Mammals Flashcards
What is the average lifespan of a rabbit?
12 years
6-8 median
When do rabbits reach sexual maturity?
Male 4-7 months
Female 4-9 months
-dwarf breeds earlier
How long is the gestation length of a rabbit and how many kittens do they have?
30-33 days
4-12 kittens
How often do rabbits nurse their young?
Once or maybe twice a day
How many teeth does a rabbit have?
28
List some things a good rabbit enclosure should consist of?
Escape proof Easy to clean Area to sleep and hide Not wire flooring Well ventilated Have furniture and toys
For a rabbit how long each day should they roam around outside for?
4 hours a day
What is rabbit calicivirus also known as?
Viral haemorrhagic disease
What is the treatment for rabbit calicivirus?
None, invariably fatal
How often should a rabbit be vaccinated against calicivirus?
Annually
What are the clinical signs of infection for a rabbit with calicivirus?
Incubation period 3-4 days
Haemorrhagic nasal discharge
DIC
Sudden death
What are some post mortem findings of a rabbit that was infected with calicivirus?
Food still in GIT Liver is pale, enlarged and mottled Necrotising hepatitis Haemorrhages in lungs DIC
What is important about the transmission of calicivirus?
It is a relatively stable virus
Therefore can be transmitted by vectors and fomites
What are the signs and cause of rabbit vaccine-associated dermatitis?
Intradermal injection with calicivirus (vehicle irritant)
Hair loss, ulceration and maybe a secondary infection
DDx for hair loss between shoulder blades
How can you try and avoid vaccine-associated dermatitis in rabbits?
Use a new needle once vaccine drawn up
Inject subcutaneously
Massage well afterwards
What are the clinical signs of rabbit myxomatosis?
Swelling of - Ears Eyelids Mouth Genital region Either peracute or chronic Can get pox lesions
How do you treat myxomatosis in rabbits?
Nothing. Invariably fatal
Why should you desex a female rabbit?
Uterine adenocarcinoma
80% by 6 years old
What are some clinical signs of a rabbit with uterine adenocarcinoma?
May have no signs Mastitis/ cystic mammary glands Pseudopregnancy Bloody vaginal discharge Depression Anorexia Endometrial changes
How much fibre, protein and fat should a rabbit have in its diet?
Fibre over 20%
Protein 15%
Low in fat - 2-3%
What are the 2 types of faeces rabbits pass?
Caecotrophs
Second pass faeces
What should a rabbit be fed?
Unlimited hay/grass
With variety of vegetables
Maybe small amount of quality pellets
Fruits for a treat
What are the 2 most common sites for blood collection in rabbits?
Marginal ear vein
Saphenous
What are some causes of abnormal caecotroph production?
Diet too high in carbohydrates
Diet too low in fibre
Other compounding factors
-stress, physical, teeth etc.
What is the most common cause of GI stasis in rabbits?
Inappropriate diet
What does a radiograph of a rabbit with GI stasis look like?
Has a caecum with lots of gas
Stomach is normal
How do you manage a rabbit with GI stasis?
-Supportive care Fluids Pain relief GI stimulants Exercise Massage Diet
What does a radiograph of a rabbit with bloat and obstruction look like?
Stomach is distended, fluid filled and a gas cap
What are some clinical signs of a rabbit with bloat and obstruction?
Peracute onset
Sick, depressed, shocky
Painful abdomen that is tympanic
What are some clinical signs of a rabbit with ileus?
Subacute to chronic onset
Alert and responsive
Abdomen not guarded
Doughy feel to caecum
What are 4 physiological causes of skin disease in rabbits?
Nesting in pregnant rabbits
Pseudopregnancy
Barbering
Moulting
What is the main parasite of rabbits that cause skin disease?
Cheyletiella parasitovorax
- Rabbit fur mite
- Walking dandruff
How do you diagnose and treat a rabbit with Cheyletelliosis?
“Walking dandruff”
Excess scurf, especially dorsally
+/- pruritis
Can survive off host so need to also treat enclosure
Treat rabbit with Selamectin every 2-4 weeks or Ivermectin
Imidacloprid is ineffective
What is the cause of ear mites in rabbits?
Psoroptes cuniculi
What are the clinical signs of a rabbit with ear mites? And how do you treat them?
Severe pain Pruritis Exudate Encrustations Treatment - Selamectin or Ivermectin Pain relief - Meloxicam
What can cause a head tilt in rabbits?
Encephalitozoon cuniculi - Protozoan - Predilection for eye, spinal cord, brain, kidneys Or Middle/Inner ear infections -Pus in ear canal -Tympanic bullae changes -Inflammatory leukogram
When do guinea pigs reach sexual maturity?
Males 3-4 months
Females 2-3 months
How long do guinea pigs live for?
5-6 years max 10
How long is the gestation length for guinea pigs and how big is a litter?
59-72 days
-Pelvic symphysis separates before birth
1-13 , usually 2-4
For a guinea pig, how much fibre do they need and what else do you need to make sure they have?
Over 15% fibre
Vitamin C
What are the 2 main causes of pododermatitis in guinea pigs?
Wire flooring
hygiene
How do you treat guinea pig pododermatitis?
Flamizine ointment
Chlorhexidine scrub
Bandaging
-difficult to treat if advanced
In guinea pigs what are the clinical signs of a vitamin C deficiency?
Poor appetite
Swollen painful joints
Dry, brittle skin and coat
Maybe dental disease
What are the clinical signs of mange in guinea pigs?
Pruritis! Hair loss Excess scurf Ulcerated open wounds if severe Often between the shoulder blades Can cause seizures
What causes mange in guinea pigs?
Trixacarus caviae
How do you treat a guinea pig with mange?
Selamectin or Ivermectin
Meloxicam
Shampoo after it settles slightly
Antibiotics if full thickness
What are some of the clinical signs of cystic ovaries in guinea pigs, and how do you treat it?
Bilateral alopecia Abdominal distension 90% incidence rate Treat- Spey Medication - HCG, GnRH
What is cheilitis?
Ulcerative scabs on lips or nasal planum
How do you treat cheilitis in guinea pigs?
Excision
Shampoos
Maybe steroids
Can spontaneously resolve
Why do you need to be careful about using antibiotics in guinea pigs?
Enterotoxaemia
-Antibiotics cause a clostridial overgrowth
What are the 4 broad causes of diarrhoea in guinea pigs?
Husbandry
Enterotoxaemia
Gut stasis
Bacterial
What is the lifespan of mice?
1.5 - 2.5 years
What is the lifespan of rats?
2.5 - 3.5 years
What is the gestation length for rats and mice?
20 days
When do rats and mice reach sexual maturity?
6-8 weeks
What is chromodacryorrhoea?
Red tears in rats
What causes chromodacryorrhoea?
Release of hormones from glands when the rat is stressed
How do you differentiate chromodacryorrhoea from bleeding?
Put sample on slide and look for RBC’s
What is the number 1 DDx for skin masses in rats and mice?
Mammary tumours
Why should you desex female rats and mice?
Mammary tumours
What is zymbal’s gland?
A gland in rats that sits near the base of ear and neck
How is mouse mammary tumour virus transmitted?
From parents to offspring
-milk, germ cells, genome
Causes mammary tumours
In mice what is the most common type of mammary tumour?
Adenocarcinomas
- Malignant and hard to remove
- Often spread and are invasive
In rats what is the most common type of mammary tumour?
Fibroadenoma
- Benign
- Vascular supply not extensive
What 2 things are correlated with a high incidence of spontaneous mammary tumours in rats?
Development of pituitary tumours
Persistent irregular oestrous cycles in old rats
What are the 5 most common pathogens that cause chronic respiratory disease in rats and mice?
Mycoplasma Strep. pneumoniae Corynebacteria kutscheri Sendai virus CAR bacillus
- and stress
What are the clinical signs of chronic respiratory disease in rats and mice?
Dyspnoea Sniffles, snuffles Nasal discharge Weight loss Unkempt coat Red tears Progress to severe pneumonia or bronchopneumonia
How do you treat rats and mice with chronic respiratory disease?
Won’t cure - control it
Long term antibiotics
-Doxycycline, enrofloxacin
When do ferrets reach sexual maturity?
4-8 months
What is the average life span for a ferret?
6-8 years
What is the gestation length for a ferret?
42 days
What is important to remember about the oestrus cycle of ferrets and why?
They are induced ovulators
Will come into season and stay like that until mated
In the ferret what organ is in a different position to normal?
The heart is more caudal
How does distemper present in ferrets?
Moist dermatitis -chin, lips, inguinal region 7-9 days post infection -coughing, sneezing ocular and nasal discharge Pyrexia Foot lesions
How do you treat a ferret with distemper?
Nothing - fatal
Vaccinate yearly with the canine C3 vaccination
What do you feed ferrets?
They are true carnivores
Either whole animals or premium dry kitten food
And also things to chew
-High digestible, high protein
In ferrets what organ is commonly enlarged?
Spleen - Splenomegaly
May or may not have clinical significance
Why should you spey ferrets?
They will stay in heat until mated
Alopecia, bone marrow suppression, anaemia, death
Treat by giving HCG to bring off heat and then spey
What is another name for sarcoptic mange in ferrets? How do you treat?
Footrot -Get dark brown encrustations of feet and nail bed - pain Treat- Bathe off encrustations Chlorhexidine Selamectin or ivermectin Meloxicam Antibiotics if indicated
If a ferret is present sneezing, with nasal discharge and coughing, what should you ask the owners?
If anyone in the household has the flu
Influenza can be passed from humans to ferret
Just do symptomatic treatment
What small mammal can get heartworm?
Ferrets
Do an antigen test
Prevent by giving-
Selamectin, Ivermectin or Proheart
What small mammal is the ‘Boxer’ of the exotics?
Ferrets
Skin lumps - excise and histo
What 3 types of neoplasia are most common in ferrets?
Insulinomas
Lymphomas
Adrenal gland disease
What are some clinical signs of insulinoma in ferrets?
Middle aged to old Hypoglycaemia from excess insulin production Weakness, incoordination Hypersalivation 'Glazed look'' Collapse, coma
How do you diagnose and treat an insulinoma in a ferret?
Diagnose by having a serum blood glucose under 3.4-3.8 mmol/L Treat -Surgery -Diazoxide or prednisolone -Dietary control
What are some clinical features of a ferret with lymphoma?
Non-specific signs -
Weight loss
Lymph node enlargement
How do you diagnose and treat a ferret with lymphoma?
Diagnose- Lymph node biopsy WCC over 10,000 Treatment- Chemotherapy and radiotherapy?
What is the most common cardiac disease in ferrets?
Dilated cardiomyopathy
How do the clinical signs of cardiac disease differ from other species?
They don’t cough as much, even though they get pulmonary oedema still
What type of teeth do rabbits have?
Hypsodont
-Open rooted and continuously grow
What teeth don’t rabbits have?
Canines
What extra-oral structure is commonly affected in rabbits with dental disease?
The eyes
-Especially if unilateral
How is dental disease graded?
Into 5 stages
1 - Normal
2 - Root elongation, subtle swellings, some radiographic change
3 - Abnormal occlusion, teeth curving, spurs, teeth loosening
4 - Big distortion of most teeth, crowns may be broken
5 - Osteomyelitis, abscesses, crowns broken and roots resorbed
What are some secondary problems of dental disease?
Lack of grooming Staining around perineum Eye and nasolacrimal problems Excessive ptyalism Reluctance to eat high fibre foods Behavioural changes
What are 2 environmental factors for the development of dental disease in rabbits?
Incorrect diet -lack of abrasives -deficient in Ca, Vit D Inadequate exposure to UV light -Metabolic bone disease is a possible factor
What is the most important thing to do to prevent dental disease in rabbits?
Feeding of grass or hay in unlimited quantities
What is the aim for in rabbits with dental disease?
Controlling and slowing the progression of disease
In rabbit dental abscesses, along with removing the tooth and abscess, what other 3 things/techniques that are also often used?
Antibiotic impregnated polymethacrylate beads
Marsupialisation of the wound
Antibiotic impregnated gauze swabs
What 3 things are often given to a rabbit after a dental procedure to help with pain?
NSAID - Meloxican
Opiate - Tramadol
Local nerve block
What diet-specific thing do you need to look at in a guinea pig with dental disease?
If there is sufficient Vitamin C.
Ferrets have similar teeth to what other domestic animal?
Cats - strict carnivores
When are deciduous teeth shed in ferrets?
At 7-11 weeks of age
How many teeth do ferrets have?
34
What are the 3 most common dental disease problems in ferrets?
Fractured incisor tips
Tartar
Periodontal disease of the carnassials
What preventative measures are used for dental disease in ferrets?
Feeding chew toys and bones
Brushing teeth
What teeth don’t rats and mice have?
Canines and Premolars
What dental disease problem is most common in rats and mice?
Incisor malocclusion
What 6 things can you do/use to prevent heat loss during surgery?
Minimal clipping and prep Bubble wrap Heat pads Warmed air Hair dryer Table lamp
What 5 things are important when anaesthetising a rat or mouse?
Minimal fasting Premed - ACP, Opiate Isoflurane masking Prevent heat loss Pain relief
What 3 vessels can you use in rats and mice?
Ventral coccygeal - tail
Lateral tail vein
Saphenous vein
What do you use for anaesthetising ferrets?
Premed ACP & Buprenorphine or butorphanol
Methadone/morphine
Mask with Isoflurane
What do you need to remember when anaesthetising ferrets?
If masking down, they will keep jaw tone for a period of time
What 4 veins can you use in ferrets?
Jugular
Cephalic
Anterior vena cava
Ventral tail vein
Can you intubate guinea pigs?
Yes but it can be difficult
What is the anaesthetising process for rabbits?
Withhold food 2-3 hours Premed and sedate Pre-oxygenate Mask induce Intubate IV ketamine/Dom/But
What 4 veins can you use in rabbits?
Jugular
Cephalic
Saphenous
Lateral ear vein
