ANIMAL HUSBANDRY - Small Mammals Flashcards
Which taxonomic order and suborder are rats and hamsters included in?
Taxonomic order Rodentia, suborder Myomorpha
Which taxonomic order and suborder are guinea pigs, chinchillas and degus included in?
Taxonomic order Rodentia, suborder Hystricomorpha
Which taxonomic order and suborder are ferrets included in?
Taxonomic order Carnivora, suborder Mustelidae
What is the dental formula for myomorphs?
1-0-0-3 / 1-0-0-3
What is the dental formula for hystricomorphs?
1-0-1-3 / 1-0-1-3
What is the deciduous dental formula for mustiledae (ferrets)?
3(4)-1-3-0 / 3-1-3-0
What is the permanent dental formula for mustiledae (ferrets)?
3-1-3-1 / 3-1-3-2
What is the difference between a precocial and altricial litter?
A precocial litter is born in an advanced state and able to feed itself and move independently almost immediately whereas an altricial litter is born helpless and requires significant parental care
Do myomorph species have precocial or altricial litters?
Myomorph species have altricial litters
Do histricomorph species have precocial or altricial litters?
Histricomorph species have precocial litters
Do mustiledae species have precocial or altricial litters?
Mustiledae species have altricial litters
Identify this breed of guinea pig
American guinea pig
Identify this breed of guinea pig
Rex guinea pig
Identify this breed of guinea pig
Peruvian guinea pig
Identify this breed of guinea pig
Abyssinian
Should guinea pigs be housed independently or in groups?
Guinea pigs are very social animals that should always be housed in pairs or groups
Why should guinea pigs never be housed with rabbits?
Guinea pigs and rabbits have different dietary requirements and housing them together also risks the spread of Bordetella
What is the optimal temperature range for guinea pigs to be housed in?
The optimal temperature for guinea pigs is between 5 - 10°C
What are the three main components of a guinea pig diet?
Hay/grass
Pelleted food
Leafy greens
Why do guinea pigs require so much dietary vitamin C?
Guinea pigs lack the enzyme L-gulonolactone oxidase required to synthesise vitamin C, thus guinea pigs gain all of their vitamin C from their diet
How much vitamin C should a healthy guinea pig ingest per day?
10mg/kg/day of vitamin C
How much vitamin C should a breeding guinea pig ingest per day?
35mg/kg/day of vitamin C
How much vitamin C should a stressed or unwell guinea pig ingest per day?
50-100mg/kg/day of vitamin C
List six vegetables/weeds that can be fed to guinea pigs to supplements their dietary vitamin C?
Kale
Parsley
Spinach
Cabbage
Red pepper
Dandelions
Are chinchillas nocturnal or diurnal?
Chinchillas are nocturnal (mostly active during the night)
What are the two main colours found in chinchillas?
Grey
White
Should chinchillas be housed independently or in groups?
Chinchillas are social animals that should be housed in same sex pairs
Why should chinchillas be housed in a vertical space?
Chinchillas should be housed in a vertical space due to their agility, this allows them to exhibit normal behaviours
Why do chinchillas require access to a dust bath once a day?
Chinchillas take dust baths as a way of self-cleaning their thick coats
When should you not provide chinchillas with a dust bath?
Chinchillas should not be provided with a dust bath following a surgical procedure as this can irritate and contaminate the wound
What are the three main components of a chinchilla diet?
Hay/grass
Pelleted food
Leafy greens
How should you handle chinchillas?
Place one hand around their pectoral girdle and use the other hand to support the rest of their body
Are degus nocturnal or diurnal?
Degus are diurnal (mostly active during the day)
What is the most common colour found in degus?
Degus are a brown/grey colour with black at the tip of their tail
Should degus be housed independently or in groups?
Degus are highly social animals which should always be housed in pairs or groups
Why is it common for degus to fight after their housing has been cleaned out?
Degus have a hierarchal based organisation based on group territories. When their housing is cleaned, they no longer recognise the hierarchy and will fight to redetermine this organisation
Why should degus only be housed in wire mesh housing?
Degus should only be housed in wire mesh housing as they will chew through any other material and escape
What are the three main components of a degu diet?
Hay
Pelleted food
Leafy greens
Why should degus never be fed sugars/carbohydrates (treats)?
Degus are very prone to developing diabetes and thus should not be fed treats
Are rats nocturnal or diurnal?
Rats are nocturnal (mostly active during the night)
Should rats be housed independently or in groups?
Rats are very social animals that should always be housed in pairs or groups
Rats have a very sensitive respiratory system and are thus very prone to respiratory irritation. Which four general husbandry practices are essential to maintain a rat’s respiratory health?
No sawdust or shavings
Well ventilated housing
No air fresheners or candles
Cleaned out daily to prevent ammonia build up
What are the three main components of a rat diet?
Pelleted food
Fruit
Vegetables
What can be beneficial to feed to young rats once a week?
Young rats can be fed cat biscuits once a week however this is not recommended in older rats
Are hamsters nocturnal or diurnal?
Hamsters are nocturnal (mostly active at night)
Identify this breed of hamster
Syrian hamster
Identify this breed of hamster
Russian Dwarf hamster
Identify this breed of hamster
Roborovski hamster
Should Syrian hamsters be housed independently or in groups?
Syrian hamsters should be housed independently
Should Russian Dwarf hamsters be housed independently or in groups?
Russian Dwarf hamsters should be housed in pairs or groups
What are the three main components of a hamster diet?
Pelleted food
Fruit
Vegetables
Are ferrets nocturnal or diurnal?
Ferrets are nocturnal (mostly active at night)
How should you handle hamsters?
Cup in your hand with two fingers placed on their head
What is the name for an intact male ferret?
Hob
What is the name for an intact female ferret?
Jill
What is the name for a neutered male ferret?
Gib
What is the name for a neutered female ferret?
Sprite
Describe how you would identify the sex of a ferret?
Female ferrets have short ano-genital distance whereas male ferrets have longer ano-genital distance
What percentage of a ferret diet should be made up of animal sourced protein?
35-40%
What should ferrets receive an annual vaccine for?
Ferrets should receive an annual vaccine for distemper
Which three small mammals are recommended to be neutered?
Guinea pigs
Rats
Ferrets
Why is chemical neutering (GnRH agonist implant) recommended for ferrets over surgical neutering?
The GnRH agonist implant is recommended for ferrets due to the risk of adrenal gland disease associated with surgically neutering ferrets
What is the risk to female ferrets if they are unmated when in oestrus?
Ferrets are induced ovulators so if not mated, persistent oestrus can occur leading to hyperestrogenism and bone marrow suppression
What are the four main clinical signs of hyperestrogenism in ferrets?
Aplastic anaemia
Bilateral symmetric alopecia
Anorexia
Pale mucous membranes
What is the main cause of reduced gut motility and dental disease in hystricomorphs?
Reduced gut motility and dental disease in hystricomorphs is mainly due to a lack of fibre and too many carbohydrates in their diet
What is pododermititis and why is it so common in small mammals?
Pododermititis is the inflammation of the skin of the paw. This is very common in small mammals due to improper housing causing them to develop sores on their paws
