Anorexia and gastrointestinal disease in small mammals Flashcards
why is it important to ask an owner what the D+ is like in rabbits
need to determine if it is D+ or caecotrophs
caecotrophs are bigger and softer in evening
what can an incorrect diet predispose small mammals to
bloat
D+
Microbial imbalance (dysbiosis).
Gastrointestinal bacterial infections
Hepatic lipidosis.
Obesity which prevents caecotrophs ingestion.
what are outdoor small mammals more likely to get
Exposure to wildlife e.g. virus’ and endoparasites
what can stress cause in hindgut fermenters
hypomotility
which can then lead to anorexia and other problems such as gut stasis, gastric ulcers and bloat
List 7 causes of stress in small mammals
Predators.
New rabbits.
Sudden change of diet.
Change of housing.
Transport.
Extremes of weather/temperature.
Loss of a companion rabbit
Main differences in performing the clinical exam in small mammals compared to dog
Auscultate the GIT in hind gut fermenters.
dental exam methods - otoscope to see cheek teeth
Checking things like ear canals and joints may not be part of every exam in a dog, but they should be in a hind gut fermenter!
List the main differences of ferret compared to cat
Different handling techniques - scuffing is often used in ferrets
Splenomegaly (bigger proportionally) is common and often an incidental finding
List 2 reasons why Reduced wear of teeth can occur in hindgut fermenters
Not enough fiber (vegetation/hay)- not grinding teeth when eating
Selective eating
List 4 causes of weaker teeth in hindgut fermenters
Sugary treats and fruit
Vitamin C deficiency (guinea pigs)
Selenium deficiency
Ca/P imbalance (metabolic bone disease
Why is vitamin C important in guinea pig diet
Because unable to synthesise vit C so need it from diet
where do cheek teeth grow in rabbits
Like horses, lower cheek teeth ONLY over grow into the tongue. And upper cheek teeth ONLY over grown into the cheek.
what is a spur
sharp overgrowth of a tooth
what is different between rabbit and guinea pig cheek teeth
guinea pigs lower cheek teeth curve slightly inwards- NORMAL
But it means when they overgrown they form an arch and trap the tongue
Describe the ideal rabbit diet
85% hay (not alfalfa)
10% vegetables
5% pellets (not muesli)
why do we not want to feed alfalfa hay to rabbits
high in sugars and high in calcium ( this can cause bladder issues)
List the clinical signs of gastrointestinal disease in small mammals
Anorexia
Reduced/ no faecal output
Small dry faecal droppings
Diarrhea
Hunched up/lethargic
Faecal staining (+/- myiasis)
Dribbling/wet front paws
Caecotrophs accumulation (rabbits)
Anal Impactions (guinea pigs)
when can you see Hyperglycaemia in small mammals
stress
pain
advanced liver disease
when can you see hypoglycaemia in small mammals
starvation/ anorexia
what indicates dehydration in small mammals on bloods
elevated TP, HCT
+/- urea/ creatinine - increased
can help tailor fluid plan
list the liver parameters are found in small mammals
TBIL
ALT
AST
GGT
ALKP
some more reliable in some species
List 12 common GIT conditions that affect hind gut fermenters
Dental disease
Gut stasis
Bloat (guinea pigs)
gastric ulceration
Impaction or foreign body
Neoplasia
Bacterial
Viral
Parasitic
Liver disease e.g. lipidosis
Liver lobe torsion (rabbits)
Gastric dilatation volvulus (g.pig)
what is gut stasis
is the slowing (or stopping) of the passage of food through the GI tract.
usually hind gut that is affected
clinical sign not diagnosis
List 5 things that can cause gut stasis
Pain
Stress
Incorrect diet
Lack of caecotrophy
Gastrointestinal bacterial Infection, viral, parasites etc
What are the 2 main types of causes of gastric bloat
- Physiological obstruction e.g. gastric stasis due to pain or diet.
- Physical obstruction e.g. foreign body, neoplasia, GDV.
what do you need to be aware of when looking at rabbit radiographs
can be in hard or soft faeces phase- they look different
both are normal
List the clinical signs of dysbiosis in hind gut fermenters
Anorexia
diarrhoea
haematochezia
dehydration
shock and death
List the normal commensals of hindgut fermenters
Bacteroides
Enterococcus,
Staphylococcus
E.coli.
T/F Lactobacillus are absent in rabbits.
True
What is Dysautonomia
idiopathic malfunction of the autonomic nervous system.
List the clinical signs of Dysautonomia
GI stasis
dry mucous membranes and conjunctiva
mydriasis
bradycardia
urine retention
megaoesophagus
Mucoid enteritis
large intestine impaction.
May be found dead with food impacted in mouth.
In what rabbits do we see caecal impaction
younger rabbits
what do we see anal impaction in and how to treat
common in older male guinea pigs
gentle manual expression
List the common GIT conditions that affect ferrets
Inflammatory Bowl Disease
Endoparasites (e.g. ascarids)
Protozoa
Viral
Bacterial
Obstruction
List the viral diseases that can affect ferrets
ferret enteric coronavirus
rotavirus
canine distemper
What are most ferrets carriers of
Helicobacter mustelae
majority do not have clinical disease
is a risk factor of other things
Name 2 common neoplasia in ferrets
Lymphoma and adenocarcinoma
Possibly secondary to Helicobacter mustelae.
List the bacteria infections which cause enteritis in rodents
salmonella
Clostridium piliforme (Tyzzer’s disease)
Lawsonia intracellularis (wet tail)
List 4 common GIT conditions of rodents
enteritis
Antibiotic associated enterotoxaemia
Cheek pouch impactions and infections- hamsters
Overgrown incisors e.g. malocclusion, trauma.
Describe how to perform dental clinical exam in small mammals
Look at incisors by parting the lips.
Look at cheek teeth by using an otoscope, view is very limited when they are conscious.
Look at a minimum of 4 points in the mouth with an otoscope when they are conscious.
Why is dental imaging important in rabbits
Essential because 2/3rd of the teeth are sub-gingivial.
Acquired dental disease is progressive and tooths/bone are often abnormal and used to stage dental disease.
describe the staging of acquired dental disease
Stage 1 = normal
Stage 2 = root elongation & deterioration
Stage 3 = acquired malocclusion
Stage 4 = cessation of tooth growth
Stage 5(a) = end stage with osteomyelitis and abscess formation
5(b) = end stage with calcification of teeth and alveolar bone
What dental radiographic views do we need to take in rabbits
Lateral – open mouth, closed mouth
Latero-oblique- stops superimposition
Dorsoventral
List 6 options for analgesia in small mammals
meloxicam
tramadol
buprenorphine - Don’t over use opioids- this can cause gut stasis
maropitant
carprofen
lidocaine
List 3 prokinetic drugs used in rabbits
Cisapride- acts on upper and lower GI tract - first choice
metoclopramide- not good on own (use with ranitidine)
Ranitidine
Only if no obstruction
What is the maintenance fluid rate in rabbits
4ml/kg/hr
what is subcut fluid in rabbits
10ml/kg, max 20ml per site
Isotonic saline, warmed
describe shock rate fluids in rabbits
Shock rate: 100ml/kg (divide into 15 minute boluses)
they can chew through IV line
What is the safe rule for hind gut fermenters
Safe (Medications For Treating Small Mammals)
- Metronidazole
- Fluoroquinolones (except pradofloxacin)
- Tetracyclines
- Sulfonamides
- Macrolides (except erythromycin)
List 3 safe antibiotics to give rabits
TMPS
metronidazole
enrofloxacin- protected antibiotic
What is the PLACE rule
Possibly Dangerous (PLACE):
- Penicillins
- Lincosamides (e.g clindamycin)
- Aminoglycosides (possibly)
- Cephalosporins
- Erythromycin
Need to think about where you give these
e.g. penicillin fatal to rabbit orally but s/c is safe
how often should we feed rabbits which need syringe feeding
6 feeds per day
Describe how to treat gastric bloat in rabbits
Critical patients! Intravenous fluids necessary.
analgesia and sedation
Decompress with orogastric tube SLOWLY (easy to rupture!)
If bloat reoccurs- surgery
Describe how to treat Dysbiosis/enterotoxaemia in rabbits
fluids
Stop any offending antibiotics
Cholestyramine
Probiotics?
Transfaunation of caecotrophs? - to try put healthy bacteria back in
Start required drug therapies- but need to be careful
describe how to treat Accumulated Caecotrophs in rabbits
Clip and clean perineum (often require sedation).
treat underlying cause
Exclude treats, fruit and root vegetables from diet.
Provide ad-lib hay and grass- need to carefully monitor weight with this
Describe surgery in hind gut fermenters/ rodent
often high risk
minimise tissue handling - adhesions for readily
Ensure tissues continually hydrated (warmed saline).
no powdered gloves
DO NOT use cat gut
T/F hand rasps are recommended to use in small mammals
False
they may cause loosening of teeth, soft tissue trauma and haemorrhage
Describe how to perform cheek tooth extration in small mammals
Use rabbit molar Crossley elevator or bent 18G needle.
difficult unless already sig loosening
Break down ligaments until the tooth is very loose then use extraction forceps to gently remove
what do you do if cheek tooth snaps when trying to extract in rabbits
wait 4-6 weeks for it to re-grow and then try again.
why should we never cut incisors with tooth cutters on small mammals
Mico-fractures occur every time you cut an incisor with tooth cutters – eventually this can fracture tooth in half
why do rabbit and guinea pig dental abscess need surgical excision
thick puss so abscesses can’t be syringed out
The wound is then kept open by suturing the edges of the incision to the skin (marsupialisation).
