Ferrets and Rabbits Flashcards
What is the main dietary component recommended for pet rabbits?
A) Alfalfa hay
B) Timothy or orchard grass hay
C) High-calcium leafy greens like kale
D) Commercial rabbit pellets
B) Timothy or orchard grass hay (high fiber diet)
Why is it essential to spay all female rabbits?
- Induced ovulators, always in heat, leading to constant reproduction
- Post partum estrus 24 hrs after birth
- High risk of uterine cancer
Rabbits practice cecotrophy to obtain which nutrients?
Amino acids and B12 vitamins
What is the appropriate litter material for rabbits?
Newspaper-type bedding with a layer of hay
What is the primary cause of urine sludge in rabbits?
Diets too high in calcium, such as alfalfa or kale
What is the preferred venipuncture site for blood collection in rabbits?
A) Jugular vein
B) Lateral saphenous vein
C) Ear vein
D) Cephalic vein
Lateral saphenous vein
What is the consequence of feeding simple carbohydrates and sugars to rabbits?
dysbiosis and potential endotoxemia
Which of the following urinary parameters are normal in rabbits?
A) Frequent, small amounts of urine with low pH
B) Cloudy white urine with calcium crystals
C) Clear urine with no sediment
D) Rust-colored urine with signs of blood
B) Cloudy white urine with calcium crystals
(too much is abnormal tho)
What can occur in rabbits fed excessive amounts of
alfalfa?
- High in Calcium, causes sludge and/or stones in the bladder
- Tx is placing a U-cath and flushing with saline
True or False: In rabbites, calciuria resolves with medical treatment whereas stones require surgery
True
What do rabbits and horses have in common?
- Hind gut fermenters, large LI + cecum
- Haustra responsible for fecal balls
- Can’t vomit
- Continuously growing / open rooted teeth
- Cloudy urine from calcium carbonate
What are the potential consequences of mishandling a rabbit during restraint?
- Prone to lumbar fractures (L6)
Why is it hard to sex baby rabbits?
Urogenital-anal distance is the same in males and females
(male urogenital opening is round, female is linear)
What is unique about calcium metabolism in rabbits?
- Absorb unlimited amounts of calcium from GI tract, independent of Vit D
(cloudy urine is normal)
What antibiotics to avoid in rabbits?
- Beta lactams
- Cephalosporins
- ORAL penicillins (SQ only)
- Clindamycin, Erythromycin
What analgesics can be used in rabbits?
- NSAIDs
- Opioids (Buprenorphine)
- Tramadol
- Gabapentin
What is the recommended treatment for a ferret diagnosed with gastric ulcers due to Helicobacter mustelae?
- Amoxicillin and metronidazole
What is the recommended treatment for a ferret diagnosed with insulinoma?
Prednisone and diazoxide
What is the most appropriate treatment for Proliferative Bowel Disease in ferrets?
Chloramphenicol
(Lawsonia intracellularis is the causative agent)
Which therapy is commonly used to treat adrenal disease in ferrets?
Leuprolide acetate (Lupron)
(GnRH agonist)
What is a key diagnostic feature of epizootic catarrhal enteritis (ECE) in ferrets?
A) Green slime diarrhea
B) Bloody stools
C) Intermittent vomiting
D) Weight gain
A) Green slime diarrhea
Which condition is commonly caused by prolonged estrus in non-breeding female ferrets, leading to bone marrow suppression and anemia?
Estrogen toxicity
What is the most likely diagnosis for a ferret with a swollen vulva, pruritus, and bilateral alopecia, given that the ferret has been spayed?
Hyperadrenocorticism
(increased sex hormones NOT cortisol)
What is the most common causes of splenic enlargement in ferrets?
- Benign extra-medullary hematopoiesis most common
- Lymphoma is 2nd most common
n ferrets, which type of gastrointestinal disease is associated with the formation of cystine stones?
Consumption of grain-free diets with pea protein
A client presents with their 3-year-old ferret who has green mucoid stool after recently adopting a 6 week old ferret. Cause?
epizootic catarrhal enteritis (ECE)
(Green slime diarrhea)
What can cause beaded tan diarrhea in ferrets?
IBD or Lymphoma
Treat with Prednisone or Azathioprine
