Unit 6 Hamsters

Question 1

most popular hamster breed

Answer 1

Syrian/ golden hamster

Question 2

why hamsters good for dental research

Answer 2

close-rooted molars v similar to humans, susceptible to dental carries (cavities)

Question 3

which are larger and more agressive; females or males

Answer 3

female hamsters

Question 4

the only commonly used lab animal w esophageal pouches

Answer 4

hamsters

Question 5

how far back hamster pouches extend

Answer 5

to back of scapula

Question 6

hamsters have a compartmentalized stomach meaning

Answer 6

they have a fore stomach (non-glandular, fermentation) and rear stomach (glandular), separated by sphincter-like muscle

Question 7

what are scent glands called in hamsters and where are they located

Answer 7

the flank glands on the hips

Question 8

ways to sex hamsters

Answer 8

anogenital distance, large testicles, flank glands darker/larger in males, females larger, males have large fat pads along inguinal canal makes rear appear more rounded (F more pointed)

Question 9

what kind of gland are flank glands an what do these glands do

Answer 9

sebaceous scent glands, mark territory and play a role in mating behavior

Question 10

where old hamsters may get neoplasia

Answer 10

flank glands

Question 11

difference between brown and white adipose tissue

Answer 11

brown fat needed for temp regulation, has vascularity 4-6 times greater than white (hibernation fat) blood is warmed as it passes thro brown fat

Question 12

fighting most common in (M or F)

Answer 12

females

Question 13

Hamsters are diurnal or nocturnal?

Answer 13

nocturnal

Question 14

Only commonly used lab animal that hibernates

Answer 14

hamsters

Question 15

circumstances in which a hamster will go into hibernation

Answer 15

temp falls below 40F, restricted food supply, shortened light cycles

Question 16

how often hamsters wake up to eat during hibernation

Answer 16

ab every 3 days

Question 17

what happens during winter quiescence

Answer 17

females go into period of anestrous, male testicles shrink

Question 18

how many mammary glands females have

Answer 18

6-7

Question 19

hamsters have the shortest gestation of lab animals which is how long

Answer 19

15-18 days

Question 20

how long is estrus

list stages of breeding per day

Answer 20

4 days
2nd day- produce a creamy white vaginal discharge.
3rd day- bred that evening

Question 21

how long to leave a female in the cage w male for mating

Answer 21

can leave overnight if female doesnt become aggressive or mating does not occur w/in 5 min

Question 22

earliest sign that mating was successful

Answer 22

10 days, females have v prominent nipples

Question 23

how big are hamster litters

Answer 23

4-12 pups

Question 24

weaning age and age they can eat solid food

Answer 24

wean- 21 days

can eat solid food at one week

Question 25

vitamin deficiency hamsters are sensitive to and why

Answer 25

vitamin E; skeletal muscular dystrophy (seed based diets)

Question 26

why food is given in bowl

Answer 26

broad muzzles

Question 27

hamster research uses

Answer 27

genetics an reproduction (rapid reproduction), gall stones(they get them), dental carries (albino strain), radiobiology studies (highly resistant to radiation effects, etc

Question 28

what is proliferative ileitis and signs

Answer 28

wet tail; water diarrhea, dehydration, anorexia, depression, wet matted fur on tail/abdomen, intestines can thicken causes impactions or intussuseptions

Question 29

treating proliferative ileitis w antibiotics poses what problem

Answer 29

antibiotic associated enterocolitis- antibiotics cause overgrowth of clostridium difficile

Question 30

most common hamster disease

Answer 30

wet tail/ proliferative ileitis

Question 31

causal agents of hamster pneumonia

Answer 31

strep and pasturella

Question 32

what is amyloiosis, how many (%) of hamsters are affected

Answer 32

kidney failure in older hamsters, 85% of those over 18months