ANIMAL HUSBANDRY - Small Mammals

Question 1

Which taxonomic order and suborder are rats and hamsters included in?

Answer 1

Taxonomic order Rodentia, suborder Myomorpha

Question 2

Which taxonomic order and suborder are guinea pigs, chinchillas and degus included in?

Answer 2

Taxonomic order Rodentia, suborder Hystricomorpha

Question 3

Which taxonomic order and suborder are ferrets included in?

Answer 3

Taxonomic order Carnivora, suborder Mustelidae

Question 4

What is the dental formula for myomorphs?

Answer 4

1-0-0-3 / 1-0-0-3

Question 5

What is the dental formula for hystricomorphs?

Answer 5

1-0-1-3 / 1-0-1-3

Question 6

What is the deciduous dental formula for mustiledae (ferrets)?

Answer 6

3(4)-1-3-0 / 3-1-3-0

Question 7

What is the permanent dental formula for mustiledae (ferrets)?

Answer 7

3-1-3-1 / 3-1-3-2

Question 8

What is the difference between a precocial and altricial litter?

Answer 8

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

Question 9

Do myomorph species have precocial or altricial litters?

Answer 9

Myomorph species have altricial litters

Question 10

Do histricomorph species have precocial or altricial litters?

Answer 10

Histricomorph species have precocial litters

Question 11

Do mustiledae species have precocial or altricial litters?

Answer 11

Mustiledae species have altricial litters

Question 12

Identify this breed of guinea pig

Answer 12

American guinea pig

Question 13

Identify this breed of guinea pig

Answer 13

Rex guinea pig

Question 14

Identify this breed of guinea pig

Answer 14

Peruvian guinea pig

Question 15

Identify this breed of guinea pig

Answer 15

Abyssinian

Question 16

Should guinea pigs be housed independently or in groups?

Answer 16

Guinea pigs are very social animals that should always be housed in pairs or groups

Question 17

Why should guinea pigs never be housed with rabbits?

Answer 17

Guinea pigs and rabbits have different dietary requirements and housing them together also risks the spread of Bordetella

Question 18

What is the optimal temperature range for guinea pigs to be housed in?

Answer 18

The optimal temperature for guinea pigs is between 5 - 10°C

Question 19

What are the three main components of a guinea pig diet?

Answer 19

Hay/grass
Pelleted food
Leafy greens

Question 20

Why do guinea pigs require so much dietary vitamin C?

Answer 20

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

Question 21

How much vitamin C should a healthy guinea pig ingest per day?

Answer 21

10mg/kg/day of vitamin C

Question 22

How much vitamin C should a breeding guinea pig ingest per day?

Answer 22

35mg/kg/day of vitamin C

Question 23

How much vitamin C should a stressed or unwell guinea pig ingest per day?

Answer 23

50-100mg/kg/day of vitamin C

Question 24

List six vegetables/weeds that can be fed to guinea pigs to supplements their dietary vitamin C?

Answer 24

Kale
Parsley
Spinach
Cabbage
Red pepper
Dandelions

Question 25

Are chinchillas nocturnal or diurnal?

Answer 25

Chinchillas are nocturnal (mostly active during the night)

Question 26

What are the two main colours found in chinchillas?

Answer 26

Grey White

Question 27

Should chinchillas be housed independently or in groups?

Answer 27

Chinchillas are social animals that should be housed in same sex pairs

Question 28

Why should chinchillas be housed in a vertical space?

Answer 28

Chinchillas should be housed in a vertical space due to their agility, this allows them to exhibit normal behaviours

Question 29

Why do chinchillas require access to a dust bath once a day?

Answer 29

Chinchillas take dust baths as a way of self-cleaning their thick coats

Question 30

When should you not provide chinchillas with a dust bath?

Answer 30

Chinchillas should not be provided with a dust bath following a surgical procedure as this can irritate and contaminate the wound

Question 31

What are the three main components of a chinchilla diet?

Answer 31

Hay/grass Pelleted food Leafy greens

Question 32

How should you handle chinchillas?

Answer 32

Place one hand around their pectoral girdle and use the other hand to support the rest of their body

Question 33

Are degus nocturnal or diurnal?

Answer 33

Degus are diurnal (mostly active during the day)

Question 34

What is the most common colour found in degus?

Answer 34

Degus are a brown/grey colour with black at the tip of their tail

Question 35

Should degus be housed independently or in groups?

Answer 35

Degus are highly social animals which should always be housed in pairs or groups

Question 36

Why is it common for degus to fight after their housing has been cleaned out?

Answer 36

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

Question 37

Why should degus only be housed in wire mesh housing?

Answer 37

Degus should only be housed in wire mesh housing as they will chew through any other material and escape

Question 38

What are the three main components of a degu diet?

Answer 38

Hay Pelleted food Leafy greens

Question 39

Why should degus never be fed sugars/carbohydrates (treats)?

Answer 39

Degus are very prone to developing diabetes and thus should not be fed treats

Question 40

Are rats nocturnal or diurnal?

Answer 40

Rats are nocturnal (mostly active during the night)

Question 41

Should rats be housed independently or in groups?

Answer 41

Rats are very social animals that should always be housed in pairs or groups

Question 42

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?

Answer 42

No sawdust or shavings Well ventilated housing No air fresheners or candles Cleaned out daily to prevent ammonia build up

Question 43

What are the three main components of a rat diet?

Answer 43

Pelleted food Fruit Vegetables

Question 44

What can be beneficial to feed to young rats once a week?

Answer 44

Young rats can be fed cat biscuits once a week however this is not recommended in older rats

Question 45

Are hamsters nocturnal or diurnal?

Answer 45

Hamsters are nocturnal (mostly active at night)

Question 46

Identify this breed of hamster

Answer 46

Syrian hamster

Question 47

Identify this breed of hamster

Answer 47

Russian Dwarf hamster

Question 48

Identify this breed of hamster

Answer 48

Roborovski hamster

Question 49

Should Syrian hamsters be housed independently or in groups?

Answer 49

Syrian hamsters should be housed independently

Question 50

Should Russian Dwarf hamsters be housed independently or in groups?

Answer 50

Russian Dwarf hamsters should be housed in pairs or groups

Question 51

What are the three main components of a hamster diet?

Answer 51

Pelleted food Fruit Vegetables

Question 52

Are ferrets nocturnal or diurnal?

Answer 52

Ferrets are nocturnal (mostly active at night)

Question 53

How should you handle hamsters?

Answer 53

Cup in your hand with two fingers placed on their head

Question 54

What is the name for an intact male ferret?

Answer 54

Hob

Question 55

What is the name for an intact female ferret?

Answer 55

Jill

Question 56

What is the name for a neutered male ferret?

Answer 56

Gib

Question 57

What is the name for a neutered female ferret?

Answer 57

Sprite

Question 58

Describe how you would identify the sex of a ferret?

Answer 58

Female ferrets have short ano-genital distance whereas male ferrets have longer ano-genital distance

Question 59

What percentage of a ferret diet should be made up of animal sourced protein?

Answer 59

35-40%

Question 60

What should ferrets receive an annual vaccine for?

Answer 60

Ferrets should receive an annual vaccine for distemper

Question 61

Which three small mammals are recommended to be neutered?

Answer 61

Guinea pigs Rats Ferrets

Question 62

Why is chemical neutering (GnRH agonist implant) recommended for ferrets over surgical neutering?

Answer 62

The GnRH agonist implant is recommended for ferrets due to the risk of adrenal gland disease associated with surgically neutering ferrets

Question 63

What is the risk to female ferrets if they are unmated when in oestrus?

Answer 63

Ferrets are induced ovulators so if not mated, persistent oestrus can occur leading to hyperestrogenism and bone marrow suppression

Question 64

What are the four main clinical signs of hyperestrogenism in ferrets?

Answer 64

Aplastic anaemia Bilateral symmetric alopecia Anorexia Pale mucous membranes

Question 65

What is the main cause of reduced gut motility and dental disease in hystricomorphs?

Answer 65

Reduced gut motility and dental disease in hystricomorphs is mainly due to a lack of fibre and too many carbohydrates in their diet

Question 66

What is pododermititis and why is it so common in small mammals?

Answer 66

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