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Year 2 AHW > Husbandry of Small Mammals > Flashcards

Husbandry of Small Mammals Flashcards

1
Q

What are generalist characteristics?

A
  1. animals adaptable to a wide range of environments and conditions
    • (humans as able to change environment to suit ourselves: geographically wide ranging, broad diet e.g. Norwegian rat and house mice)
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2
Q

What are specalist Characteristics?

A

precisely adapted to a narrow ecological niche
• Range is limited to particular habitats, climates, specific diets and conditions that are essential for the animal to live

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3
Q

What are most animals in terms of generalists or specialists and why is this important?

A
  1. Mixture of the 2. E.g. generalist as can live in many different climates but specific diets
  2. Importance as have an impact on husbandry requirements and likely problems
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4
Q

Purpose for keeping exotic animals?

A
  1. Companionship
  2. Livestock/ labatory animals
  3. Conservation
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5
Q

What are husbandry key considerations?

A
  1. Legal requirements
  2. Suitable enclosure
  3. Appropriate diet
  4. Physical conditions (temp, humidity, lighting)
  5. Natural habitat/ ecology
  6. Social organisation
  7. Breeding system
  8. Common problems in captivity
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6
Q

What is the veterinary definition of exotic?

A

any mammal not dog, cat, horse, rabbit or livestock

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7
Q

What SUBORDER dormice, rats gerbils etc come under? (order is rodentia)

A

MYOMORPH

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8
Q

Family and examples of myomorph

A 
•Family Muridae
–	Mice & rats (Murinae)
–	Hamsters (Cricetinae)
–	Voles & lemmings (Arvicolinae)
–	Gerbils & jirds (Gerbillinae)
–	Pouched rats (Cricetomyinae)
•Family Dipodidae (last 2 more rare outside of zoos)
–	Jerboas & jumping mice
•Family Myoxidae
–	Dormice: have to have a lisence to keep
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9
Q

What do domesticated mice and rats feed on broadly

A

• Feed on large range: mix of seeds, nuts, fruit, vegetation, vegetables, (insects according to availability)

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10
Q

How sociable are domesticated mice and rats?

A

• Very social within family groups but highly territorial, especially male mice. Must be introduced as youngsters, before sexually mature. If not often not successful

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11
Q

What substances should you avoid for cage objects and why?

A

cedar and pine wood for substrate or cage objects - toxic

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12
Q

Rodent Cage Types

A
  1. Wire sides, solid base
    • Good ventilation
    • Easy to clean
    • Avoid mesh bases – bad for feet
2. Terrarium / tank
•	Protect from drafts 
•	Keeps cage bedding inside
•	Preferred for burrowing rodents
•	Needs mesh lid for ventilation
•	Plenty of objects for enrichment and to stimulate activity ensure change
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13
Q

Gerbil adn Jirds

A
  • Need to dig & burrow (avoid sawdust)
  • Will show stereotypic digging in inappropriate cage
  • General rodent cereal/seed diet plus insects, avoid high moisture content
  • Require fresh water
  • Large colonies / family groups Most species pair breed
  • Tolerant of temperature extremes
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14
Q

Jerboas

A
  • Highly specialised desert rodents
  • Deep burrows in sand
  • Require considerable space
  • Very wary & secretive (not good pets)
  • Water derived metabolically
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15
Q

Dormice

A 
Dormice
•	African pygmy dormouse,
•	Graphiurus murinus eats insects & fruit
•	Dormice have no caecum
•	(no fermentation of vegetable matter)
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16
Q

Chinchillas

A
  • Highly specialised South American rodents
  • Highest living mammal
  • 80-100 hairs grow from each hair follicle
  • Colonial and highly social
  • Live up to 15 yr – with appropriate care
  • Bred on fur farms, later as pets
17
Q

Chinchilla physical environment

A
  • Adapted to harsh physical environment & resource conditions
  • Require dry environment, free from drafts
  • Solid bottom cage
  • Enclosed ‘tank’ type cage generally too humid
  • Susceptible to heat stroke
  • Different levels to allow ‘rock jumping’, free-ranging exercise (but gnaw)
  • Nocturnal, refuge essential for good welfare
  • Make sure 12 hr light, 12 dark
  • Dust bathing essential to keep fur clean and dry & allow hair shedding
18
Q

Chinchilla Nutrition

A
  • Natural diet – dried grass, seeds and moss, little else available
  • Caecal fermentation followed by reingestion of faeces
  • Needs high level of roughage & fibre; white wood or cuttlebone to gnaw
  • Intolerant of high fat / protein or green plants
  • Very susceptible to diet-related problems
  • Use commercial diet for chinchillas + good quality hay (no mould)
  • Any change to diet should be made very slowly
  • Digestive problems detected through faeces:
19
Q

Chinchilla breeding

A

– Gestation 111 days to produce fully-furred offspring
– Only 1-3 young per litter, partly precocial
– 40-60 days to weaning
– Insufficient milk / mastitis leads to aggression
• Look for bites on kit noses
• Can be hand-reared successfully from day 1
Curled tail + back legs apart = good health 
• Females should not be bred until fully grown

20
Q

Degus

A

Hystricomorph rodent, Family: Octodontidae
• Diurnal S American
• Highly social, agile & active – need to climb & jump
• Similar to chinchillas, less specialised
• Sugar-intolerant, prone to diabetes
• Chinchilla + cavy pellets/mix , hay, greens, occasional veg & fruit
• Broader diet to chinchilla, particularly intolerant to sugar
• Susceptible to tail shedding
• Sand bath keeps coat clean
• 90 day gestation
• Up to 8 young
• Females will nurse communally
• Male parental care
• Fully furred, eyes open
• Solid food within days
• Fully weaned at 4-6 weeks

21
Q

Guinea Pigs

A
  • Diurnal S. American rodent
  • Domesticated by Incas since c.500BC
  • Non-burrowing, hides in vegetation
  • More timid, may panic & stampede
  • Travel in small herd
  • Entirely herbivorous
  • Spend most of their time grazing
  • Unable to manufacture vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
  • Highly social, small groups
  • Gestation 58-75 days
  • 1-6 young per litter
  • Precocious (well developed when born), weaned at 14-28 days
  • Intolerant of extreme heat or cold, wind and damp
  • Need floor pens with cover and refuges, constant supply of quality hay, commercial pellet diet plus fresh veg & some fruit, water bottles, companions, wood blocks for gnawing, solid floor and protection from wind/rain/cold/heat
22
Q

Chipmunks

A

• Chipmunks Eutamias sibiricus
• Diurnal, arborial generalists
• Mixed diet: seeds, nuts, fruit, insects Extremely active, large home range
– small cages unsuitable
• Require space and height eg aviary with internal structuring and indoor or well protected shelter

23
Q

Southern Flying Squirrel

A
  • Small species, body ca 12cm
  • Requires a tall aviary or room
  • Highly nocturnal
  • Nuts, seeds, fruit
  • Calcium/D3 supplement
24
Q

Sugar Gliders

A
  • Marsupial (gliders & possums) Family: Petauridae
  • Strongly nocturnal, strongly arboreal
  • Highly social
  • Single male dominates colony
  • Males distinguished by scent gland on forehead
  • Large cage/aviary or open room, with tree branches & elevated nest sites
  • Critically dependent on suitable diet
  • Natural diet includes sap from
  • Eucalyptus and insects
  • Require 75% fruit/vegetable,
  • 25% protein minimum
  • Prefer sweet fruits/vegetables including sweetcorn, lychees, mango, pineapple, apple, fig, dates, berries with calcium/vitamin supplement (limited grapes & citrus)
  • Insects including crickets, waxworms, mealworms, locusts/hoppers
  • Protein supplement such as dried cat food or glider pellets, nut treats
•	Potential problems
–	Elongated claws normally worn down by climbing
–	Obesity in dominant male
–	Nutritional problems likely
–	Calcium supplement essential
–	(calcium:phosphate ratio 2:1)
  • Breed in pair, trio or colony
  • Only dominant male breeds; subordinates show hormonal suppression
  • 16d gestation
  • 1-3 young, in pouch for about 2mo
  • Open eyes 7-10d
  • Weaned 3-4 weeks after eyes open
  • Female shouldn’t be bred until fully grown (8-12mo)
25
Q

Grey short tailed opossum

A
  • South American Marsupial Family: Didelphidae
  • Females: 60-100g Males: 90-150g
  • Live 3-5 years, mature at 5-6mo, separate at 4mo
  • Generalist, insects, meat, fruit Sharp teeth but easily tamed
  • Nocturnal, solitary Arboreal, prehensile tails for climbing
  • Typical litter size 7-8
  • No pouch (protected nest site + material essential)
  • Grey short tailed opossums have a prehensile tail to aid their arboreal motion. This means they are highly adapted to living and moving about in trees.
26
Q

African Pygmy Hedgehog

A
  • Solid floor cage with good ventilation
  • 65-80oF, require central or local heating
  • Do not hibernate
  • Non-social – require solitary housing.
  • Require dark shelter
  • Diet: commercial dried cat food (low fat, not fish- based, min 30% protein) supplemented with mealworms, worms, insect feeds for birds or reptiles, small amount of fresh veg (peas, sweetcorn, mashed potato or swede), some fruits. Lactose-intolerant
  • Running wheels help avoid obesity
  • Climb inelegantly
27
Q

Breeding African Pygmy Hedgehogs

A
  • Induced ovulator, introduce female into male territory (>6mo old)
  • Gestation 35 days, weaned 6 weeks
  • Avoid disturbing nest for 3 weeks
  • Provide weaning foods from 3-4 weeks eg cottage cheese, good quality high protein cat meat
  • Daily handling from 3-4 weeks greatly reduces timidity
28
Q

Legal issues to do with small furries

A
  • Protection of Animals Act 1911, Animal Welfare Act 2006
  • Performing Animals Act 1925
  • Pet Animals Act 1951
  • CITES 1975 (– Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species)
  • Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976, schedule revised 1984, 2008
  • Zoo licencing act 1981
  • Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986
29
Q

Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986

A
  1. Protects animals used in scientific research and testing
  2. Licences breeding establishments, projects, individuals
  3. Home Office inspectorate: vets and medics
  4. National Centre for 3Rs promotes 3Rs in research
30
Q

Zoo licencing act 1981

A

– Requires inspection & licencing of all zoos in UK
– Inspectorate = vets with zoo animal experience, those competent to advise on zoo welfare/management (Secretary of State)

31
Q

Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976, schedule revised 1984, 2008

A

– To ensure privately owned animals do not present a risk to public

32
Q

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species 1975

A

– Permits required for import and export, including pet ownership certificate

33
Q

Pet Animals Act 1951

A

– Licensing of businesses selling animals as pets (local councils)

34
Q

• Performing Animals Act 1925

A

– Registration for exhibition or training performing animals (local councils)

35
Q

• Protection of Animals Act 1911, Animal Welfare Act 2006

A

– Protection of all animals against cruelty / unnecessary suffering
– Owners/keepers responsible for ensuring welfare needs are met

Year 2 AHW (3 decks)

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