Exotics

Question 1

Rodent taxonomy

Answer 1

K animalia
P chordata 
C mammalia 
O rodentia
 Suborders myomorpha (mouse like), hystricomorphs (guineapigs, chinchillas)

Question 2

Rodent dentition

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Rodent dental formulas

Answer 3

M- I1/1 C0/0 P0/0 M3/3

H- I1/1 C0/0 P1/1 M3/3

Question 4

Rodent GI tract

Answer 4

Simple stomach
Large caecum
Elongated colon
Caecotrophy

Question 5

Why do you not starve rodents before surgery?

Answer 5

Cannot vomit
Fast gut transit time
High metabolic rate

Question 6

Rodent respiratory

Answer 6

Obligate nasal breathers
High 02 requirement
O2 binding curve shifted to right
Retain brown fat for thermoregulation

Question 7

How do rodents optimise respiration

Answer 7

High respiratory rate
Short airways
Thin alveoli

Question 8

Rodent reproduction

Answer 8

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

Question 9

Sexing rodents?

Answer 9

Anogenital distance

Question 10

Detecting stages of oestrous in rodents

Answer 10

Vaginal cytology

Come into proestrus, more cornified cells,

Question 11

Unusual anatomical and physiological characteristics of

Rats

Answer 11

Yellow incisors- iron pigment
Hardarian gland- porphyrin pigment
Extensive mammary tissue, prone to tumour formation

Question 12

Unusual anatomical and physiological characteristics of

Hamsters

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Unusual anatomical and physiological characteristics of

Gerbils

Answer 13

Central midline sebaceous gland- mistaken for tumour

Drink very little - v. Efficient urinary system

Question 14

Unusual anatomical and physiological characteristics of

Guinea Pigs

Answer 14

Molars continually growing- Regular dental check ups

Need dietary vitamin C

Question 15

Unusual anatomical and physiological characteristics of

Chinchillas

Answer 15

Need as much as 12 hours daily darkness
Dense pelt- not tolerant to heat or wet
Dust baths essential

Question 16

Taxonomy of ferrets

Answer 16

K anamalia
P Chordata
C mammalia
O Carnivora
F mustelidae

Question 17

GI tract of ferrets

Answer 17

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

Question 18

Ferret respiratory

Answer 18

Preferentially nasal breathers
Thoracic cavity long and narrow
Inlet very narrow, sever resp problems if obstructed

Question 19

Ferret cardiovascular

Answer 19

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

Question 20

Ferret eye

Answer 20

Nocturnal behaviours

Photoperiod very important in reproduction- melatonin

Question 21

Ferret integument

Answer 21

Double layered coat- seasonal moulting
Abnormal moulting sign of disease
No sweat glands but large number of sebaceous glands

Question 22

Ferret reproduction

Answer 22

Monoestrus seasonal breeders
Reflex ovulators
Females come into season with increasing daylight, remain in season until mated
Sexing easy- external genitalia

Question 23

Post oestrous anaemia?

How to reduce risk?

Answer 23

Failure of Jill to mate, prolonged levels of oestrogen, bone marrow depression, anaemia

Mating, sham mating, Jill Jab (proligestone), neutering

Question 24

Adrenal disease?

Prevention?

Answer 24

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

Question 25

Rabbit head anatomy and any potential problems?

Answer 25

Large pinnae- vascularised- blood sampling. Impt for thermoregulation
Large protuberant eyes- damage, poor menace response, poor depth perception
Late venous sinuous behind eye
Nasolacrimal duct runs very close to roots of cheek teeth

Question 26

Rabbit dentition

Answer 26

I2/1 C0/0 P3/2 M3/3
One par of incisors sits behind others- peg teeth
Hypsodont teeth- continually growing
Spurs can form on molars

Question 27

Rabbit cardiorespiratory

Answer 27

Nasal breather- mouth breathing sign of distress
HR 150-300 bpm
Myocardium lacks collateral circulation- liable myocardial damage
IV access marginal ear vein
Larynx prone to spasm- intubation difficult

Question 28

Rabbit digestive

Answer 28

Hind gut fermenters
Do not vomit
Oesophagus straited muscl  
Gall bladder- biliverdin
Large caecum- fermentation- vermiform appendix
sacculus rotundus
Proximal colon- 3 parts
Fusis Coli- regulated faeces passage
Distal colon- thin walled - necklace appearance

Question 29

Rabbit reproduction

Answer 29

Reflex ovulation
30 day gestation
Post partum oestrous 
Altricial young
Duplex uterus

Question 30

Rabbit calcium regulation

Answer 30

Excretion of Ca mainly kidney- mediated by VitD and PTH

forms calcium carbonate crystals in urine- stones can form

Question 31

Fish- three parts of filtration system

Answer 31

Mechanical- removes solid waste
Biological- growth of beneficial bacteria to break down nitrogenous waste
Chemical - removes specific undesirable substances from water
Eg colour, ammonia and algae growth

Question 32

Viviparity

Answer 32

Live young

Question 33

Ovoviviparity

Answer 33

Embryos remain in mother under ready to hatch