Common problems in pet Rodents Flashcards
What guinea pigs get diarrhoea? Tx?
- Mainly young / immunocompromised patients
- Tx = specific antibiotics / high fibre diet / supportive care
What are common causes of diarrhoea in guinea pigs?
- Diet – inadequate fibre/high simple carbohydrates
- Bacterial infections – Tyzzer’s disease (Clostridium piliforme)
- Dysbiosis/enterotoxaemia =
- after incorrect use of Antibiotics
- Clostridial overgrowth
(Hepatopathies, dental disease)
What are 90% of calculi? What are common secondary complications to urolithiasis?
- Calcium carbonate
- 2ary cystitis + bacterial UTI
CS of urolithiasis?
- Haematuria
- Dysuria
- Pain/vocalizing during urination
- Non-specific: anorexia, lethargy, hunched posture
- Depends on urolith location
How can urolithiasis be diagnosed? + Tx?
- Plain radiography - calcium = easily detected
- Abdominal ultrasound - done conscious
- Tx - very small <5mm = passed unaided = ANALGESIA
- all other cases = Bladder (GA+cystotomy), Urethra (GA+ flush), Ureters (Ga + hydropropulsion then cystotomy), Kidneys (not possible)
What is the difference between serous + follicular ovarian cysts in guinea pigs?
SEROUS CYSTS =
* Non-functional
* Develop spontaneously during oestrus cycle
* Don’t respond to Luteinizing Hormone
* Only cause clinical signs if become too large
FOLLICULAR CYSTS =
* Derive from follicles that fail to ovulate
* Hormonally active
* Respond to LH
* Variable clinical signs
CS of ovarian cysts? Dx? Tx?
- CS = asymptomatic, anorexia, abdominal distension, non-pruritic flank alopecia, mammary gland hyperkeratosis
- Dx = Ultrasonography
- Tx = medical in follicular - hCG SC 2 injections 14 days apart
= Surgery - GA + Spay
= Percutaneous US-guided drainage (refill quickly)
What are other reproductive problems in guinea pigs?
- Neoplasia (uterine leiomyosarcoma)
- Endometritis / pyometra
- Dystocia - poor prognosis (require c-section)
- Pregnancy toxaemia / ketosis - poor prognosis
Lymphoid neoplasia is common in guinea pigs, What are the 3 forms? What are main diagnosis tools?
- Multicentric + high malignancy forms
- Epitheliotrophic T-cell lymphoma
- Leukaemia caused by a retrovirus
- Dx =
- cytology of peripheral lymph glands
- Haematology
- US
What are tx for lymphoma?
- Poor prognosis
- Palliative = prednisolone
- Discuss euthanasia
What are common skin conditions in guinea pigs? + their treatment?
- External parasites – mites/lice = ivermectin
- Ringworm/Dermatophytiasis = terbinafine
- Cervical lymphadenitis = surgical excision, lance, AB
- Sebaceous lumps = surgical removal
- Pododermatitis - AB
- Meloxicam for inflammation
What is the aetiology of cervical lymphadenitis? What can it spread to + cause?
- Streptococcus equi zooepidemicus - abscessation of cervical lymph node after oral abrasions
- Spread + cause = penumonia, otitis externa, septicaemia
What are other conditions see in guinea pigs?
- Hyperthyroidism
- Hyperadrenocorticism
- Insulinoma
- Fibrous osteodystrophy
- Hypovitaminosis C
- Mammary gland neoplasia and mastitis
- Pneumonia
- Heart disease – most common pericardial effusion, DCM
What is seen URT/LRT infection?
Upper Respiratory Tract Infection (URTI) =
◦ Sneezing
◦ Nasal discharge
◦ Porphyrin staining around nostrils
◦ “noisy breathing”
Lower Respiratory Tract Infection (LRTI) =
◦ Increased RR and effort
◦ “noisy breathing”
◦ Crackles, muffled heart sounds on auscultation
What can cause respiratory infections?
- Stress / immunosuppression
- Environment - cage ventilation
- Viral - Sendai virus, paramyxovirus
- Fungal - Pneumocystis carinii
- Bacterial - M. pulmonis, Strep pneumonis, Corynebacterium kutscheri
