Rodent And Hedgehog Flashcards
Rats, mice, and hamsters are
A. Myomorphs
B. Hystricomorphs
C. Scuiromorphs
D. Stewart Little
A myomorphs
I will also accept D. Stewart Little
What are murine rodents?
“Pocket pets”
Mice, rats, gerbils, hamsters
T/F: all the teeth of the rodents are open rooted?
False
Incisors are the ONLY open rooted teeth
Cheeks teeth have anatomical roots
How long is the life span of rodents?
2-3yrs
What is the species name for the rat?
Rattus norvegicus
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
T/F: like the horse, rats cannot vomit and have a divided stomach
True
What are the most common diseases of rats?
Pituitary tumors **
Mammary gland tumors **
Respiratory tract infection **
Chronic nephrosis
Skin issues
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
How would you treat a prolactinoma in your rat?
Prednisone and cabergoline
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)
Mammary tumors in rat are usually fibroadenoma/adenocarcinoma ??
Fibroadenoma — locally aggressive
How do you treat mammary gland tumors ?
Surgical resection
Subcuticular sutures
Early OHE?
What approaches can you do for OHE in rats?
Abdominal approach
Flank approach
What approaches can yyou do for neuter in male rats
Abdominal approach
Scrotal approach
What are common respiratory tract pathogens of rats?
Sendai virus Sialodacryoadentitis virus (aka SDA virus/ coronavirus)
Mycoplasma pulmonis
Streptococcus pneumoniae
Cilia- associated respiratory bacillus
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)
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
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
What is the treatment for respiratory disease in rats?
Long term antibiotic
Reduce stress
Proper ventilation
Tympanic bulla drainage
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
What integument conditions appear in rats?
Fur mites
Dermatophytosis is rare
Seborrhea, greasy skin (males)
Abscesses: bite wounds
Ring tail in rats is associated with what causes?
Low humidity, overly absorbent bedding
Trauma?
What zoonotic disese can children and adults get from rodents?
Rat bite fever — streptobacillus monififormis
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
