Anorexia and gastrointestinal disease in small mammals

Question 1

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

Answer 1

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

Question 2

what can an incorrect diet predispose small mammals to

Answer 2

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

Question 3

what are outdoor small mammals more likely to get

Answer 3

Exposure to wildlife e.g. virus’ and endoparasites

Question 4

what can stress cause in hindgut fermenters

Answer 4

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

Question 5

List 7 causes of stress in small mammals

Answer 5

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

Question 6

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

Answer 6

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!

Question 7

List the main differences of ferret compared to cat

Answer 7

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

Question 8

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

Answer 8

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

Question 9

List 4 causes of weaker teeth in hindgut fermenters

Answer 9

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

Question 10

Why is vitamin C important in guinea pig diet

Answer 10

Because unable to synthesise vit C so need it from diet

Question 11

where do cheek teeth grow in rabbits

Answer 11

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

Question 12

what is a spur

Answer 12

sharp overgrowth of a tooth

Question 13

what is different between rabbit and guinea pig cheek teeth

Answer 13

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

Question 14

Describe the ideal rabbit diet

Answer 14

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

Question 15

why do we not want to feed alfalfa hay to rabbits

Answer 15

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

Question 16

List the clinical signs of gastrointestinal disease in small mammals

Answer 16

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)

Question 17

when can you see Hyperglycaemia in small mammals

Answer 17

stress
pain
advanced liver disease

Question 18

when can you see hypoglycaemia in small mammals

Answer 18

starvation/ anorexia

Question 19

what indicates dehydration in small mammals on bloods

Answer 19

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

Question 20

list the liver parameters are found in small mammals

Answer 20

TBIL
ALT
AST
GGT
ALKP

some more reliable in some species

Question 21

List 12 common GIT conditions that affect hind gut fermenters

Answer 21

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)

Question 22

what is gut stasis

Answer 22

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

Question 23

List 5 things that can cause gut stasis

Answer 23

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

Question 24

What are the 2 main types of causes of gastric bloat

Answer 24

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

Question 25

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

Answer 25

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

Question 26

List the clinical signs of dysbiosis in hind gut fermenters

Answer 26

Anorexia
diarrhoea
haematochezia
dehydration
shock and death

Question 27

List the normal commensals of hindgut fermenters

Answer 27

Bacteroides
Enterococcus,
Staphylococcus
E.coli.

Question 28

T/F Lactobacillus are absent in rabbits.

Answer 28

True

Question 29

What is Dysautonomia

Answer 29

idiopathic malfunction of the autonomic nervous system.

Question 30

List the clinical signs of Dysautonomia

Answer 30

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.

Question 31

In what rabbits do we see caecal impaction

Answer 31

younger rabbits

Question 32

what do we see anal impaction in and how to treat

Answer 32

common in older male guinea pigs
gentle manual expression

Question 33

List the common GIT conditions that affect ferrets

Answer 33

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

Question 34

List the viral diseases that can affect ferrets

Answer 34

ferret enteric coronavirus
rotavirus
canine distemper

Question 35

What are most ferrets carriers of

Answer 35

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

Question 36

Name 2 common neoplasia in ferrets

Answer 36

Lymphoma and adenocarcinoma

Possibly secondary to Helicobacter mustelae.

Question 37

List the bacteria infections which cause enteritis in rodents

Answer 37

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

Question 38

List 4 common GIT conditions of rodents

Answer 38

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

Question 39

Describe how to perform dental clinical exam in small mammals

Answer 39

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.

Question 40

Why is dental imaging important in rabbits

Answer 40

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.

Question 41

describe the staging of acquired dental disease

Answer 41

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

Question 42

What dental radiographic views do we need to take in rabbits

Answer 42

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

Question 43

List 6 options for analgesia in small mammals

Answer 43

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

Question 44

List 3 prokinetic drugs used in rabbits

Answer 44

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

Only if no obstruction

Question 45

What is the maintenance fluid rate in rabbits

Answer 45

4ml/kg/hr

Question 46

what is subcut fluid in rabbits

Answer 46

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

Question 47

describe shock rate fluids in rabbits

Answer 47

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

Question 48

What is the safe rule for hind gut fermenters

Answer 48

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

Question 49

List 3 safe antibiotics to give rabits

Answer 49

TMPS
metronidazole
enrofloxacin- protected antibiotic

Question 50

What is the PLACE rule

Answer 50

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

Question 51

how often should we feed rabbits which need syringe feeding

Answer 51

6 feeds per day

Question 52

Describe how to treat gastric bloat in rabbits

Answer 52

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

Question 53

Describe how to treat Dysbiosis/enterotoxaemia in rabbits

Answer 53

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

Question 54

describe how to treat Accumulated Caecotrophs in rabbits

Answer 54

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

Question 55

Describe surgery in hind gut fermenters/ rodent

Answer 55

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

Question 56

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

Answer 56

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

Question 57

Describe how to perform cheek tooth extration in small mammals

Answer 57

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

Question 58

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

Answer 58

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

Question 59

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

Answer 59

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

Question 60

why do rabbit and guinea pig dental abscess need surgical excision

Answer 60

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).