Exotic Questions Flashcards
(128 cards)
- What antibiotics should be avoided in rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, and hamsters? Name 5 and say why?
a. Avoid antibiotics which target gram positive bacteria and can cause fatal intestinal dysbiosis
b. Antibiotics to avoid = penicillins, macrolides, tetracyclines, lincosamides, cephalosporins
- What antibiotics can you use in rabbits? Name 6.
a. Enrofloxacin, TMS, chloramphenicol, metronidazole, azithromycin, penicillin G
- What 2 antibiotics cause otoxicity in guinea pigs and chinchillas?
a. Chloramphenicol
b. Aminoglycosides
- Give three differentials for the ulcerations in a tortoise shell.
Answer:
a. Superficial ulcer secondary to husbandy
b. Septicemic cutaneous ulcerative disease (SCUD)
c. Beneckea chitinovora infection
d. Mercury toxicity
- What is an important risk of topical dips or bathing in small mammals?
a. Hypothermia due to all over wetting
- A gerbil with erythematous skin and alopecia on the neck and dorsal midline presents for examination. You find the following mite on scraping. What should you tell owners about possible zoonosis?
Answer:
a. This is Ornithonyssus bacoti mite
b. It is zoonotic and can cause pruritic, papules/vesicles on the forehead and limbs in humans
- Why should you not apply dips to the face of small mammals? (2 reasons)
a. Aspiration pneumonia or inhalation
b. Ingestion of topical products
- Which flea preventative is toxic to rabbits?
a. Fipronil
- What seasonal hair changes occur in ferrets? What season does this happen?
a. Thin hair occurs symmetrically in Spring in the Northern hemisphere, showing alopecia of the tail, perineum, and inguinal hair with underlying brown-red waxy deposits on the skin from the sebaceous glands
- What 2 glands are responsible for odor in ferrets? Which are more important?
a. Sebaceous glands provide majority of musky odor and greasy feel to skin/fur
b. Anal glands produce minority of musky odor
- Where are sebaceous glands located on the rabbit versus the ferret?
a. Rabbit = Chin, anal glands, and paired inguinal glands
b. Ferret = over entire body
- How is the anal gland shaped in the prairie dog?
a. Triad of papillae
- Match the ectoparasite with the species it can infest.
a. Ferret
b. Chinchilla
c. Mouse
d. Rabbit
e. Prairie dog
f. Guinea pig
g. Rat
h. Hamster
i. African hedgehog
j. Gerbil
- Ctenocephalides felis felis
- Ctenocephalides canis
- Trixacarus caviae
- Demodex merioni
- Demodex aurati and D. criceti
- Caparinia tripilis and C. erinacei
- Notoedres muris
- Pulex irritans
- Otodectes cynotis
- Sarcoptes scabiei
- Spilopsyllus cuniculi
- Chirodiscoides caviae
- Psorergates simplex
- Trimenopen jenningsi and T. hispidum
- Psoroptes cuniculi
- Cheyletiella parasitovorax
- Leporacarus gibbus
- Liponyssus bacoti
- Myobia musculi
- Notoedres cati
- Gyropus ovalis
- Demodex caviae
- Notoedres notoedres
- Linognathus cynomys
- Polyplex serrata
- Demodex cuniculi
- Cuterebra species
- Radfordia ensifera
- Haemodipsus ventricosus
- Radfordia affinis
- Giricola porcelli
- Polyplex spinulosa
- Myocoptes muculinus
Answers:
* A (Ferret) = 1, 2, 8, 9, 10
* B (Chinchilla) = 1, 2, 16
* C (Mouse) = 13, 18, 19, 25, 30, 33
* D (Rabbit) = 1, 2, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 20, 26, 27, 29
* E (Prairie dog) = 24
* F (Guinea pig) = 3, 7, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 31, 33
* G (Rat) = 7, 18, 28, 32
* H (Hamster) = 5, 10, 18, 20, 23
* I (African hedgehog) = 6
* J (Gerbil) = 4, 5
- Describe the presentation of Psorptes cuniculi infestation in a rabbit. How is this treated?
a. Bilateral, intense pruritus and otitis externa, beginning as dry, grey-white crusted exudate in the ear canal then worsening to form layered crusts, with secondary excoriations and ear drooping
b. Treatment = ivermectin, moxidectin, or selamectin
- Describe the presentations of Sarcoptes scabiei infestation in a ferret.
a. Generalized (more common) = focal to generalized alopecia with intense pruritus
b. Localized on the feet only = severe inflammation, swelling, and crusting of the paws with dystrophic claws that can slough
- How long after infection with canine distemper virus do ferrets show signs?
a. 10 – 15 days after exposure
- True/False – lagomorphs are competent leishmaniasis reservoirs.
a. True
- What is CANV and how do you treat it?
a. Yellow fungus, the Chrysosporium anamorph of Nannizziopsis vriessi (CANV) is an ascomycetous teleomorphic fungus
b. CANV infection has been reported in a wide range of reptile species.
c. Slowly progressive and often fatal skin disease – progress from dry/hyperkeratotic plaques to exudative/necrotic ulcers, often affecting the mouth and other areas of the body (Including internally)
d. Medical treatment of confirmed cases involves itraconazole (10 mg/kg, PO, q 24 h for 6 weeks) and topical treatment with chlorhexidine solution. Serum biochemistry should be monitored for signs of liver toxicity. Surgical excision of lesions should be carried out if possible, and in conjunction with medical therapy.
- What antiparasitic treatments are safe for ferrets? Name 5.
a. Pyrethrin sprays safe for cats
b. Imidacloprid
c. Selamectin
d. Lufenuron
e. Fipronil
f. Ivermectin
- What 2 species of dermatophyte are commonly a problem in ferrets?
a. M. canis and T. mentagrophytes
- A ferret presents with bilaterally symmetric alopecia. Give the most common cause for this finding.
Answer = Adrenocortical hyperplasia or neoplasia
- What antibiotics can be given in rabbits, hamsters, and guinea pigs to avoid the risk of intestinal dysbiosis?
a. Chloramphenicol, aminoglycosides (not in rabbits!), fluoroquinolones, metronidazole, TMS, penicillin G, azithromycin
- A ferret presents with these lesions. Describe the lesions and the most likely differential. What is your prognosis?
Answer:
* Red-brown rash on the inguinal, perianal area and medial thighs, extending to the distal limbs
* Brown small crusts on the face periocularly, on the muzzle, and around the lips with associated swelling in all areas
* Differential = canine distemper virus
* Prognosis = close to 100% mortality
- What is the most likely cause of this rabbit’s clinical signs? Design a treatment plan for this rabbit.
Answer = Psoroptes cuniculi infestation, treat all rabbits using ivermectin, moxidectin, or selamectin; don’t remove crusts because they will cause pain