pt 5 (rodent dentition, diet, and housing)

Question 1

list 6 species in the order rodentia that are used in research

Answer 1

mice
rats
guinea pigs
hamsters
rabbits
gerbils

Question 2

what are open-rooted incisors?

Answer 2

never stop growing

Question 3

what rodents have open-rooted incisors?

Answer 3

mice
rats
hamsters
gerbils

Question 4

how many incisors do rodents have?

Answer 4

4

Question 5

what type of diet are rats, mice, and hamsters fed in lab? what are the benefits of this form?

Answer 5

commercial rodent block - gnawing wears the incisors down

Question 6

why do you have to be careful when treating rodents with antibiotics? which category of antibiotics is usually not used?

Answer 6

they disrupt normal GI function; narrow spectrum antibiotics

Question 7

how are rodents housed in labs?

Answer 7

shoe box cages

Question 8

what is the natural diet of guinea pigs and chinchillas, and other common lab rodents?

Answer 8

dry grasses; grain and tubers

Question 9

what is different about guinea pig and chinchilla anatomy that is related to their natural diet?

Answer 9

cheek teeth - the dry grasses have a low calorie density and require extra effort to digest and wears down teeth

Question 10

describe the appropriate diet for chinchillas and guinea pigs

Answer 10

fed commercially prepared pelleted diets and Timothy hay

Question 11

what is the biggest cause of anorexia in chinchillas? explain the pathology

Answer 11

dental problems - the crown overgrows and interfere with natural chewing and roots elongate