Lecture 3 - Exotic small mammal nutrition Flashcards
(41 cards)
since rabbits aren’t rodents what are they?
Rabbits do not belong to the Rodentia order, they are lagomorphs (Lagomorpha order).
This is because a rabbit has four incisors in the upper jaw (including two non-functional teeth), while rodents only have two.
What family do rabbits belong to?
the Leporidae family and Lagomorpha order
Guinea pigs, degus and chinchillas belong to what order?
Rodentia order
Which species are prone to diabetes if overfed carbs?
degus and hamsters
but it is essentially impossible to correctly dose such small animals with insulin.
Which species are prone to urinary problems due to inappropriate diet?
rabbits and guinea pigs
What ailment will essentially all rats develop?
tumors
(+ pulmonary abscesses/tumors are very common)
Guinea pig diet should be
a high fiber diet supplemented with vitamin C, as they lack the enzyme needed to synthesize vitamin C and an only store it for short periods.
Which species need a high fiber diet?
Rabbits, guinea pigs and chinchillas need a
high-fiber diet.
Which species are omnivorous?
rats and hamsters
The High surface area to body weight ratio of small rodents means that they are prone to
dehydration and hypoglycemia.
Fast metabolism (40x faster than dog/cat) – resulting in high oxygen and food intake.
define cecotrophy
In certain mammals, especially rabbits and rodents, the consumption of food pellets which are naturally produced by means of digestion, retention in the caecum, and expulsion through the anus.
Cecotrophy allows small digestive particles to undergo a second fermentation and digestion in the digestive tract, which increases the digestibility of the feed.
Rodents have brown fat - where can it be found and what is it for?
can be found above the scapulae,
in the cervical region and
along major vessels and nerves.
helps them to survive harsh living conditions and hibernation.
What is the average number of baby chinchillas in a litter?
Chinchillas will average about two babies per litter; however, they have been known to produce as many as six babies per litter but also having just one kit isn’t unusual.
what species is this
rabbit
rabbit teeth should be white
what species is this
guinea pig
guinea pig teeth should be white.
note: teeth issues in guinea pigs can also be due to temporomandibular joint problems.
what species is this
chinchilla
Generally a deep yellow to bright red-orange.
The more orange the better.
They are this color due to the enamel that contains Calcium, Iron, and Phosphorus.
When do baby guinea pigs stop nursing?
are usually weaned at 21 days (3 weeks) but milk supplementation can continue up to 4 weeks or finish already at 2 weeks.
Hay, guinea pig pellets and very small amounts of vegetables can be offered from birth.
Describe the rabbit GI tract.
Are sort of like small horses, are “hind-gut fermenters (large cecum) and cannot vomit.
Rabbit GIT is very sensitive to stress
hormones. Prone to GI stasis, painful.
Describe the guinea pig GI tract.
As hind gut fermentors, guinea pigs digest much of their food in the caecum and colon (large intestine).
Describe the chinchilla GI tract.
Chinchillas digest plants using hindgut fermentation.
This type of herbivore is monogastric with a simple, one-chambered stomach.
Chinchillas house the bulk of their beneficial bacteria in the cecum.
Chinchilla GIT is very sensitive to fresh
food, don’t give fresh food to chinchillas.
Guinea pig age for first gestation.
must be under 7 months or else the pelvic bone fuses not allowing parturition.
guinea pig gestation period
59 – 72 days (an average gestation time of 65 days)
Where do rats get vit K from?
their cecotrophs
What is this ailment?
Dental bridge in a guinea pig. can trap the tongue and prevent normal eating and swallowing. can cause ulcers from sharp edges of teeth. requires intervention.
Vitamin C deficiency causes a breakdown of connective tissues in the body, affect joints too.
