Rodent & ferrets Flashcards
What are the signs of disease in small mammals?
lack of interest in surroundings isolation from group, hunched posture, inactivity, inappetance, unexpected aggression or docility, tooth grinding, unkempt staring coat, pale extremities, square tail, self trauma, hair loss, discharge from eyes or nose, rattling respiration or sneezing, diarrhoea, lameness, abnormal masses anywhere on body, wounds/bleeding, excessive salivation.
Describe how to do a clinical examination of a rodent
Most rodents can be restrained by holding gently around the shoulders or by the scruff. the base of the tail can be used to steady an animal but not in gerbils due to the potential for degloving injury. For detailed examination and sample collection a brief GA using induction chamber and isoflurane are necessary and is less stressful for the animal. The animal should be examined from a distance and behaviour and respiratory pattern and rate should be recorded. Clinical examination is carried out from the head working caudally. Due to the small size - clinical examination may be limited and cause stress to the animal.
Where can a blood sample be taken from in a roddent? How much can safely be taken?
GA is required. options include - saphenous, lateral tail vein, femoral vein and jugular vein. Cardiac puncture can be use with care. 25 guage needle and 1ml syringe required. Average blood volume is 70ml /kg and 10% (eg 0.7ml from a 100g animal) can be safely withdrawn.
How can you take a urine sample from a roent. What are the normal parameters?
Many rodents will urinate on restraint. Herbivoorous species have alkaline urine. a free catch sample may be obtained from the animals cage using a non absorbent sufcae. Rat and mouse urine is normally proteinuric. gerbil urine may contain acetone, bilirubin, glucose and protein. normal urine pH for guinea pigs is 9 and chinchillas is 8.5. Specific gravity is often greater than 1.045. Ultrasound guided cystocentesis or urethral catheterisation under GA are possible in guinea pigs and chinchillas.
What is the dental formula for myomorphs?
1/1 0/0 0/0 3/3
Which rodents have an os penis?
Rats and mice
How can drugs be administered to rodents?
IV difficult. Oral route often most practical as repeated injctions can cause local reactions and pain and make even the most tractable animal difficult to handle. paediactric suspensions or mixing with treat food e.g ribena, honey, chocolate spread, peanut butter are all useful aids to cooperation. in water medication is not advisable as intake is often insufficient and difficult to monitor. avoid IM injections as is painful and absorption is usually just as good via the subcutaneous route. Other routes include Intraperitoneal and intraosseous routes which are useful for fluids in severely debilitated animals.
How can fluid therapy be given to rodents?
Maintenance fluids for guinea pigs, chinchillas and other rodents are approximately 100ml/kg/day. the total fluid volume may be divided into 2- daily requirements. Subcutaneous and oral fluid therapy are the most common routes used and fluid volumes of 23-35ml may be given at any one treatment. Via intraperitoneal route (avoid intestines and bladder) or intraosseous -useful for fluid administration in severely debilitated or anaesthetised animals. Spinal needle passed through trochanteric fossa using aseptic technique or through tibial crest into tibia. The catheter must be immediately flushed with heparin every 4-6 hours once in place in the marrow cavity as clotting occurs rapidly.
How can nutritional support be given to rodents?
Essential for long term critical care and must be institute quickly within 12-24 hours whenever the animal is anoorexic. Hypoglycaemia occurs rapidly. further common secondary complications include gastric stasis, intestinal ileus and hepatic lipidosis. Assisted feeding can be by syringe, which is usually well tolerated. Commercial high fibre products, soaked pellets, pureed fruit and veg may all be used. multivitamin supplementation should be given where caecotrophy is absent. Vitamin C in guinea pigs with any illness - 50mg/kg PO q24h.
Describe immediate critical care that should be provided to a debilitated rodent
History & assessment.
Give oxygen therapy if mucous membranes are blue or respiratory difficulties. Take care not to chill the animal.
Administer warmed parenteral fluids - intraperitoneal route preferable. Subcutaneous takes longer to be absorbed. 10-15ml i/p, 5-10mls/c in rats.
Warm the animals environment whether at home or hospitalised (23-26) take care to to overheat, as they can’t pant or sweat.
Hospitalise away from cats and dogs
Offer enticing foods in addition to the animals basic ration e.g warmed fruit/vegetable baby food also offer some of the usual diet soaked in warm water to increase fluid intake and make consumption easier. syringe feeding small quantities of warmed foods is a option. Provide additional nesting material. Only isolate from the companions if absolutely necessary.
What is gastric stasis?
This is primarily an acquired disorder of decreased motility. it is particularly common in the hind gut fermenters or hystricomorph rodents.
Which antibiotics can be associated with antibacterial endotoxaemia, especially if given orally?
PLACE - penicillins, ampicillin Lincosamides Aminoglycosides Cephalosporins Erythromycin Spiromycin
How may respiratory disease in rodents preset?
Very common. clinical sigs include nasal discharge, sneezing, dyspnea, rattling respiratory noise, coughing. In roodents a red oculonasal discharge is not blood but a porphyrin stained secretio from the harderian glad that occurs with any stress/illness. Underlying chronic respiratory disease is probably reason for most anaesthetic deaths in these species. Treatment with appropriate atibiosis preferably after culture and sensitivity. supportive treatment required in severe cases including oxygen therapy, nebulization with mucolytics, bronchodilatrs, NSAIDS, vitamin C ad antibiotics. environmental stressors may exacerbate clinical disease and proper cage sanitation to control levels of ammonia, which is a potent respiratory iritant, should also be employed.
Why does urolithiasis occur and in what species is this most common?
Common in guinea pigs. thought to be due to diets high in calcium and oxalate, bacterial infections with streptoococcus pyogenes, proteus mirabilis and E. coli. clinical signs include dysuria, haematuria, stranguria and generalised depression and collapse if complete obstruction occurs and goes undetected. Large single and multiple calculi stones or a large accumulation of small calculi may be palpable through the body wall. Radiography provides definitive diagnosis. uroliths are usually calcium oxalate and so are radio opaque. Treatment: recurrence is commo. cystotomy indicated to remove calculi and antibiotics to control the cystitis.
What are the features of renal disease in rodents? why is this thought to occur
A common geriatric problem in all species. should be borne in mind especially when using antibiotics that are renal excreted. chronic progressive Nephropathy is a significant disease in aged rats. Glomerulosclersis and interstitial fibrosis are histological features. dietary factors seem to have a role to play in the development of the disease and preventative measures include caloric restriction and feeding a reduced protein ratio. these will also limit the severity of the disease if it does occur. clinical signs are polydipsia and marked proteinuria. treatment in addition to basic supportive therapy includes feeding a reduced protein intake and administration of anabolic steroids.
Which animals are prone to flystrike and why?
Obese and old guinea pigs especially susceptible as cannot reach anus to eat soft mucous covered caecal pellets at night so perineum becomes caked with faeces. dental disease will also lead to lack of coprophagy an caking of caecotrophs. Guinea pigs are very susceptible to toxic shock and will require supportive therapy. treatment: cleansing with an antiseptic solution and removal of maggots. dilute insecticidal shampoo can be used or ivermectin to kill any further larvae. Prevention is by frequent examination, fly control and regular clipping/cleaning of the perineal region.
What may cause torticollis?
The most common cause in guinea pigs is otitis meia/interna due to streptococcus infection. Symptoms include head tilt, cicling, rolling and nystagmus. Can often see pus at base of ear canal. Medical treatment is often unrewarding but in acute cases NSAIDs and antibiotics can be effective.
what rodents is pregnancy toxaemina/ketoacidosis most commo in?
Mainly seen in guinea pigs. obese pregnant animals are usually affected but obese males and non pregnant females can also succumb. two foorms occur, a toxic form in obese aimals where foetal displacement causes impaired uterine blood supply followed by ischaemia, foetal death ad DIC or a true metabolic form initiated by a stressor such as fasting/transport. Clinical signs - depression, anoorexia, abortion, salivatioo, convulsions, coma, death. Ketones may be detectable in the breath and ketonuria may be present. Post mortem shows hepatic lipidosis. treatment involves administration of glucose or dextrose containing fluids or propylene glycol, corticosteroids and calcium gluconate. Prevention is by avoiding obesity and minimising stress. Caesarian section to remove the foetal load to save the dam can be succesful.
Which species is hypovitaminosis C common in? Why does this occur?
Guinea pigs have absolute dietary requirement of 10mg/kg vitamin C, as like primates they lack the enzyme L gluconolactone oxidase which is necessary to synthesise vitamin C from glucose. requrements rise to 30mg/kg in pregnancy or illness. Clinical signs occur within 11-14 days of commencing a deficient diet and can often be vague. Vitamin C is require ofor collagen synthesis in particular for connective tissues. clinical signs include important early cutaneous signs are roughened hair coat and scaling of the pinnae. Lethargy, weakness, anorexia, unsteady gait, painful locomotion, wasting, gingival haemorrhage and loose teeth. Untreated scurvy will result in death within 2 weeks. Approximately half the vitamin C content of guinea pig foods is oxidised within 3 months of opening. exposure to UV light also rapidly degrades vitamin C.
