Exotics Husbandry

Question 1

How do you restrain a guinea pig?

Answer 1

Grasp under the trunk firmly with one hand, while supporting the rear quarters with the other hand

Question 2

At what age do sows (guineas) go through puberty?

Answer 2

4-6 weeks of age

Question 3

When should guinea pigs be neutered?

Answer 3

4-5 months of age

Question 4

What is the guinea pigs oestrous cycle like?

Answer 4

15-17 days with female being fertile for 6-11 hours usually at night, they are polyoestrous throughout the year

Question 5

Why should a sow breed before they are 6 months old?

Answer 5

Ossification of the pelvis occurs at 8 months, making parturition difficult due to large head of piglets

Question 6

What is the gestation period for guinea pigs?

Answer 6

60-70 days

Question 7

What are some characteristics of the guinea pups?

Answer 7

Born fully furred with their eyes open, they can eat solid food from day of birth, they are fully weaned at 3 weeks

Question 8

Where are the injection sites for guinea pigs?

Answer 8

Subcutaneously under skin overlying the neck and thorax. IM into the quadriceps femoris muscle in the hindleg to avoid sciatic nerve

Question 9

Where can you collect blood from in guinea pig?

Answer 9

From saphenous vein, above the hock

Question 10

How do you restrain a rabbit?

Answer 10

Bring the rabbit into your chest, hold the withers region while supporting the hindquarters with the other hand

Question 11

What vaccinations do rabbits need? from when?

Answer 11

From 5 weeks of age the first vaccination protects against Myxomatosis & Viral haemorrhagic Disease type 1, Two weeks later they are vaccinated against Viral haemorrhagic disease type 2.

Question 12

What boosters do rabbits need?

Answer 12

Annual booster for both myxomatosis and RHDV1

6 monthly booster for RHDV2

Question 13

What should a rabbit’s nutrition be made up of?

Answer 13

80% hay, 15% washed dark greens (dandelions, cabbage, kale), 5% commercial pellets.
50-100ml water /kg/day

Question 14

What food should be avoided with rabbits?

Answer 14

Alfalfa hay has high concentrations of Calcium which can result in bladder stones in adult rabbits. Blood Ca is not regulated by the body, excess will be excreted in urine

Question 15

What is the dental formula of the rabbit?

Answer 15

(I 2/1 C 0/0 P 3/2 M 3/3)

Question 16

Rabbits teeth are hypsodont teeth, what does this mean?

Answer 16

They continually grow (3mm/week) and have open roots, they need to grind down on their food to wear down the teeth.

Question 17

What happens when food goes into the SI of rabbit?

Answer 17

digestion and absorption of sugars and proteins from food

Question 18

What happens when the caecotrophs are re eaten?

Answer 18

They enter the SI where there is digestion of protein, fatty acids and B vitamins

Question 19

What do high carb diets prevent?

Answer 19

The secretion of the hormone Motilin by the SI, which is important in the GI motility.

Question 20

What are LI functions of the rabbit?

Answer 20

1. Goblet cells produce mucous 2. Indigestible fibres excreted into the faeces, digestible fibres sent back to caecum

Question 21

What are caecotrophs?

Answer 21

These are mucous covered faecal pellets produced by the caecum, where fermentation breaks down fibre. These are passed and the rabbits consume them.

Question 22

How do you retrain a gerbil and hamster? (both prey species)

Answer 22

Place gerbil on palm of hand and hold base of tail with index finger and thumb of other hand.
Hamsters are cupped between the hands over a flat surface

Question 23

What’s the oestrous cycle of the gerbil?

Answer 23

When she is oestrous for 4 days its usually for about 5 hours during the night, she is polyoestrous throughout the year.

Question 24

What is the oestrous cycle of the hamster?

Answer 24

Duration of 4 days for which she is in oestrous for 12 hours, she is polyoestrous throughout the year

Question 25

What are the characteristics of hamster and gerbil pups?

Answer 25

hairless, blind, deaf, no teeth