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CVB - vertebrates > Mammals I > Flashcards

Mammals I Flashcards

1
Q

rodent teeth

A

> 1 pair of incisors in upper + lower jaws
Enamel only on outer surface of incisors:
- Chisel shape (harder than softer tooth behind)
- pigmented (orange)

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2
Q

rodent jaw

  • movement
  • alignment of teeth
  • muscles
  • canals
A

> Dentary moves forward + back, more than side to side (ruminants)
Incisors seem to be out of line with each other
If incisors in line = cannot chew

> dentary is drawn forwards by a head of masseter muscle (runs through the enlarged
infraorbital canal to insert on the muzzle)

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3
Q

rodent sexing

A
  • separate urinary + genital orifice
  • genital opening sealed by skin except during oestrus + at partition
  • all have os penis
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4
Q

what are HYSTRICOMORPHA

A

guinea pig, chinchilla + degu

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5
Q

hystricomopha

  • dental formula
  • common dental features
A

1013/1013
> Open rooted cheek teeth
> Constantly growing incisors (like all rodents)
» Worn down constantly by forwards-and-backwards movements

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6
Q

guinea pig

- lifestyle + origin

A 
nocturnal
South America 
>> Can’t tolerate damp/ cold/ temp above 26oC (heat stroke + death)
>> live in colonies 20-50
>> livde in burrows
>>>> House indoors with others
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7
Q

guinea pig

  • senses
  • glands
  • feet
A
  • good sight (vascular cornea) + hearing
  • sebaceous glands (above ‘no’ tail)
  • front foot - 4toes
  • hind foot - 3toes
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8
Q

housing ginuea pigs + rabbits together

A 
no
- bullying
- disease
>> bordatella (asymptomatic @rabbits) >>> fatal pneumonia @ ginuea pigs
- different diurnal/ nocturnal
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9
Q

gineua pig repro
mum anatomy
1) gestation
2) young

A 
1 pair of mammary glands
1) 55-69days
2) 2-5 young
>> precocious young
- start feeding after 4days
- weaned 3-4weeks
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10
Q

gineau pig puberty

A

females 5weeks
males 12weeks
» separate once weaned

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11
Q

ginuea pig diseases

A

dystocia:
- 1st litter @3-4months&raquo_space; @7months - - no litter = pelvic symphysis fuses

polycystic ovaries:
- v. common (100% unneutured females)
» reduced + swollen abdomen
Treatment = spay

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12
Q

male guinea pig repro anatomy

A
  • Low hanging scrotum
    > High rate of scrotal abscesses
  • Large inguinal rings with movable testes
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13
Q

castration of guinea pig

A

Scrotal castration (2 wounds) vs abdominal castration (1 wound instead but more invasive, less likely to cause infection as wound not dragging on floor)

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14
Q

guinea pig diet

A
  • similar to rabbit
    > Mostly hay/ grass + small amount of pellets + fresh veg

Caecotrophy > (unlike rabbit) caecal + final faeces look similar

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15
Q

guinea pig diet deficiency

A

> Lack enzyme L-gluconolactone required for endogenous production of vit C
Healthy requires: 10-30mg/kg/24hr.
Require x2/3 more if stressed/ disease/ preg/ young

Symptoms:
- Poor wound healing
- Immunosuppression
- cheilitis = inflammation of lip
@Young animals: poor growth + joint swelling + pain
@Adults: dental disease due to poor quality of periodontal lig

Supplements:
Best: in food eg. growing grass

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16
Q

common guinea pig diseases

A

urinary disease

pododermatitis

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17
Q

urinary disease

A 
> Bladder/ kidney stones ( uroliths - calcium complexes) 
> middle aged +
> Diet = predisposing factor 
(aetiology unknown)
> Very painful
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18
Q

pododermititis

A 
(dermatitis to the feet and toes)
cause:
> Insufficient depth of bedding.
>Wet bedding
= Incorrect weight bearing
=>> progress to ‘Bumblefoot’ – Secondary Staphylococcus infection.
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19
Q

chinchilla origin + lifestyle + lifespan

A 
- Andes mountains (a cold desert) 
> dust bath enrichment
- almost extinct in the wild
>> Originally bred for their fur > now UK pets (*friendly + docile)
- nocturnal
- Lifespan 10-15 years
20
Q

chinchilla notable features

A

> Huge tympanic bullae - with very good hearing
Dense fur - no guard hairs on the body
(! Careful clipping for surgery)
Nails, instead of claws
very curved upper incisors
» Step pattern of the teeth should be aligned
Can supinate the manus

21
Q

chinchilla diet

A

> Herbivores: grass/hay mostly
> high fibre + low fat diet
Small amount of species specific pellets (esp. When growing)
Dried fruit + veg as occasional treat
It is impossible to examine all the teeth in the conscious animal – even hard in anaesthetic&raquo_space; dental x-rays +/ endoscopy.

22
Q

chinchilla GI tract

A

> very long small intestine
sacculated caecum
very long colon (water absorption) - no fermentation here as are midgut fermenters

23
Q

problems with chinchillas

A

! fur slip - rough handling + stress
! dental disease - drooling, wet fur to front legs + chin
! hair (fur) rings - collect around penis - difficulty with mating/ even phimosis (penis kept out) > only prevented by regular checks

24
Q

chinchilla sexing

A

femlaes:
- Don’t have prominent urethral process
- v prominent urethral papilla (do not mistake it for a penis).
> genital opening is sealed except during oestrus and at parturition

25
Q

degu lifestyle ect

A
  • Diurnal
  • live in large colonies in burrow systems in South America (rabbit niche)
  • Lifespan in captivity: 6-9 years
  • Sociable animals
    » keep in pair/ group
26
Q

degu diet

A 
Herbivore: 
Hay
Small amount of species-specific pellet.
Leafy greens as treats
No sugary treats!
27
Q

degu disease

A

! Diabetes Mellitus
Cannot tolerate high carbohydrate diet.
> diabetic cataracts
> XS drinking + urinating

28
Q

what are MYOMORPHS

A

(rats, mice, hamsters, gerbils)

29
Q

myomorph common features

A

Omnivorous Rodents
open rooted incisors + closed rooted cheek teeth
No deciduous molars
» Dental formula 1003/1003
- Late closure of growth plates in all small rodents
@1 year (important to know when interpreting radiographs)
- supinate the manus *grasp food
- v sensitive hearing
» vocalisations in the ultra-sonic range
!continuous sounds in the ultra-sonic range = distress
eg. alter behaviour/ interfere with normal oestrous cycles

30
Q

hamster lifestyle + origin

A 
>  Syrian hamsters were introduced to Europe in the 1940’s.
- Nocturnal
- Solitary
>>Below 5 deg C they may enter a torpid state:
(similar physiology to hibernation)
Reduced:
heart rate 
respiratory rate
body temp
31
Q

hamster diet

A

> granivorous/insectivorous

> large cheek pouches to carry food (ensure empty before weighing)

32
Q

hamster repro

A
  • female has a 4-day oestrus cycle
    in oestrus:
    > produces a thick white discharge with ‘a distinctive small’ – not to be confused with vaginal or uterine infection
33
Q

hamster diseases

A

! Uterine infection/ pyometra: consistent bloody discharge

@Syrians: Flank scent glands
@dwarf species: ventral scent glands (near umbilicus) - hidden under the fur
! blocked or infected
! Dwarf species may get ventral scent gland tumours.

! Hyperadrenocorticism/ Cushing’s disease
> hair loss (alopecia on flank)
> increased drinking/urination

34
Q

gerbils

A

Mongolian Gerbil
> desert species
> long colon and a large renal medulla (adaptations to increase water resorption from food and urine
> furred tail
! If hold tail skin may be pulled off (degloved)&raquo_space;Does not grow back!

  • sit up to look around and to eat
    > hold food in their paws and balancing on their tail
  • large sebaceous gland near the umbilicus > often develops benign tumours when older
35
Q

RAT society

A
  • Live in groups (a mischief).
  • Neutered companions/ single sex groups.
  • Enrichment/training – highly intelligent + bond with owners.
  • Dumbo rats – Recessive mutation in fancy rats causing ‘side ears’ rather than top ears. Temperament is more relaxed.
36
Q

rat notable features

A
  • Tail is about 85% of the length of the body
  • Incredibly agile
  • Eyes are black, but in albinos they are red.
    » Albino rats have poor vision
    &raquo_space;> bright light = distress
    > Can not tolerate high temperatures or low humidity (ideal 18-24oC)
    ! do not drink more as the temp increases but increase salivation to cool&raquo_space;> dehydration

> Blood samples can be taken from lateral or ventral tail veins (or lateral saphenous).

37
Q

rat diseases

A

ringtail
chromodacryorrhoea
resp disease
mammary tumours

38
Q

ringtail

A

> humidity is too low (especially in the young)
= resulting in necrosis and sloughing of part of the tail.
Rarely seen in pets.

39
Q

! Chromodacryorrhoea

A

coloured tears
» Stress can cause secretion of porphyrins in the Harderian glands, producing a dark red oculo-nasal discharge.
> Do not mistake for respiratory disease which is also common.

40
Q

rat resp disease

A
  • Mycoplasma pulmonis infection (although other pathogens may be involved)
    » widespread in the pet rat population – many are asymptomatic carriers
    > symptoms depend on stress status + environment
    » Poor husbandry or stress can cause disease flare up

> Clinical signs depend on the individual immune system, environmental ammonia concentrations, virulence of mycoplasma strain and concurrent infections.

  • Sneezing, nasal discharge, ill thrift, increased respiratory rate (severe cases).
  • spread via aerosol or transmitted from mother to offspring.
41
Q

mammory tumours

A

Mice and rats both have very extensive mammary tissue and both species are very prone to mammary tumours.
SPECIES DIFFERENCE IN TUMOUR BEHAVIOUR
@ rats: benign + fast growing
» large size and effect mobility especially when in axilla or groin.
Removal may be curative but other masses can still arise.
@ mice: they tend to be malignant – poorer prognosis even if surgically removed.

42
Q

ferrets

A

Northern European - domesticated for over 2000 years.

  • obligate carnivores
  • Long body, short legs.
  • 14 or 15 pairs of ribs

Weight:
> Males 1–2kg
> Females 0.5kg–1kg
» heavier in the winter than in the summer (natural variation)

  • Well-developed anal glands
    > not allowed to remove unless for medical reasons eg. blocked (UK)
  • most of the ferret smell is from sebaceous glands
  • Vaccinate against Canine Distemper virus.
43
Q

ferret repro

  • breeding
  • gestation
A

> Breeding season is spring to autumn (dependent on day length).
Jills = induced ovulators
If they do not ovulate, oestrus will persist until the end of mating season [persistent oestrus]
=> bone marrow suppression, leading to pancytopenia (low white blood cells and red bloods)

> Gestation period 42 days, litter size > 4 – 7 altricial kits.

44
Q

how to solve persistent oestrus in ferrets

A 
1. Neuter
! can cause adrenal disease (hyperadrenocorticism or Cushing’s disease) due to removing the negative feedback from the ovaries to the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. 
>> alopecia
>> increased drinking + urinating 
>> sometimes lethargy
  1. hormonal control of seasons (Implants or injections at the time of oestrus)
  2. vasectomised male (geet stimulation to remove from estrus but without getting pregnant)
  3. Supralorin implant is a GnRH super-agonist, which can suppress oestrus for 1-2 years.
45
Q

male ferret repro anatomy

A

HOB = male:

  • Prepuce mid-ventral abdomen
  • Testes intra-abdominal during the winter (large inguinal canal to allow movement).
  • J-shaped os penis
  • Vasectomy often performed to keep jills out of oestrus.
46
Q

female ferret repro

A

JILL = female:

  • Vulva enlarges when in season.
  • False pregnancy after non-fertile mating (ie. with vasectomised hob)
  • Mammary development may alarm owners

CVB - vertebrates (3 decks)

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