Exotics Flashcards
Ectoparasites affecting rabbits?
> Mites - leporacarus gibbus (fur mite) - psoroptes cuniculi (ear mite) - cheyletiella parasitovorax > lice > fleas
Main ectoparasites of rats?
mites
- radfordia ensifera, notoedres muris
Main ectoparasites of hamseters?
mites
- demodex criceti, demodex auati
Main ectoparasites of guinea pigs?
- mites (trixacarus caviae)
- lice (glricola porcelli, gyropus ovalis)
Ectoparasites in ferrets?
> mites - otodectes cynotis (ear mite) - sarcoptes scabei > fleas - ctenocephalides felis felis (cat flea)
Tx ectoparasites?
- ivermectin (0.4mg/kg sc or topically q7-14d)
- address predisposing factors
- tx 2* infection
- consider tx of companions
Egs. of ivermectin based treatments?
- topical products on small animal exempotino scheme
- injectable preferred if poss
Which product are licensed for flea prevention in ferrets and in rabbit?
> ferrets - moxidectin and imidaclopruid - fipronil and methoprene > rabbits - imidacloprid - DO NOT USE FIPRONIL
Tx bacterial skin infection?
- clip and clean
- bandages/collars not well tolerated
- PLACE rule for oral Abx to avoid in small herbivores
Hypersensitivity reactions seen in small mammals?
- not well documented
- substrate eg. pine or cedar shavings
- antihistamines tried
Should steroids be used in small mammalas?
- rabbits and rodents very sensitive even at low doses
> severe immunosuppression
> flare ups of subclinical disease eg. pasteurellosis
> hepatic lipidosis - even if topical
Main causes of non-pruritic alopecia?
- companions overgrooming
- not all bacterial/fungal/parasitic infectionsare pruritic
- dermatophytosis
> usually trichopyton
> tx topical/systemic antifungals
> environmental control
Most common alopecic endocrine disorders in guinae pigs?
- cystic ovaries > bilat symmetrical flank alopecia
Most common alopecic endocrine disorders in hamsters?
- hyperadrenocorticism > alopecia and PUPD
definitive dx difficult
Most common alopecic endocrine disorders in ferrets?
- hyperoestrogenism (+swollen vulva, bleeding, collapse, alopecia beginning at tail base)
- hyperadrenocorticism (bilateral symmetrical alopecia, may be pruritic)
- seasonal alopecia
What is seasonal alopecia? Which species does it affect?
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- ferrets
Which vitamin deficiency are guinaepigs susceptible to? clinical signs?
> hypovitaminosis C
- guinaepigs have absolute dietary requirement 10mg/kg vit C/day
- potential underlying cause of bacterial/fungal/parasitic skin disease
clinical signs:
- rough coat, scaling pinnae, petechiae
Which small mammal is prone to cutaneous neoplasia?
Hamsters
What should potentially neoplastic lumps be distinguished from?
scent glands
What must abx for abscesses cover?
Anaerobes
Usual tx abscesses?
Surgical
What is one of the most common dermatological diseases in rabbits?
Pododermatitis
- hock pododermatitis foundi n 90% rabbits!
> inappropriate substrate, inactivity, weight
> tx: topical and systemic anti-inflams
What causes myxomatosis? Spread?
- pox virus
- spread by biting insects (fleas, mosquitos)
Clincal signs myxomatosis?
- swelling eyes, genitals
- URT signs
> fatal if unvaccinated
Prevention of myxomatosis?
- annual combined vax from 5 weeks old
> myxomatosis
> viral haemorrhagic disease
When is flystrike seen? Pathogenesis?
- warm weather
- potentially fatal
- eggs laid on any dirty/inflamed areas
- 1-3d develop to maggots > tissue damage, deat h
Tx flystrike
- eggs and maggotsp hyscially removed +- sedation!
- intensive nursing and supportive care
> pain relief
> fluids
> Abx - euthanasia??
Prevention of flystrike?
- check daily in summer
- v flies in environment
- Rearguard applied at high risk times prevents eggs developing for 8-10 weeks
How often do pet birds moult?
- 1x year
- during/just after breeding season
- energy demands high -> less active bird
Potential casues of feather plucking?
- pruritis
- pain
- behavioural
Cause of pscittacine beak and feather disease?
- circovirus inhaled or eaten > affects dividing cells - sudden death - immunosuppression - feather and beak signs
Which virus is common in budgies?
Polyoma virus - inhaled or eaten - may occour at same time as PBFD > sudden death > feather abnormalities > bruising and bleeding
What is shedding of skin in reptiles known as?
ecdysis
What are problems with ecdysis usually related to?
- environmental factors > dysecdysis - low humidity - systemic disease - local skin problems
Why are burns seen in reptiles?
inappropriate heat source
- reptiles slow to respond to thermal pain
- prolonged tx needed
Which reptiles should NOT be treated with ivermectin?
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