Reproduction in Pocket Pets

Question 1

Ferret nomenclature

Answer 1

• jill: intact female
• sprite: spayed female
• hob: intact male
• gib: neutered male

Question 2

Ferrets reach sexual maturity by _____

Answer 2

4-8 months (first spring after birth)

• seasonally polyestrous (march-august)
• induced to cycle year round with lighting
• induced ovulators!!
• litter size: 8-10

Question 3

Gestation length of ferrets

Answer 3

41-42 days

Question 4

Pet ferrets

Answer 4

Most are spayed/neutered early in life

- breeding is discouraged

Question 5

Ferret - pregnancy toxemia

Answer 5

Negative energy balance in late gestation

• poor/insufficient diet to meet needs of gestation
• lethargy prior to due date, collapse
• dehydration with black tarry stools
• alopecia
• hypoglycemic, azotemic, ketonuric
• poor prognosis, immediate C section

Question 6

Ferret - struvite urolithiasis

Answer 6

Diet with plant proteins produces alkaline urine –> struvite crystal formation and stones (urine pH >6.4)

• hobs have complete obstruction
• straining leads to rectal/vaginal prolapse
• straining in late gestation could be stones
• palpate/radiograph
• cystotomy and possible c section
• change diet to acidify urine

Question 7

Ferret - dystocia

Answer 7

Often due to small litter size (1-2 kits)

• prolonged gestation in small litters
• insufficient hormonal stimulus to trigger delivery
• kits die after 43 days
• jills with small litters can be induced on day 41 with lutalyse followed by oxytocin in 1-4 hrs

Question 8

Other causes of dystocia

Answer 8

• very large kits
• deformed fetuses
• anasarcous kits

Question 9

Ferret normal parturition

Answer 9

Parturition occurs over 2-3 hours –> approx 5 kits per hour

Question 10

Ferret - C section

Answer 10

When jill has been in labor for 24 hours or in distress for much shorter

• gas anesthesia is preferred
• jills recover well and nurse kits uneventfully

Question 11

Poor mothering of kits

Answer 11

Common in primiparous jills

• provide privacy
• cannibalization is common
• confine the jill with her kits in very small space
• once kits are accepted she can be given more space

Question 12

Ferret mastitis

Answer 12

Acute mastitis appears right after whelping or after the 3rd week of lactation

• high demand for milk and teeth that can damage the teats
• affected glands are swollen, firm, red/purple and painful
• staph and coliforms
• becomes gangrenous
• immediate aggressive treatment with antibiotics, hydration, flunixin

Question 13

Ferret metritis

Answer 13

Excessive vaginal discharge following parturition, uterine distension

• treat with lutalyse and antibiotics (TMS/clavamox)
• improvement in kits seen in 24 hrs when milk production improves

Question 14

Rabbits reach sexual maturity by _____

Answer 14

6-12 months dependent on breed/size (does earlier than bucks)

Question 15

Rabbits - female basics

Answer 15

Induced ovulators!

• gestation length: 30-33 days
• copulation time is 2 sec
• repro tract lacks a uterine body
• nurse only once a day for 3-5 min

Question 16

Rabbits - male basics

Answer 16

• lack an os penis
• testes descend around 12 weeks of age
• inguinal canals do not close
• initiate copulation within seconds or minutes after introduction
• exhibit enurination - emission of jet of urine at a partner during display of courtship

Question 17

Rabbit - uterine adenocarcinoma

Answer 17

Most common neoplasia in female rabbits!

• age is common factor
• occur independent of breeding history
• 50-80% occur in breeds of rabbits when older than 4 yrs
• hematuria or serosanguinous vaginal discharge with concurrent cystic mammary glands is a common finding
• depression anorexia and dyspnea
• prevent with OHE before 2 years

Question 18

Rabbits - pyometra

Answer 18

Vaginal discharge, anorexia, lethargy, weakness, enlarged abdomen

• doughy uterus on palpation, confirmed with rads or US
• typical CBC
• OHE with pre-op antibiotics is preferred
• pasurella multocida and staph aureus

Question 19

Rabbits - pregnancy toxemia

Answer 19

Occurs during last week of gestation, common in obese rabbits

• signs progress over 1-5 days
• weakness, depression, incoordination, anorexia, convulsions, coma
• breath may have acetone odor
• urine will be acidic, proteinuria, ketonuria, hepatic lipidosis
• no treatment, avoid fasting and undernutrition in late gestation

Question 20

Rabbits - mastitis

Answer 20

Occurs during lactation

• depression, fever, anorexia, polydipsia
• firm, hot, swollen glands with discolored skin
• staph, stre, pasturella
• systemic antibiotics (baytril, TMS, penicillins)

Question 21

Guinea pigs reach sexual maturity by _____

Answer 21

2 months if female, 3 months if male

• nonseasonal polyestrous
• 15-17 day cycle with spontaneous ovulation
• gestation length 59-72 days (avg 68 days)
• hemochorial placentation
• litter size: 1-13
• weaned at 21 days

Question 22

Guinea pigs - parturition

Answer 22

Pubic symphysis separates prior to parturition!

• 15mm separation 2 days prior with 25mm separation at time of delivery
• sows that are bred for 1st time after 7-8 months may have dystocia due to failure of separation
• depression or bloody vaginal discharge in gravid sow should be evaluated
• c section indicated in most dystocia
• precocious pups delivered