Rodents Flashcards
1
Q
Give an example of an adaption that rodents have to help them withstand cold conditions.
A
Brown fat.
This is used to generate heat via non-shivering thermogenesis and is used during hibernation.
2
Q
True/false?
Brown fat is more vascular with more mitochondria than white fat?
A
True
3
Q
Why are rabbits and rodents more at risk under anesthesia?
A
Their high metabolic rate can cause their body temp to drop. This happens because anesthesia can affect their ability to regulate body temperature. As a result of this they are more susceptible to hypothermia.
Therefore, it is important to closely monitor their temperature and provide appropriate warmth during anesthesia to prevent any complications.
4
Q
What is the vertebral formula for guineapigs?
A
C7, T13-14, L6, S3-4, Cd 4-7
5
Q
How many ribs do guineapigs have?
A
13 -14
6
Q
What ribs are floating in guineapigs?
A
10-14
7
Q
What ribs in the guineapig are cartilaginous?
A
The final 2 ribs
8
Q
When does the skeletal system finally ossify in the rat?
A
approx 1 year old
9
Q
Why do rats have longer bone healing time?
A
poorly developed haversian remodelling system
10
Q
When do the growth plates at the proximal humerus and distal radius and ulna fuse?
A
2 years
(late in the life stage)
11
Q
What does cartilaginous mandibular symphysis in the rat allow?
A
Flexibilty between the incisors when the animal is gnawing
12
Q
What is the vertebral formula of the rat?
A
C7, T13, L6,S4,Cd 27-31
13
Q
What is the vertebral formula of ferrets?
A
C7, T15, L5/6, S3, Cd 18
14
Q
What animal is a ferrets skull most similar to?
A
cat
15
Q
True/ False?
Ferrets have a proportionally small chest size compared to other carnivores.
A
False
They have a proportionally large chest size compared to other carnivores.
16
Q
How many sternal rib pairs do ferrets have?
A
12
17
Q
True/False?
Ferrets have a narrow thoracic inlet.
A
True
18
Q
How many teeth do rodents have?
A
16-22
19
Q
When do molars stop growing in omnivores (e.g mice and rats)?
A
around 4 months
20
Q
True/ false
rats and mice are monophydonts.
A
True
They only have 1 set of teeth (no deciduous teeth prior to adult teeth)
21
Q
Why are rats teeth yellow?
A
due to iron pigmentation
22
Q
What is the dental formula for rodents?
A
1-0-0-3/ 1-0-0-3
23
Q
True/false?
Ferrets are monophydonts.
A
False.
They are diphydonts because they have a set of deciduous teeth and a set of permanent teeth.
24
Q
What is the deciduous dental formula of ferrets?
A
3(4)-1-3-0/ 3-1-3-0
25
What is the permanent dental formula of ferrets?
3-1-3-1/3-1-3-2
26
How old are ferrets when they recieve their permanent dentition?
7-10 weeks
27
How many deciduous teeth do ferrets have?
28-30
28
How many permanent teeth do ferrets have in total?
34
29
What animal are ferrets masticatory muscles and salivary glands similar to?
dogs
30
What are common problems are hamsters cheek pouches susceptible to?
abscesses, impactions, prolapses and tumours
31
What width should a hamsters cheek be when it is empty and when it is full?
Empty: 4-8 mm
Full: 20 mm
32
Where is the harderian gland located in rodents?
Behind the eye
33
What does the harderian gland secrete?
Lipids and porphyrin red pigment
34
What is the function of the harderian gland in rodents?
ocular lubrication and pheromone production
35
What leads to increased secretions from the harderian gland?
stress (due to behaviour or illness)
36
What is Chromodacryorrhea and what can it indicate?
Encrustations around the eyes due to release of porphyrins from the Harderian lacrimal glands.
Can indicate that the animal has been subjected to some form of stress (eg, chronic respiratory disease, changes in environment, etc).
37
Where is the thymus located in guineapigs?
Cranial mediastinum
38
What is the thymus replaced by in mature guineapigs?
fat
39
What type of diseases are common in ferrets?
Endocrine diseases
40
What are the main disorders seen in ferrets?
Insulinomas, hyperadrenocorticism, adrenal tumours, hypothyroidism, hypoparathyroidism, diabetes mellitus and persistent oestrus.
41
Where are the adrenal glands located in the ferret?
craniomedial to the kidneys
42
What can adrenal tumours lead to in ferrets?
Alopecia
43
What effect would a pancreatic tumour (insulinoma) have on insulin and glucose levels in ferrets?
Increased release of insulin which would in turn decrease glucose levels
44
What causes the clinical signs of a pancreatic tumour in ferrets?
resulting hypoglycaemia
45
What accessory glands do rodents have?
Prostate, seminal vesicles, ampullary glands and bulbourethral glands
46
How many lobes does the prostate have in rodents?
3
(dorsal, lateral, ventral)
47
What lobe of the prostate is also known as the coagulating gland in rodents?
Dorsal lobe
48
What type of uterus do guineapigs have?
Bicornuate
49
What accessory glands do male guineapigs have?
Prostate, coagulating gland, seminal vesicles and bulbourethral glands
50
What is the function of the coagulating gland?
responsible for semen coagulation and sperm motility
51
What type of uterus do ferrets have?
Bicornuate uterus
52
What is the oestrus cycle of ferrets linked to?
Increased daylight in spring
53
What could happen if a female ferret is unmated during her oestrus?
Oestrogen production continues which can cause hyperestrogenism. This condition leads to BM supression and anemia which can be very severe and sometimes fatal if untreated.
54
What is the only accesory gland that ferrets have?
prostate
55
Why might catheterisation in a male ferret be difficult?
curved top of the os penis
56
Why might a vasectomy be useful in ferrets?
Can mate with the jills to take them out of season
57
What is the name for a female ferret?
Jill
58
What is the name for a neutered female ferret?
Sprite
59
What is the name for a male ferret?
Hob
60
What is the name for a castrated male ferret?
Hobble/ gib
61
What is the name for a vasectomised male?
Hoblet
62
What is the name for a ferret neonate?
Kit
63
How long does oestrus last in the guineapig?
15 -17 days
64
How long does gestation last in the guineapig?
59-72 days
65
How long does oestrus last in the rat?
4-5 days
66
How long does gestation last in the rat?
21-23 days
67
How long does oestrus last in the hamster?
4 days
68
How long is gestation in the hamster?
15-18 days
69
How long can oestrus last in the ferret?
up to 5 months
70
How long is gestation in the ferret?
42 days
71
When can female guineapigs get pregnant again after parturition?
2-10 hours!
72
Describe the main diffferences in genitalia between male and female rodents?
Males have a rounded caudal end whereas females have a pointed caudal end.
Females have a smaller anogenital distance then males.
73
What family do chipmunks, squirrels and beavers belong to?
Sciuromorpha
74
What family do mice, rats, gerbils and hamsters belong to?
Myomorpha
75
What family do chinchillas, guineapigs, degus, capybaras and porcupines belong to?
Hystricomorpha
76
What family do ferrets belong to?
Mustelidae
77
What is a chinchillas lifespan?
8-9 years
78
How much should a chinchilla weigh?
500-800g
79
What should a chinchillas respiratory rate be?
40-80 breaths per min
80
What should a chinchillas heart rate be?
200-350 bpm
81
What is the dental formula for hystricomorphs?
1-0-1-3/1-0-1-3
82
When do chinchillas reach sexual maturity?
6 months
83
How long does a chinchillas gestation last?
111 days
84
When should chinchillas be weaned?
42 days
85
What type of oestrous do chinchillas have?
Seasonal polyoestrous
86
What type of litters do Hystricomorphs have?
precocial
87
What is the lifespan of a guineapig?
5-6 years
88
What should guineapigs weigh?
700-1200g
89
What should the respiratory rate of a guineapig be?
90-150 breaths per min
90
What should the heart rate of a guineapig be?
230-380 bpm
91
When do guineapigs reach sexual maturity?
3 months
92
What type of oestrous cycle do guineapigs have?
Non seasonal poly-oestrous
93
When should guineapigs be weaned
14-21 days
94
How long shoudl Degus live for?
7 years
95
How much should Degus weigh?
170-300g
96
When do Degus reach sexual maturity?
6 months
97
True/ false?
Degus have no regular oestrous and have induced ovulation?
True
98
How long does gestation last for in degus?
90-93
99
When should degus be weaned?
28-42 days
100
What is the typical lifespan of a rat?
2-3 years
101
How much should a rat weigh?
250-500g
102
What should a rats respiratory rate be?
70-150 breaths per minute
103
What should a rats heart rate be?
310-500 bpm
104
When do rats reach sexual maturity?
1 month
105
When should rats be weaned?
21 days
106
What type of litter do rats and hamsters have?
Altricial
107
What type of oestrous do rats and hamsters have?
poly-oestrous
108
What is the lifespan of a hamster?
2-4 years
109
How much should hamsters weigh?
85-130g
110
What should a hamsters respiratory rate be?
40-110 breaths per minute
111
What should a hasmters heart rate be?
300-470 bpm
112
When do rabbits reach sexual maturity?
2 months
113
When should hamsters be weaned?
19-21 days
114
How long do ferrets live for?
8-10 years
115
How much should ferrets weigh?
600g (F)/ 1200g (M)
116
What should the respiratory rate of ferrets be?
35 breaths per minute
117
What should a ferrets heart rate be?
200-250 bpm
118
When do ferrets reach sexual maturity?
Following spring
119
What types of litters do ferrets have?
Altricial
120
When are ferrets weaned?
42-56 days
121
True/ False?
Guineapigs are nocturnal
False
they are dinural
122
Why can guineapigs not make their own vitamin C?
They lack the enzyme L-gulonolactone oxidase which is required to synthesize vitamin C
123
What is the purpose of a dust bath for Chinchillas?
helps evenly distribute natural oils, clears away dirt and debris, and keeps their fur silky soft
124
What percentage of a chinchillas diet should consist of fibre, protein and fat?
15-35% fibre
16-20% protein
2-5% fat
125
True/False?
rats are nocturnal.
True
126
What % of a rats diet should be protein?
16%
127
What % of a rats diet should be fat?
5%
128
What is the most common type of hamster?
Syrian hamster
(mesocricetus auratus)
129
What breeds of hamsters are solitary?
Syrian hamsters and chinese hamsters
130
What breeds of hamsters are usually colonial?
Russian hamster
131
True/ False?
Hamsters are herbivores?
FALSE
They are omnivores
132
What % of a hamsters diet should be protein?
16%
133
What % of a hamsters diet should be fat?
4%
134
How long do ferrets sleep for?
18 hours
135
What % body weight can ferrets lose in the summer during their seasonal weight loss?
40%
136
What should a ferrets diet mainly be composed of?
Protein (35-40%) and fat (15-20%)
137
How should rodents be held?
One hand should be placed around the pectoral girdle while the other hand is used to support the body.
138
How should hamsters be held?
Cupped in hands with 2 fingers around the head
139
What are ferrets vaccinated against?
Distemper
140
What ecotoparsites are commonly found in guineapigs?
Trixacarus Caviae
141
What are the minimum requirements for travelling ferrets?
- EU PETS passport
- Identification passport
142
What might ferrets be at risk of after they have been neutered and why?
Adrenal gland disease
Due to loss of negative feedack persistently stimulating adrenal glands
143
What are common problems that are seen in Hystricomorphs?
Reduced gut motility due to having a diet poor in fibre and rich in carbohydrate
144
What are common problems that are seen in Myomorphs?
Constipation
145
What are common problems that are seen in ferrets?
Parasites, foreign bodies, stress
146
What rodent is obesity not usually seen in so could therefore indicate that they have an underlying problem?
Ferret
147
Why should rabbits and guineapigs not be housed together?
Rabbits carry the bacteria Bordetella which is the most common respiratory disease which is seen in guineapigs
They also have different general requirements
148
What can Vit C deficiency cause in guineapigs?
Scurvy, lameness, swelling of joints, reluctance to move, immunodepression, slow wound healing, bleeding
149
What is the recommended dose of Vit C for healthy guineapigs?
10 mg/kg/day
150
What is the recommended dose of Vit C for breeding guineapigs?
35mg/kg/day
151
What is the recommended dose of Vit C for stressed/sick guineapigs?
50mg/kg/day
152
What is pododermatitis?
Inflammation of the paw
