Exotics Flashcards
(33 cards)
Rodent taxonomy
K animalia P chordata C mammalia O rodentia Suborders myomorpha (mouse like), hystricomorphs (guineapigs, chinchillas)
Rodent dentition
Aradicular- open rooted, Elodont -continually growing
Incisors - aradicular and elodont, soft dentists on caudal side- chisel shaped. Small pulp cavity, below gum line, tooth size can be reduced by dental burr
Molars- myomorphs anelodont, don’t continually grow, no PM
Hystricomorphs same as incisors, prone to dental disease, have PM
Rodent dental formulas
M- I1/1 C0/0 P0/0 M3/3
H- I1/1 C0/0 P1/1 M3/3
Rodent GI tract
Simple stomach
Large caecum
Elongated colon
Caecotrophy
Why do you not starve rodents before surgery?
Cannot vomit
Fast gut transit time
High metabolic rate
Rodent respiratory
Obligate nasal breathers
High 02 requirement
O2 binding curve shifted to right
Retain brown fat for thermoregulation
How do rodents optimise respiration
High respiratory rate
Short airways
Thin alveoli
Rodent reproduction
Most have duplex uterus- uterine horns have separate uterus
Guinea pigs may have duplex or bicornuate
Polyoestrous spontaneous ovulators
All have postpartum oestrous
M- altricial young
H- precocial young
Sexing rodents?
Anogenital distance
Detecting stages of oestrous in rodents
Vaginal cytology
Come into proestrus, more cornified cells,
Unusual anatomical and physiological characteristics of
Rats
Yellow incisors- iron pigment
Hardarian gland- porphyrin pigment
Extensive mammary tissue, prone to tumour formation
Unusual anatomical and physiological characteristics of
Hamsters
Have forestomach- sensitive to antibiotics
Check pouches- storage and transport food, float
No salvia- prone to cheek impaction
Bilateral flank glands- mistaken for tumours
No tail
Unusual anatomical and physiological characteristics of
Gerbils
Central midline sebaceous gland- mistaken for tumour
Drink very little - v. Efficient urinary system
Unusual anatomical and physiological characteristics of
Guinea Pigs
Molars continually growing- Regular dental check ups
Need dietary vitamin C
Unusual anatomical and physiological characteristics of
Chinchillas
Need as much as 12 hours daily darkness
Dense pelt- not tolerant to heat or wet
Dust baths essential
Taxonomy of ferrets
K anamalia P Chordata C mammalia O Carnivora F mustelidae
GI tract of ferrets
Obligate carnivores- need high protein diet
5 pairs of salivary glands. No amylase, just lubrication
Simple stomach - no gastro oesphageal sphincter- can vomit
Rapid gut transit time- don’t starve before surgery
Oesophagus striated muscle throughout
Ferret respiratory
Preferentially nasal breathers
Thoracic cavity long and narrow
Inlet very narrow, sever resp problems if obstructed
Ferret cardiovascular
Heart located more causally 6-8th rib space
Resting heart rate higher 180-250 bpm
Pulse hard to locate- urine output measure of cardiac output
Ferret eye
Nocturnal behaviours
Photoperiod very important in reproduction- melatonin
Ferret integument
Double layered coat- seasonal moulting
Abnormal moulting sign of disease
No sweat glands but large number of sebaceous glands
Ferret reproduction
Monoestrus seasonal breeders
Reflex ovulators
Females come into season with increasing daylight, remain in season until mated
Sexing easy- external genitalia
Post oestrous anaemia?
How to reduce risk?
Failure of Jill to mate, prolonged levels of oestrogen, bone marrow depression, anaemia
Mating, sham mating, Jill Jab (proligestone), neutering
Adrenal disease?
Prevention?
Early neutering reduces GnRH negative feedback, continually high levels of GnRH LH FSH, receptor cells continually stimulated - hyperplasia - tumour.
Can lead to adrenal disease- hyperadrenocorticism
Prevention? Avoid early neutering, hormone treatments, ensure normal photoperiod, remove gland
