Rodent And Hedgehog Flashcards by Corinne Perra

Rats, mice, and hamsters are

A. Myomorphs
B. Hystricomorphs
C. Scuiromorphs
D. Stewart Little

A myomorphs

I will also accept D. Stewart Little

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What are murine rodents?

“Pocket pets”

Mice, rats, gerbils, hamsters

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T/F: all the teeth of the rodents are open rooted?

False

Incisors are the ONLY open rooted teeth

Cheeks teeth have anatomical roots

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How long is the life span of rodents?

2-3yrs

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What is the species name for the rat?

Rattus norvegicus

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You do a UA on your rat and have a proteinuria, you should inform your clients that the rat has what?

Nothing.

Proteinuria is normal in rat

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T/F: like the horse, rats cannot vomit and have a divided stomach

True

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What are the most common diseases of rats?

Pituitary tumors **
Mammary gland tumors **
Respiratory tract infection **

Chronic nephrosis
Skin issues

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Ratatouille presents to you with neurological signs. What is your top differential?

A. Viral infection 
B. Neoplastic 
C. Ate too much soup 
D. Chronic nephrosis 
E. Otitis media

Neoplastic (Linked to gonadal hormones —> prolactinoma )

Otitis media

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How would you treat a prolactinoma in your rat?

Prednisone and cabergoline

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T/F: For any mass on a rat, mammary gland tumors should be your top differential

True

very common disease and rats have mammary tissue everywhere ( except dorsal midline)

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Mammary tumors in rat are usually fibroadenoma/adenocarcinoma ??

Fibroadenoma — locally aggressive

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How do you treat mammary gland tumors ?

Surgical resection
Subcuticular sutures

Early OHE?

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What approaches can you do for OHE in rats?

Abdominal approach

Flank approach

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What approaches can yyou do for neuter in male rats

Abdominal approach

Scrotal approach

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What are common respiratory tract pathogens of rats?

Sendai virus 
Sialodacryoadentitis virus (aka SDA virus/ coronavirus)

Mycoplasma pulmonis
Streptococcus pneumoniae
Cilia- associated respiratory bacillus

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You have an upper respiratory infection with red tears. What is this?

A. Sendai virus
B. Sialodacryoadentitis virus
C. Mycoplasma pulmonis
D. Streptococcus pneumoniae

B. Sialodacryoadenitis virus (SDA)

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You have a rat with chronic pneumonia. What is the most likely cause?

A. Sendai virus
B. Sialodacryoadentitis virus (aka SDA virus/ coronavirus)
C. Mycoplasma pulmonis
D. Streptococcus pneumoniae

C. Mycoplasma pulmonis

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Your client comes in with a rat that is “bleeding from its eyes”. What is this? And what is the most likely cause?

Chromodacryorrhea — porphyrin pigment in the tears which is normal

Excessive production can be associated with stress, URI, or improper diet

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What is the treatment for respiratory disease in rats?

Long term antibiotic

Reduce stress

Proper ventilation

Tympanic bulla drainage

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What antibiotics and supportive treatments can be used to treat respiratory infections caused by mycoplasma and strep ?

Enrofloxacin
Doxycycline
Azithromycin

Anti-inflammatories
Sildenafil : pulmonary hypertension

Can use pred to reduce scaring and fibrosis in some cases

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What integument conditions appear in rats?

Fur mites

Dermatophytosis is rare

Seborrhea, greasy skin (males)

Abscesses: bite wounds

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Ring tail in rats is associated with what causes?

Low humidity, overly absorbent bedding

Trauma?

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What zoonotic disese can children and adults get from rodents?

Rat bite fever — streptobacillus monififormis

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How do you treat a rat with stretobacillus moniliformis?

Parenteral penicillin

Lifespan of hamsters?

2yrs

What are characteristic specific to the hamster?

Cheek pouches Redundant skin folds Pigmented flank glands (scent glands) Frequent estrus with discharge Water-conserving kidney

How can you treat a cheek pouch eversion?

Suture into place through outside wall

Common diseases of hamsters?

``` Enteropathy Cardiomyopathy Respiratory disease Skin problems Tumors ```

Young hamster with diarrhea or “wet tail”. Can also have intussusceptions/ rectal prolapse? What is the EDx and MDx?

Lawsonia intracellularis Proliferative ileitis

What parasite of hamsters causing enteropathy is zoontoic?

Hymenolepis nana

How do you treat hymenolepis nana?

Praziquantel

How should you treat a hamster with diarrhea?

``` Antibiotics - TSM -choramphenicol -enrofloxacin -metronidazole AVOID b-lactams and macrolides ``` Anthelminics -praziquantel Fluid and supportive care Prolapse surgery is rarely successful Guarded prog

You have a hamster with conjunctivitis, rhinitis, and otitis.. what organisms are likely responsible?

Streptococcus | Pasturella

Cardiovascular diseases of hamsters?

Hereditary cardiomyopathy Atrial thrombosis CHF

What integumentary conditions are common in Syrian hamsters?

Alopecia Ectoparasites - demodex, cheyletiella Abscesses Tumors -eptihelioptrophic lymphoma (Tcell or mycoses fungoides) Cushings

Conditions of geriatric hamsters?

Amyloidosis Hepatic cirrhosis Polycystic liver tumor Cardiovascular dz

Gerbrils species name is ?? A. Mesocricetus B. Meriones C. Cricetulus D. Phodopus

B. Meriones unguiculatus The rest are species of hamsters

When are gerbils active?

Diurnal and crepuscular (day to dusk)

Life span of gerbils ?

3-4yrs

Common conditions of gerbils?

``` Epileptiform siezures Cutaneous neoplasms (melanoma) Facial dermatitis Acariasis Tail trauma —> sloughing ```

Nasal dermatitis is usually related to?

Stress

What gland secretes porphyrins in gerbils and results in irritation and nasal dermatitis

Hardarian gland Staphylococcus sp involved

T/F: mice are nocturnal

True

Life span of mice?

1.5 - 2 yrs

Common diseases of mice?

Dermatitis: mites, staph aureus Abscessses Neoplasia : mammary adenoCa Respiratory infections: Mycoplasma pulmonis and Sendai virus Self trauma

Where can you do venipuncture in small rodents?

Tail vein Cranial vena cava ( must be under sedation)

T/F: 96F is a normal body temperature for a hedgehog

True Range 95-99F

T/F: quills of hedgehog can drop and regrow

True

What time of day are hedgehogs active?

Dusk foragers

Diet of hedgehogs?

Insectivores: slug, worms, snails (Insects only is a deficient diet) Low fat dry cat food Commercial diets Chopped vegetables Mealworms as treats

Lifespan of hedgehogs?

4-6yrs

Most common dietary disorders in hedgehog?

Obesity Oral foreign body Dental disease Hepatic lipidosis

What is the gestation period of hedgehog?

30-35days

How do newly born hedgehogs appear?

Blind and deaf Have soft quills Wean at 6weeks

What is “anting” ?

Hedgehogs produce a frothy saliva and spread it on quills Normal behaviour

T/F: you can scruff a hedgehog?

True

An oral mass in a hedgehog?

Oral squamous cell carcinoma

T/F: hedge hogs dont get mites because of their quills

False | Mites are very common

Common conditions of hedgehogs?

``` Neoplasia Kidney dz Wobbly syndrome Cardiomyopathy Acariasis (mites) ```

What is wobbly hedgehog syndrome?

Progressive neuropathy: demyelination Degenerative spinal cord Muscle weakness and ataxia Average age 18-24months