Midterm Flashcards

1
Q

Taxonomy of Hamsters

A
  • Order: Rodentia
  • Suborder: Myomorpha
  • Family: Cricetidae
  • Sub-Family: Cricetinae
  • Genera: Mesocricetus, Cricetus, Cricetulus, Phodopus, Tscherskia
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2
Q

Taxonomy of Mice

A
  • Order: Rodentia
  • Suborder: Myomorpha
  • Family: Muridae
  • Genera: Rattus
  • common Spp.: Rattus norvegicus and Rattus rattus
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3
Q

Taxonomy of Rats

A
  • Order: Rodentia
  • Suborder: Myomorpha
  • Family: Muridae
  • Genera: Mus
  • species: musculus
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4
Q

Taxonomy of Gerbils

A
  • Order: Rodentia
  • Suborder: myomorpha
  • Family: Cricetidae
  • Sub-Family: Gerbillnae
  • Genera: Meriones

species: Meriones unguiculatus

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5
Q

Taxonomy of Rabbits

A
  • Order: Lagomorpha
  • Family: Leporidae
  • Genera:
  • species: Oryctolagus cuniculis, Lepus spp., Sylviligus spp.
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6
Q

Taxonomy of Guinea Pigs

A
  • Order: Rodentia
  • Suborder: Hystricomorpha
  • Family: Caviidae
  • Genera: Cavia
  • species: Cavia porcellus
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7
Q

Taxonomy of Chinchillas

A
  • Order: Rodentia
  • Suborder: Hystricomorpha
  • Family: Chinchillidae
  • Genera: Chinchilla
  • Species: C. lanigera and C. Chinchilla
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8
Q

what are some common hamster species(7)

A
  • Syrian (golden) hamster–> most common, many color varieties
  • Angora (“teddy-bear”) –> long haired variety
  • Siberian (Russian) hamster
  • European (“black belly”) hamster
  • Armenian (grey) hamster
  • Chinese (“Dwarf”) hamster
  • Long-tailed hamster
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9
Q

Where did hamsters originate? How did they get to Israel?

A

1930: one female w/ offspring taken from Syria to Israel

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10
Q

Where do almost all Syrian and laboratory hamsters derive?

A

the first female and her offspring that were taken from Syria to Israel

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11
Q

In what years were Syrian hamsters first taken to Britain? The U.S.?

A
  • 1931

- 1938

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12
Q

In what year were several inbred strains of Syrian hamsters developed for research?

A

1960s

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13
Q

What are some lab uses of Syrian hamsters in research?

A
  • Dental research
  • cancer research
  • immunology (xenotransplants)
  • infectious disease
  • hypothermia
  • parasitic diseases
  • teratology
  • reproduction
  • vascular physiology
  • genetics )dilated cardiomyopathy)
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14
Q

Bio data of Hamsters

A

Adult size: 5-7 inches long
Adult BW: 85-150g
Lifespan: 2-3 yrs
Urine Volume: 5.4-8.4 ml/day

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15
Q

bio data of Rats

A

Adult BW: 250*500g
Lifespan: 2-3 yrs
Urine Volume: 3.3ml/100g body wt/day

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16
Q

bio data of mice

A

Adult BW: 20-40g
Lifespan: 1.5-3 yrs (2 avg)
Urine Volume: 0.5-1.0 ml/day

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17
Q

Bio data of gerbils

A

Adult BW: 70-110g (males); 55-90g (females)
Lifespan: 3-4 yrs
Urine Volume: 3-4ml/day (very small output)

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18
Q

bio data of guinea pigs

A

Adult size:
Adult BW:
Lifespan:
Urine Volume:

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19
Q

bio data of chinchillas

A

Adult size:
Adult BW:
Lifespan:
Urine Volume:

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20
Q

Which species have very small urine output?

A
  • Gerbils
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21
Q

Unique characteristics of chinchillas

A
  • soft, dense fur over body, little to no hair on ears
  • large cecum, coprophagic
    Incisors and molars are open-rooted, will continue to grow throughout life
  • incisors should be YELLOW/ORANGE colored
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22
Q

Describe the paws of a chinchilla

A
  • four digits on each paw
  • front paws can grasp food
  • each digit has a flat nail, like humans
  • first digit on back foot has small bump on top w/ course hairs sticking out
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23
Q

Sexing Chinchillas

A

Can use anogenital distance, but its hard to do bc you typically don’t have anything to compare them to

  • can use digital pressure to extrude penis from sheath
  • females have an elongated urinary papilla with a slit, and usually a noticeable vagina even when not in estrus
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24
Q

T/F chinchillas have a large output of urine

A

False, its small bc they don’t drink a lot of water

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25
Q

Is it normal for chinchilla urine to be orange/red in color

A

Yes

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26
Q

T/F chinchillas are primarily nocturnal or crepscular

A

True

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27
Q

Can chinchillas be easily aroused during the day?

A

Yes

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28
Q

Why should chinchillas have a vertical cage?

A

Because they’re jumpers and climbers

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29
Q

Are chinchillas generally aggressive?

A

No, they’re fairly social

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30
Q

If there are multiple chinchillas how can they be housed?

A

In single-sex pairs or groups with proper introduction

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31
Q

T/F Female chinchillas can stand on hind legs and spray with urine

A

True

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32
Q

Why does mounting not matter in determining chinchilla sexing

A

Because both male and females will mount each other to establish dominance

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33
Q

T/F chinchillas are quiet creatures

A

No they’re loud af

34
Q

How should you handle Chinchillas?

A
  • grasp by base of tail, support back end either with other hand or against chest
  • can also wrap in a “burrito”
  • be careful holding, they have a delicate bone structure
  • fur slip potential —> handle fur gently
35
Q

Diet of Chinchillas

A
  • hindgut fermenters, strictly herbivorous
  • unknown nutritional requirements
  • high fiber, low energy pellet diet (either chinchilla specific or comparable rabbit pellets)
  • use Timothy or orchard grass hay
  • don’t need supplements
36
Q

What are your general feeding directions for Chinchillas?

Water bottle or bowl?

A

Feed, water, and hay ad libitum

Water bottle, they play with bowls

37
Q

Describe features of chinchilla housing

A
  • around room temp, don’t go above 75F
  • keep low humidity (<40%), out of direct sunlight, well-ventilated
  • Wire mesh cage typical, solid bottom cages best
  • do NOT use glass aquariums (urine can scald the glass)
  • use absorbable bedding (not cedar)—> aspen, kiln-dried pine bedding
  • wooden shelves, provide with many chewing opportunities (toys, hiding boxes)
  • give them a dust bath at least once per week, but don’t leave in there or they’ll use it as a litter box
  • give them a large solid running wheel (no bars)
38
Q

Estrous cycle of Chinchillas

A
  • seasonally polyestrous

Cycle lasts 38-40 days

39
Q

Gestation period of chinchillas

A

111 days

40
Q

When do chinchillas give birth?

A

In the morning

41
Q

Chinchilla young are ___, which means what?

A
  • precocial

- fully furred, eyes and ears open, full set of teeth —> hits can be aggressive toward each other if not enough milk

42
Q

When do chinchilla kits start eating solid food?

When are they weaned?

A

Around 1-3 weeks

At 6-8 weeks

43
Q

What is so special about the male chinchilla’s inguinal canal?

A

It is open, and so when they are aroused, the testes bulge slightly on either side of the penis and the caudal epididymides protrude into postanal (scrotal) sacs

44
Q

Successful breeding of chinchillas may result in what?

A

A sperm plug

45
Q

What is special about the female chinchilla repro tract?

A
  • have a postpartum estrus, Called a “breedback”

- have a vaginal closure membrane when not in estrus or parturition

46
Q

Where can you collect blood from chinchillas?

A
  • cephalic vein
  • lateral saphenous vein
  • cranial vena cava (this is traumatic and not recommended)
47
Q

Major diseases/ailments of chinchillas (9)

A
  • fur chewing/barbering
  • malocclusion
  • pododermatitis
  • fur/hair ring
  • dermatophytosis
  • enteropathy/diarrhea
  • pneumonia
  • conjunctivitis
  • trauma
48
Q

What would cause a chinchilla to fur chew/barber?

Where does it typically start?

How can you alleviate it?

A
  • stress!!
  • starts over the hindquarters and back
  • remove the cause of stress, introduce novel toys to distract
49
Q

What typically causes malocclusion?

What are signs ass. W/ malocclusion

How can you dx?

How can you tx?

A
  • inappropriate diet or chewing surfaces
  • wet chin, chest, and paws; pawing at the mouth; weight loss; dysphasia; anorexia
  • oral exam under sedation, skull rads
  • trimming (usually recurrent)
50
Q

Elongation of tooth roots can occur in chinchillas. Where can they extend?

What other signs can you see?

  • how can you tx?
  • what’s the prognosis?
A
  • through the eye orbit, nasolacrimal duct, nasal cavity, and sinuses
  • same signs as malocclusion, plus wet/runny eyes, exophthalmos, damage to nasolacrimal ducts
  • palliative tax, long-term pain relief and syringe feeding
  • poor prognosis
51
Q

What can cause pododermatitis (aka bumblefoot)

A

Lack of solid, dry surfaces to rest on

52
Q

Clinical signs of bumblefoot

A
  • bottoms of back feet are swollen, dry, cracked, warm to the touch +/- abs cessation and bleeding
53
Q

Tx of bumblefoot

A

Abx and drainage (if needed)

Chlorhexidine foot soak

Change the bedding to something softer or give solid resting areas

Topical ointment of Vit. E or Bag Balm

54
Q

What is hair ring

A

Fur becomes matted around the penis when inside the prepuce

55
Q

How might a hair ring chinchilla present?

A

Paraphimosis (unable to retract penis back into prepuce)

Excessive grooming

56
Q

To of hair ring

A

Gently remove hair ring with lube

57
Q

What is the most common skin disease of chinchillas

Is it zoonotic?

A

Dermatophytosis (ringworm)

Immensely

58
Q

Causes of dermatophytosis

A
  • trichopyhyton spp. Or microsporum spp.
59
Q

Signs of ringworm

A

Hair loss, scaly, circular red patches typically on face/nose, but can be found elsewhere

60
Q

Tx of ringworm

A

Topical anti fungal foot powder, germicidal/fungicidal spray, oral/topical griseofulvin

61
Q

What are some safe abx to use for chinchilla abx-associated enterotoxemia

A

TMS, chlormaphenicol, enrofloxacin

62
Q

T/F enrofloxacin can cause GI disturbances if given orally in chinchillas

A

True, use judiciously

63
Q

What can cause enteropathy/diarrhea/GI stasis in Chinchillas

A

Abrupt changes in diet, low dietary fiber/high dietary energy, stress

64
Q

How do you treat enteropathy/diarrhea/GI stasis in chinchillas

A

Replace fluid deficits, provide nutritional support, pain meds, SQ abs if indicated, NOT ORAL (GI flora upset)

65
Q

Things to note re: trauma in chinchillas

A

Limb fractures

  • don’t tolerate splints/external stabilization
  • amputation may be necessary, do very well post-op

Tail injuries

  • degloving common
  • fur can be slipped form tail just like the body
  • some tails are curly, some are straight, some are kinked—> all are okay
66
Q

What are the major differences between Hystricomorphs and Myomorphs

A
  • hystricomorphs have a longer gestation period
  • hystricomorphs produce precocious young at birth
  • hystricomorphs have a cellular membrane that closes over the vaginal opening except during estrus and at parturition
67
Q

What species are hystricomorphs

A

Guinea pigs, chinchillas, nutria

68
Q

Which species are myomorphs

A

Hamsters, gerbils, rats, and more

69
Q

Guinea pig history

A
  • domesticated by Bolivian and Peruvian indigenous populations for food
  • brought to Europe in the mid-1500s by Spanish explorers
  • most lab strains derived from animals produced by Dunkin and Hartley English stock in 1926
70
Q

Biomedical Research uses of Guinea Pigs

A
  • pregnancy toxemia, Ketoacidosis
  • Scurvy (Vit. C deficiency)
  • tuberculosis
  • ulcerative colitis
  • juvenile diabetes
  • anaphylaxis
  • delayed hypersensitivity
  • nutrition
  • amoebic diseases
  • optic nerve problems
  • leukemia
  • auditory function
71
Q

Breeds of Guinea Pig (and physical descriptions)

A
  • English/American —> smooth, short hair, variety of colors
  • Abyssinian —> rosette or whorled hair pattern, face and eyes are typically clear/not overgrown, variety of colors
  • peruvian —> long Silky hair
  • hairless —> very short to no hairs
72
Q

Anatomy of guinea pigs

A
  • prominent incisor teeth w/ premolar teeth**
  • stocky bodies w/ no tail
  • short legs —> 4 digits on forefoot, 3 on hindfoot
  • mouth does NOT open very wide
  • LARGE cecum present, with Taeniae —> 15-20 cm long
  • GALL BLADDER PRESENT**
  • both males and females have a pair of inguinal mammae (don’t assume female bc its there)
  • males have an os penis, with two styles (points on tip)
73
Q

How much of the GI tract does the cecum take up in guinea pigs

A

65%!!!!

74
Q

Guinea pig behavior

A
  • very vocal, very social and group around male
  • little chicken shits (will freeze in response to motion)
  • paranoid fuckers (very suspicious of strange/new objects)
  • they’re like old geezers (establish rigid habits, dislike change)
  • food preferences established early
  • may stampede/trample young if frightened (“screw you baby, I’m out!”)
75
Q

Guinea Pig nutrition

A
  • strictly herbivorous
  • ad libitum food and water
  • 6 g food/100g BW per day, 10-40ml water/100g BW per day
  • use bottles cuz they play in water
  • feed guinea pig pellets, grass, hay, limited veggies
  • COPROPHAGES
  • NEED VITAMIN C!!! (15-25 mg/kg/day)
76
Q

Guinea Pig Housing

A
  • use solid bottoms/floors —> wire bottoms cause bumblefoot, and leg and toe injuries

Bedding
- acceptable: B&W newspaper, shredded paper, non-pine wood shavings, corn cobs, straw

Unacceptable: cedar, sawdust (clump)

Change bedding FREQUENTLY

Ideal temp: room temp (72F)

77
Q

Sexing of guinea pigs

A
  • digital pressure to extrude the penis in males
  • females have a “Y” shaped opening

DON’T USE ANOGENITAL DISTANCE TO DETERMINE GENDER

78
Q

T/F Guinea pigs have a vaginal closure membrane

A

True, only opens just prior to estrus, then closes and doesn’t reopen until parturition

79
Q

Why is it important to breed guinea pigs and deliver her litter prior to first 6-8 months of age?

A

Failure to do so will result in permanent fusion of the pubic symposia, which “relaxes” and separates prior to parturition to increase birth canal diameter.

80
Q

Estrous cycle of guinea pigs

A

~16 days, Estrus lasts 8-11 hours

  • vaginal closure membrane open 2-3 days (before and during estrus)
81
Q

Guinea pig gestation facts

A
  • gestation: 59-72 days (avg 68)
  • postpartum estrus occurs 12-15 hrs after birthing
  • wean at 14-28 days
  • young are precocious
  • M sexually mature @ 8wks, F @ 5wks