Rodents Flashcards
Describe the dentition of murine rodents
- open-rooted incisors
- cheek teeth have anatomical roots
What is the average lifespan of a rat?
2-3 years
When are rats active?
nocturnal
What are unique anatomic characteristics of rats?
- divided stomach, cannot vomit
- large adrenal glands
- porphyrin pigments in tears
What are the signs of a pituitary tumor in the rat?
diffuse neurological signs
How is a pituitary tumor treated in the rat?
prednisone and cabergoline
Describe the features of mammary tumors in rats
- common in females
- fibroadenomas common
- benign but large and invasive
What are possible pathogens responsible for respiratory infections in the rat?
- sendai virus
- sialodacryoadenitis virus
- myocplasma pulmonis
- strept pneumonia
- cilia associated respiratory bacillus
What are common respiratory syndromes in the rat?
- chronic pneumonia caused by mycoplasma
- acute streptococcal infection
- URI with red tears
- torticollis (middle ear)
Which medications are used for respiratory disease in the rat?
- enrofloxacin
- doxycycline
- azithromycin
- anti-inflammatories
- sildenafil
What integument conditions can affect the rat?
- ectoparasites: fur mites
- seborrhea, greasy skin in males
- ring tail
- dermatophytosis rare
What is ring tail?
annular tail constrictions
What is Rat Bite Fever?
- strept moniliformis
- zoonotic disease
- bacteremia and speticemia
- treat with penicillin
What is the average lifespan of a hamster?
2 years
When are hamsters active?
nocturnal
What are the unique anatomical features of the hamster?
- cheek pouches
- loose skin (hard to scruff)
- pigmented flank glands
- water-conserving kidneys
- frequent estrus with discharge
What is the cause of proliferative ileitis in the hamster?
Lawsonia intracellularis
Which organisms are usually responsible for respiratory infections in the hamster?
Streptococcus
Pasteurella
What integumentary conditions are seen in the hamster?
- alopecia
- ectoparasites: cheyletiella, demodex, mycoses
- lymphomas
- Cushing’s
- Dermatophytosis rare
What geriatric conditions are seen in the hamster?
- amyloidosis
- hepatic cirrhosis
- polycystic liver tumor
- liver biliary cystadenomas
- cardiovascular disease
What is the average lifespan of the gerbil?
3-4 years
When are gerbils active?
diurnal and crepuscular
- day and early evening
What are unique anatomical features of the gerbil?
- ventral scent gland
- fur-cover tail
What are common conditions seen in the gerbil?
- epileptiform seizures
- cutaneous neoplasia - melanoma
- facial dermatitis
- mites
- tail trauma
- nasa dermatitis
What is the average lifespan of the mouse?
1.5-2 years
When are mice active?
nocturnal
Which vein is used for venipuncture in the mouse?
cranial vena cava
