Small Mammal GIT Flashcards
What is the primary adaptation of herbivores’ oral cavity?
Designed for chewing, narrow gape.
What is the primary adaptation of carnivores’ oral cavity?
Designed for grasping/tearing, wide gape.
What characterizes the oral cavity of omnivores?
Depends on the diet.
What is the dental structure of a normal rabbit?
Continuously growing incisors and cheek teeth.
What does diphodont mean in the context of rabbit dentition?
Deciduous and permanent set.
How much do rabbit teeth grow weekly?
2mm a week.
What is the dental formula for rabbits?
I 2*/1 C 0/0 P 3/2 M 3/3.
Is it normal for rabbits to have spurs?
Yes, it is normal to have spurs.
What causes dental overgrowths in rabbits?
Inappropriate diets.
What is the recommended method to manage dental overgrowths in rabbits?
Burr them with an oscillating saw - don’t clip as shards and splinters.
What are some dental problems in rabbits?
Congenital malocclusion, traumatic injury, dental abscesses.
How can dental issues in rabbits be assessed?
Look with oroscope or anaesthetise.
What is the dental development timeline for ferrets?
Deciduous initially, permanent from 7 weeks of age.
What allows ferrets to effectively clamp onto prey?
Strong muscles of mastication.
What is the dental formula for ferrets?
3/3 incisors, 1/1 canines, 3/3 premolars, 1/2 molars.
What type of fermenters are small herbivores?
Hindgut fermenters.
How is food processed in small herbivores to maximize nutritional value?
Processed twice - caecotrophy.
What is a unique digestive characteristic of rabbits and rodents?
They can’t vomit.
What is the role of microorganisms in the GIT of small herbivores?
Food is broken down by microorganisms in the caecum.
What is the transit time for food in small herbivores compared to other fermenters?
Faster transit time.
What is the location and structure of the stomach in rabbits?
Cranial abdomen on the left side, large and thin-walled. Well-developed cardiac sphincter prevents vomiting.
What are the three parts of the small intestine?
Duodenum, jejunum, ileum.
What is the sacculus rotundus?
Dilation at the terminal ileum, at the ileocaecocolic junction, composed primarily of lymphoid tissue.
What separates the proximal and distal colon?
Fusus coli.
What is the role of the fusus coli?
Acts as a differential pacemaker for gut motility.
What happens to indigestible fiber in rabbits?
It passes into the distal colon to be excreted as dry fecal pellets.
What happens to digestible fiber in the caecum?
Undergoes fermentation producing volatile fatty acids (VFA).
What is the principal species of microorganisms in the caecum?
Bacteroides spp.
Name two other species of microorganisms found in the caecum.
- E. coli
- Clostridia spp.
What are caecotrophs?
Droppings that are smaller, soft, shiny due to mucus coating, passed 4-8 hours post feeding, and swallowed whole.
What nutrients do caecotrophs provide when digested?
- Microbial protein
- Vitamin B
- Vitamin K
- Fatty acids
What are the main causes of gut motility problems in rabbits?
- Poor quality/low quantity fiber diet
- Pain
- Stress
- Systemic disease
- GIT obstruction
True or False: Gut stasis is a clinical sign and not a diagnosis.
True.
What is a common digestive issue in hystricomorphs like guinea pigs?
Diarrhoea due to increased need for Vitamin C.
What characterizes the digestive tract of myomorphs?
Simpler digestive tract that varies with diet.
What is the typical GIT transit time for ferrets?
3-4 hours.
What are intestinal trichobezoars?
Mats of hair ingested that can lead to obstruction when excessive amounts are accumulated.
Fill in the blank: Rabbits produce _______ types of droppings.
2
What is the usual time frame for caecotrophs to be passed after feeding?
4-8 hours post feeding, usually at night.
What happens when excessive amounts of hair are ingested?
Problems occur when hair dehydrates and forms hard structures that can lead to obstruction.
