2. Small Mammal husbandry Flashcards
How long to rabbits generally live?
8-12 years in captivity
How to identify a relaxed rabbit?
Lying down with ears close together, facing slightly backwards and pointing outwards sometimes with eyes partially closed
How to identify a dutch rabbit?
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
How to identify a english rabbit?
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
How to identify a rex rabbit?
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
How to identify a continental giant rabbit?
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
How to identify a mini/dwarf lop rabbit?
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
How to identify a netherland dwarf rabbit?
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
How to identify a lionhead rabbit?
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
How to identify a male rabbit?
have a longer ano-genital distance
- genital opening is round and prepuce can often be extruded
How to identify a female rabbit?
Shorter ano-genital distance
- genital opening is slit like
How to safely handle a rabbit?
Approach calmly and scoop into the arms whilst firmly supporting the back
How to create a bunny burrito?
- Lay out a towel/blanket and place rabbit in the middle towards the top
- Lift towel edge under the rabbits chin like a bib, tight to the rabbit
- 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.
What are myomorphs?
Mouse like rodents
What are hysticomorphs?
Porcupine like rodents
What are sciuromorphs?
Squirrel like rodents
How long generally do hamsters live?
~2-3 years
How should syrian and dwarf hamsters be housed?
Syrian = solitary Dwarf = live in pairs or social groups but fighting is common in captivity
How to identify a syrian hamster?
Wide range of colours
- can be long haired - teddy bear coat
- weigh between 90-130g
How to identify a chinese hamster?
Long slender body
- dorsal stripe
- longer tail
How to identify a russian dwarf campbell hamster?
Broad stocky hamster with short legs and a short tail
- most have a brown coat with a lighter ventrum
How to identify a russian dwarf winter white hamster?
Broad stocky hamster with short legs and a short tail
- generally have white/lighter coats and the colour can change with the season
How to identify a Robrovski hamster?
Smallest of the common dwarf hamster - 18-28g
- short broad body
- different colours but brown with a white ventrum is the most common
How to sex a small rodent?
Males have a longer ano-genital distance and obviuos testes if entire
Females have a shorter ano-genital distance
How to identify a short haired guinea pig?
Smooth coat
- variety of colours
How to identify a abyssinian guinea pig?
Fur grows in rosette patterns
Multiple colour varieties
How to identify a peruvian guinea pig?
long haired - dense can grow to over a foot in length
Multiple colour varieties
How to identify a skinny guinea pig?
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
How to sex a guinea pig?
Females have a Y shaped genital opening and a short ano-genital distance
Males have a round prepuce and a longer ano-genital distance
How long do chinchillas live?
10-15 years
How to sex a chinchilla or degu?
Males have large testicles either side of the anus and prepuce
Females have a shorter ano-genital distance
How to safely restrain a chinchilla/degu?
Supported gently around the shoulders with a second hand under the rump
How to sex a ferret?
Males (hobs) have a ventral prepuce and a scrotum containing 2 testicles
Females (jills) have a slit like vulva which enlarges when in oestrus
How to safely restrain a ferret?
Restrain around the shoulders
Holding vertically may help keep still
How should rabbits be housed?
In pairs
2 averaged sized rabbits need an area 3m x 2m x 1m
What are issues with housing rabbits inside?
Higher prevalence of sore hocks (pododermatitis)
How should mice & rats be housed?
Pairs or groups
- enclosure should be spacious, secure and well ventilated
- non dusty substrates
How should hamsters be housed?
Usually best kept alone
- avoid cotton wool or similar fluffy nesting material - impaction
- need regular supervised exercise
How should gerbils be housed?
Pairs or groups
- smooth walls and floors - prevent injuries
- provides opportunities for burrowing, tunnels and hides - sand bath for grooming
How should guinea pigs be housed?
Pairs or groups
Inside or out
Soft bedding to prevent pododermatitis
How should chinchillas be housed?
Pairs or groups
- multilevel enclosure to allow climbing and jumping
- variety of flooring -pododermatitis
How should degus be housed?
Pairs or groups
- allow digging and burrowing
- dust baths
How should ferrets be housed?
Indoors or outdoors
Trained to harness and lead
- like tubes and tunneling
How should african pygmy hedgehogs be housed?
Supplementary heat source
- basic cage or vivarium
need regular exercise
Describe a rabbits ideal diet
high fibre, low carbohydrate
- need fresh greens, veg and herbs
- avoid fruit or carrots
Describe a guinea pigs ideal diet
hay, pellets, vegetables
- absolute dietary requirement for vitamin C
What does a lack of vitamin C result in?
Hypovitaminosis C (Scurvy)
- collagen abnormalities
- compromises blood vessel integrity and tooth attachments
Describe a chinchilla’s ideal diet
Hay and pellets
- dried herbs, fruit or veg should be a treat, can cause diarrhoea
Describe a degu’s ideal diet
Hay, pellets, veg
- prone to diabetes
- may need vitamin C supplementation
Describe a ferrets ideal diet
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
Describe a african pygmy hedgehogs ideal diet
Omnivores
- live insects only as a treat and need additional calcium supplementation
- obesity is common
Describe the preventative medicine plan for rabbits
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
Describe the preventative medicine plan for rodents
Annual health check
Reproductive control
Ectoparasite control if required
Describe the preventative medicine plan for ferrets
Distemper vaccination - for at risk ferrets
Rabies vaccine if travelling
Reproductive control
Parasite treatment
