Hamsters

Question 1

What suborder are hamsters?

Answer 1

Myopmorpha

Question 2

What is the lifespan of a hamster?

Answer 2

2-3 years

Question 3

How much urine do hamsters produce?

Answer 3

5.4-8.4mL/day (He said a lot of urine)

Question 4

(T/F) Hamsters have cheek pouches present and small cecums which means they can get antibiotics no problem.

Answer 4

False, they do have cheek pouches but they have large cecums which means they are sensitive to antibiotics

Question 5

What is the function of cheek pouches in hamsters?

Answer 5

Used to transport food and nest material. In research is used as an immunopriviledged site (transfer cancers to see if they grow)

Question 6

Where are the sebaceous glands located in hamsters that are used for marking territory and mating behavior?

Answer 6

Located on flank

Question 7

When can hamsters become aggressive?

Answer 7

When their sleep is disturbed just like vet students

Question 8

When are hamsters most active?

Answer 8

Crepuscular activity – Dawn and dusk

Question 9

What kind of nutrition do hamsters have?

Answer 9

They are omnivorous – vegetables, seeds, fruits, and meat and they eat multiple meals per day

Question 10

What does it mean that hamsters are coprophagous?

Answer 10

They eat their own droppings which is a source of Vit. B and K

Question 11

In hamsters, the anogenital distance is greater in the (male/female)?

Answer 11

Male

Question 12

What is the gestation time for hamsters?

Answer 12

15-18 days (shortest of lab animals)

Question 13

What will the female hamsters do to the pups if they are stressed?

Answer 13

Eat them up

Question 14

Which location sites is appropriate to collect blood from a hamster?

Answer 14

Jugular and mandibular (under sedation)

Question 15

What organism is the main culprit of proliferative ileitis (wet tail) in hamsters?

Answer 15

Clostridium difficile

Question 16

The clinical signs of proliferative ileitis in hamsters are lethargy, anorexia, ruffled coat, typhlitis, diarrhea, dehydration and death. What kind of lesions can you see?

Answer 16

Hyperplasia of ileal epithelium

Question 17

What is the transmission route of proliferative ileitis in hamsters?

Answer 17

Fecal oral route

Question 18

What is the treatment of proliferative ileitis in hamsters?

Answer 18

Gentamicin 2-4 mg/kg BID orally

Question 19

When do we see a surge of proliferative ileitis in hamsters?

Answer 19

Post antibiotic therapy, stress, poor diet, recently weaned

Question 20

Which virus can hamsters carry but not show signs that can cause pneumonia in other animals?

Answer 20

Sendai virus (Murine parainfluenza virus type 1)

Question 21

What is the main malignant neoplasia in hamsters that can be located in the skin, GI or kidneys?

Answer 21

Lymphosarcoma

Question 22

What is the primary cause of death in old hamsters?

Answer 22

Amyloidosis

Question 23

The main clinical sign difference between wet tail and tyzzers disease in hamsters is…

Answer 23

Acute mortality (other clinical signs you will see is severe and/or bloody diarrhea, perianal staining)

Question 24

What organism is the main culprit for Tyzzer’s disease in hamsters?

Answer 24

Clostridium piliforme

Question 25

(T/F) Lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM) is potentially zoonotic and hamsters could show signs or they could not.

Answer 25

True

Question 26

What is the most common internal parasite we can see with hamsters?

Answer 26

Pinworms (S. Muris)