small mammal dental and diet

Question 1

what is the dental formula of a rabbit?
what is the dental formula of a guinea pig?

Answer 1

rabbit: 2(I 2/1, C 0/0, PM 3/2, M 3/3)
Guinea pig: 2( I 1/1, C 0/0, P 1/1, M 3/3)

Question 2

what type of teeth do rabbits have?

Answer 2

all teeth are aradicular (have open apices, never forming true tooth roots), elodont (continually grow)

Question 3

what type of teeth do rats have?

Answer 3

incisors are - aradicular (have open apices, never forming true tooth roots),
elodont (continually grow)
molars are brachyodont

Question 4

What type of teeth do ferrets have?

Answer 4

brachyodont (short crowns, closed roots)

Question 5

what is the ideal diet of a rabbit?

Answer 5

85% hay, 10% fresh vegetables, 5% pellets

Question 6

what are caecotrophs, and how are they produced in rabbits?

Answer 6

produced by the gastrointestinal tract, they are partially digested food material
that is produced in the caeca of the rabbit while the rabbit is resting, the bacteria in the caeca digest the material. the rabbit will eat the caeca after they have excreted them in order to get the most nutrients out of the food they ingest

Question 7

What is the function of the fusus coli in the rabbit gastrointestinal tract and what influences this?

Answer 7

The fusus coli acts as a pacemaker, controlling motility in the colon to produce hard and soft faeces. This region is regulated by the autonomic nervous system and aldosterone, thus any stress increases adrenaline and may result in caecal stasis and abnormal caecotrophs

Question 8

Name 4 common small mammal pets that are hindgut fermenters?

Answer 8

rabbits, guinea pigs, degus, chinchillas