Anorexia and gastrointestinal disease in small mammals Flashcards

1
Q

why is it important to ask an owner what the D+ is like in rabbits

A

need to determine if it is D+ or caecotrophs
caecotrophs are bigger and softer in evening

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2
Q

what can an incorrect diet predispose small mammals to

A

bloat
D+
Microbial imbalance (dysbiosis).
Gastrointestinal bacterial infections
Hepatic lipidosis.
Obesity which prevents caecotrophs ingestion.

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3
Q

what are outdoor small mammals more likely to get

A

Exposure to wildlife e.g. virus’ and endoparasites

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4
Q

what can stress cause in hindgut fermenters

A

hypomotility
which can then lead to anorexia and other problems such as gut stasis, gastric ulcers and bloat

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5
Q

List 7 causes of stress in small mammals

A

Predators.
New rabbits.
Sudden change of diet.
Change of housing.
Transport.
Extremes of weather/temperature.
Loss of a companion rabbit

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6
Q

Main differences in performing the clinical exam in small mammals compared to dog

A

Auscultate the GIT in hind gut fermenters.
dental exam methods - otoscope to see cheek teeth
Checking things like ear canals and joints may not be part of every exam in a dog, but they should be in a hind gut fermenter!

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7
Q

List the main differences of ferret compared to cat

A

Different handling techniques - scuffing is often used in ferrets
Splenomegaly (bigger proportionally) is common and often an incidental finding

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8
Q

List 2 reasons why Reduced wear of teeth can occur in hindgut fermenters

A

Not enough fiber (vegetation/hay)- not grinding teeth when eating
Selective eating

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9
Q

List 4 causes of weaker teeth in hindgut fermenters

A

Sugary treats and fruit
Vitamin C deficiency (guinea pigs)
Selenium deficiency
Ca/P imbalance (metabolic bone disease

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10
Q

Why is vitamin C important in guinea pig diet

A

Because unable to synthesise vit C so need it from diet

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11
Q

where do cheek teeth grow in rabbits

A

Like horses, lower cheek teeth ONLY over grow into the tongue. And upper cheek teeth ONLY over grown into the cheek.

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12
Q

what is a spur

A

sharp overgrowth of a tooth

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13
Q

what is different between rabbit and guinea pig cheek teeth

A

guinea pigs lower cheek teeth curve slightly inwards- NORMAL
But it means when they overgrown they form an arch and trap the tongue

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14
Q

Describe the ideal rabbit diet

A

85% hay (not alfalfa)
10% vegetables
5% pellets (not muesli)

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15
Q

why do we not want to feed alfalfa hay to rabbits

A

high in sugars and high in calcium ( this can cause bladder issues)

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16
Q

List the clinical signs of gastrointestinal disease in small mammals

A

Anorexia
Reduced/ no faecal output
Small dry faecal droppings
Diarrhea
Hunched up/lethargic
Faecal staining (+/- myiasis)
Dribbling/wet front paws
Caecotrophs accumulation (rabbits)
Anal Impactions (guinea pigs)

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17
Q

when can you see Hyperglycaemia in small mammals

A

stress
pain
advanced liver disease

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18
Q

when can you see hypoglycaemia in small mammals

A

starvation/ anorexia

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19
Q

what indicates dehydration in small mammals on bloods

A

elevated TP, HCT
+/- urea/ creatinine - increased
can help tailor fluid plan

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20
Q

list the liver parameters are found in small mammals

A

TBIL
ALT
AST
GGT
ALKP

some more reliable in some species

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21
Q

List 12 common GIT conditions that affect hind gut fermenters

A

Dental disease
Gut stasis
Bloat (guinea pigs)
gastric ulceration
Impaction or foreign body
Neoplasia
Bacterial
Viral
Parasitic
Liver disease e.g. lipidosis
Liver lobe torsion (rabbits)
Gastric dilatation volvulus (g.pig)

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22
Q

what is gut stasis

A

is the slowing (or stopping) of the passage of food through the GI tract.
usually hind gut that is affected
clinical sign not diagnosis

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23
Q

List 5 things that can cause gut stasis

A

Pain
Stress
Incorrect diet
Lack of caecotrophy
Gastrointestinal bacterial Infection, viral, parasites etc

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24
Q

What are the 2 main types of causes of gastric bloat

A
  1. Physiological obstruction e.g. gastric stasis due to pain or diet.
  2. Physical obstruction e.g. foreign body, neoplasia, GDV.
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25
Q

what do you need to be aware of when looking at rabbit radiographs

A

can be in hard or soft faeces phase- they look different
both are normal

26
Q

List the clinical signs of dysbiosis in hind gut fermenters

A

Anorexia
diarrhoea
haematochezia
dehydration
shock and death

27
Q

List the normal commensals of hindgut fermenters

A

Bacteroides
Enterococcus,
Staphylococcus
E.coli.

28
Q

T/F Lactobacillus are absent in rabbits.

A

True

29
Q

What is Dysautonomia

A

idiopathic malfunction of the autonomic nervous system.

30
Q

List the clinical signs of Dysautonomia

A

GI stasis
dry mucous membranes and conjunctiva
mydriasis
bradycardia
urine retention
megaoesophagus
Mucoid enteritis
large intestine impaction.
May be found dead with food impacted in mouth.

31
Q

In what rabbits do we see caecal impaction

A

younger rabbits

32
Q

what do we see anal impaction in and how to treat

A

common in older male guinea pigs
gentle manual expression

33
Q

List the common GIT conditions that affect ferrets

A

Inflammatory Bowl Disease
Endoparasites (e.g. ascarids)
Protozoa
Viral
Bacterial
Obstruction

34
Q

List the viral diseases that can affect ferrets

A

ferret enteric coronavirus
rotavirus
canine distemper

35
Q

What are most ferrets carriers of

A

Helicobacter mustelae
majority do not have clinical disease
is a risk factor of other things

36
Q

Name 2 common neoplasia in ferrets

A

Lymphoma and adenocarcinoma

Possibly secondary to Helicobacter mustelae.

37
Q

List the bacteria infections which cause enteritis in rodents

A

salmonella
Clostridium piliforme (Tyzzer’s disease)
Lawsonia intracellularis (wet tail)

38
Q

List 4 common GIT conditions of rodents

A

enteritis
Antibiotic associated enterotoxaemia
Cheek pouch impactions and infections- hamsters
Overgrown incisors e.g. malocclusion, trauma.

39
Q

Describe how to perform dental clinical exam in small mammals

A

Look at incisors by parting the lips.
Look at cheek teeth by using an otoscope, view is very limited when they are conscious.
Look at a minimum of 4 points in the mouth with an otoscope when they are conscious.

40
Q

Why is dental imaging important in rabbits

A

Essential because 2/3rd of the teeth are sub-gingivial.
Acquired dental disease is progressive and tooths/bone are often abnormal and used to stage dental disease.

41
Q

describe the staging of acquired dental disease

A

Stage 1 = normal
Stage 2 = root elongation & deterioration
Stage 3 = acquired malocclusion
Stage 4 = cessation of tooth growth
Stage 5(a) = end stage with osteomyelitis and abscess formation
5(b) = end stage with calcification of teeth and alveolar bone

42
Q

What dental radiographic views do we need to take in rabbits

A

Lateral – open mouth, closed mouth
Latero-oblique- stops superimposition
Dorsoventral

43
Q

List 6 options for analgesia in small mammals

A

meloxicam
tramadol
buprenorphine - Don’t over use opioids- this can cause gut stasis
maropitant
carprofen
lidocaine

44
Q

List 3 prokinetic drugs used in rabbits

A

Cisapride- acts on upper and lower GI tract - first choice
metoclopramide- not good on own (use with ranitidine)
Ranitidine

Only if no obstruction

45
Q

What is the maintenance fluid rate in rabbits

A

4ml/kg/hr

46
Q

what is subcut fluid in rabbits

A

10ml/kg, max 20ml per site
Isotonic saline, warmed

47
Q

describe shock rate fluids in rabbits

A

Shock rate: 100ml/kg (divide into 15 minute boluses)
they can chew through IV line

48
Q

What is the safe rule for hind gut fermenters

A

Safe (Medications For Treating Small Mammals)
- Metronidazole
- Fluoroquinolones (except pradofloxacin)
- Tetracyclines
- Sulfonamides
- Macrolides (except erythromycin)

49
Q

List 3 safe antibiotics to give rabits

A

TMPS
metronidazole
enrofloxacin- protected antibiotic

50
Q

What is the PLACE rule

A

Possibly Dangerous (PLACE):
- Penicillins
- Lincosamides (e.g clindamycin)
- Aminoglycosides (possibly)
- Cephalosporins
- Erythromycin

Need to think about where you give these
e.g. penicillin fatal to rabbit orally but s/c is safe

51
Q

how often should we feed rabbits which need syringe feeding

A

6 feeds per day

52
Q

Describe how to treat gastric bloat in rabbits

A

Critical patients! Intravenous fluids necessary.
analgesia and sedation
Decompress with orogastric tube SLOWLY (easy to rupture!)
If bloat reoccurs- surgery

53
Q

Describe how to treat Dysbiosis/enterotoxaemia in rabbits

A

fluids
Stop any offending antibiotics
Cholestyramine
Probiotics?
Transfaunation of caecotrophs? - to try put healthy bacteria back in
Start required drug therapies- but need to be careful

54
Q

describe how to treat Accumulated Caecotrophs in rabbits

A

Clip and clean perineum (often require sedation).
treat underlying cause
Exclude treats, fruit and root vegetables from diet.
Provide ad-lib hay and grass- need to carefully monitor weight with this

55
Q

Describe surgery in hind gut fermenters/ rodent

A

often high risk
minimise tissue handling - adhesions for readily
Ensure tissues continually hydrated (warmed saline).
no powdered gloves
DO NOT use cat gut

56
Q

T/F hand rasps are recommended to use in small mammals

A

False
they may cause loosening of teeth, soft tissue trauma and haemorrhage

57
Q

Describe how to perform cheek tooth extration in small mammals

A

Use rabbit molar Crossley elevator or bent 18G needle.
difficult unless already sig loosening
Break down ligaments until the tooth is very loose then use extraction forceps to gently remove

58
Q

what do you do if cheek tooth snaps when trying to extract in rabbits

A

wait 4-6 weeks for it to re-grow and then try again.

59
Q

why should we never cut incisors with tooth cutters on small mammals

A

Mico-fractures occur every time you cut an incisor with tooth cutters – eventually this can fracture tooth in half

60
Q

why do rabbit and guinea pig dental abscess need surgical excision

A

thick puss so abscesses can’t be syringed out
The wound is then kept open by suturing the edges of the incision to the skin (marsupialisation).