Small Animal Behaviour Problems Flashcards
How do hamster interactions begin? What does the subordinate hamster do?
Interactions begin with head sniffing, then to other parts of the body
* Either standing upright or on all four limbs
Subordinate hamster may lift paw while turning head away to avert aggression, or assume an upright position
When does a hamster fight begin?
Fights tend to begin when one hamster knocks off its feet
* Results in rolling ball as both attempt to bite fur and skin of the other
*Quick movements and audible squeaks
*One hamster may try to get away and be chased
*Often ends when losing hamster walks away with back arched upwards and tail raised with stiffed-legged gait
Hamster aggression by breed
Solitary hamster strains (eg. Syrian)
- often aggressive towards other hamsters and ppl
- bite in response to handling, sudden disturbances, other hamsters, when caring for pups, when sick or in pain
Russian hamsters
- may bite
Robo hamsters
- rarely bite
- can be difficult to handle due to their small size and very active temperaments
What can reduce fear of ppl and aggression in hamsters?
Frequent, gentle handling
- start with handling of short duration in the hamster’s enclosure under DIM lighting and reinforce with food treats
- Gradually, length of handling sessions can be increased with handling outside of the enclosure
For a hamster that shows fear, what should be identified? How can it be remedied?
Threshold level at which the hamster shows fear should be identified
- can use desensitization and counter-conditioning
- ex. handler slowly brings hand near biting threshold distance and provides treats, then removes hand (aggression should not be triggered). Once hamster is relaxed receiving treats at that distance, then hand can be brought closer
Hamster Cannibalism
Aggression to hamster pups or cannibalism is common behaviour problem in captive hamsters
- Litter abandonment and cannibalism more common for first pregnancy and first week post-delivery
- Dam may attack and cannibalize the whole litter or nurse some while attacking others
How can hamster cannibalism be prevented?
Keep nest well bedded, undisturbed, quiet, with lots of food, with no handling, and in a place with low visibility
- provide clean cage and enough food for 7-10 days about 3 days PRIOR to parturition
Hamster stereotypies
Caged hamsters may engage in repetitive, invariant, and functionless behaviour
- ex. bar mouthing
- can be reduced by providing a larger cage, enriched with things to gnaw on, provided with deep bedding and a running wheel
- exercise balls provide exercise and enrichment
Hamster handling
- If a hamster is sleeping, it should be awoken gently by rustling the substrate until it is awake, or gently blowing on the hamster
- Once eyes are open it can be scooped and cupped int he hands securely but loosely
- Hamsters can also be scruffed by loose skin, placed in a small container, or wrapped in a cloth
Guinea pig problem behaviours
- Few problem behaviours
- Some group housed may exhibit barbering (aka pulling hair out) related to dominance or a stereotypy
- Aberrant head shaking has been observed in some isolation-reared males
Chinchilla Fur Chewing
Form of self-mutilation caused by STRESS when living in captivity
- provide species-specific enrichment; continuously growing teeth and spend most of their time chewing
- chew toys: choll cactus wood, pumice stones, cuttlebones
- wood sticks; mindful of potential toxicity
Nips and biting in chinchillas
- Nibbling objects is a form of normal environmental exploration; even a handler’s hand
- Nibbling should not be disciplined but redirected to a suitable object
- Biting can occur but should be considered a fear response and steps should be taken to reduce fear and anxiety associated with handling
Chinchilla Handling
- Scoop while one hand is under the abdomen and other hand at base of the tail
- Frightened animals should typically not be handled but some methods can help to calm them; cover eyes or allow them to burrow face into handlers arm
- Have a desensitization or counter conditioning protocol when acclimating to handling; can serve to avoid stress
Ferrets biting and nipping
- many bite and nip until taught not to
- important to determine underlying cause; normal to solicit attention or initiate play, but not good when directed towards ppl; may also do it when they want to return to what they were doing
- R+ non-biting behaviour
Destructive behaviours in ferrets
Digging is a normal exploratory behaviour
- may claw or dig at edges of carpet
- best to ‘ferret proof’ home or a few rooms
Redirect chewing to acceptable items
- ex. hard rubber toys, stuffed animals
- prevent chewing on furniture, stairs, carpet
- can use bite deterrent
- supervise when outside enclosure
