Small Mammals: Ferret, Chinchilla, and Hedgehog

Question 1

What very common ferret disease is related to spay-neuter status?

Answer 1

Adrenal disease (LH/FSH receptors on adrenal glands)

Question 2

How long is a chinchilla’s gestation? How long is hedgehog gestation?

Answer 2

Chinchilla: 112 days

Hedgehog: 30-35 days

Question 3

What are the standard ferret vaccinations?

Answer 3

Distemper

Rabies

Question 4

Are hedgehogs better kept alone, in pairs, or in groups? What about chincillas?

Answer 4

Hedgehogs: alone (solitary animals)

Chinchillas: social, best in groups

Question 5

How is Helicobacter treated in ferrets?

Answer 5

Triple therapy: Amoxicillin + Metronidazole +Stomach med (Bismuth, Famotidine, or Sucralfate)

(Alternative: Clarithromycin)

Question 6

Why should a grain-free diet be avoided for ferrets?

Answer 6

Causes cystine stone formation

Question 7

What does a ferret do when you scruff it?

Answer 7

Yawn (good time to look in their mouths)

Question 8

Which teeth in chinchillas are open-rooted?

Answer 8

All of them

Question 9

T/F: Amputations in chinchillas following long bone fractures, often tibial, are common.

Answer 9

True

Have long thin bones, do poorly w/bandages (‘Bandage Disease’), non-unions are common

Question 10

How can you supplement an insect diet for a hedgehog so it is not deficient in nutrients?

Answer 10

Low fat dry cat food

Commercial diets also exist

Add chopped veggies

Can give mealworms as treats

Question 11

What sex is this chinchilla?

Answer 11

Male

Question 12

What common affliction is affecting this hedgehog’s head?

Answer 12

Mites/Acariasis

Note: Check the rubber seal around a facemask after anesthesia to look for mites

Question 13

T/F: Ferrets are very sensitive to sedative effects of parenteral opioids.

Answer 13

True

(NOTE BENE in slides)

Question 14

What are the 3 most common ferret disease conditions?

Answer 14

Gastrointestinal tract disease

Endocrine disease

Neoplasia

Question 15

Why is it important to give the correct type of vaccine to a ferret?

Answer 15

The incorrect distemper vaccine can cause CDV (canine distempter) in ferrets

Question 16

What disease causes green slime diarrhea in ferrets?

Answer 16

Viral Diarrhea- Epizootic Catarrhal Enteritis (Coronavirus)

Question 17

What organ do ferrets and pygmy hedgehogs lack?

Answer 17

Cecum

Question 18

What GI foreign bodies to young ferrets commonly get? Older ferrets?

Answer 18

Young: Rubber pieces

Older: Trichobezoars

Question 19

Why is insulinoma in ferrets controllable but not curable?

Answer 19

Usually small tumors all over pancreas and can’t remove the whole pancreas

Note: Often concurrent w/adrenal disease

Question 20

T/F: Ferrets do not have blood groups.

Answer 20

True

Question 21

Which hormone classes are involved in ferret hyperadrenalcorticism and how do these hormones end up in circulation?

Answer 21

Progesterones, Androgens, Estrogens (Progesterone, Estrogen, Androstenedione, DHEAS)

Hyperplasia of the adrenal glands causes adenoma formation which then leads to adenocarcinoma formation

Question 22

Where would you listen for a ferret’s heart?

Answer 22

Midline at the sternum (they have a caudally situated heart)

Question 23

At what pattern of activity correctly describes ferrets? (choose 1one

Duirnal

Vespertine

Crepuscular

Nocturnal

Answer 23

Crepuscular

Question 24

T/F: A hedgehog is a spiny insectivorous rodent.

Answer 24

False, MAMMAL (not rodent, like the porcupine)

Question 25

What is the GnRH agonist that stimulates LH/FSH causing negative feeback which stops steroidgenesis is used to treat adrenal disease?

Answer 25

Leuprolide acetate (Lupron) ## Footnote *Also there's the Deslorelin implant, which is sometimes given preventatively*

Question 26

How long should you monitor a ferret after a vaccination? What can you do to prevent vaccine reactions?

Answer 26

30 minutes Pre-treat with benedryl and only give 1 vaccine at a time

Question 27

T/F: A hedgehog does not need to be fed in the winter because they will hibernate. Make sure your cage is suitably warm and confortable for their hibernation.

Answer 27

False, hedgehogs do not hibernate in captivity. They do like a warm environment though.

Question 28

What is the approximate weight of a pygmy hedgehog? What is their lifespan?

Answer 28

400-500 grams 4-6 yrs

Question 29

*Mustela putorius furo* is the domesticated form of which animal?

Answer 29

European polecat

Question 30

What is the daily maintenance fluid rate for ferrets?

Answer 30

75ml/kg (/day)

Question 31

T/F: Chinchillas have pigmented incisors and should not be given grain to eat.

Answer 31

True

Question 32

What do nauseous ferrets do?

Answer 32

Paw at their mouth causing ulcers/erosions/fistulas

Question 33

In ferrets, what is the preferred vein for venipuncture because it is very large?

Answer 33

Cranial vena cava

Question 34

What is the color-linked congenital deafness seen in blaze and panda ferrets?

Answer 34

Waardenburg Syndrome

Question 35

T/F: Chinchillas do poorly in the cold and should have lots of warm bedding.

Answer 35

False, they are cold adapted and heat intolerant

Question 36

Which of these is the African Pygmy Hedgehog? * Atelerix p**ygmus* * Atelerix albiventris* * Atelerix algirus* * Atelerix albusdumblus*

Answer 36

***Atelerix albiventris*** (Albiventris= white ventrum, aka four-toed hedgehog)

Question 37

What are the 2 common benign and 2 malignant histopathology findings you may find after submitting a splenic aspirate from a ferret?

Answer 37

_Benign:_ Hematoma, Extramedullary hematopoeisis _Malignant:_ Lymphosarcoma, Hemangiosarcoma

Question 38

What is the most common clinical sign in ferret hyperadrenalcorticism? What are some other clinical signs?

Answer 38

Most common: Hairloss Pruritus Swollen vulva *(R/O intact female)* Prostatomegaly *(Causes urinary obstruction)* Stronger smell Sexual behavior (*Diagnosis is based on clinical signs)*

Question 39

Why do oral meds have to be tasty for ferrets?

Answer 39

Because if they don't like it they will scratch their mouth raw trying to get it out

Question 40

T/F: Ferrets are far-sighted.

Answer 40

False, NEAR-sighted

Question 41

Why do ferrets have few to no sensitivities to antibiotics?

Answer 41

They have a simple gut flora

Question 42

What is the unique hedgehog behavior occurs in response to new objects, which involves spreading frothy saliva on its quills?

Answer 42

Anting / Self-Annointing

Question 43

What animal that is very similar to chinchillas in diet and anatomy, including teeth, GIT, and sexing, look like gerbils on steroids?

Answer 43

Degu

Question 44

What is the medical therapy for insulinoma?

Answer 44

Prednisolone (*gluconeogenic effects)* - **first line tx** *(prefer brand Pediapred)* Diazoxide *(insulin blocker)*

Question 45

What bacteria that most ferrets have in their GIT can cause disease, resulting in ulcers, bruxism, chronic weight loss and melena, when ferrets get stressed?

Answer 45

*Helicobacter mustelae*

Question 46

Do older or younger ferrets usually get insulinoma?

Answer 46

Older

Question 47

Which antibiotics are counterindicated in chinchillas? What are the alternatives?

Answer 47

_C/O'd:_ Penicillins, Cefalosporins _Can give:_ Quinolones (e.g. Enrofloxacin) , Chloramphenicol, Metronidazole, Sulfa drugs

Question 48

What progressive neuropathy and degenerative spinal cord disease affects hedgehogs, for which there is no treatment?

Answer 48

Wobbly Hedgehog Syndrome (can try using pred to treat, but supportive care including diet is indicated)

Question 49

Is ferret urine low or high pH?

Answer 49

Low (5.5-6.5)

Question 50

What is the most common medical condition in chinchillas?

Answer 50

Dental disease ## Footnote *Note: Cheek teeth affected most*