EXO4 - RODENTS Flashcards
1
Q
Explain the term Hystricomorphs, give examples of this type of rodents.
A
Bigger rodents;
Chinchilla, Guinea pigs, Degu
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
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
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
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
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)