Exotic Small Mammal Nutrtion Flashcards
Hind gut fermenters
Rabbits, chinchillas, Guinea pis, degus, prairie dogs, squirrels
Model hind gut fermenter
Domestic rabbit
How do cecotrophs maximize nutrient digestibilty
Rich in B vitamins and vitamin K
Essential amino acids, VFA, enzymes
Microorganisms
Reasons why cecotrophs may not be ingested
Arthritis, obesity, neurological disease, e collar placement
Fiber is important for
Dental wear
General oral health
Gastric motility and gut health
Fiber goal
20 - 25% in diet
Species that do cecotrophy
Lagomorph (rabbits, hares, pikas )
Alfalfa hay should be fed to
Lactating females and growing young
May be useful to stimulate appetite, especially in hospital setting
Legume hays
Relatively high in calcium
Are rabbits dependent on vitamin D for internal absorption?
No
Excess Ca in the diet can lead to
Stone formation
Potential urinary obstruction
Bladder “sludge” (crystaluria)
Pelleted diets can be good for
Rapid growth and weight gain
Meat, fur, and lab rabbits
Fruits can lead to
Dysbiosis - diarrhea, gastric ulcer, poor absorption
Hind gut fermenters diet basics
Good quality grass hay -free choice Timothy pellet -1/8 to 1/4 cup per day -not essential part of diet Fresh greens -2 cups per 5 lbs, body weight Parsley, cilantro, dandelion greens, leaf lettuce, kale "Treats" -use sparingly, cucumber, carrot, squash Coprophagy -directly consumed -normal and essential
Other medical issues related to diet
Dental disease
Obesity
Gastrointestinal stasis
Gastrointestinal stasis
Insufficient fiber is one cause
Decreased fecal output
Other medical issues related to diet
Dental disease
Obesity
Gastrointestinal stasis
Gastrointestinal stasis
Insufficient fiber is one cause
Decreased fecal output
Guinea pigs requirement for vitamin C
Incapable to endogenous synthesis
Mutated gene for L-guano-g-lactose oxidase
Prevents conversion of L-guano lactase to L-ascorbits acid
Guinea pig diet
1K8 cup Timothy based pellets Free choice grass hay Handful of greens Source vitamin C Avoid water supplements
Guinea pig diseases related to nutrition
Obesity -pods dermatitis Diabetes mellitus Dental disease Ileum/diarrhea/constipation Urolithiasis Hypovitaminosis C -clinical signs can devloped after as littler s 2 weeks without supplementation
Chinchilla family, genus, species
Chinchillidae
Chinchilla
Chinchilla lanigera
Diet recommendations for chinchillas
Good quality hay, 1-2 tablespoons, fresh vegetables
Small amount of seeds, grain, nut is okay (limit to 1 tsp per day)
Nutrition related disease in chincillas
Urinary calculus, associated with high calcium diets, hepatic lipidasis, diabetes mellitus, dental disease
Degu
Cavimorph rodent Family octodontidae Endemic to central chile Prone to dental disease Diabetes mellitus -intolerant of high carbohydrate diets -owners typically notice cataracts first
Prairie dogs
Burrowing rodent
Native to North America grasslands
Family Sciuridae
-Cynams sp
How man rodent blocks should rats get
3-4 per day
Fresh veggies to a small rodents diet should be no more than
20% of total diet
African Pygmy hedgehog
Family Erinaceidae; Atelerix albiventris
Nocturnal and very active
Insectivorous
No cecum
Commercial diets for hedgehogs
Mazurka and Zupreen
Supplement hedgehog food with
Meal worms Super worms (high fat)
How much to feed hedgehog
20-25 gym kibble/ adult
Once in pm
Sugar glider
Family Petaurida, Petauris breviceps
Sugar gliders nutritional diseases
Metabolic bone disease
Hypocalcemia
Hypoglycemia
Hypoprotenemia
Ferrets
Family Mustelidae
Genus Mustela
Ferret diseases possibly linked to food allergies
Inflammatory bowel disease
Eosinophilia gastroenteritis
Callitrichids
Marmosets and tamarins
Many dietary requirements vitamin C and vitamin D3
Skunks, raccoons, opossums
Should not be pets
On invokes
Can be maintains similar to dogs
