small mammals 5 pt 3 "other rodents"

Question 1

Diseases of Mice skin

Answer 1

• Behavioral – dominant barbering
• Husbandry-related
• Microbiologic and parasitic – skin mites common
• Idiopathic – black mice (C57BL/6)

Question 2

resp disease of mice

Answer 2

• Mycoplasma pulmonis and Sendai virus

Question 3

Gastrointestinal
Disease of mice

Answer 3

• Helicobacter–possible rectal prolapse
• Pinworms – ubiquitous, non-pathogenic

Question 4

neoplasia of mice

Answer 4

• Mammary tumors
• Lymphoma,
• Primary lung tumors

Question 5

zoonoses of mice

Answer 5

• Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus
• Salmonellosis
• Leptospirosis

Question 6

Chromodacryorrhea of gerbils

Answer 6

• Nasal dermatitis

Question 7

Tyzzer’s Disease in gerbils

Answer 7

• Bacilluspiliformis
• Highlysusceptible
• Acutedeath
• Gastrointestinaland hepatic

Question 8

Epileptiform Seizures in gerbils

Answer 8

• Inherited deficiency in glutamine synthetase
• 20 - 40%, start 2 months, outgrow

Question 9

neoplasia in gerbils

Answer 9

• Ovaries or scent glands

Question 10

hamster cheek gland issue

Answer 10

impaction

Question 11

Proliferative Ileitis in hamsters

Answer 11

• Lawsoniaintracellularis * “WetTail”
  
  • Can cause rectal prolapse

Question 12

random diseases of hamsters

Answer 12

• Amyloidosis
• Cardiomyopathy
• Lymphoma
  > Cutaneous
  > Multicentric

Question 13

Diseases of Chinchillas GI and dental

Answer 13

• GI Disease and Dysbiosis
• Dental Disease
• Intussusception and Rectal Tissue Prolapse
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• Dysbiosis, GI Disorders
• Gastrointestinal disorders leading to soft feces or diarrhea are less
  prevalent in pet chinchillas compared with guinea pigs.
• Any systemic disease or a painful or stressful condition may cause
  secondary gastrointestinal problems.
• Clinical syndromes include constipation, tympany, diarrhea,
  intussusception, and rectal prolapse.
• Feces smeared on the cage floor or matted, fecal-stained perianal
  fur are often the first signs; may also be anorexic, dehydrated, and
  depressed.
• Identifying the underlying cause important - radiographs or CT, fecal
  parasite examination, cytology, and culture for enteric opportunistic
  pathogens (e.g., E. coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus species).
• Consider systemic parenteral antimicrobial therapy (e.g.,
  enrofloxacin SC, then PO once eating)
• Intestinal secondary yeast overgrowth, caused by Cyniclomyces
  guttulatus (previously Saccharomycopsis guttulata), which lines the
  stomach, is often seen as a secondary problem; nystatin treatment.
• Provide fluids and nutritional support.
• Tympany
• Tympany of the stomach and intestines is less common in
  chinchillas compared with guinea pigs or rabbits and is often secondary to gastroenteritis, dysbacteriosis, ileus, luminal
  obstruction, or, rarely, intestinal torsion.
• Distended and tense abdomen, lie on its side, shock; poor
  prognosis.
• Rectal Tissue Prolapse and Intussusception
• Frequently occur together, secondary to dysbacteriosis, enteritis, constipation, or diarrhea.
• Intussusception of the descending colon and rectum is associated with most cases of rectal prolapse; however, the small intestine can also be affected.
• Surgically correcting the intussusception is critical; poor prognosis; reoccurrence common.
• Esophageal Disorders
• Cannot vomit, so food items, bedding material and ingested
  placentas can become stuck in the oropharynx and upper
  esophagus.
• Remove material quickly; good prognosis.

Question 14

Diseases of Chinchillas penis

Answer 14

Paraphimosis
* Acute severe balanoposthitis or fur rings can lead to paraphimosis,
characterized by the prolapse of the glans penis from the prepuce.
* Anuria might develop secondary to inflammation and trauma due to (self-
)mutilation.
* Goal of treatment is to maintain or re-establish normal urination and to
preserve the glans penis.
* Attempt to replace but, if unable to do so, apply topical treatments until
swelling resolved.
* Amputation and perineal urethrostomy as last resort.

Question 15

disease of chinchilla skin

Answer 15

Dermatophytosis
* Dermatophytosis (ringworm) in chinchillas is most commonly caused by
Trichophyton mentagrophytes, although Microsporum canis and
Microsporum gypseum have been reported.
* Scaly patches of alopecia on the nose, behind the ears, or on the forefeet.
* Diagnosis is made by dermatophyte culture (T. mentagrophytes does not
fluoresce under UV light).
* Topical or systemic therapy, until two negative cultures.
* zoonoses

Question 16

cardiac murmurs in chinchillas

Answer 16

• Only limited information on cardiac diseases in chinchillas is available.
• Echocardiographic abnormalities reported include mitral valve insufficiency,
  dynamic right ventricular outflow tract obstruction, tricuspid valve insufficiency, and left ventricular hypertrophy; also, ventral septal defects and dilated cardiomyopathy.
• While the prevalence of heart murmurs is high (23% in one study), reports on cardiac disease in chinchillas are rare; in many chinchillas, heart murmurs are considered benign.
• Diagnose and treat severe murmurs as for other species.

Question 17

Tail Chewing in sugar gliders

Answer 17

• Self-mutilation of the tail, limbs, scrotum, and penis is common,
  particularly in singly housed pet gliders.
• Underlying causes include stress due to lack of socialization with other
  gliders, disruption to normal nocturnal activity and daytime rest time, poor nutrition, and poor husbandry including caging that is too small, lacks enrichment, too noisy, or too cool.
• Correct these underlying problems, treat wounds, may amputate tail; analgesics and antimicrobials, psychotropic medications, such as antidepressants, gabapentin, and even mild sedatives, to prevent further trauma; Elizabethan collars, bandaging, and custom-made jackets.

Question 18

Nutritional Deficiencies in sugar gliders

Answer 18

• Nutritional osteodystrophy is a common cause of hind limb paresis and
  paralysis.
• Sugar gliders are nocturnal and rely on gut absorption of vitamin D3.
• Clinical presentation is sudden onset of hind limb paresis.
• Radiographs may reveal long bone, pelvic, and possible pathologic fractures
  and vertebral osteoporosis.
• Plasma biochemical changes include hypocalcaemia and hypoproteinemia.
• Often indicates a calcium-deficient diet comprised of mostly fruit and
  minimal protein.
• Treatment includes cage rest, parenteral calcium, and vitamin D3 with
  dietary correction; analgesics; stabilize fractures.
• Diets should contain 1% calcium, 0.5% phosphorous, and 1500 IU/kg
  vitamin D3 on a dry weight basis; gut load insects.

Question 19

blindness in sugar gliders

Answer 19

• Nutritional imbalances (hypovitaminosis A and hyperglycemia) and
  congenital (hereditary) predisposition are both potential causes for cataracts in sugar gliders.

Question 20

pneumonia in hedgehogs

Answer 20

Pneumonia
* Predisposing factors for upper and lower respiratory tract infection include
suboptimal environmental temperature; aromatic, dusty or unsanitary bedding; malnutrition; concurrent disease; and other causes of immunocompromise.
* Signs include nasal discharge, increased respiratory noise, dyspnea, lethargy, inappetence, and sudden death.
* Diagnostic testing includes radiographs, hematologic testing, and culture of lower respiratory tract samples.
* Treatment includes systemic antibiotics, nebulization, supportive care, and correction of husbandry problems.

Question 21

neoplasia in hedgehog

Answer 21

Neoplasia (mainly oral, pulmonary, and reproductive)
* Neoplasms are extremely common; wide variety of tumors and
disseminated neoplastic processes affecting virtually every body system.
* Oral squamous cell carcinoma is one of the most commonly reported
neoplasms; swelling of the maxillary or mandibular gingiva, loose or lost
teeth, gingivitis; often locally infiltrative.
* Other frequently reported neoplasms are mammary gland tumors,
alimentary lymphosarcomas, uterine tumors.
* Semi-annual examinations of adult animals are recommended.

Question 22

Wobbly Hedgehog Syndrome

Answer 22

• Wobbly hedgehog syndrome, also known as demyelinating paralysis, has
  been increasingly reported since the mid-1990s in captive African hedgehogs, and a similar disease has been described in European hedgehogs.
• One of the earliest indications is the inability to roll into a ball; present with mild ataxia, lack of coordination, becoming off balance and stumbling, tripping, or wobbling.
• More severe with time, and may include falling to one side, tremors, exophthalmos, scoliosis, seizures, muscle atrophy, and self-mutilation; paralysis ascends from hindlimbs to forelimbs in about 70% of the cases; ultimately leads to complete paralysis (9 to 15 months).
• Onset commonly occurs in animals under 2 years of age but can occur at any age (compared to intervertebral disk disease, usually seen in older animals).
• Death usually occurs within 18 to 25 months.
• Diagnosis at post-mortem - histopathologic lesions reveal vacuolization of
  the white matter of the cerebrum, cerebellum, brainstem, and spinal cord
  as well as neurogenic muscle atrophy.
• Cause unknown, but familial tendency.
• Supportive care, euthanasia.

Question 23

Quill Mites in hedgehogs

Answer 23

• Dermatologic disorders are the most common disorder affecting captive
  African pygmy hedgehogs, with acariasis being extremely common.
• Caparinia tripilis is the most common mite infesting pet hedgehogs; both
  male and female mites have three long setae on the third pair of legs.
• Subclinical infections, infested bedding.
• Signs include seborrhea, quill loss, hyperkeratosis, and white or brownish
  crusts (mite droppings) at the base of the quills and around the eyes; some
  pruritis.
• Diagnose with skin scrapes.
• Treat with parasiticide and change bedding.

Question 24

cardiomyopathy in hedgehogs

Answer 24

• Cardiomyopathy is the most commonly reported cardiovascular disorder in
  pet hedgehogs.
• Typically, 3 years of age or older.
• Signs include dyspnea, tachypnea, decreased activity, weight loss, heart
  murmur, ascites, cyanosis, and acute death.
• Routine treatments, poor prognosis.
• May be a genetic or dietary component.