Exotics

Question 1

What can calcium:phosphorous imbalance (Ca Deficiency) cause?

Answer 1

Metabolic bone disease/nutritional osteodystrophy

Question 2

Why insectivorous mammals, birds and reptiles are particularly prone to nutritional diseases?

Answer 2

Many invertebrates have an indegestible chitinous exoskeleton, poor ca:p ratio and high fat content. And could also be a source of toxins (pesticides)

Question 3

Which nutrient Deficiency can a captive garter snake fed on fish diet have? And what is the clinical sign?

Answer 3

Thiamine (vit B1). Neurological signs

Question 4

Which nutrient imbalance causes swelling of eyelids in chelonians due to hyperkeratinisation?

Answer 4

Excess of vit A (normally due to overdosage)

Question 5

What is the general recommendation for feeding rabbits? And why?

Answer 5

Hay (fiber-rich and laborious-to-chew diet item), green leafy vegetables (water and vits intake/behavioral enrichment), and high fiber pellets (ensure energy and trace elements provision)

Avoid high starch/sugar diet items (fruits, grains, bread, low-fiber pelletier feeds, muesli or cereal mixes)

Question 6

Why should production rabbits be fed diets higher in fiber?

Answer 6

For the normal functioning of the colonic separation mechanism. This reduces the incidence of diarrhea and mortality.

In low fiber diets, easily digestible material reaches the site of microbial fermentation and leads to an unfavorable change in the microbiome composition. Also the lack of fiber reduces colonic motility

Question 7

What % of CF should be targeted to pet rabbits?

Answer 7

At least 20% CF in DM

Question 8

Can rabbits be kept in forage-only diets?

Answer 8

Yes, preferably with early second cut hay (lower levels of fiber) than late cut (higher levels of fiber). E.g. alfalfa, grass hays

Normally we add a pelleted diet to prevent lack if minerals. But this could be prevented by providing a variety of forages that do not originate from the same location (they should be given simultaneously). However it could increase the opportunity of selective feeding.

Question 9

Which green leafy vegetables should be avoided for rabbits?

Answer 9

High oxalate items: spinach, kale or cabbage

Question 10

What are the main causes of dental problems in rabbits?

Answer 10

Lack of abrasion,
Unbalanced Ca:P ratio
Genetic predisposition

Question 11

Which disorders can be grouped in lower urinary tract disease in rabbits?

Answer 11

Urinary incontinence
Sludgy urine
Cystic calculi
(Uretheral calculi and nephrolithiasis can also occur)

Question 12

What are the clinical signs of lower urinary tract disease in rabbits?

Answer 12

Urine scalding
Pain on urination
Loss of litter training
pu/pd
Gut stasis
Hunched posture
Visual changes in urine
Dysuria
Teeth grinding

Question 13

What is the difference in the CKD for dogs/ cats and rabbits (in the role of Calcium)?

Answer 13

Dogs/cats: CKD affects conversion of 25-OH-D to 1.25(OH2)D in the kidney (renal secondary hyperparathyroidism). Ca absorption is impaired, and desmineralization of the bones occurs.

Rabbits: CKD compromises Ca excretion, but not absorption. Passive absorption of Ca from the intestines continues in the absence of Vit D. Hypercalcemia occurs with excretion of clear urine. This can lead to excess mineralization in the bones and kidneys/ calcification of the aorta

Question 14

What is the most common constituent of urolithiasis in rabbits and other rodents? And why?

Answer 14

Calcium carbonate.
Due to high dietary calcium (not proven)

Question 15

Which crystals can be normally found on the urine of rabbits?

Answer 15

Oxalate and struvite.
Urate is 100% excreted by the kidney

Question 16

What could happen to a ferret or other felids if they are fed an arginine-deficient diet?

Answer 16

Like felids, whose urea cycle relies on arginine for the conversion of ammonia to blood urea nitrogen, ferrets fed an arginine-deficient meal show hyperammonemia and encephalopathy
within a matter of hours

Question 17

Which amino acids are limiting in ferrets?

Answer 17

arginine
methionine
taurin (essential)

Question 18

How should be the nutritional management of insulinoma in ferrets?

Answer 18

high-protein, high-fat, low (and ideally
complex)-carbohydrate diet.

It is important to either free-feed the patient (a premeasured amount) or enlist the aid of an automatic feeder, providing food at a minimum of every 4 hours. In addition, it is essential that the client discontinues all high-sugar treats or foods

Question 19

How should be the nutritional management of IBD in ferrets?

Answer 19

Hydrolyzed diet from cats

Question 20

Which type of diet can lead to malocclusion of teeth in rabbits and other rodents?

Answer 20

A diet low in crude fiber

Question 21

Which type of diet can lead to GI stasis of teeth in rabbits and other rodents?

Answer 21

A dietary fiber content less than 12.5% can reduce normal GI peristalsis, leading to GI stasis and hair retention in the stomach. Because of it rabbits can rapidly develop hepatic lipidosis and multiorgan failure

Question 22

What do the rodents (guinea pigs, chinchillas, hamsters, gerbils, rats and mice) have in common?

Answer 22

They are all hind-gut fermenters and all coprophages (cecotrophy)

Question 23

Which disease is common in gerbils that have a high fat diet?

Answer 23

Hypercholesterolemia

Question 24

Which vitamin and mineral deficiencies can be caused to rats that are only fed insects?

Answer 24

Ca, Vit A and D deficiencies. less than 50% of the NRC requirements of rats for growth

Question 25

for the nutrition of reptiles: what is gut loading and dusting?

Answer 25

gut loading and dusting are essential practices to ensure that the insects or other prey items fed to the reptiles have optimal nutritional value.

gut loading: feeding a diet rich in calcium and vitamins to the insects. The principle behind gut loading is that the nutrients from the prey are passed on to the reptile, making it a more effective way of providing necessary vitamins and minerals than direct supplementation. Are generally not highly palatable -> you should not feed them tastier choices.

dusting: Dusting with Ca in every feeding. The reptile needs to eat the insects quickly. Dusting refers to the practice of coating the prey items with powdered vitamin and mineral supplements just before feeding them to the reptile. The powdered supplements adhere to the prey’s exoskeleton, and when the reptile consumes the prey, it also ingests the beneficial nutrients present in the powder.

Question 26

Which form of Vit A should be supplemented to reptiles and amphibians?

Answer 26

many species are not able to use beta-carotene as a source of vit A. retinol acetate or retinol palmitate should be the form to supplement vit A

Question 27

How to diagnose NSHP in reptiles/amphibians?

Answer 27

25-hydoxycholecalciferol - for some species could be done. but not so common
The easiest is to do X-ray - BUT it takes 40-50% of demineralization to see changes on x-ray

Question 28

What can cause NSHP in reptiles/amphibians?

Answer 28

No UV light or old UV light, inappropriate Ca:P ratio in the food, lack of an appropriate supplement, GI parasites

Question 29

What are the causes of hypervitaminosis D in reptiles/amphibians?

Answer 29

generally due to over supplementation; herbivores on dog or cat food

Question 30

What is the minimum ca:P ratio for reptiles?

Answer 30

2:1 is the MINIMUM. normally they can have way higher Ca:P ratio

Question 31

Why is it difficult to meet nutrient profiles of tortoises with greens, veggies and fruits? And what should we actually feed tortoises?

Answer 31

too high or low protein, too low fiber, too high CHOs, too low in Ca, inadequate Ca:P ratio

Food: Quality low-protein commercial pellets; Backyard grasses or grass hay, Plants native to where the tortoise is from (80%)
20%: weeds, dark leaf greens, flowers. leaves, non-starchy vegetables

Avoid starch, sugar and low-calcium foods

Question 32

Which are common uroliths in reptiles/amphibians?

Answer 32

Purines - uric acid and ammonium acid urate

Question 33

What is the main problem of feeding food with oxalates to tortoises?

Answer 33

Oxalate bind with Ca and impair its intestinal absorption.
CaOx is not a problem for them.

Question 34

What should we feed to iguanas?

Answer 34

> 50% of the diet: commercial diets
< 50%: dark leaf greens, flowers. leaves, non-starchy vegetables
no fruits or starchy vegetables

Question 35

What is short tongue syndrome in frogs/toads?

Answer 35

hypovitaminosis A *they lack sickness in their longue)

Question 36

How should carnivore reptiles/amphibians be fed?

Answer 36

freshly killed/stunned or thawed in warm water whole animals (not gutted or boned), no multivitamin is necessaire

Question 37

For rodents (rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, degus), is it better to feed them alfalfa hay or timothy hay? Why?

Answer 37

It is better Timothy hay or any other grass hay. Alfalfa hay is a legume and not a grass hay and has higher protein and calcium compared to grass hay, which could predispose these animals to calciuria, urolithiasis and obesity

Question 38

Guinea pigs lack L-gulonolactone oxidase, the enzyme that helps in the synthesis of Vit C. Which is the best way to supplement Vit C for them?

Answer 38

Avoid adding Vit C to the water, as it decreases palatability and is less stable. Better is to give it as multiple dietary sources (fortified diet, it C rich vegetables and fruits, Vit C supplements - avoid excess of sugar and sugary fruits)

Question 39

Can you offer pellets ad libitum for rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, and degus?

Answer 39

No. They are selective eaters and if you give pellets ad libitum they might not eat all their amount of hay.

Question 40

How can the digestive system of a bear be classified?

Answer 40

Bears are considered to be omnivores, and they are not hind-gut fermenters. They can digest fat, protein and fibre in a very similar way as carnivores, however, they do not have the same requirements. For example, they can ingest plant material with high silica content. They can also ingest fruits, and this does not upset their GI system.

Question 41

Can you explain the sentence: “Bears are seasonality specialists”?

Answer 41

Most bears have different diets depending on the season. For example, in a time of the year, they would eat more fruits, another more vegetables, nuts, insects, meat/prey etc.
Additionally, there are some time of the year that the bear want to be obese -> before hibernation. After hibernation, you have body mass loss (at least 20%).

Question 42

How should bears be fed to increase their body weight before winter?

Answer 42

They should get fat without a protein overload. A lor of fruits, nuts, seeds and honey. For polar bears it would be different (they require more protein - prey). You could use a pig fattening diet for example.

Question 43

What is the main reason for the cobalt requirement in rabbits?

Answer 43

The cobalt requirement of the rabbit is principally to ensure supply to the hindgut microflora for the synthesis of Vitamin B12

It is however recommended to include sufficient vitamin B12
into the rabbits diet, and thus to remove the need for any additional cobalt, above that supplied from background levels found in the raw materials

Question 44

Can rabbits synthesize Vit C?

Answer 44

it is assumed that the rabbit is capable of synthesis from glucose. however, during periods of stress rabbits can benefit from its supplementation

Question 45

have rabbits a need of Vit B supply?

Answer 45

The B-group of vitamins is generally regarded as being supplied from synthesis within the hindgut of the rabbit. However, in many cases, dietary supplements or dietary fortification/enrichment of these vitamins are commonplace to ensure sufficient vitamin supply in case of insufficient synthesis.