EXO4 - RODENTS Flashcards

1
Q

Explain the term Hystricomorphs, give examples of this type of rodents.

A

Bigger rodents;

Chinchilla, Guinea pigs, Degu

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2
Q

Describe and explain the housing requirements for guinea pigs.

A
  • Guinea pigs are highly social, grassland dwellers
  • Keep in single sex groups, pairs or harems
  • Not hardy, so housing outdoors would require different summer & winter accommodation (do not tolerate wet and cold weather well); hutch should be raised off the ground to avoid flooding or damp conditions
  • Traditional outdoor hutches have 2 compartments: 1 mesh-fronted and 1 solid-fronted area for sleeping
  • Ideally keep them indoors in a large floor pen area e.g. plastic bottom/mesh top enclosures as bed area
  • Bedding must be dust free e.g. shavings/paper bedding/towels/blankets/hay are all suitable
  • Hutch should always has a run attached, to allow good amount of space for exercise and environmental enrichment
  • Provide regular exercise and grazing e.g. movable run or grazing ark, or permanent outdoor pen. These should be secure to prevent predation and should have a shelter e.g. box or pieces of drain pipes (acting as bolt holes if startled)
  • Do not house with rabbits as they tend to bully guinea pigs and can transmit diseases e.g. Bordetella bronchiseptica
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3
Q

Describe the basic anatomy for Guinea pigs

A
  • Dental formula: 2x (1/1, 0/0, 1/1, 3/3)
  • Sharp, chisel-shaped, open-rooted, constantly growing incisors
  • Premolars & molars open-rooted and constantly growing
  • Large diastema
  • Mandible wider than maxilla
  • Simple stomach, large sacculated caecum, long colon
  • Exhibit coprophagy, enhances vitamin B & K absorption
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4
Q

Describe feeding requirements for guinea pigs.

A
  • Absolute dietary requirement for Vitamin C (need 10mg/kg per day, rising to 3X this in pregnancy or if unwell)
  • Commercial diets are often supplemented with Vitamin C but the shelf life is short, cool dark storage conditions must be provided
  • Feed limited amount of commercial pallets + ad lib good quality hay, plus a variety of green foods (groundsel, fresh grass, dandelion, cow parsley, broccoli etc.) Must provide enough roughage/fibre in the form of hay or grass to maintain dental and GI health
  • As with rabbits, feeding muesli mix concentrates is contraindicated so should be avoided
  • Ad lib water from drinking bottle
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5
Q

Describe the breeding of guinea pigs.

A
  • Female is polyoestrus (oestrus every 15-17 days)
  • Females have separate vaginal and urethral opening, where the vaginal opening is usually non-patent until oestrus
  • Female in oestrus would arch her back if stroked (lordosis)
  • Obvious vaginal plug is present after mating
  • All rodent species (except chipmunks) show a post-parturition oestrus within 24 hours of parturition, so females should be separated from males unless a constant state of pregnancy or lactation is desired
  • The young are born after a long gestation period (63 days) & are precocious (mini version of adults)
  • Females synchronise litters if kept together
  • Essential to breed female guinea pigs ideally at about 12 weeks old, or before 7-8 months of age; after 1 year old the pubic symphysis fuses, so if they are bred for the first time after this dystopia will occur, due to birth canal being too narrow
  • Approaching parturition can be detected by feeling separation of pubic symphysis: 24-36 hours before birth the gap widens to approximately 2 cm
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6
Q

Describe sexing of guinea pigs.

A

Males:
- Preputial orifice is round, penis can be gently extruded with pressure cranially on prepuce
- Testicles are large & obvious in adult male

Females:
- Anogenital area is Y-shaped (anus at base of Y)

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