Week Six: Small Mammals (Part 2) Flashcards
What is the difference between male and female chinchillas?
Females have no labial folds
Males testicles do not descent into the scrotum, prepuce extends to directly under the anus
Gestation period of chinchillas
How many offspring are usually born?
138 days
1-3 born
Husbandry requirements for chinchillas
Heat and humidity, chew-proof, hiding places, mutli level homes, dust baths
Nutritional requirements for chinchillas
Hay supplemented with pellets, water bowls can be a hazard
Slobbers in chinchillas
Refers to clinical signs seen when malocclusion is present
Choke in chinchillas
Cannot vomit, object too large to swallow
Hairballs in chinchillas
Dietary fiber can help prevent hairballs
Heat stroke in chinchillas
> 80 degrees, high humidity
Behavior of chinchillas
Nocturnal, curious, rarely bite, athletic (even when old)
Restraining a chinchillas
Never scruff
Hold back end with one hand and the chest and forelimbs with the other
Fur slip
What is fur slip?
fur slip is done to “escape” the situation your chinchilla is in. Much like a gecko will drop their tail if caught be a predator (or accidentally picked up by the owner by the tail), chinchillas will release tufts of hair to get away from whatever is trying to capture them.
Venipuncture in chinchillas
Anesthesia preferred, jugular vein is primary
but can use cephalic, saphenous, femoral, lateral abdominal, tail vein
Behavior of guinea pigs
Docile and rarely bite, social and can share housing with other guinea pigs, vocalize, neophobic
What kind of teeth do guinea pigs have? Explain.
Open-rooted incisors, premolars, and molars
teeth grow throughout the life of the animal
Reproduction in guinea pigs
Females have pubic symphysis
Bred within six months of age
Copulatory plug may be found in cage
No nest building- precocious young (fully developed, born with hair, and the eyes open)
Husbandry for guinea pigs
Can be messy (no dedicated potty area, tip bowls)
Cages d not need lids to protect from escape, room temp should be around 70 F
Nutrition for guinea pigs
Herbivores: pellets, grass hay, fresh vegetables, limited fruits, cannot synthesize vitamin C
Scurvy in guinea pigs
Musculoskeletal disease caused by vitamin C deficiency
Clinical sings: lethargy, anorexia, arthralgia, uncharacteristic biting, diarrhea, weight-loss
Treatment: Supplementation and supportive care
Respiratory disease in guinea pigs
Caused by Bordetella bronchiseptica or Streptococccus pneumonia
Can contract from any carrier
Lumps in guinea pigs
Cervical lymphadenitis, inflamed/abscessed lymph nodes caused by Streptobacillus or Streptococcus
Isolation is necessary until healed
Zoonosis concerns with guinea pigs
Salmonellosis, sarcoptic mange, ringworm, lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM)
Restraint methods for guinea pigs
Method one: One hand supports the thorax and the other supports hind limbs
Method two: Similar but the Guinea pig is held in a cradled fashion
Restraint for jugular venipuncture similar to cats
Parasite concerns in guinea pigs
Cryptosporidium wrairi (intestinal protozoan characterized by weight loss, diarrhea, and death) Fleas, mites, and lice (trixacarus caviae- zoonotic)
Sex determination in guinea pigs
Females: genital area has a Y shape
Males: Straight slit
Sex determination in HedgeHogs
Testes are intra-abdominal
BeHaVior in HedgeHogs
Solitary, defensive/aggressive signs include rolling into a ball, Vibrating spines, Hissing and spitting
Nutrition in HedgeHogs
Insectivorous (CriCkets, mealworms, grassHoppers, snails, slugs, pinkie miCe, non-toxic frogs)
Lameness in HedgeHogs
Causes include oVergrown toenails, fracture/trauma, neoplasia, secondary to wobbling HedgeHog syndrome
DiarrHea in HedgeHogs
Stress, parasites, bacterial infection, salmonellosis
Fungal infection in HedgeHogs
Usually triCopHyton or MiCroporum, Crusting around base of spines
Neoplasia in HedgeHogs
Squamous Cell CarCinomas, Cutaneous mast Cell tumors, mammary gland tumors, Cutaneous HemangiosarComa
______ is often required for examination or Venipuncture in HedgeHogs
Anestesia
WHat family do skunks belong to
Mustelidae
WHat is tHe skunk usually kept as a pet
Mephitis metpHitis
WHen are skunks usually desCented?
2-4 weeks of age
Lifespan and WeigHt of skunks
10-12 years
4.5 kg
Husbandry of skunks
Solitary, like to dig, Can be litter and Harness trained
Nutrition in skunks
Omniores; inseCts, rodents, small Vertebrates, fruits, green Vegetables, grain
Obesity in skunks
Most Common CliniCal issue, Corrected witH diet, Husbandry, and Client education
Can lead to Cardiomyopaty and dermatitis
Amyloidosis in skunks
Buildup of insoluble proteins (amyloids) in multiple organ systems
Compromised organs do not function fully/CorreCtly
Canine distemper in skunks
Signs include fever, Hyperemia of face and ear, sCleral inflammation, oCular discharge, depression, anorexia, diarrhea, dyspnea, neurologic signs
Treatment: prevent witH VaCCines, supportive Care if ContraCted, prognosis is poor
Feline panleukopenia in skunks
CliniCal signs include Hemorrhagic enteritis, snorexia, depression, low WBC Count, death within 5 days
Treatment: supportive Care, prevent witH VaCCines
Zoonotic diseases of skunks
Baylisascris columnaris (roundworm, Causes serious VisCeral larVa migrans in Humans, fecal-oral, prevention tHrougH Hygiene) Rabies (public HealtH offiCials won't aCCept VaCCinated reCords if a skunk bites someone)
Restraint in skunks
Similar to Cats but no sCruffing
WeigHt and lifespan of sugar gliders
95-160 g
9-12 years
Husbandry of sugar gliders
Need a lot of room, nest/Hide box, branCHes, always keep min. of 2
Nutrition of sugar gliders
CommerCial food, nectar, 15-20% of body weight in food
Nutritional osteodystropHy in sugar gliders
Diet is too low in Calcium and Vitamin D3, Causes aCute Hind limb paresis and paralysis, treated witH rest and dietary CorreCtion
Stress-related diseases in sugar gliders
Alopecia, self-mutilation, CopropHagia, HyperpHagia, polyuria, pacing, Cannibalism
Neoplasia in sugar gliders
Lymphoid neoplasia is most Common
Restraint in sugar gliders
Hold Head between tHumb and middle finger and use index finger to restrain te top of Head, body rests in palm of Hand
Venipuncture in sugar gliders
1% body weight Can be drawn, jugular, Cranial Vena CaVa
WeigHt and lifespan of prairie dogs
0.5-2.2 kg
6-10 years
Nutrition of prairie dogs
Primarily HerbiVores; HigH- quality grass Hay, CommerCial diet
Obesity in prairie dogs Can lead to
Heart disease, respiratory disease, liVer disease
Nasal dermatitis in prairie dogs
Rubbing face on Cage wire, secondary bacterial infeCtions, CorreCt Husbandry ConCerns
Zoonotic diseases wit prairie dogs
Yersinia and baylisasCaris (Causes aCute mesenteric lymphadenitis, fever, anorexia, Vomiting, enteritis, diarrhea, dehydration in Humans) Yersinia pestis (Causes sylvatic plague in Humans) MONKEY POX! (Causes systemic disease; fever, rashes, death. Bites or ContaCt wit fluids or lesions, outbreak in June 2003 in WisConsin, Ilionois, Indiana, Kansas, Ohio, and Missouri)
Restraint of prairie dogs
MetHod 1: One Hand around CHest and one supporting Hind limbs
MetHod 2: lift by base of tail and place forelimbs on table
MetHod 3: Burrito time!