Misc. Small Mammals

Question 1

What are common types of trauma in chinchillas?

Answer 1

Fur slip and fractures from improper handling

Question 2

Chinchillas come from how many founders?

Answer 2

12

Question 3

How do you determine the sex of a chinchilla?

Answer 3

Females have a prominent papillary cone, males have a greater distance between their penis and anus

Question 4

Describe the ideal environment/housing for a chinchilla

Answer 4

Solid bottom cage with bedding (pine shavings, cardboard, or paper), kept 68-75 F with <50% humidity. Provided a clean dust bath several times a week to daily. Fed high quality grass hay and alfalfa pellets.

Question 5

Describe the notable anatomy of chinchillas

Answer 5

Have large auditory bullae and are prone to dental disease (indicated by slobbering). Can have tibial and radial fractures, fur slip, and degloving injuries.

Question 6

How do you handle a chinchilla

Answer 6

Use as little restraint as possible, examine in clear plastic box and get RR before handling. Mask down if needed, can be medicated with midazolam, butorphanol, or buprenorphine

Question 7

Where would you collect blood from a chinchilla?

Answer 7

Jugular vein (large volume), saphenous or cephalic veins (small volume), cephalic or jugular used for catheter, IO if necessary

Question 8

Describe giving injections to a chinchilla

Answer 8

IM on epaxials or hind limb with max of 0.3mLs. SQ between shoulder blades or intraperitoneal if needed.

Question 9

What are common problems for chinchillas?

Answer 9

Hair encircling penis, hair obstruction, external parasites, ocular irritation (from dust bath), infection (pseudomonas aeruginosa), pneumonia (from dust bath).

Question 10

Can chinchillas vomit?

Answer 10

No

Question 11

Describe dentition of chinchillas

Answer 11

Dental disease found in ~35% normal chinchillas. Apical elongation of molars is common. Teeth lack roots and grow continuously and have a long crown. Treat abscesses/disease with antibiotics (oral doxycycline and metro), feed thickened critical care. Use skull rads or CT scan for diagnoses.

Question 12

What are Degus?

Answer 12

Hystricomorphic rodents that are diurnal and have good vision and are very social

Question 13

Describe degu husbandry

Answer 13

Multi-level cage with solid bottom floor, waterbottle, guinea pig pellets and good quality grass hay. Restrict sugars. Practice coprophagy

Question 14

Describe degu handling

Answer 14

Gentle- don’t hold by tail. Mask down or give midazolam or butorphanol. Examine in a clear box.

Question 15

What disease are degus prone to? Why?

Answer 15

Diabetes mellitus- they have divergent insulin structure which makes them very sensitive to sugars. Can be treated with sugar-free diet

Question 16

What is the common type of hedgehog? Where are they native to?

Answer 16

African pygmy hedgehog- native to England, Europe, Africa, Asia

Question 17

Describe hedgehog husbandry

Answer 17

4ft of floor space with solid bottom and bedding that doesn’t get stuck in their quills. Keep out of direct sunlight and away from drafts, keep at 72-80 degrees F to avoid torpor. Feed insectivore pelleted diet + waxworms, superworms, crickets, cockroaches etc. NOT cat food

Question 18

What is normal hedgehog behavior

Answer 18

Rolling into a ball, hissing when mad. Anoint themselves with saliva to attract mate or when stressed/mad (“anting”)

Question 19

How do you handle a hedgehog?

Answer 19

Hold around the mantle, use gloves. Can’t roll up if obese! Can drip water on their back to get them to un-roll. Expect to need to mask down for full exam.

Question 20

Where would you collect blood on a hedgehog?

Answer 20

Jugular vein, femoral, cephalic, saphenous.

Question 21

Where would you inject drugs in a hedgehog?

Answer 21

IM- hind or forelimbs, SQ- between spines and furred area

Question 22

What zoonoses might a hedgehog carry?

Answer 22

Trichophyton (ringworm)- may be asymptomatic or scaly with spine loss. Have been linked to Salmonella outbreaks.

Question 23

What are differentials for a hedgehog losing quills?

Answer 23

Trichophyton (ringworm), mites (caparinia tripilis), bacterial or yeast infections, ascaris, normal shedding

Question 24

What are differentials for a hedgehog with abnormal dentition or masses in its mouth?

Answer 24

Dental disease (esp. with soft inappropriate diet), herpesvirus, SCC

Question 25

What are the most common kinds of cancer in the hedgehog?

Answer 25

Mammary adenocarcinoma, lymphoma, oral SCC

Question 26

What symptom might you see of uterine neoplasia in a hedgehog?

Answer 26

Hematuria

Question 27

What symptoms might you see of oral SCC in a hedgehog?

Answer 27

Bulging eyes, dental disease, facial mass

Question 28

What are the most common type of cancer in Tenrecs?

Answer 28

Thyroid and liver carcinoma

Question 29

Describe wobbly hedgehog syndrome

Answer 29

Progressive disease- uncoordinated and tetraparetic, can become unable to move (progression speed varies). No cure, treat with supportive care (meloxicam, supplemental food). Causes vacuolation of white matter of brain. Rule out other causes with CT/MRI.

Question 30

What type of animal are sugar gliders?

Answer 30

Marsupials- nocturnal, active, territorial

Question 31

Describe sugar glider husbandry

Answer 31

Vertically tall cages, provide hammocks/boxes, keep warm to avoid torpor. No good commercial diet so make your own (bugs + gums + saps + resins)

Question 32

Describe sugar glider anatomy

Answer 32

Females have a pouch. Syndactyly of 2nd and 3rd toes + opposable thumb. Large cecum. males have scent gland in the middle of the top of their head. Bifurcated penises and vaginas.

Question 33

How would you restrain a sugar glider?

Answer 33

Use a clear box to examine. Wear gloves (will bite). Keep door closed, very fast.

Question 34

What medical concerns do sugar gliders present with?

Answer 34

Nutritional problems (metabolic bone disease, iron storage disease, encephalomalacia- hypovitaminosis E), trichyphyton, cataracts, dental disease, self-mutilation after surgery