Chapter 7 Mammal Rehab Basics

Question 1

Upon admittance of an orphaned animal, you should evaluate the need to provide which of the
following?

a. heat
b. fluids
c. treatment of injuries
d. isolation
e. all of the above

Answer 1

E

Question 2

How many of the orphaned animals admitted to your care may require rehydration therapy upon
arrival?

a. very few
b. about 50%
c. practically all

Answer 2

C

Question 3

A 2.5% Dextrose® in solution with lactated
ringers is an excellent fluid to administer to weak, dehydrated orphan mammals as it provides extra
calories.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

The body temperature of an infant animal
has no effect on its ability to digest food.

Answer 4

False

Question 5

When using an external heat source to raise
the body temperature of an animal, you must monitor the animal carefully to prevent burns and
overheating. Which of the following, if used improperly, can cause injury to the animal?

a. heating pad
b. infrared lamp
c. incandescent light bulb with reflectors
d. all of the above

Answer 5

D

Question 6

Warm water bottles used to warm orphaned
mammals should be wrapped in a towel to prevent burns.

Answer 6

True

Question 7

You have been presented with an orphan
squirrel that is listless and disinterested in food or water. What should you do first?

a. warm it up
b. try to feed it with a bottle
c. stomach tube (gavage) it
d. wait until dark and see if it perks up
e. take its temperature

Answer 7

E

Question 8

There is no need to isolate young animals
upon admittance to avoid the spread of contagious disease.

Answer 8

False

Question 9

You have a litter of three young gray
squirrels in your care when another young gray squirrel is brought to you. You should:

a. immediately add this animal to the existing litter to improve its socialization skills
b. isolate this new individual for a day and if it appears healthy, add it to the litter
c. isolate this new individual for a minimum of seven days before adding it to the litter
d. do a fecal exam and if it is negative, add this squirrel to the litter

Answer 9

C

Question 10

Young mammals need lots of handling and
attention when they are being raised by humans to help them feel secure.

Answer 10

False

Question 11

Handling of young mammals should be
tapered off at what time?

a. when their eyes open
b. when they begin self-feeding
c. when they are placed in outside housing
d. just before they are released

Answer 11

B

Question 12

A regular domestic rabbit hutch is a good
cage for young wild cottontail rabbits.

Answer 12

False

Question 13

It is not necessary to raise young mammals with others of the same species
(conspecifics) for proprer socialization.

Answer 13

False

Question 14

Infant rabbits tolerate frequent handling with a minimum of stress.

Answer 14

False

Question 15

A radio should be played during daylight hours in an orphan squirrel nursery to provide auditory stimulation for growth and development.

Answer 15

False

Question 16

Monitoring body weight is an important criteria in evaluation of an orphaned animal’s condition.

Answer 16

True

Question 17

Terry cloth is a good bedding material for
orphaned wildlife.

Answer 17

False

Question 18

Orphaned mammals should be examined for lice, fleas and ticks and treated appropriately.

Answer 18

True

Question 19

Animals placed on long term antibiotics maY’,. need a lactobacillus supplement such as Bene Bae® to help reestablish intestinal flora caused by the sterilizing effect of the
antibiotic.

Answer 19

True

Question 20

Which of the following statements about
infant cottontail rabbits is FALSE?

a. they need to be stimulated to urinate
b. they begin eating solid food when they are ten days old
c. during the first week of life, they are kept warm by the mother who stays with them in a fur-lined nest
d. they usually do better when the litter is raised together, rather than separated and raised alone

Answer 20

C

Question 21

Generally, in Minnesota, eastern cottontails begin giving birth during:

a. January to February
b. March to May
c. May to July
d. August to September

Answer 21

B

Question 22

Female eastern cottontails can have as many as four litters of young per season in Minnesota.

Answer 22

True

Question 23

The average gestation period and the average number of young per litter for Eastern cottontails is:

a. 4 weeks, 4 to 5 young
b. 2 weeks, 6 to 8 young
c. 10 weeks, 1 to 2 young
d. none of the above

Answer 23

A

Question 24

Young eastern cottontail rabbits open their eyes at approximately what age?

a. birth
b. 1 week
c. 2 weeks
d. 4 weeks

Answer 24

B

Question 25

Infant cottontail rabbits are on their own by about 4 weeks of aqe.

Answer 25

True

Question 26

The average gestation period and the average number of young per litter for a gray squirrel is: a. 45 days, 3 to 5 young b. 21 days, 2 to 4 young c. 17 days, 1 to 2 young d. none of the above

Answer 26

A

Question 27

At approximately what age does a young gray squirrel's eyes open? a. 1 to 2 weeks b. 2 to 3 weeks c. 4 to 5 weeks d. 6 to 7 weeks

Answer 27

C

Question 28

Which of the following do cottontail rabbits depend on for safety and survival? a. concealment b. ability to run fast to escape when needed c. powerful front teeth for use as a defense mechanism d. a and b e. all of the above

Answer 28

D

Question 29

Cottontail rabbits have a fragile spinal column which is easily broken by a jarring blow, or predator bite.

Answer 29

True

Question 30

In cottontail rabbits, stress can precipitate an imbalance of the delicate intestinal bacteria resulting in an overload of pathogenic bacteria causing stress-induced enteritis (inflammation of the intestines) which can lead to death.

Answer 30

True

Question 31

an infant cottontail rabbit with its eyes closed exhibiting frantic head waving is probably a starving orphan.

Answer 31

True

Question 32

�!. approximately what age are gray squirrels weaned in the wild? a 1 month b. 2 months c. 3 months d. 4 months

Answer 32

B

Question 33

Cottontails can die from stress-induced diarrhea or spinal injuries if improperly rehabilitated.

Answer 33

True

Question 34

It is acceptable to keep rabbits in an open­ topped box or cage.

Answer 34

False

Question 35

Young cottontail rabbits can escape through 1" mesh.

Answer 35

True

Question 36

Since cottontail rabbits are, like other species, very instinctive, it is doubtful anything is gained by pre-release conditioning (e.g. exposure to natural food sources, acclimation to eather, etc.).

Answer 36

True

Question 37

The first thing you should feed a young cottontail that appears to be in good health is: a. rehydrating solution b. grass c. full-strength formula

Answer 37

A

Question 38

Orphaned infant cottontails, or any orphaned mammal, should be given a source of heat such as a heating pad. The heating pad should be placed: a. on top of the box they are being kept in so the heat source is from above b. under the whole box, since there is no need to allow them to get away from the heat c. under only a part of the box so the rabbits can escape the heat

Answer 38

C

Question 39

Heating pads used to warm orphaned mammals should be set on: a. low b. medium c. high d. high at first, then medium or low

Answer 39

A

Question 40

Captive rabbits should be supplied with large quantities of: a. natural forage, leafy greens and grasses supplemented with rabbit chow b. diced apples c. rabbit chow d. bananas e. all of the above

Answer 40

A

Question 41

Appropriate food items for captive, adult squirrels might include each of the following EXCEPT: a. nuts b. fruits and berries c. sugared cereals d. monkey (zupreme) biscuits e. dog food

Answer 41

C

Question 42

The protein and fat content of the milk of most mammals is the same among species.

Answer 42

False

Question 43

Excessive or inappropriate milk sugars or fats can cause diarrhea and digestive upsets in infant mammals.

Answer 43

True

Question 44

Esbilac® and KMR® are two common milk replacers used for rearing many orphaned wild mammals.

Answer 44

True

Question 45

Raw eggs are a safe addition to a young mammal's feeding formula.

Answer 45

False

Question 46

Formulas should be warmed to body temperature before feeding.

Answer 46

True

Question 47

Formulas placed in a microwave should be thoroughly mixed after warming to prevent uneven heating.

Answer 47

True

Question 48

When beginning to hand.feed a litter of orphaned gray squirrels, the appropriate formula should be: a. warmed to body temperature before feeding b. fed using bottles with disinfected nipples c. fed initially at full concentration d. a and b

Answer 48

D

Question 49

When starting an orphan on formula feedings, supplemental rehydration fluids may need to be given subcutaneously.

Answer 49

True

Question 50

Tube-feeding is the preferred, routine method for feeding most healthy orphan animals.

Answer 50

False

Question 51

Infant animals should be held on their backs like human babies when being fed.

Answer 51

False

Question 52

When bottle feeding an infant, it is better to overfeed to be sure it gets enough than to underfeed.

Answer 52

False

Question 53

Orphan mammals should be fed as infrequently as possible without over or underfeeding to minimize human contact.

Answer 53

True

Question 54

As long as a nutritionally balanced diet is provided for orphaned wildlife, the frequency of feedings is not important.

Answer 54

False

Question 55

It is important to know an orphan's stomach capacity before feeding so that overfeeding does not occur.

Answer 55

True

Question 56

The maximum stomach capacity of infant rodents, carnivores and marsupials is in the range of: a. 15 to 25 ml per kg of body weight b. 50 to 60 ml per kg of body weight c. 100 to 250 ml per kg of body weight d 400 to 500 ml per kg of body weight

Answer 56

B

Question 57

The maximum stomach capacity of an infant rabbit is in the range of : a. 15 to 25 ml per kg of body weight b. 50 to 60 ml per kg of body weight c. 100 to 250 ml per kg of body weight d. 400 to 500 ml per kg of body weight

Answer 57

c

Question 58

An infant rabbit has a larger stomach capacity than a squirrel of similar body weight.

Answer 58

True

Question 59

Cottontail rabbits are coprophagous, which means that they a. eat only vegetation b. ingest their own soft green feces which are produced at a certain interval after they feed c. get fluid froin dew and the vegetation they eat

Answer 59

B

Question 60

Aspiration pneumonia is a common problem associated with bottle-feeding of some orphaned mammals. It is caused by: a. feeding too large a volume of formula too rapidly b. burning the face with the warmed formula c. missing more than one feeding d. a and c

Answer 60

A

Question 61

A hole in a feeding nipple that is too large can cause leakage of formula and lead to aspiration and possibly pneumonia.

Answer 61

True

Question 62

While feeding a young squirrel, yo.u notice milk bubbles around the nose and mouth. You should: a. stop feeding, wipe the surplus off, and hold the head down and gently shake or rub between the shoulders b. assume it doesn't like the taste of the milk and will get used to it in time ... keep going c. wipe the surplus off and place the squirrel on its back d. stop the feeding because its stomach is full which is why the milk is coming back up

Answer 62

A

Question 63

It is not necessary to wipe excess formula from the faces and paws of orphans after feeding because they will clean themselves.

Answer 63

False

Question 64

Formula feedings should be discontinued in the case of severe diarrhea in young mammals.

Answer 64

True

Question 65

Before their eyes are open, most young mammals need to be stimulated to urinate by gently rubbing their genital area with a warm, wet cloth or cotton ball.

Answer 65

True

Question 66

As soon as an infant mammal's eyes are open, it no longer needs to be stimulated to urinate.

Answer 66

False

Question 67

Orphan mammals that are able to defecate on their own can also urinate by themselves without stimulation.

Answer 67

False

Question 68

The term weaning refers to: a. sleeping b. drinking water c. the transition from milk to solid diet d. being ready for release

Answer 68

C

Question 69

Cottontails prefer warm formula warmer rather than tepid or cool.

Answer 69

True`