Unit 6 Hamsters Flashcards
most popular hamster breed
Syrian/ golden hamster
why hamsters good for dental research
close-rooted molars v similar to humans, susceptible to dental carries (cavities)
which are larger and more agressive; females or males
female hamsters
the only commonly used lab animal w esophageal pouches
hamsters
how far back hamster pouches extend
to back of scapula
hamsters have a compartmentalized stomach meaning
they have a fore stomach (non-glandular, fermentation) and rear stomach (glandular), separated by sphincter-like muscle
what are scent glands called in hamsters and where are they located
the flank glands on the hips
ways to sex hamsters
anogenital distance, large testicles, flank glands darker/larger in males, females larger, males have large fat pads along inguinal canal makes rear appear more rounded (F more pointed)
what kind of gland are flank glands an what do these glands do
sebaceous scent glands, mark territory and play a role in mating behavior
where old hamsters may get neoplasia
flank glands
difference between brown and white adipose tissue
brown fat needed for temp regulation, has vascularity 4-6 times greater than white (hibernation fat) blood is warmed as it passes thro brown fat
fighting most common in (M or F)
females
Hamsters are diurnal or nocturnal?
nocturnal
Only commonly used lab animal that hibernates
hamsters
circumstances in which a hamster will go into hibernation
temp falls below 40F, restricted food supply, shortened light cycles
how often hamsters wake up to eat during hibernation
ab every 3 days
what happens during winter quiescence
females go into period of anestrous, male testicles shrink
how many mammary glands females have
6-7
hamsters have the shortest gestation of lab animals which is how long
15-18 days
how long is estrus
list stages of breeding per day
4 days
2nd day- produce a creamy white vaginal discharge.
3rd day- bred that evening
how long to leave a female in the cage w male for mating
can leave overnight if female doesnt become aggressive or mating does not occur w/in 5 min
earliest sign that mating was successful
10 days, females have v prominent nipples
how big are hamster litters
4-12 pups
weaning age and age they can eat solid food
wean- 21 days
can eat solid food at one week
vitamin deficiency hamsters are sensitive to and why
vitamin E; skeletal muscular dystrophy (seed based diets)
why food is given in bowl
broad muzzles
hamster research uses
genetics an reproduction (rapid reproduction), gall stones(they get them), dental carries (albino strain), radiobiology studies (highly resistant to radiation effects, etc
what is proliferative ileitis and signs
wet tail; water diarrhea, dehydration, anorexia, depression, wet matted fur on tail/abdomen, intestines can thicken causes impactions or intussuseptions
treating proliferative ileitis w antibiotics poses what problem
antibiotic associated enterocolitis- antibiotics cause overgrowth of clostridium difficile
most common hamster disease
wet tail/ proliferative ileitis
causal agents of hamster pneumonia
strep and pasturella
what is amyloiosis, how many (%) of hamsters are affected
kidney failure in older hamsters, 85% of those over 18months
