Small Mammals

Question 0

why do myo’s not have many dental rpoblems? which jaw is wider?
what is the anatomy of a female genitalia? do they have a post partem oestrus?

Answer 0

only the incisors continualy grow! so mot many dental issues. the mandible is wider than the maxilla. opp.
they ‘gnaw’ still see spikes.
female - separate urathral and vaginal opening. (rabbit - vulva) ddx. pyo. vaginal plug post coitus and they do have a post partem oestrus.

Question 1

what is a myomorph? what is a hystricomorph?
dental formula of both?
what is the dental formula of a rabbit?

Answer 1

myo - rat mouse gerbal, hamster. 1/1,0/0,0/0,3/3
hystrico - gp, chinchilla, degu - 1/1,0/0,1/1,3/3
rabbit - lagomorph. 2/1,0/0,3/2,3/3

Question 2

in a hystricomorph which teeth grow? what colour is the enamel in a gp? what colour in all the others?
what is the stomach like in a hamster? do they all perfrom coprophagy?

Answer 2

all teeth grow in hystrico - prone to dental issues. diastema and spkies.
gp is whit enamel and yellow in all the others.
hamster - stomach looks bilobed - distinct.
caecum on the left - in a rabbit its on the right.

Question 3

what is chromodactorrhoea? which species? cx of what?

Answer 3

seen mainly in rats. others too. red tears from the hardarian glands. normal. if exxcess cx of resp diease. much more if sick and not grooming.

Question 4

what do gps often get above their tail and where is it from? what problem may arise?

Answer 4

often get greasy back end due to scent glands. may also get impacted.

Question 5

do rats have a gall bladder?

Answer 5

no

Question 6

hamsters have what that is unique in their mouth? what else do they have on their backs? - look like bald patches?

Answer 6

cheek pouches. sebaceous glands on their back - owner may think they are bald patches.

Question 7

how do you sex a myomorph?

hystricomorph?

Answer 7

myo - male - anogenital distance is greater and a female has nipples.
hystrico - ano genital. female slit like vulva and urethral process.
gp - male - round and extrude penis. female - y shaped.

Question 8

do rats have an os penis? whch other species?

Answer 8

yes and so do ferrets.

Question 9

which species should you never hold by the tail?
which hamsters do not hibernate?
what do gerbils often get around their lips?
if you see a square shaped tail - what does it mean?

Answer 9

gerbils! you should cup or scruff them!
russian hamsters.
cheilitis -inflamm.
square tail - indicates they are thin - see vertebral processes.

Question 10

what cx can you look for on a clinical exam?

Answer 10

hunched, pyloerection, aggressive, teeth grind, square tail, discharges - esp. chromodactorrhoea. lame, salivate, inapp, isolated, coat, rattle, masses, hair loss etc.

Question 11

what is the range of temps?
pluses?
RR?

Answer 11

temp - 35-39
pulse -100-700
rr - 35-200
hedgehog - low temp all others are above 37

Question 12

taking bloods? need? where from? (4 sites)

average blood volume? ow much can you take? same as a rabbit?

Answer 12

GA needed. sapenous, later tail vein, femoral, jugular, cardiac puncture, cranial vc.
70ml/kg of blood. can take 10% safely. or 0.5/100g if sick. or smaller animal.

Question 13

urine samples? ph?
in a rat and mouse what is normal?
gerbil?
USG?

Answer 13

alkaline unless canrivore. gp very high ph - 9.
rat and mouse - protein is normal.
gerbil - acetone, bilirubin, glucose and proetin is normal.
USG - often >1.045.
free flow or cycstocentesis. /GA.
xray - iso. GA.

Question 14

xrays? what can you see?

Answer 14

abdo large compared o thorax. hamster = bilobed stomach,
uroliths are common
gp - cystic ovarian disease.
skull - chinchilla have large tymoanic bullae.
testes can be retracted.
os penis in rats and mice and ferrets.
endocarditis in hamsters is common - enlarged heart.

Question 15

when doing an U/S what should you try and mnimise and why?

Answer 15

clipping - large bw;sa ratio. therefore they lose heat easily.

Question 16

way to give therapy?

Answer 16

iv - hard. im - no!
oral is good.
not in water as unoredictable.
ip or i/o. is okay too. - fluids good this way.

Question 17

giving fluids? maintenance? how given? max at any one time?

which species absolutely needs vit c if it is ill?

Answer 17

100ml/kg.day. sc or orally or ip or io.
25-35 ml at any one time. 2-3xd.
gps absolutely need vit c!!

Question 18

critical care of a rodent? main points? fluids? 02? which ones shoiuld be kept alone and which with a companionm?

Answer 18

02 therapy if blue mm or if resp difficulties.
admin warm fluids (lactate ringers) and keep them warm. i/p route is good. warm the environment up too. dont over heat as they cant pant or sweat. keep away from dogs and cats. off inticing foods and syringe feed and familiar h2o. try not to isolate from companions! (rats alone) and syrian hamsters alone. offer additional nesting material and hide boxes. keep quiet. etc etc

Question 19

GIT disorders of rodents? (5) explain the place rule?
stasis? tx?
obs? cx? tx?
bloat? tx?
constipated? due to? cx? common in? tx?
diarrhoea and enteritis. ? cause? in hamsters? also called? tx?

Answer 19

stasis - esp if stressed and esp in hingut fermenters. hystricomorphs get dehydration of contents too. need fluids nutrition and prokinetics.
- obstruction - anorexic and acute abdo or asymptomatic. reduced faeces, lethargic, quiet, hunched - emergency!! fluids . surgery and zantac anf fibre.
- bloat - diet change. huge stomach emergency. - gps. stomach tube or trochar.
- constipation - lack of fibre. rectal impaction. often still eating! often male gps. flaccid anus? dont eat caecotrophs. manually evacuate!
- diarrhoea and enteritis - gp and hamster disrupted gut flora. enterotoxaemia. not rats and mice often. rodents cant vomit. hamster - lawsonia - wet tail, PLE. foul smell and rectal prolapse, intuss, PM die fast. tx - support oral tetra/neomycin. care . poor prog.
PLACE RULE - pen, linco, amino, ceph, erythro’s - do not give orally.

Question 20

DDX diarrhoea and enteritis?

• gp and cc?
• hamster?
• all? (9)

Answer 20

gp and cc - diet! sudden change. laxative plants or mouldy - remove source and supportive tx.

hamster - lawsonia intracellularis. - wet tail. die quickly. PLE. 3-8w/o rectal prolapse, intuss, foul smelling.

ALL - e.coli, salmonella, (ZOO)

yersinia pseudoTB. - trans by outdoor, wild birds, rodents etc sep, wl, death, enlarged LN’s/

clostridia.spiriforme/difficile - AB doses too high - enterotoxaemia - fatal. MET. and support

TYZZERS DISEASE - c. piliforme. mice and gerbils esp. white spots in liver. and in rabbits. acute death esp young. necrotising hepatitis, lns, cns signs. silver stain. MET.

cocci - esp gp and cc. eimeria. 2 to poor husbandry. oocysts. tx - sulphur drugs and clean out

trichomoniasis - MET
pinworms - fenbend. )oxyuris) d and irritated.
AB associated - smear! enterotoxaemia. gp and hamsters. tx - fluro, TMPS, Met, transfaunation and support and probiotics.

Question 21

resp diseases? rodents? cx?
tx?
most common in GPS’? most common in rabbits?

ddx? gp’s? mice? rats?

Answer 21

cx - discharge, chromodaccorhoea, sneeze, rattle, cough dyspnoea. red ocular disachrge. (porphyrin from harderian gland.0 anorexia and dep.

tx - AB. C+S. TW/SWABS. support - nebulise 02 nsaids vitc lower ammonia,

rats and mice - mycoplasma pulmonis - only manage chronic. ab’s.

GP - bordetella, do not mix with rabbits. they can pass it to gp’s. and dogs. stress related - otoitis media and abscesses and metritis. xrays and vit c!

GP - strep pneumoniae. otitis media etc.
Gp - kelbsiella, moraxella, pseudomonas,

Rats - mycoplasa pulmonis - rattles. chronic! cant eliminate. only supportive tx and manage. red tears. head tilit. support. may try enroflox or doxy.

mice - CAR (cilia associated resp bacillus) sendai virus. or cn get mycoplasma.

Question 22

urolithiasis and cyctitis? if keep getting recurrent cyctitis? suspect?

esp in? cx?’
dx?
tx? what used to alkalinise urine? chronic tx?

Answer 22

esp GP’s. diet high and ca and oxalate. recurrent - DM?
cx - stranguria, haematuria, dysuria, dep, collapse, wl
dx - xray for large ones. rabbits get sludge.
tx - cystotomy and remove and AB’S. often recur.
chronic - nsaids, and change diet and ddx. DM/ ? potassium citrate will alkalinise the urine.

Question 23

in rats which resp disease most common? why called rattles ? tx? cx?

Answer 23

mycoplasma pulmonis. rattles as you cannot eliminate it - only supportive tx. cx - red tears and head tilit and resp signs. may try to tx with enro, doxy.

Question 24

renal disease? rodents. meds?
hamsters?
rats? - tx?
cx?

Answer 24

common in older. are the AB you are using renally excreteed? diet?
hamster - amyloidosis
rats - progressive nephropathy. glomerosclerosis. tx - restrict calories an lower protein and steroids.

cx - polydipsia, proteinuria
ca carbonate discharge - chalky urine.

Question 25

flystrike? also called? common in? GP’s? tx?

tx?

Answer 25

maggot. myiasis. older rabbit and gps. eating caecotrophs? are theur teeth/ms okay?
GP’s - often toxic shock - and rabbits - supportive therapy!!
may be due to urinary problem - scald.
tx - cleanse and remove maggots, ivermectin? rearguard - cyromazine. (l1 and l2) keep clean and fly control.

Question 26

seizures and epilepsy? GP’s?? causes?

tx?

Answer 26

gps - trixacaris - mange
skin disease - pruritis

diazepam to fits! - usually stress! ivermectin (3 doses 10-14 days apart)

Question 27

torticollis? seen in? cx? tx?

Answer 27

gp otitis. strep?
head tilit, circle, roll, nystagmus, pus at base of ear.
nsaids, and fluoro!! - rodents also get e.cuniculi - rabbits neuro disease.

Question 28

preg toxaemia/ketoacidosis? 2 forms?
often seen in?
cx?
tx?

Answer 28

gps - obese? also get in non preg.

1) toxic form - preg ischaemia fatal death and DIC.
2) metabolic - stressors.

cx - anorexia, dep, abort, salivate, coma, death. smell ketones?

tx - glucoe and dextrose. fluids, propylene glycol, steroids and ca carbonate. reduce obesity and stress c-sec. do not give steroids if metabolic.

Question 29

hypovitaminosis c? esp which species?
how much do they need? where do they get it from?

cx?
tx?

Answer 29

GP’s!! need 10mg/kg - lack of an enzyme that synth vit c from glucose!!
need 3-mg/kg if ill /preg.

cx - in 14d. need for collagen synth.rough hair, scaling ears, leth,, weak, anorexia, gait abnorm, wasting, gingival haem, loose teeth, foul smelling faeces, blood, scurvy, hypersalivate. death in 2 weeks. pm - haem

tx- 50-100 mg/kg/d. vit c.
store feed away from uv and cover water if added supps. do not expose to uv and it depletes it.

Question 30

rodents common diseases:
dental!
which do you see more problems in?
how can youexamine it?
what is the main problem - tongue trap!!
dx?
tx?
cx?

Answer 30

in hystrico - their teeth grow all the time. dont get abscesses like rabbit. due to low fibre and hig carb diet.
genetic in CC .
dx - otoscope, GA xrays and endoscope.
may impinge on lacrimal uducts and orbits and spikes and pockets, ALSO GET TONGUE TRAP. incisor maloclusion is secondary.
tx - burr. and abs etc if needed.
cx - wl, anorexia, salivate, flystrike, teeth grind, scruffy.

Question 31

dermatoses? causes? 
rats and mice?
hamster? 
barkering?
ringworm?

Answer 31

endocrine, neoplastic, parasitic.
rats and mice - fur mites priritis. dordum- ivermectin!
hamster - demodex - not pruritic but hair loss. ivermectin.
hamster and rats - notoduris muris - warts on ears and nose. and tail and body. ivermectin!

varkering - overcrowded. mutilate each other.

ringworn - itrazconizole. trycophita.
facial dermatitis - in gerbils. secrete from harderian glands.
cc - chew fur if females are stressed.

Question 32

what is cheilitis? seen in? why? tx?

Answer 32

lip inflamm. seen in gps. fruti acids and poor vit c. lip scabs.
symptomatic tx and diet.

Question 33

endocrine diseases? (5)

Answer 33

cyctic ovarian disease. gps and gerbils
DM - gp hamster and cc
pituitary hyperplasia and adenomas - rats
hyperadrenocortisism - hamsters and gerbils.
hypothyroid in hamsters.

Question 34

cycstic ovarian disease in gps.? cx?
dx?

tx?
2 kinds? ddx? rule out?

Answer 34

very common. asymptomatic as they grow get non pruritic alopecia over back and flanks and abdo enlarge and infertile. cx.

dx - h and abdo palpate xray and us. usually bilateral,

tx - OVH. /hcg. percutaneous drain. - peritonitis risk.

1) serous cysts - ion pump def. ovh!
2) follicular - path. hcg! deslorhelin or ovh.

ddx- lat e preg, dm, cushings, parasites, batering, vit def,

Question 35

cystic ovarian disease in gerbils? seen in? cx? dx? tx?

Answer 35

older females. often bilateral. less fertile and alopecia and poor coat. abdo distended and dyspnoea.
dx - cx, palpate, xray and us.

tx - fna and ovh.

Question 36

diabetes mellitus? seen in? 
ddx from?
cx? 
dx?
tx?  what does it predispose to?

Answer 36

gp, cc , hamster,
ddx chronic cystitis.
cx - 3-6mo, app, dep, anorexia, wl, pupd, cataracts, infertile, foetal mrotality.
dx - high blood glucose, hyperlipidaemia, glucose tolerance tests. measure serum fructosamine.
tx - fibre. supprt, fluids, remove cataracts. esp chinese hamsters.

predisposes cystitis.

Question 37

pituitary hyperplasia and adenomas? common in?
cx?
tx?

Answer 37

older rats esp non breeding females.
cx - loss of app, wl, mm atrpohy, chromodacorhoea, nerve dys, head tilit, ataxia, circling, fitting, bilateral alopecia, may lead to acth release.

cushings?
spay or ovh!

Question 38

hyperadrenocortisism? seen in? cx?
dx?
tx?

Answer 38

gp’s, hamsters and gerbils. ddx alopecia, pupd, mm waste, acth stim.

ddx cyctic ovarian disease. iatrogenic?
more in males and older.
alopecia and pupd and hyperpigmentation, polyphagia, bahavioral.

dx - skin scrape, hair plucks, culture, cortisol? serum AP?

us.

tx - metyropone. by mouth,

Question 39

hypothyroid in hamsters? cx? tx?

Answer 39

alopecia, hyperpigmented, leth, cold, thickening,

tx - thyroxine.

Question 40

neuro disease in rodents? ddx?

Answer 40

lead. spontaneous seizures. handle early on! stim by chnages in environment.
e. cuniculi. also. and skin diseases

Question 41

head tilt? ddx?

Answer 41

otitis, pitutary, neoplaia, aging, resp infections, papilloma polyp.
ab and remove polyps etc.

Question 42

cavian leukaemia? seen in? cx?
dx?
tx?

Answer 42

gps. retrovirus.
cx- rough hair, ln, wl
dx- he=aem, biop, ln aspirate, cyto, abdo us,
tx - chemo, pts.

Question 43

conjunctivitis? usually in? tx?

Answer 43

cc’s. dust baths. remove it and topical lubes and abs .

Question 44

renal failure? cx? dx? tx?

Answer 44

chronic nephritis esp rats.
wl , app. pupd., cystitis. urinalysis and biochem.
fluids and anabolic steroids and reduce stress and fresh water.

Question 45

DCM? seen in?

Answer 45

cc’s. hcm and TR.

hamster - CM, and thrombosis.

Question 46

hamster neoplasia? 3 kinds? dx?

Answer 46

• melanoma - cutaneous more in males and may be amelanotic
• eptheliotrphic lymphoma? (mycosis fungoides) 2nd most common skin alopecia, pruritis, plaques, flaky, ulcers,
  biop and pts.
• hamster papovirus - causes transmissable lymphoma and cutaneous epitheliomas. 3m.o to 1 year old.
  warts around eyes and mouth and perineal. very contagious passed in urine. very resistant.

Question 47

pre AN prep?

Answer 47

do not fast. only ferrets.
clin exam and correct any fluid imbalance.
weigh and pre op food and water intake assessed. remove food 1 hour before in gp and cc. - make sure pharynx clear.

Question 48

pre an meds?

Answer 48

gp and cc - easily stressed - sedate. hypnorm and diazepam do not use injectable to induce.

Question 49

inhalation AN? use?

Answer 49

iso/sevo. pre oxygenate. non slip floor . eye lube as iso irrates mm.
face mask and ayres t piece. hard to intubate.

Question 50

intra op care - problems? tail?

post op?

Answer 50

hypothermia!!! - wrap tails of mice and rats heat pads and lamps and insulate. monitor closely as cant sweat or pant. pulse ox and ecg. fluids, analgesia - bupre.

nsaids. - car eof renal.

post op - prokinetics and feed and nsaids.

Question 51

fracture repair?

Answer 51

in 7-10 d healed. (callous)

external splints./fixators. amputate and they cope well.

Question 52

neuter? why? age?

Answer 52

prevent breeding, cyctic ovarian disease and neo, pyo. etc.

age - rat - 6-8 wks
mice - 6-7wks
hamster - 6-8wks (syrian /russian) 7-14 in chinese.
gerbils - 10-12 weeks
gp male - 9-10 female - 4-6
cc - 6-8m/o

Question 53

castration? why diff? 2 approaches?

Answer 53

open canal and may ratract them - push on abdo.

1) scrotal approach - cloed tech. if open remove fat pad.
2) pre scrtoal tech - prefferred/ sterile. open. close tunica and skin up. keep separate for 6 weeks

Question 54

OVH? how? why cc and degu diff?

Answer 54

midline. ligate vessels. clip/ligiature.
cc and degu - no uterine body like a rabbit therefore - lig caudal to paired cervices on vagina.

others- lig on uterus.

Question 55

ovarianectomy? when gp?
when rats? - other tx?

hamster pyo?!! - what is normal?

Answer 55

gp - 4-6 w/o lessens chance of cyctic ovaries. and uterine disease. lateral approach. ligate vessels.

rats - 6-8 weeks. reduce neoplasia of mammary glands. or can implant with deslorhelin. (gnrh)

pyo -hamsters and rats.
hamster has white discharge 5-7 days post ovulate - normal.

Question 56

mammary gland removal? which species most common?

mice and gerbils - usually malignant? how to prevent?

Answer 56

rats - usually benign. ulcerate and problems moving! bettter to remove.

mice and gerbil - ofetn malignant - poor prog. remove plus wide margin. prevent by ovarianectomy early or using deslorhelin implants. (4-6w/o)