Exotics: Exotic Mammal Medicine Flashcards
1
Q
- What order and sub-order are degus?
- What GI system do they have?
- What dentition do they have?
- Life span?
A
- Hystricomorph rodents
- Hind gut fermenters and coprophagy
- Elodont dentition- strict herbivbores
- 5-6 years
2
Q
How should degus be clinically approached?
A
- Most difficult to restrain
- Tail slip
- Handling with towels or sedation for clinical exam and most clinical procedures
- Clinical exam similar to other rodents
3
Q
- What is a common oral health problem for degus?
- How do they present?
- How are they treated?
A
- Dental disease
- Weight loss, excessive salivation, secondary dermatitis, gut stasis
- Skull radiographs, dental crown reduction under GA, diet correction
4
Q
- What are common complications is degus with gut stasis/hypomotility?
- How are they approached?
A
- Gastric tympanism, hepativ lipidosis, GIT dysbiosis
- Fluids, analgesia (meloxicam, buprenorphine), gut motility meds (cisapride, metoclopramide)
Syringe feeding
5
Q
- When is diabetes caused in degus?
- What happens secondary to it?
- How can diagnosis be confirmed?
- How is diabetes mellitus managed?
A
- Degus fed seed based diets/rich in simple CHs and starch- hyperinsulinaemia
- Cataract formation
- Hyperglycaemia, glucosuria, ketonuria, required GA for collection
- Correct diet: hay and grasses, remove any seeds, insulin SC BID
6
Q
- What is the most common species of gerils kept?
- What order are gerbils?
A
- Mongolian gerbil
- Myomorph rodents
3-5y lifespan, ventral scent gland, pelleted diet, can slip tails
7
Q
- What causes facial eczema in gerbils?
- What predisposes?
- How is it treated?
A
- Nasal dermatitis- excessive production of porphyrins by harderian gland
- Stress related- overcrowding, high humidity/poor ventilation, no sand baths
- Cleaning with saline or chlorohex, meloxiam if painful/prutitic
8
Q
- What different ventral scent gland disease can affect gerbils?
- How is it confirmed and treated?
A
- Infection, neoplasia, Blockage w/gland secretion
- Topical- antiseptics, Express gland under GA, Medical- meloxicam/ABs, Surgery- remove gland, lance/flush abscess
9
Q
- What percentage of gerbils are affected by epilepsy?
- When do seizures commonly occur?
- What is the medical approach?
A
- 20-40%
- Clonic-tonic seizures, frequently after being handled
- Rule out other conditions, DDXs heart disease, hepatic encephalopathy, meningo-encephalitis, hypoglycaemia, hypocalcaemia
10
Q
What are prairie dogs reservoirs of?
A
Zoonotic agents- Yersinia pestis
11
Q
What are common problems for squirrels and prarie dogs?
A
- Dental disease
- Heart disease
- Hepatobiliary disease
12
Q
- What order are sugar gliders?
- What is there lifespan?
- What specific features doe sugar gliders have?
A
- Marsupials
- 10-20 yeats
- Patagium- skin fold, males scent gland on forehead, cloaca
13
Q
How should sugar gliders be housed in captvitiy?
A
- Housed in groups
- Large with lots of branches, nest boxes, hammocks
- Diet- commerial, homemade, calcium supplements, insects, small amount of fresh fruit
14
Q
What is the clinical approach to sugar gliders?
A
- Handle with towels
- GA/Sedation for clinical exam, blood imaging, most treatments
15
Q
What are common health problems of sugar gliders?
A
Malnutrition
* Metabolic bone disease
* Obesity
* Anaemia and hypoproteinaemia
Dental disease
Enteritis
* Diet related, giardia, bacterial
Para-cloacal gland- infection, cysts, neoplasia
Pouch infection on females
Stress-related self mutilation
Toxoplasmosis
