Mice And Rats Flashcards
Mice and rats belong to the class Mammalia, order ___ and family ___
Order rodentia
Family muridae
Which are mice/rats closer to, hamsters or gerbils
Gerbils
True or false rats and mice incisors and molars grow continuously through life
FALSE
Only their incisors do
What are the harderian gland behind a rats eye
Secretes prophyrins (tears look red due to this substance)
What is the average life span of a rat
2-3 years may be up to 5
What is the average life span of a mouse
1-2 years
Describe chronic respiratory disease seen in rats
Very common
Usually caused my mycoplasma pulmonis (may also involve streptococcus and corynebacterium)
Treat with antibiotics (may kill organism but the body’s response to mycoplasma causes respiratory damage -lungs fill with pus)
Antibiotics may decrease clinical signs but will not sure the disease
Describe mammary tumors seen in rats
Usually benign (fibroadenoma)
Grow VERY quickly
Occurs in both sexes (mammary tissue present from neck to inguinal area)
Surgical removal usually curative and straight forward
Describe lice/fur mites seen on rats
Common
Scratching and fur loss
Skin scrape/scotch tape test to diagnose
Why would owners report bleeding from the eyes/nose in rats
Porphyrin secretion increases with stress and underlying diseases
Describe mites seen on mice
Causes Alopecia
Pruritic with self trauma common (can scratch ears off) m
May also be an underlying skin condition and not mites??
Describe mammary tumors seen in mice
Almost always malignant (different from rats) (adenocarcinoma) and metastatic
Poor prognosis
What is the differences between housing rats and mice
Rats: easily socialized, good with others, rarely bite, make great pets, curious and intelligent
Mice: more active and nervous, quicker to bite, do not allow much handling/interaction, common to see aggression with others
What is bruxism and boggling? What are these a sign of?
Grinding the teeth and frothing at the mouth
Common signs of contentment
Describe general housing husbandry for mice and rats
Good ventilation is very important (ammonia fumes)
Solid floors be careful with wire siding (will probably escape)
Substrate: recycled paper or aspen shavings
Give hiding boxes, wheels, tubes, and wood blocks to chew on
Check and change water twice daily (rodents may cannibalize if they run out of water, often chew bottles so check for leaks)
Describe handling rats
Pick up with one hand and then support with one hand around the shoulders and one underneath
Never pick up/hold by the tail (may bite)
For painful procedures hold in the same manner with thumb under the mandible and stretching them out slightly
Describe handling mice
Will bite
Can pick up by the base of the tail and be placed into a hard surface (only use tail for quick transfer -they will bite off their tail to escape)
Can scruff if they try to run
Wrap tail around finger to control
Don’t wear gloves and “squish” (chance of injury, suffocation and dropping)
Describe blood collection of rats and mice
Maximum 1% of body weight taken
Use warmed lateral tail vein (other vessels are small and difficult)
Use 23G needle with tuberculin syringe or heparin microhematocrit tube directly from needle
Can use syringe case with breathing holes in the end to help with restraint (60cc for rats, 3cc for mice)
Where should injections be given to mice and rats
SQ or IP
What is the max amount of fluids that can be given to mice/rats at a time
5mL
Describe general anesthesia in mice/rats
Mask down, can use syringe case or place completely inside a K9 mask
Hypothermia is a concern, provide heat source during procedures
Describe radiography of mice and rats
Need general anesthesia
May need to use a dental x ray machine
Use tape and positioning aids
