Rabbits, Rodents, and Ferrets

Question 1

Why is fibre important in a rabbits diet

Answer 1

if it has reduced fibre it leads to gastric atony (stomach does not contract)
and diarrhea

Question 2

What do rabbit diets with high calcium lead to

Answer 2

urolithiasis (bladder stones)

Question 3

What is coprophagia

Answer 3

eating own fecal material

Question 4

What feces do rabbits eat

Answer 4

cecotrophs

Question 5

What is Pododermatitis

Answer 5

affects back feet of rabbits; excessive pressure on feet

Question 6

What is Pasteruella Multocida

Answer 6

causes pneumonia in rabbits

causes significant morbidity and mortality in rabbits

Question 7

What are clinical signs of pasteurellosis

Answer 7

sudden death, sneezing, difficulty breathing, watery eyes, runny nose, inner ear infection, uterine&testicle infection, lung infection

Question 8

What is RHD in rabbits

Answer 8

a highly contagious and fatal disease caused by a calicivirus that attacks lining of blood vessels

transmitted by direct contact

clincal signs: difficulty breathing, sudden death

treatment: none; depopulate

Question 9

What is Tularemia

Answer 9

aka rabbit fever

transmitted by direct contact from contaminated water, food, soil, animal tissues

• one of the most pathogenic bacteria
• survives 3-4 months in environment
• easily killed by heat & disinfectant

Question 10

What are the two types of tularemia

Answer 10

Type A: more virulent

Type B: less virulent

Question 11

What is the gestation period of a mouse and rat

Answer 11

mouse: 20-30 days
rat: 20-23 days

Question 12

What are the characteristics of mice

Answer 12

• omnivores
• nocturnal
• live 1.5-3 years

Question 13

What are the characteristics of a rat

Answer 13

• omnivore
• nocturnal
• live 2.5-3.5 years

Question 14

What is the Harderian Gland

Answer 14

secretes fluid to lubricate the 3rd eyelid in rats & mice

Question 15

What is porphyrin staining

Answer 15

“blood tears” from stress

not actually blood

Question 16

What is ringtail

Answer 16

skin becomes dry and contracted. Decrease in blood flow

Question 17

Define Enzootic

Answer 17

fleas stay in same host

Question 18

define Epizootic

Answer 18

fleas change to new host

new host can amplify flea population

Question 19

what are the 3 forms of plague in humans

Answer 19

1. Bubonic
2. Septicemic
3. Pneumonic

Question 20

What is the bobonic plague

Answer 20

painful swollen lymph nodes
vomiting 
painful liver & spleen 
headaches 
can develop into septicemic plague

Question 21

what is the septicemic plague

Answer 21

bacteria dividing in blood
can cause organ failure
causes Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC): severe blood clotting

Question 22

What is the pneumonic plague

Answer 22

occurs following inhalation of bacteria
cough
dyspnea (difficulty breathing), leads to death

Question 23

Characteristic of ferrets

Answer 23

dimorphic predator

strict carnivores

clean & easily house trained

Question 24

What do sebaceous glands in ferrets do

Answer 24

cause musky odor so neutering will reduce smell

Question 25

What are male, female, and young ferrets called

Answer 25

male: Hob
female: Jill
young: kit

Question 26

What is ferret gestation period

Answer 26

41-42 days

Question 27

What is pseudopregnancy in ferrets

Answer 27

prolonged periods with elevated estrogen levels

can be fatal if not treated early
spay immediately

Question 28

what is Aplastic Anemia

Answer 28

complete failure of bone marrow to produce blood cells

Question 29

what disease affects canines and ferrets

Answer 29

canine distemper caused by paramyxovirus

almost always fatal in ferrets
no treatment
vaccinate to prevent