Smallies 13 - Exotics

Question 1

Describe the GIT of ferrets

Answer 1

Gastrointestinal tract is simple and short
Gastrointestinal transit time 2.5 - 3.5 hours (this is quite short) so the faeces normally looks formed but relatively soft
Lack ileocolonic valve, caecum and appendix
Oesophagus is entirely striated muscle

Question 2

What are common conditions related to the GIT seen in ferrets?

Answer 2

Splenomegaly → common, often incidental finding in middle aged/older ferrets
GI obstruction should be considered in any ferret showing sudden depression and inappetence
Diarrhoea may be difficult to appreciate
Teeth → Fractures (often due to fighting with another ferret – play fighting) and tartar are very common
Oral cavity → abscesses and foreign bodies (often due to biting or their inquisitive nature)
Megaoesophagus → normally idiopathic, can be due to a foreign body, secondary to Helicobacter
Stomach → Helicobacter mustelae is common inhabitant in potentially all ferrets and may be associated with ulceration
Intestine → foreign body ingestion and obstruction is common, inflammatory bowel disease and proliferative bowel disease

Question 3

When are endoparasites seen in ferrets?

Answer 3

Generally, not common unless they are kept in large numbers e.g. rescue numbers or breeders
Seen when house in unhygienic conditions – so rarely in normal pet ferrets

Question 4

What endoparasites are sometimes seen in ferrets?

Answer 4

Coccidia, giardia and ascarids

Question 5

What GIT viruses are seen in ferrets?

Answer 5

Canine distemper can cause GI signs in ferrets (often respiratory signs too)
Coronavirus – can see an FIP-like syndrome or an enteritis form. Most likely seen when someone has introduced a new ferret into a colony

Question 6

What GIT bacteria are seen in ferrets?

Answer 6

Salmonella, Campylobacter and E.coli

Helicobacter mustelae

Question 7

What are clinical signs of a helicobacter infection in ferrets?

Answer 7

Melaena, diarrhoea, wasting (poor digestion or liver disease) and abdominal pain

Question 8

How do we diagnose a helicobacter infection in ferrets?

Answer 8

Biopsy, PCR
Demonstration of organism in itself is not enough as this is often a normal finding
Need to demonstrate the organism in pathology e.g. histology

Question 9

How do we treat a helicobacter infection in ferrets?

Answer 9

Combination therapy to avoid resistance
Need an antibiotic plus some type of antacid to treat any ulceration – many combinations e.g.
- Amoxicillin, Metronidazole, Bismuth subsalicylate
- Clarithromycin, Ranitidine bismuth citrate

Question 10

What pancreatic diseases can be seen in ferrets?

Answer 10

Hypoglycaemia caused by insulinoma produces a sustained stimulation of gastric acid secretion

Question 11

What anal gland conditions can be seen in ferrets?

Answer 11

Impaction, infection and neoplasia

Question 12

Why should we not routinely remove anal glands in ferrets?

Answer 12

It is illegal in the UK

Question 13

What neoplasia are seen in ferrets?

Answer 13

lymphoma

adenocarcinoma

Question 14

What non-infectious GIT diseases are seen in omnivorous rodents?

Answer 14

Trauma to the face – inncisor fractures, malocclusion and dental caries
Diarrhoea is common → disease, incorrect/poor-quality diet or an abrupt change to the diet
Ileus → secondary to gastrointestinal and non-gastrointestinal diseases (e.g. respiratory), pain, stress and diet change
Obesity
Gastric dilatation may be secondary to ileus
Cheek-pouch impaction +/- eversion
Polycystic disease may affect liver
Intussusception and rectal prolapse → may result from infectious and non-infectious diseases
Antibiotic-associated enterocolitis extent in other species.

Question 15

What are the 3 most common issues seen in rats?

Answer 15

mammary and pituitary tumours and respiratory disease

Question 16

What bacterial diseases are seen in omnivorous rodents?

Answer 16

Clostridium piliforme (Tyzzer’s disease), C. difficile, C.perfringens
Lawsonia intracellularis
Salmonella spp., Campylobacter spp. and E.coli may cause disease on occasion

Question 17

What endoparasites are seen in omnivorous rodents?

Answer 17

Oxyurids → common
Cestodes → several species; the dwarf tapeworm Hymenolepsis/Rodentolepsis nana is zoonotic
Protozoa → various, tend not to cause clinical disease (part of normal flora) unless very young or poor husbandry

Question 18

What GIT parasites are seen in repties?

Answer 18

Nematodes: Oxyurids are common. Ascarids and strongyles also encountered
Trematodes
Cestodes
Protozoa → Hexamita, Trichomonas may be commensal or pathogenic
Coccidia → Isospora sp. and Eimeria sp.
Cryptosporidium sp.

Question 19

What are clinical signs of cryptosporidium in reptiles?

Answer 19

anorexia, wasting, regurgitation, hypertrophic gastritis (typical in snakes) and death.

Question 20

What are commensal bacteria of the oral cavity and cloaca in reptiles?

Answer 20

Salmonella spp., E.coli, Pseudomonas spp., Klebsiella spp., Aeromonas spp. and Citrobacter spp

Question 21

What are some antibiotic considerations with reptiles?

Answer 21

Ivermectin kills chelonia → safe for other species when used appropriately
Kingsnakes and indigo snakes appear very sensitive to metronidazole → use lower doses if no alternatives

Question 22

What is pathological hepatic lipidosis often secondary to in reptiles?

Answer 22

To poor husbandry and diet, improper or lack of hibernation and other diseases such as bacterial infection, parasitism, NSHP and POOS

Question 23

What is the treatment for pathological hepatic lipidosis in reptiles?

Answer 23

Supportive
Correct deficiencies in husbandry and diet
Treat concomitant disease(s)
Ovariectomy in selected cases
Thyroxin, SAM-e, Sylmarin, L-carnitine
Oesophagostomy tube feeding used in reptiles where supportive care is required for more than a few days and/or where the patient does not tolerate oral medication or alimentation. Need to place one in most cases because it allows for stress free administration of food, water and medication
May require treatment for several months

Question 24

Which species is renomegaly commonly seen in ?

Answer 24

Green Iguana

Question 25

What analgesics are safe for use in small furries?

Answer 25

carprofen, meloxicam (licensed in guinea pigs), buprenorphine (if want an opioid)

Question 26

What prokinetics can we use for small furries?

Answer 26

ranitidine, cisapride, domperidone, metoclopramide (last resort if possible)

Question 27

What anthelminitics are safe in small furries?

Answer 27

fenbendazole

Question 28

What antibiotics are safe in small furries?

Answer 28

TMP-S, metronidazole (may have abnormal effects in chinchillas), enrofloxacin

Question 29

What can we use to reduce adhesions duering surgery of small furries?

Answer 29

Verapamil

Sodium carboxymethylcellulose solution