Prairie Dogs and Squirrels Flashcards
📌 Clinical Case 1
A 4-year-old prairie dog presents with significant nasal discharge, facial swelling, and dyspnea. Imaging reveals bilateral pseudo-odontomas affecting the upper incisors, causing severe nasal passage narrowing.
🔎 MCQ: What is the primary reason for this prairie dog’s poor prognosis?
- A) Prairie dogs commonly suffer from nutritional dental syndrome similar to guinea pigs.
- B) The bilateral pseudo-odontomas severely compromise nasal breathing, drastically affecting prognosis.
- C) Prairie dogs’ mandibular structure usually resolves these problems spontaneously.
- B) The bilateral pseudo-odontomas severely compromise nasal breathing, drastically affecting prognosis. ✅
Clinical Cases 🏥
Case 1: Postoperative Pain Management in a Prairie Dog
A 3-year-old female prairie dog underwent an ovariohysterectomy. Postoperatively, she exhibits hunched posture and reduced mobility.
Which is the most appropriate pain management plan?
A) Carprofen (2 mg/kg SC q24h) + Buprenorphine (0.1 mg/kg SC q12h)
B) Meloxicam (0.1 mg/kg PO q48h) alone
C) Butorphanol (0.1 mg/kg IM q12h) as the sole analgesic
A) Carprofen (2 mg/kg SC q24h) + Buprenorphine (0.1 mg/kg SC q12h) ✅
Case 2: Chronic Pain in a Squirrel
A 5-year-old male squirrel with a history of spinal osteoarthritis presents with progressive mobility issues. The owner reports reduced climbing and decreased food intake.
What is the best long-term analgesic approach?
A) Gabapentin (30 mg/kg PO q12h) + Meloxicam (0.2 mg/kg SC q24h)
B) Buprenorphine SR (1.2 mg/kg SC q72h) alone
C) Ketoprofen (5 mg/kg IM q48h) without adjuncts
A) Gabapentin (30 mg/kg PO q12h) + Meloxicam (0.2 mg/kg SC q24h) ✅
Case 1: Urolithiasis-Induced AKI in a Prairie Dog
A 4-year-old male prairie dog presents with anorexia, lethargy, and decreased urine output. Radiographs reveal multiple calcium carbonate uroliths.
Which is the best treatment plan?
A) Mannitol (0.5 g/kg IV) alone
B) Meloxicam (0.2 mg/kg PO) + Increased dietary water intake
C) IV fluids (LRS) + Furosemide (2 mg/kg IV) + Cystotomy
C) IV fluids (LRS) + Furosemide (2 mg/kg IV) + Cystotomy ✅
Case 2: AKI from Dehydration in a Squirrel
A 2-year-old female squirrel is found weak and tachypneic after prolonged heat exposure. Bloodwork shows azotemia and hyperkalemia.
What is the most appropriate emergency treatment?
A) IV fluids (0.9% NaCl) + Calcium gluconate (100 mg/kg IV) + Cooling measures
B) Oral rehydration only
C) Furosemide (2 mg/kg IV) immediately without fluids
A) IV fluids (0.9% NaCl) + Calcium gluconate (100 mg/kg IV) + Cooling measures ✅
A 3-year-old prairie dog presents with difficulty chewing, drooling, and weight loss. Oral examination reveals overgrown incisors and a firm swelling on the mandible. Radiographs show osteolysis around the premolar roots. Bacterial culture identifies Streptococcus spp. and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
❓ What is the best initial approach for managing this case?
A) Trim the incisors and prescribe a high-fiber diet.
B) Perform surgical extraction of affected teeth and start antibiotics.
C) Administer ivermectin and observe for resolution.
B) Perform surgical extraction of affected teeth and start antibiotics. ✅
Case 2: Alopecia in a Squirrel
A 3-year-old male squirrel presents with bilateral alopecia on the back without pruritus. The owner reports a stressful recent move.
What is the most likely cause?
A) Bacterial infection
B) Behavioral barbering due to stress
C) Mite infestation
B) Behavioral barbering due to stress ✅
Case 1: Prairie Dog Importation to Japan
A client wishes to bring their pet prairie dog to Japan, but Japanese authorities deny the request.
Why is importation prohibited?
A) Risk of plague transmission
B) Prairie dogs are endangered
C) Japan prohibits all rodent imports
A) Risk of plague transmission ✅
Case 2: Squirrel Release in Canada
A rescued Eastern gray squirrel is brought to a veterinary clinic in Canada. The client wants to release it into the wild.
What is the legal course of action?
A) Transfer to a rehabilitation facility for later release
B) Release into a local park
C) Euthanasia or permanent captivity due to invasive species status
C) Euthanasia or permanent captivity due to invasive species status ✅
Clinical Case 1:
A 2-year-old prairie dog undergoes surgical removal of a facial abscess. To manage postoperative pain, gabapentin is chosen. The clinician wants sustained analgesia without excessive sedation or frequent handling.
🔹 MCQ: Based on pharmacokinetic data, which protocol provides the longest therapeutic plasma concentration with minimal dosing frequency?
- A) Gabapentin 80 mg/kg orally every 24 h
- B) Gabapentin 30 mg/kg orally every 12 h
- C) Gabapentin 80 mg/kg subcutaneously every 24 h
- B) Gabapentin 30 mg/kg orally every 12 h ✅
🐿️ Clinical Case 2:
A prairie dog presents following a limb fracture repair. Gabapentin (SC, 80 mg/kg) was administered post-surgery. 8 hours later, the animal appears restless and painful again. The veterinarian must choose the next analgesic step carefully.
🔹 MCQ: What explains the observed short analgesic duration after subcutaneous administration of gabapentin?
- A) Gabapentin administered SC has poor bioavailability, making it ineffective.
- B) Gabapentin’s disappearance half-life is significantly shorter via SC compared to oral administration.
- C) Gabapentin SC at 80 mg/kg exceeds therapeutic levels quickly causing hyperalgesia.
- B) Gabapentin’s disappearance half-life is significantly shorter via SC compared to oral administration. ✅
Clinical Case 1:
A wildlife veterinarian performs health checks on wild Eurasian red squirrels using the described anaesthesia method. During induction, one squirrel becomes restless, struggles, and shows signs of agitation. You must quickly decide the next step.
What is the most appropriate next step in managing this squirrel?
A) Remove squirrel, reassess physical condition, and consider exclusion if excessively stressed.
B) Immediately increase isoflurane concentration to 8% to achieve rapid sedation.
C) Administer intramuscular ketamine (50 mg/kg) to calm the animal.
A) Remove squirrel, reassess physical condition, and consider exclusion if excessively stressed. ✅
🐿️ Clinical Case 2:
You anaesthetize a Eurasian red squirrel for blood sampling. Mid-procedure, the squirrel displays rapid shallow breathing and reduced chest movement. Oxygen flow is currently 1 L/min, with isoflurane at 2%. Which action is the most appropriate?
- A) Increase isoflurane to 4% immediately.
- B) Flush the anaesthetic system with pure oxygen and gradually lower the anaesthetic percentage.
- C) Immediately discontinue anaesthesia and release the squirrel
- B) Flush the anaesthetic system with pure oxygen and gradually lower the anaesthetic percentage. ✅
CLINICAL CASES
🐿️ Clinical Case 1:
A 4-year-old male southern flying squirrel presents with unilateral testicular swelling. Physical examination reveals a firm, well-defined, non-painful mass in the right testis. The owner reports normal activity and appetite.
🔸 MCQ:
Given this clinical scenario, what is the most likely diagnosis?
- A. Seminoma
- B. Interstitial cell tumor (Leydig cell tumor)
- C. Sertoli cell tumor
B. Interstitial cell tumor (Leydig cell tumor) ✅
🐿️ Clinical Case 2:
A southern flying squirrel has undergone bilateral orchiectomy due to testicular asymmetry. Histopathology revealed polygonal cells with eosinophilic cytoplasm and mild anisocytosis, and immunohistochemistry was positive for inhibin-alpha.
🔸 MCQ:
Which of the following statements is correct regarding the tumor described?
- A. This tumor typically has malignant behavior with frequent metastasis.
- B. The tumor cells typically show marked positivity for Melan A.
- C. Inhibin-alpha positivity is a characteristic finding supporting interstitial cell tumor diagnosis.
C. Inhibin-alpha positivity is a characteristic finding supporting interstitial cell tumor diagnosis. ✅
🐿️ Clinical Case 1:
You anesthetize a prairie dog for dental extraction using the AKD protocol. 35 minutes into the procedure, the animal shows returning forelimb withdrawal reflex and jaw tone, but remains anesthetized.
🔸 MCQ:
What is the best immediate next step?
- A. Immediately repeat the entire AKD protocol intramuscularly.
- B. Provide supplemental analgesia with buprenorphine IM, and continue cautiously.
- C. Switch immediately to a high concentration of isoflurane to maintain anesthesia.
- B. Provide supplemental analgesia with buprenorphine IM, and continue cautiously. ✅
🐿️ Clinical Case 2:
A prairie dog was anesthetized with AKM. After 40 minutes of anesthesia, rectal temperature drops significantly below 97°F, and recovery time after reversal becomes notably prolonged.
🔸 MCQ:
Which factor most likely explains the prolonged recovery?
- A. Hypothermia delaying recovery despite reversal administration.
- B. Higher initial doses of ketamine causing prolonged sedation.
- C. Reversal agent flumazenil was administered too early.
- A. Hypothermia delaying recovery despite reversal administration. ✅
📌 Clinical Case 1
A 2-year-old prairie dog undergoes dental surgery for malocclusion. You administer meloxicam 0.2 mg/kg SC post-surgery for analgesia. The next morning (22 hours later), the animal appears painful, reluctant to eat, and less active.
🔎 MCQ:
What is the most likely explanation for the observed signs?
- A) Meloxicam plasma concentrations are no longer therapeutic after 24 hours.
- B) Meloxicam at 0.2 mg/kg SC results in toxicity after 12 hours.
- C) Prairie dogs maintain therapeutic meloxicam concentrations for over 72 hours at this dosage.
- A) Meloxicam plasma concentrations are no longer therapeutic after 24 hours. ✅
📌 Clinical Case 2
You are treating a prairie dog for chronic pain associated with an elodontoma. You previously managed a guinea pig with similar dosing successfully. Based on available pharmacokinetic data, what should you consider?
🔎 MCQ:
When considering dosing meloxicam for prairie dogs compared to guinea pigs, what is true?
- A) Guinea pig dosing can be directly extrapolated without adjustments.
- B) Prairie dogs have significant interspecies pharmacokinetic differences and require species-specific dosing.
- C) Prairie dogs always require lower doses than guinea pigs to reach therapeutic levels.
- B) Prairie dogs have significant interspecies pharmacokinetic differences and require species-specific dosing.
📌 Clinical Case 1
A 3-year-old prairie dog presents with progressive facial swelling, nasal discharge, and anorexia. Radiographs confirm bilateral pseudo-odontomas affecting incisors and cheek teeth. The animal has significant respiratory distress due to obstruction of nasal passages.
🔎 MCQ: Considering this clinical presentation, the prognosis is:
- A) Fair, if incisors are regularly trimmed.
- B) Guarded to poor, because bilateral involvement of cheek teeth and respiratory complications drastically reduce therapeutic success.
- C) Excellent, with prompt surgical removal.
- B) Guarded to poor, because bilateral involvement of cheek teeth and respiratory complications drastically reduce therapeutic success. ✅
Clinical Case:
A 5-year-old male prairie dog is presented to your clinic with progressive weight loss, significant lethargy, difficulty breathing, and intermittent ocular and nasal discharge over the past two months. The owner reports a gradual decline in appetite, particularly refusing solid and fibrous foods like hay and pellets. Recently, the prairie dog has shown increased difficulty breathing, particularly noticeable after minimal activity.
Physical examination reveals marked facial swelling predominantly on the left side, pronounced mandibular asymmetry, severe nasal discharge, and evident dyspnea with open-mouth breathing. Oral examination under sedation shows multiple loose incisors, particularly on the maxilla, with significant gingival attachment and severe displacement. Cheek teeth demonstrate abnormal wear patterns, and there are several fractured crowns. The mandibular symphysis shows abnormal mobility upon palpation.
Radiographic imaging indicates extensive mass-like radiopaque lesions at the roots of multiple maxillary incisors, suggestive of advanced pseudo-odontomas. There are also indications of severe cheek tooth involvement with fractured crowns and potential abscessation. The maxillary lesions are impinging significantly on the nasal cavity, explaining the respiratory distress. Blood work reveals mild leukocytosis and hypercalcemia.
Considering the patient’s condition, you recognize that management is challenging, requiring complex decisions concerning diagnosis confirmation, analgesia, surgical intervention, and supportive care.
MCQ: What is the most appropriate initial step in managing this complicated case?
- A) Immediate surgical removal of all affected teeth
- B) Advanced diagnostic imaging and histopathological analysis to confirm pseudo-odontoma
- C) Initiating long-term meloxicam therapy and observing clinical signs
MCQ: Which complication is most critical to address promptly?
- A) Hypercalcemia
- B) Respiratory obstruction due to maxillary lesions
- C) Mild leukocytosis
MCQ: Considering the extensive involvement of maxillary incisors, what is the prognosis for this prairie dog?
- A) Fair prognosis with surgical removal alone
- B) Guarded to poor prognosis due to respiratory involvement and advanced dental disease
- C) Excellent prognosis with dietary modifications and analgesia
- B) Advanced diagnostic imaging and histopathological analysis to confirm pseudo-odontoma ✅
- B) Respiratory obstruction due to maxillary lesions
- B) Guarded to poor prognosis due to respiratory involvement and advanced dental disease ✅
A 4-year-old female Eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) is brought to your clinic with chronic weight loss, progressive facial swelling, severe drooling, and reluctance to eat over the past several weeks. The owner notes that the squirrel primarily consumes soft fruits and vegetables, having entirely abandoned nuts and other harder food items. Additionally, the squirrel has displayed episodes of lethargy and intermittent sneezing.
Physical examination reveals pronounced asymmetrical swelling on the right side of the face, extending toward the orbit, with evident ocular discharge and conjunctivitis. Oral examination under anesthesia reveals severe malocclusion, fractured maxillary incisors, and visibly displaced mandibular incisors with gingival recession. There is also a significant abscessation of the cheek teeth, causing extensive tissue inflammation. Palpation indicates firm masses along the maxillary arcade.
Radiographs show multiple radiopaque lesions suggestive of elodontomas at the incisor roots, alongside severe dental malalignment and fractured crowns affecting both incisors and cheek teeth. The lesions appear to invade into adjacent bone and soft tissues. Complete blood count and biochemical profile demonstrate moderate leukocytosis, hypoalbuminemia, and mildly elevated liver enzymes.
Management of this patient will involve complex and multidisciplinary approaches, including diagnostic confirmation, surgical intervention, advanced analgesia, and supportive nutritional care.
MCQ: What diagnostic step is most critical in confirming the nature of the facial lesions in this squirrel?
A) Empirical antibiotic therapy and analgesia
B) Radiographs followed by histopathological biopsy to confirm elodontoma
C) Immediate surgical removal of affected teeth
MCQ: Which aspect of the patient’s condition requires immediate attention?
A) Hypoalbuminemia
B) Severe dental malalignment
C) Facial abscessation and extensive soft tissue inflammation
MCQ: Considering the extensive involvement of both incisors and cheek teeth, what is the overall prognosis for this squirrel?
A) Excellent prognosis with dietary modifications and antibiotics
B) Fair prognosis if teeth are managed conservatively
C) Guarded to poor prognosis due to extensive bone involvement and chronic inflammation
B) Radiographs followed by histopathological biopsy to confirm elodontoma ✅
C) Facial abscessation and extensive soft tissue inflammation ✅
C) Guarded to poor prognosis due to extensive bone involvement and chronic inflammation ✅
A 6-month-old prairie dog presents with watery diarrhea, weight loss, and lethargy. The owner recently changed its diet. Fecal floatation is negative for parasites, but direct smear reveals motile trophozoites. The animal is housed with others, but no cohabitant is affected.
❓ What is the most likely causative agent?
A) Sarcoptes scabiei
B) Giardia spp.
C) Eimeria spp.
B) Giardia spp. ✅
prairie dog presents with patchy hair loss and thickened skin. Trichogram reveals fungal spores, and a Wood’s lamp examination shows fluorescence. The owner reports skin lesions as well.
❓ Which fungal species is the most likely cause of this condition?
A) Trichophyton mentagrophytes
B) Aspergillus fumigatus
C) Cryptococcus neoformans
A) Trichophyton mentagrophytes ✅
A 2-year-old captive squirrel presents with sudden onset of hindlimb paralysis. Bloodwork reveals severe hypocalcemia, and radiographs show osteopenia with multiple vertebral fractures. The diet consists mainly of fruits and seeds.
❓ What is the most likely diagnosis?
A) Nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism
B) Spinal trauma
C) Toxoplasmosis
A) Nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism ✅
A squirrel housed in a zoo exhibits chronic weight loss and intermittent soft stools. Fecal smear identifies acid-fast oocysts. The zookeepers note that multiple squirrels in the enclosure are affected.
❓ Which protozoan is the most likely cause?
A) Eimeria spp.
B) Cryptosporidium spp.
C) Balantidium coli
B) Cryptosporidium spp. ✅
A male prairie dog presents with self-inflicted wounds on the genital area. The owner reports excessive aggression and scent-marking behavior. On exam, the penis appears ulcerated, and the paracloacal glands are enlarged.
❓ Which of the following treatments would best prevent recurrence?
A) Castration
B) Antibiotic therapy alone
C) Increasing dietary protein
A) Castration ✅
Multiple prairie dogs in a breeding colony die suddenly after exhibiting lethargy and swollen lymph nodes. A necropsy of one affected animal reveals hemorrhagic pneumonia and splenomegaly. Gram stain of the lungs identifies safety-pin-shaped bacteria.
❓ Which bacterial pathogen is the most likely cause?
A) Yersinia pestis
B) Francisella tularensis
C) Pasteurella multocida
A) Yersinia pestis ✅
A wild squirrel is found disoriented and circling. Neurological examination shows ataxia, head tilt, and tremors. PCR of brain tissue post-mortem confirms Baylisascaris procyonis infection.
❓ How is this parasite most commonly transmitted?
A) Ingestion of infected feces
B) Ingestion of infective larvae from contaminated environments
C) Direct skin contact with infected animals
B) Ingestion of infective larvae from contaminated environments ✅
A prairie dog presents with intense pruritus, hair loss, and thickened skin. Skin scrapings reveal burrowing mites. The owner states that a new pet ferret was introduced to the home two weeks ago.
❓ What is the most likely causative parasite?
A) Sarcoptes scabiei
B) Demodex spp.
C) Trixacarus caviae
A) Sarcoptes scabiei ✅
