach calmly and scoop into the arms whilst firmly supporting the back

Question 13

How to create a bunny burrito?

Answer 13

1. Lay out a towel/blanket and place rabbit in the middle towards the top
2. Lift towel edge under the rabbits chin like a bib, tight to the rabbit
3. While holding the edge of the towel under the chin fold one side of the towel over the rabbits body and repeat on the other side.

Question 14

What are myomorphs?

Answer 14

Mouse like rodents

Question 15

What are hysticomorphs?

Answer 15

Porcupine like rodents

Question 16

What are sciuromorphs?

Answer 16

Squirrel like rodents

Question 17

How long generally do hamsters live?

Answer 17

~2-3 years

Question 18

How should syrian and dwarf hamsters be housed?

Answer 18

Syrian = solitary 
Dwarf = live in pairs or social groups but fighting is common in captivity

Question 19

How to identify a syrian hamster?

Answer 19

Wide range of colours

• can be long haired - teddy bear coat
• weigh between 90-130g

Question 20

How to identify a chinese hamster?

Answer 20

Long slender body

• dorsal stripe
• longer tail

Question 21

How to identify a russian dwarf campbell hamster?

Answer 21

Broad stocky hamster with short legs and a short tail

- most have a brown coat with a lighter ventrum

Question 22

How to identify a russian dwarf winter white hamster?

Answer 22

Broad stocky hamster with short legs and a short tail

- generally have white/lighter coats and the colour can change with the season

Question 23

How to identify a Robrovski hamster?

Answer 23

Smallest of the common dwarf hamster - 18-28g

• short broad body
• different colours but brown with a white ventrum is the most common

Question 24

How to sex a small rodent?

Answer 24

Males have a longer ano-genital distance and obviuos testes if entire
Females have a shorter ano-genital distance

Question 25

How to identify a short haired guinea pig?

Answer 25

Smooth coat | - variety of colours

Question 26

How to identify a abyssinian guinea pig?

Answer 26

Fur grows in rosette patterns | Multiple colour varieties

Question 27

How to identify a peruvian guinea pig?

Answer 27

long haired - dense can grow to over a foot in length | Multiple colour varieties

Question 28

How to identify a skinny guinea pig?

Answer 28

Almost completely hairless - can have some hair on the muzzle, legs and feet but only a thin covering elsewhere on the body - skin problems are common

Question 29

How to sex a guinea pig?

Answer 29

Females have a Y shaped genital opening and a short ano-genital distance Males have a round prepuce and a longer ano-genital distance

Question 30

How long do chinchillas live?

Answer 30

10-15 years

Question 31

How to sex a chinchilla or degu?

Answer 31

Males have large testicles either side of the anus and prepuce Females have a shorter ano-genital distance

Question 32

How to safely restrain a chinchilla/degu?

Answer 32

Supported gently around the shoulders with a second hand under the rump

Question 33

How to sex a ferret?

Answer 33

Males (hobs) have a ventral prepuce and a scrotum containing 2 testicles Females (jills) have a slit like vulva which enlarges when in oestrus

Question 34

How to safely restrain a ferret?

Answer 34

Restrain around the shoulders | Holding vertically may help keep still

Question 35

How should rabbits be housed?

Answer 35

In pairs | 2 averaged sized rabbits need an area 3m x 2m x 1m

Question 36

What are issues with housing rabbits inside?

Answer 36

Higher prevalence of sore hocks (pododermatitis)

Question 37

How should mice & rats be housed?

Answer 37

Pairs or groups - enclosure should be spacious, secure and well ventilated - non dusty substrates

Question 38

How should hamsters be housed?

Answer 38

Usually best kept alone - avoid cotton wool or similar fluffy nesting material - impaction - need regular supervised exercise

Question 39

How should gerbils be housed?

Answer 39

Pairs or groups - smooth walls and floors - prevent injuries - provides opportunities for burrowing, tunnels and hides - sand bath for grooming

Question 40

How should guinea pigs be housed?

Answer 40

Pairs or groups Inside or out Soft bedding to prevent pododermatitis

Question 41

How should chinchillas be housed?

Answer 41

Pairs or groups - multilevel enclosure to allow climbing and jumping - variety of flooring -pododermatitis

Question 42

How should degus be housed?

Answer 42

Pairs or groups - allow digging and burrowing - dust baths

Question 43

How should ferrets be housed?

Answer 43

Indoors or outdoors Trained to harness and lead - like tubes and tunneling

Question 44

How should african pygmy hedgehogs be housed?

Answer 44

Supplementary heat source - basic cage or vivarium need regular exercise

Question 45

Describe a rabbits ideal diet

Answer 45

high fibre, low carbohydrate - need fresh greens, veg and herbs - avoid fruit or carrots

Question 46

Describe a guinea pigs ideal diet

Answer 46

hay, pellets, vegetables | - absolute dietary requirement for vitamin C

Question 47

What does a lack of vitamin C result in?

Answer 47

Hypovitaminosis C (Scurvy) - collagen abnormalities - compromises blood vessel integrity and tooth attachments

Question 48

Describe a chinchilla's ideal diet

Answer 48

Hay and pellets | - dried herbs, fruit or veg should be a treat, can cause diarrhoea

Question 49

Describe a degu's ideal diet

Answer 49

Hay, pellets, veg - prone to diabetes - may need vitamin C supplementation

Question 50

Describe a ferrets ideal diet

Answer 50

Obligate carnivores - short GI transit time, can't cope with long periods of fasting - need high fat, high protein, low carbohydrate diet - naturally lay down fat reserves in autumn-winter

Question 51

Describe a african pygmy hedgehogs ideal diet

Answer 51

Omnivores - live insects only as a treat and need additional calcium supplementation - obesity is common

Question 52

Describe the preventative medicine plan for rabbits

Answer 52

Myxomatosis - swollen eyelids and genitals Rabbit viral haemorrahagic disease (RHD/VHD/RVHD) - strain 1 = acute death with bleeding - strain 2 = vague signs (often GI then death) Combined vaccine given from 5 weeks Ectoparasite prevention

Question 53

Describe the preventative medicine plan for rodents

Answer 53

Annual health check Reproductive control Ectoparasite control if required

Question 54

Describe the preventative medicine plan for ferrets

Answer 54

Distemper vaccination - for at risk ferrets Rabies vaccine if travelling Reproductive control Parasite treatment