Exotics

Question 1

Ectoparasites affecting rabbits?

Answer 1

> Mites
- leporacarus gibbus (fur mite) 
- psoroptes cuniculi (ear mite)  
- cheyletiella parasitovorax
> lice
> fleas

Question 2

Main ectoparasites of rats?

Answer 2

mites

- radfordia ensifera, notoedres muris

Question 3

Main ectoparasites of hamseters?

Answer 3

mites

- demodex criceti, demodex auati

Question 4

Main ectoparasites of guinea pigs?

Answer 4

• mites (trixacarus caviae)

- lice (glricola porcelli, gyropus ovalis)

Question 5

Ectoparasites in ferrets?

Answer 5

> mites 
- otodectes cynotis (ear mite) 
- sarcoptes scabei 
> fleas
- ctenocephalides felis felis (cat flea)

Question 6

Tx ectoparasites?

Answer 6

• ivermectin (0.4mg/kg sc or topically q7-14d)
• address predisposing factors
• tx 2* infection
• consider tx of companions

Question 7

Egs. of ivermectin based treatments?

Answer 7

• topical products on small animal exempotino scheme

- injectable preferred if poss

Question 8

Which product are licensed for flea prevention in ferrets and in rabbit?

Answer 8

> ferrets
- moxidectin and imidaclopruid
- fipronil and methoprene
> rabbits
- imidacloprid 
- DO NOT USE FIPRONIL

Question 9

Tx bacterial skin infection?

Answer 9

• clip and clean
• bandages/collars not well tolerated
• PLACE rule for oral Abx to avoid in small herbivores

Question 10

Hypersensitivity reactions seen in small mammals?

Answer 10

• not well documented
• substrate eg. pine or cedar shavings
• antihistamines tried

Question 11

Should steroids be used in small mammalas?

Answer 11

• rabbits and rodents very sensitive even at low doses
  > severe immunosuppression
  > flare ups of subclinical disease eg. pasteurellosis
  > hepatic lipidosis
• even if topical

Question 12

Main causes of non-pruritic alopecia?

Answer 12

• companions overgrooming
• not all bacterial/fungal/parasitic infectionsare pruritic
• dermatophytosis
  > usually trichopyton
  > tx topical/systemic antifungals
  > environmental control

Question 13

Most common alopecic endocrine disorders in guinae pigs?

Answer 13

• cystic ovaries > bilat symmetrical flank alopecia

Question 14

Most common alopecic endocrine disorders in hamsters?

Answer 14

• hyperadrenocorticism > alopecia and PUPD

definitive dx difficult

Question 15

Most common alopecic endocrine disorders in ferrets?

Answer 15

• hyperoestrogenism (+swollen vulva, bleeding, collapse, alopecia beginning at tail base)
• hyperadrenocorticism (bilateral symmetrical alopecia, may be pruritic)
• seasonal alopecia

Question 16

What is seasonal alopecia? Which species does it affect?

Answer 16

-

- ferrets

Question 17

Which vitamin deficiency are guinaepigs susceptible to? clinical signs?

Answer 17

> hypovitaminosis C
- guinaepigs have absolute dietary requirement 10mg/kg vit C/day
- potential underlying cause of bacterial/fungal/parasitic skin disease
clinical signs:
- rough coat, scaling pinnae, petechiae

Question 18

Which small mammal is prone to cutaneous neoplasia?

Answer 18

Hamsters

Question 19

What should potentially neoplastic lumps be distinguished from?

Answer 19

scent glands

Question 20

What must abx for abscesses cover?

Answer 20

Anaerobes

Question 21

Usual tx abscesses?

Answer 21

Surgical

Question 22

What is one of the most common dermatological diseases in rabbits?

Answer 22

Pododermatitis
- hock pododermatitis foundi n 90% rabbits!
> inappropriate substrate, inactivity, weight
> tx: topical and systemic anti-inflams

Question 23

What causes myxomatosis? Spread?

Answer 23

• pox virus

- spread by biting insects (fleas, mosquitos)

Question 24

Clincal signs myxomatosis?

Answer 24

• swelling eyes, genitals
• URT signs
  > fatal if unvaccinated

Question 25

Prevention of myxomatosis?

Answer 25

• annual combined vax from 5 weeks old
  > myxomatosis
  > viral haemorrhagic disease

Question 26

When is flystrike seen? Pathogenesis?

Answer 26

• warm weather
• potentially fatal
• eggs laid on any dirty/inflamed areas
• 1-3d develop to maggots > tissue damage, deat h

Question 27

Tx flystrike

Answer 27

• eggs and maggotsp hyscially removed +- sedation!
• intensive nursing and supportive care
  > pain relief
  > fluids
  > Abx
• euthanasia??

Question 28

Prevention of flystrike?

Answer 28

• check daily in summer
• v flies in environment
• Rearguard applied at high risk times prevents eggs developing for 8-10 weeks

Question 29

How often do pet birds moult?

Answer 29

• 1x year
• during/just after breeding season
• energy demands high -> less active bird

Question 30

Potential casues of feather plucking?

Answer 30

• pruritis
• pain
• behavioural

Question 31

Cause of pscittacine beak and feather disease?

Answer 31

- circovirus inhaled or eaten 
> affects dividing cells
- sudden death
- immunosuppression
- feather and beak signs

Question 32

Which virus is common in budgies?

Answer 32

Polyoma virus 
- inhaled or eaten 
- may occour at same time as PBFD 
> sudden death 
> feather abnormalities
> bruising and bleeding

Question 33

What is shedding of skin in reptiles known as?

Answer 33

ecdysis

Question 34

What are problems with ecdysis usually related to?

Answer 34

- environmental factors
> dysecdysis
- low humidity 
- systemic disease
- local skin problems

Question 35

Why are burns seen in reptiles?

Answer 35

inappropriate heat source

• reptiles slow to respond to thermal pain
• prolonged tx needed

Question 36

Which reptiles should NOT be treated with ivermectin?

Answer 36

-