Fluffy Exotics Flashcards
What are the two different types of poo and what should they look like/
- caecotrophs (should only see occasionally, very runny and smelly, rabbits normally eat these)
- faecal pellets (dry and not smelly)
What should a rabbit diet consist of?
5% pellet
85% hay and grass
10% leafy green veg
What should rabbits be vaccinated against?
VHD -> viral haemorrhagic disease
Myxomatosis
What should gerbil housing not have?
Metal bars
Sawdust
What housing should gerbils have?
Bedding of about 20-30cm deep so they can burrow
Have hiding places
Peat/ wood chip bedding
What social interaction should rabbits have?
Not alone, best in pairs
Not with guinea pigs
How should you pick up a rabbit?
- place one hand under thorax (chest)
Support rabbit hind quarters and back by place if one hand underneath the hind quarters
Hold close to your body
Once lifted you can support them from the ventrum
How should you pick up a rabbit?
- place one hand under thorax (chest)
Support rabbit hind quarters and back by place if one hand underneath the hind quarters
Hold close to your body
Once lifted you can support them from the ventrum
How should you sex a rabbit?
Apply pressure either side of genital opening and look at shape
Male- round and penis can be protruding
Female- v shaped vulva, points cranially (towards head)
How should you sex a guinea pig?
Look at genital region;
Male- penis may be extruded through
Female- Y shaped opening
What temperature would hamp]steps enter a state of temporary hibernation
Below 5
How to sex rats and gerbils
Look at how many holes behind tail;
1- male
2- female
How do you asses sex in gerbils and rats/
Anogenital distance
Big- male
Small- female
What are the roles of guinea pigs in society?
Pets —> companionship and mental health
Research
Food
Ecosystem —> eats grass and source of food for predators
What are the RSPCA require,ears for a rabbit enclosure?
Need somewhere to hide
Need to be able to stand up on hind legs and ears touch roof of enclosure
Can be fully stretch out
Can take 3 consecutive hops
What do the RWAF recommend for dimensions of enclosures for rabbits?
3m x 2m x 1m
Sleeping quarters of 6ft x 2ft x 2ft
What do the RSPCA recommend for guinea pigs for enclosure sizes
2m x 0.5m x 25cm high
What substrates must be used for enclosures for guinea pigs and rabbits?
Toilet area- absorbant substances like newspaper and dust free (non cedar) wood shavings
Bedding- insulating materials, like dust free hay and shredded paper
No mesh wiring unless buried
What enrichment should be given
Food puzzles
Enrichment
Forage
What is important to remember about a rabbits diet?
Not excessive calcium, as they metabolise calcium differently
Need lots of fibre as they’re hind gut fermenters and will help grind down teeth which don’t stop growing
What should a rabbits diet consist of?
85% hay
10% vegetables
5% hay
What should a guinea pigs diet consist of?
85% hay
12% vegetables
3% pellets
What vitamin do guinea pigs need lots of?
Vitamin C
What is important to remember when trying to add vitamin C to a Guinea pigs diet?
It degrades rapidly in sunlight
So keep bags of food away from sunlight and closed
Supplement vitamin C with peppers and oranges
What are normal behaviours of rabbits like?
Like to like in groups
Borrowers
Crepuscular (most active at dawn and dusk)
Prey species —> hide injury well and need to be kept away from cats/ dogs in practice
How do rabbits show pain
Bruxism (grinding teeth)
What are the normal behaviours of guinea pigs?
Like to live in groups
Crepuscular
Not borrowers but like to hide
Bruxism to indicate pain
What can poor breeding cause with rabbits?
Dental malocclussions (teeth not aligned) —> dental disease
Narrow ear canals —> chronic ear infections
Brachyphalic —> over heating/ breathing difficulties
Which breed of rabbit has biggest difficulty from breeding problems?
Lop rabbits
What is the normal temperature for rabbit
38.5- 40C
What is normal HR for rabbit?
130-325 bpm
What is the gestation period of a rabbit
29-35 days
What is normal respiratory rate of a rabbit?
30-60bpm
What is normal temperature of guinea pig?
37.7-39.5C
What is normal heart rate of a guinea pig?
230-380 bpm
What is the gestation period of a guinea pig?
69-72 days
What is respiratory rate of guinea pig
40-120 breaths per min
What can incorrect diet lead to?
Dental disease —> gut stasis
Obesity —> arthritis/ spondlyosis (of spine) —> bladder disease
Excessive calcium —>bladder disease
Not enough vitamin C —> swollen joints/ pain
What problems can small enclosures cause?
Lack of movement —>arthritid/ bladder infections
Poor ventilation —> respiratory infections
Poor hygiene —> pododermatitis/ flystrike
What is gut stasis and its causes?
Slowing or stopping of movement through the digestive tract
Causes; Pain/ stress/ incorrect diet/ GI issues
What is arthritis/ spondylosis?
Painful inflammation of the joints
Caused or worsened by lack of movement or obesity
What are the causes of bladder disease?
Too much calcium in diet
Worsened by arthritis as lack of movement, so calcium precipitates settle. It also means that they can’t stand correctly when urinating so rabbit can’t empty bladder properly
What is pododermatitis and its causes
Also known as bumblefoot
Painful inflammation of the footpads
Can progress to affect bones in the foot
Poor hygiene, diet, obesity, lack of exercise of vitamin C
Why are some rodents kept captive?
Pets
Laboratory
Wildlife and conservation
What normally behaviours do rodents need to display/
Gnawing
Jumping/ climbing
Sand bathing
Exercising
Social interaction
What diet should rodents have?
Pellet diet
Not seed based, due to selective feeding
Small amount of treats
What health problems do rodents get due to captivity and what are their causes
Trauma- fighting, poor handling techniques, enclosure design
Bumblefoot- surfaces, hygiene, obesity
Respiratory diseases- infections like MYCOPLASMA PULMONIS, STREPTOCOCCUS PNEUMONIA, VIRAL INFECTIONS so Need dust free bedding and to quarantine new arrivals
Gastrointestinal diseases like Tyzzers disease
What is Tyzzers disease?
Usually caused by high protein diets
Transmitted through spores from environment kr food
Usually white spots on liver or diarrhoea as symptoms
What are common problems seen with wildlife?
Cat/ dog attacks
Strimmer wounds
Broken legs
Diseases such as myxomatosis, endoparasites, respiratory infections
Abandonment of yiung
What is myxomatosis?
Signs are presence of tumours on face and limb of animals
Spreads mainly through fleas and mosquitos biting animal, but also through fimites or animal or animal contact
Signs of pneumonia are common
