Hamsters And gerbils

Question 1

Hamsters belong to the class Mammalia, order ___ and family ___

Answer 1

Order rodentia

Family cricetidae

Question 2

True or false

Hamster Incisors and molars grow continuously through life

Answer 2

True

Question 3

True or false

Hamsters are diurnal

Answer 3

FALSE

they are nocturnal

Question 4

What is different about hip/flank glands on male hamsters

Answer 4

Very prominent and pigmented in males

Can become infected, impacted and neoplastic

Question 5

Females produce a copious amount of ___ after ovulation

Answer 5

Discharge

Question 6

What temperatures could hamsters potentially hibernate at

Answer 6

Less than 5 degrees C (even at 10-15 C)

Question 7

What is different about a hamsters distensible cheeks

Answer 7

Extremely distensible, used to carry foods produce no saliva

Can become impacted and develop tumors

Question 8

What is the average lifespan of a hamster

Answer 8

1.5-2 years

Question 9

Describe antibiotic associated enterotoxemia in hamsters

Answer 9

Overgrowth of clostridium difficile

Same sensitivities to antibiotics as rabbits and Guinea pigs

Usually seen in adult hamsters

Question 10

What is wet tail in hamsters

Answer 10

Seen in young hamsters

Proliferative enteropathy caused by Lawsonia intracellularis

Treat aggressively with fluids, antibiotics and force feeding

Very poor prognosis

Question 11

Gerbils belong to the class Mammalia, order ___ and family ___

Answer 11

Order rodentia

Family Muridae

Question 12

Why do gerbils require very little water

Answer 12

Adapted to a desert environment

Question 13

True or false

Gerbil incisors and molars grow continuously through life

Answer 13

False

Their incisors grow continuously through life, their molars do NOT

Question 14

What are gerbils capable of if handled by their tail? What treatment does it require?

Answer 14

Tail slip

Requires amputation because only the skin sloughs off (not the bone) and the bone is left exposed)

Question 15

What are two things both sexes of gerbil have in common

Answer 15

Have an orange/tan area of alopecia in central abdomen and a ventral marking gland (can become infected and neoplastic in older gerbils)

Question 16

What is the average life span of a gerbil

Answer 16

3-4 years

Question 17

What is sore nose in gerbils

Answer 17

Moist dermatitis

Likely due to an increase in porphyrin secretions (test for blood with dipstick) (dt stress) which acts as an irritant and then secondary infections occur

Question 18

Describe tumors in gerbils

Answer 18

Common

Males: squamous cell carcinoma on ventral marking gland

Females: ovarian granulosa cell tumors

Question 19

What does a head tilt often indicate in gerbils

Answer 19

Aural cholesteatoma (looks like a polyp)

Question 20

In general how should you house hamsters (things different from gerbils)

Answer 20

Nocturnal

Fastidious in maintaining/arranging habitat (make special areas for sleeping, food storage and waste)

Can try to litter box train

Try and put things back how they were when cleaning cage and don’t rearrange

> 80 F they will estivate

Question 21

In general how should you house gerbils (things different from hamsters)

Answer 21

Not nocturnal

Very social, playful and active

Enjoy lost of toys and hiding areas and tubes

Question 22

Can you house hamsters with other hamsters? How about gerbils?

Answer 22

Hamsters: NO they live alone

Gerbils: YES they are very social and often form monogamous pairs and bond very closely (never separate)

Question 23

In general, describe housing husbandry for hamsters and gerbils

Answer 23

Solid floors and sides with secure lids

Gerbils are great jumpers and both will climb

Hamsters enjoy elaborate homes with tubes and towers

Must have hiding areas/boxes (hamsters only use in sleeping area)

Clean cages weekly

Substrate: aspen shavings or recycled paper products (can use a fine sand for gerbils)

Water bottles cleaner and changed daily

Wheels with a solid surface (not wire)

Can use Exercise balls -supervise constantly

Question 24

How should you handle/restrain a hamster

Answer 24

Easily startled

Aggressive when startled or first awake (gently prod them to wake them up and wait until they are fully awake)

Scoop into the hand

Do not tolerate much handling before trying to bite

Can scruff (empty cheek pouches first and include extra cheek skin in the scruff ) extended periods of scruffing can lead to exopthalmosis due to pressure behind the eyes

Question 25

Describe handling/restraint of gerbils

Answer 25

Never catch or restrain by the tail

Very fast -often easier to catch by scooping into a cup first

can scruff (cheek skin not a problem like in hamsters)

Less likely to bite

Question 26

Describe blood collection in hamsters and gerbils

Answer 26

Gerbils: lateral tail vein (use with caution) , mask down first and warm the tail with warm water or cloth to dilate vessels

Both: cranial vena cave (very risky, need full GA)

Question 27

Where are injections done in gerbils and hamsters

Answer 27

SQ or IP

Question 28

Describe fluid therapy in hamsters and gerbils

Answer 28

Difficult

Hard to access veins

Cannot give large volumes

Question 29

Describe medication use in hamsters and gerbils

Answer 29

Most medications are use “off label” (not specified for the use in these animals -use at your own risk)

Hard to hide meds “cautious eaters”

Question 30

Describe general anesthesia in gerbils and hamsters

Answer 30

Mask for induction and maintenance (used like a chamber)

Can convert syringe case into a mask

Question 31

Radiographs require

Answer 31

Sedation and positioning aids