Exotic mammal medicine Flashcards
1
Q
What do we need to know about degus?
A
- Hystricomorph rodents
- Increasing popularity as pets
- Small (180 – 350g)
- Social
- Hind-gut fermenters + coprophagy
- Strict herbivores
- Elodont dentition
- Similar diet to Chinchillas
- Lifespan 5-6y
2
Q
Why are degus hard to restrain?
A
Can tail slip
3
Q
What are common health problems in degus? How would you treat these problems?
A
- Dental disease (CS = weight loss, excessive salivation, gut stasis) - Tx = radiographs, crown reduction under GA, diet correction
- Gut stasis / hypomotility (CS = gastric tympanism, hepatic lipidosis, GIT dysbiosis) - Tx = fluids, analgesia, gut motility meds (metoclopramide)
- Diabetes mellitus (CS = hyperinsulinaemia, cataracts) - Tx = correct diet, cataracts=irreversible
4
Q
What are gerbils?
A
- Most common species kept = Mongolian gerbil
- Desert adapted species
- Social
- Myomorph rodents
- Lifespan 3-5y
- Ventral scent gland
- Pelleted diet
- Can also slip their tai
5
Q
What are conditions gerbils get?
A
- Facial eczema - nasal/periocular dermatitis (excessive production of porphyrins by harderian gland, 2ary dermatitis)
- Ventral scent gland disease - larger in males
- Epilepsy - 20-40% of gerbils - NO Tx - rule out other conditions e.g. heart disease, hepatic encephalopathy
6
Q
What causes facial eczema? How would you treat it?
A
- Stress related = overcrowding, high humidity / poor ventilation, no access to sand baths
- Tx = cleaning w saline / chlorhexidine, meloxicam
7
Q
What can cause ventral scent gland disease? How is it treated?
A
- Infection
- Neoplasia - adenocarcinoma
- Blockage w gland secretion
- Tx = topical antiseptics, express gland under GA, meloxicam + AB, Surgery = remove gland
8
Q
What are prairie dogs a reservoir for?
A
- Yersinias pestis (plague)
9
Q
What are common problems with squirrels
+ prairie dogs?
A
- Dental disease - elodontomas / pseudo-odontomas
-incisor malocclusion - Heart disease
- Hepatobiliary disease
10
Q
What should be known about sugar gliders?
A
- Marsupials!
- Arboreal, nocturnal and able to glide
- Social
- Lifespan 10-20y
- Some particularities =
◦ Males have a scent gland on forehead
◦ Para-cloacal glands
◦ Cloaca
◦ Reproductive anatomy
◦ Slower metabolism than placental mammals
11
Q
What are common health problems with sugar gliders?
A
- Malnutrition - metabolic bone disease, obesity, anaemia / hypoproteinemia - can lead to constipation +/or cloacal prolapse
- Dental disease - periodontal disease, tartar, oral abscesses
- Enteritis - diet related, Giardia, Bacterial
- para-cloacal gland infection, cysts + neoplasia
- Stress related self-mutilation
- Toxoplasmosis
- Pouch infection in females
12
Q
What is seen with metabolic bone disease? Management?
A
- CS = lethargy, weakness, lameness, muscle tremors, constipation
- Management = correct diet, calcium gluconate
13
Q
What needs to be known about african pygmy hedgehogs?
A
- Insectivores
- Arid areas of central and East Africa
- Nocturnal
- Spikes and typical curling behavior
- Solitary
- Self-anointing/anting
- Very large enclosures w/ hiding places
- T = 22-32C
- Offer dry food, some vegetables and insects
- Lifespan 5-6y
14
Q
What should be known about european hedgehogs?
A
- Insectivores and other invertebrates
- Western Europe
- Nocturnal
- Hibernate during Winter months
- Wild populations declining in the UK
15
Q
How would you uncurl / medicate a hedgehog?
A
- Uncurl = light GA
- Medicate = oral (difficult if curled) or SC (best route)
