Lecture 3 - Exotic small mammal nutrition

Question 1

since rabbits aren’t rodents what are they?

Answer 1

Rabbits do not belong to the Rodentia order, they are lagomorphs (Lagomorpha order).

This is because a rabbit has four incisors in the upper jaw (including two non-functional teeth), while rodents only have two.

Question 2

What family do rabbits belong to?

Answer 2

the Leporidae family and Lagomorpha order

Question 3

Guinea pigs, degus and chinchillas belong to what order?

Answer 3

Rodentia order

Question 4

Which species are prone to diabetes if overfed carbs?

Answer 4

degus and hamsters

but it is essentially impossible to correctly dose such small animals with insulin.

Question 5

Which species are prone to urinary problems due to inappropriate diet?

Answer 5

rabbits and guinea pigs

Question 6

What ailment will essentially all rats develop?

Answer 6

tumors

(+ pulmonary abscesses/tumors are very common)

Question 7

Guinea pig diet should be

Answer 7

a high fiber diet supplemented with vitamin C, as they lack the enzyme needed to synthesize vitamin C and an only store it for short periods.

Question 8

Which species need a high fiber diet?

Answer 8

Rabbits, guinea pigs and chinchillas need a
high-fiber diet.

Question 9

Which species are omnivorous?

Answer 9

rats and hamsters

Question 10

The High surface area to body weight ratio of small rodents means that they are prone to

Answer 10

dehydration and hypoglycemia.

Fast metabolism (40x faster than dog/cat) – resulting in high oxygen and food intake.

Question 11

define cecotrophy

Answer 11

In certain mammals, especially rabbits and rodents, the consumption of food pellets which are naturally produced by means of digestion, retention in the caecum, and expulsion through the anus.

Cecotrophy allows small digestive particles to undergo a second fermentation and digestion in the digestive tract, which increases the digestibility of the feed.

Question 12

Rodents have brown fat - where can it be found and what is it for?

Answer 12

can be found above the scapulae,
in the cervical region and
along major vessels and nerves.

helps them to survive harsh living conditions and hibernation.

Question 13

What is the average number of baby chinchillas in a litter?

Answer 13

Chinchillas will average about two babies per litter; however, they have been known to produce as many as six babies per litter but also having just one kit isn’t unusual.

Question 14

what species is this

Answer 14

rabbit

rabbit teeth should be white

Question 15

what species is this

Answer 15

guinea pig

guinea pig teeth should be white.

note: teeth issues in guinea pigs can also be due to temporomandibular joint problems.

Question 16

what species is this

Answer 16

chinchilla

Generally a deep yellow to bright red-orange.
The more orange the better.

They are this color due to the enamel that contains Calcium, Iron, and Phosphorus.

Question 17

When do baby guinea pigs stop nursing?

Answer 17

are usually weaned at 21 days (3 weeks) but milk supplementation can continue up to 4 weeks or finish already at 2 weeks.

Hay, guinea pig pellets and very small amounts of vegetables can be offered from birth.

Question 18

Describe the rabbit GI tract.

Answer 18

Are sort of like small horses, are “hind-gut fermenters (large cecum) and cannot vomit.

Rabbit GIT is very sensitive to stress
hormones. Prone to GI stasis, painful.

Question 19

Describe the guinea pig GI tract.

Answer 19

As hind gut fermentors, guinea pigs digest much of their food in the caecum and colon (large intestine).

Question 20

Describe the chinchilla GI tract.

Answer 20

Chinchillas digest plants using hindgut fermentation.

This type of herbivore is monogastric with a simple, one-chambered stomach.

Chinchillas house the bulk of their beneficial bacteria in the cecum.

Chinchilla GIT is very sensitive to fresh
food, don’t give fresh food to chinchillas.

Question 21

Guinea pig age for first gestation.

Answer 21

must be under 7 months or else the pelvic bone fuses not allowing parturition.

Question 22

guinea pig gestation period

Answer 22

59 – 72 days (an average gestation time of 65 days)

Question 23

Where do rats get vit K from?

Answer 23

their cecotrophs

Question 24

What is this ailment?

Answer 24

Dental bridge in a guinea pig. can trap the tongue and prevent normal eating and swallowing. can cause ulcers from sharp edges of teeth. requires intervention.

Vitamin C deficiency causes a breakdown of connective tissues in the body, affect joints too.

Question 25

What reptilian accessory do chinchillas & degus benefit from?

Answer 25

UVB lamp use improves calcium abosrption through vitamin D synthesis.

chinchilla dental issues can be due to osteomalacia as a result of a lack of sun.

even rabbits can benefit from UVB light (6h/day).

Question 26

Which exotic small animals have appendices?

Answer 26

rabbits and chinchillas

appendicitis is seen in rabbits, can be peracute and cause sudden death in a few hours. can undergo appendectomy as treatment.

Question 27

Rabbit diet.

Answer 27

Feed high fiber diet, mainly HAY, high fiber plain pellet okay in small amounts (unless preggo). Can be fed with feeding ball.

Dark green leafy greens ok daily.

Fruit and cereals should be avoided.

Salt/mineral stones NOT required nor recommended.

Question 28

Guinea pig feeding/diet.

Answer 28

Hay should be the main food, 70-80%. Require supplemental vit C (NOT in drinking water, put on or in food).

Vegetables are good in limited amounts.

Pelleted feed should be also given in small
amounts.

Guinea pigs develop dietary preferences early
in life and do not adapt readily to changes in
type, appearance, or presentation of their food
or water.

Question 29

Biological Function of ascorbic acid.

Answer 29

Ascorbic acid plays an important roll in bone and joint development and collagen production.

Collagen is important for strong blood vessels, wound healing and strong dental ligaments.

Ascorbic acid is important for synthesizing and
metabolizing many amino acids.

Question 30

Chinchilla nutrition/ diet.

Answer 30

• High fiber diet
• Grass hay
• Pellets- can be given almost ad libitum

Fresh food can lead to GI dysbiosis, don’t give fresh food to chinchillas regularly. Nuts can be given sparingly.

Question 31

Describe small rodent GI tract.

Answer 31

Rodents are monogastric with a
relatively large cecum (so they need fiber) and an elongated colon.

Hamsters collect food in their cheek pouches.

Rats do not have gallbladders.

Rats and hamsters are omnivores but degus are herbivores.

Question 32

High carbohydrate feeds predispose
female rats to?

and degus to what?

Answer 32

rats: mammary gland tumors

degus: cataracts

Question 33

What fresh foods are toxic to most small animals?

Answer 33

avocado
bulb-like vegeta
potatoes (except hamsters & rats)
bles and plants (onions, rhubarb etc.)
citrus fruits,
walnuts,
grapes, raisins
bread, milk, dairy (except for rats)

Question 34

Why is vit C so important to guinea pigs?

Answer 34

Ascorbic acid is essential in hydroxylase reactions for the formation of hydroxyproline and hydroxylysine in the collagen molecule.

uinea pigs are unable to produce their own vitamin C

A deficiency of ascorbic acid also altered the animal’s ability to metabolize vitamin D.

Question 35

Hamsters need a source of animal protein. What are the options?

Answer 35

For their protein coverage either insects such as meal worms, crickets (live or dried), or boiled egg or cottage cheese.

Question 36

What ailment in what animal?

Answer 36

prolapsed cheek pouch from overextension (rupture of suspensory ligaments for pouch)

Question 37

Rat diet/feeding.

Answer 37

Rats eat more or less everything.

Pelleted food should be preferred.

If Feeding with seed mixes, the menu should
be balanced with fresh vegetables, salads.

As treats; vegetables, fruit, natural yogurt,
boiled chicken, cheese or non-flavored
popcorn can be given.

Rats can even eat theobromine (chocolate) (in rare instances given to rats with resp. illness, causes bronchodilation).

Question 38

Degu diet/feeding.

Answer 38

Hay! should be main food.

Dry food should be pelleted food.
If specific degu food unavailable, guinea pig or chinchilla food can be substituted.

Fruits and food high in sugar should be avoided, high risk of DIABETES (cataracts are a give away).

Question 39

Which species do not need mineral stones?

Answer 39

rabbites and guinea pigs

Question 40

define cuniculture

Answer 40

Cuniculture is the agricultural practice of breeding and raising domestic rabbits as livestock for their meat, fur, or wool.

Question 41

What species can benefit from extra calcium?

Answer 41

degus and chinchillas