Fluffy Exotics

Question 1

What are the two different types of poo and what should they look like/

Answer 1

• caecotrophs (should only see occasionally, very runny and smelly, rabbits normally eat these)
• faecal pellets (dry and not smelly)

Question 2

What should a rabbit diet consist of?

Answer 2

5% pellet
85% hay and grass
10% leafy green veg

Question 3

What should rabbits be vaccinated against?

Answer 3

VHD -> viral haemorrhagic disease
Myxomatosis

Question 4

What should gerbil housing not have?

Answer 4

Metal bars
Sawdust

Question 5

What housing should gerbils have?

Answer 5

Bedding of about 20-30cm deep so they can burrow
Have hiding places
Peat/ wood chip bedding

Question 6

What social interaction should rabbits have?

Answer 6

Not alone, best in pairs
Not with guinea pigs

Question 7

How should you pick up a rabbit?

Answer 7

• place one hand under thorax (chest)
  Support rabbit hind quarters and back by place if one hand underneath the hind quarters
  Hold close to your body
  Once lifted you can support them from the ventrum

Question 8

How should you pick up a rabbit?

Answer 8

• place one hand under thorax (chest)
  Support rabbit hind quarters and back by place if one hand underneath the hind quarters
  Hold close to your body
  Once lifted you can support them from the ventrum

Question 9

How should you sex a rabbit?

Answer 9

Apply pressure either side of genital opening and look at shape
Male- round and penis can be protruding
Female- v shaped vulva, points cranially (towards head)

Question 10

How should you sex a guinea pig?

Answer 10

Look at genital region;
Male- penis may be extruded through
Female- Y shaped opening

Question 11

What temperature would hamp]steps enter a state of temporary hibernation

Answer 11

Below 5

Question 12

How to sex rats and gerbils

Answer 12

Look at how many holes behind tail;
1- male
2- female

Question 13

How do you asses sex in gerbils and rats/

Answer 13

Anogenital distance
Big- male
Small- female

Question 14

What are the roles of guinea pigs in society?

Answer 14

Pets —> companionship and mental health
Research
Food
Ecosystem —> eats grass and source of food for predators

Question 15

What are the RSPCA require,ears for a rabbit enclosure?

Answer 15

Need somewhere to hide
Need to be able to stand up on hind legs and ears touch roof of enclosure
Can be fully stretch out
Can take 3 consecutive hops

Question 16

What do the RWAF recommend for dimensions of enclosures for rabbits?

Answer 16

3m x 2m x 1m
Sleeping quarters of 6ft x 2ft x 2ft

Question 17

What do the RSPCA recommend for guinea pigs for enclosure sizes

Answer 17

2m x 0.5m x 25cm high

Question 18

What substrates must be used for enclosures for guinea pigs and rabbits?

Answer 18

Toilet area- absorbant substances like newspaper and dust free (non cedar) wood shavings
Bedding- insulating materials, like dust free hay and shredded paper
No mesh wiring unless buried

Question 19

What enrichment should be given

Answer 19

Food puzzles
Enrichment
Forage

Question 20

What is important to remember about a rabbits diet?

Answer 20

Not excessive calcium, as they metabolise calcium differently
Need lots of fibre as they’re hind gut fermenters and will help grind down teeth which don’t stop growing

Question 21

What should a rabbits diet consist of?

Answer 21

85% hay
10% vegetables
5% hay

Question 22

What should a guinea pigs diet consist of?

Answer 22

85% hay
12% vegetables
3% pellets

Question 23

What vitamin do guinea pigs need lots of?

Answer 23

Vitamin C

Question 24

What is important to remember when trying to add vitamin C to a Guinea pigs diet?

Answer 24

It degrades rapidly in sunlight
So keep bags of food away from sunlight and closed
Supplement vitamin C with peppers and oranges

Question 25

What are normal behaviours of rabbits like?

Answer 25

Like to like in groups Borrowers Crepuscular (most active at dawn and dusk) Prey species —> hide injury well and need to be kept away from cats/ dogs in practice

Question 26

How do rabbits show pain

Answer 26

Bruxism (grinding teeth)

Question 27

What are the normal behaviours of guinea pigs?

Answer 27

Like to live in groups Crepuscular Not borrowers but like to hide Bruxism to indicate pain

Question 28

What can poor breeding cause with rabbits?

Answer 28

Dental malocclussions (teeth not aligned) —> dental disease Narrow ear canals —> chronic ear infections Brachyphalic —> over heating/ breathing difficulties

Question 29

Which breed of rabbit has biggest difficulty from breeding problems?

Answer 29

Lop rabbits

Question 30

What is the normal temperature for rabbit

Answer 30

38.5- 40C

Question 31

What is normal HR for rabbit?

Answer 31

130-325 bpm

Question 32

What is the gestation period of a rabbit

Answer 32

29-35 days

Question 33

What is normal respiratory rate of a rabbit?

Answer 33

30-60bpm

Question 34

What is normal temperature of guinea pig?

Answer 34

37.7-39.5C

Question 35

What is normal heart rate of a guinea pig?

Answer 35

230-380 bpm

Question 36

What is the gestation period of a guinea pig?

Answer 36

69-72 days

Question 37

What is respiratory rate of guinea pig

Answer 37

40-120 breaths per min

Question 38

What can incorrect diet lead to?

Answer 38

Dental disease —> gut stasis Obesity —> arthritis/ spondlyosis (of spine) —> bladder disease Excessive calcium —>bladder disease Not enough vitamin C —> swollen joints/ pain

Question 39

What problems can small enclosures cause?

Answer 39

Lack of movement —>arthritid/ bladder infections Poor ventilation —> respiratory infections Poor hygiene —> pododermatitis/ flystrike

Question 40

What is gut stasis and its causes?

Answer 40

Slowing or stopping of movement through the digestive tract Causes; Pain/ stress/ incorrect diet/ GI issues

Question 41

What is arthritis/ spondylosis?

Answer 41

Painful inflammation of the joints Caused or worsened by lack of movement or obesity

Question 42

What are the causes of bladder disease?

Answer 42

Too much calcium in diet Worsened by arthritis as lack of movement, so calcium precipitates settle. It also means that they can’t stand correctly when urinating so rabbit can’t empty bladder properly

Question 43

What is pododermatitis and its causes

Answer 43

Also known as bumblefoot Painful inflammation of the footpads Can progress to affect bones in the foot Poor hygiene, diet, obesity, lack of exercise of vitamin C

Question 44

Why are some rodents kept captive?

Answer 44

Pets Laboratory Wildlife and conservation

Question 45

What normally behaviours do rodents need to display/

Answer 45

Gnawing Jumping/ climbing Sand bathing Exercising Social interaction

Question 46

What diet should rodents have?

Answer 46

Pellet diet Not seed based, due to selective feeding Small amount of treats

Question 47

What health problems do rodents get due to captivity and what are their causes

Answer 47

Trauma- fighting, poor handling techniques, enclosure design Bumblefoot- surfaces, hygiene, obesity Respiratory diseases- infections like MYCOPLASMA PULMONIS, STREPTOCOCCUS PNEUMONIA, VIRAL INFECTIONS so Need dust free bedding and to quarantine new arrivals Gastrointestinal diseases like Tyzzers disease

Question 48

What is Tyzzers disease?

Answer 48

Usually caused by high protein diets Transmitted through spores from environment kr food Usually white spots on liver or diarrhoea as symptoms

Question 49

What are common problems seen with wildlife?

Answer 49

Cat/ dog attacks Strimmer wounds Broken legs Diseases such as myxomatosis, endoparasites, respiratory infections Abandonment of yiung

Question 50

What is myxomatosis?

Answer 50

Signs are presence of tumours on face and limb of animals Spreads mainly through fleas and mosquitos biting animal, but also through fimites or animal or animal contact Signs of pneumonia are common