Ferrets, Rodents, and Rabbits Review

Domestic ferrets need to be vaccinated against which two diseases?

Canine Distemper and Rabies

When handling young gerbils, you may see what behavior?

Seizures

What is the most common cause of Valvular heart disease in ferrets?

Mitral and Tricuspid regurgitation

Clinical signs of heartworm disease in ferrets is similar to which other animal?

cats

What percent of heartworm infected ferrets will have microfilaria?

50-60%

What disease is seen most frequently in young, fast-growing juvenile ferrets?

Wasting disease

What percentage of a ferret's diet should be meat and what percentage should be fat?

Meat: 30 - 50 %

Fat: 15 – 20% fat

What types of heart disease is seen in hamsters?

Atrial thrombosis

Which breed of rabbit has the recessive trait that can cause glaucoma?

New Zealand White

What type of mammary tumors are common in rats? Is surgery curative?

Fibroadenoma, yes remove mass.

What is the most common tumor of the rabbit reproductive tract? What is the prognosis? Is an OHE curative?

Adenocarcinoma - poor, fair if spayed.

- Can be curative if it is not advanced.

What type of ovulators are ferrets?

Induced

Any feral or unvaccinated ferret should be treated as if it has which disease?

Rabies

Can ferrets and humans pass the flu back and forth?

Yes

What is the major component of chronic respiratory disease in rats?

mycoplasma pulmonus

The most frequently diagnosed respiratory disease of rabbits is called Pasteurellosis. What is another name for it?

snuffles

What does induced ovulation mean?

ovulation is induced by stimulation

If ovulation doesn't occur, what can happen?

estrogen levels will stay elevated, may cause estrogen toxicosis

What are Cecotrophs and why are they important for rabbits?

“night feces”, source of vitamin B and protein.

What is the difference between acquired and congenital diseases?

Congenital: born with it

Acquired: condition that develops after birth

What are the two forms of cardiomyopathy, and which do we see in ferrets?

Dilated and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, both are seen in ferrets.

What types of cardiovascular disease is seen in rodents? In rabbits?

cardiomyopathy and atrial thrombosis (rodents)

- cardiomyopathy (rabbits)

The tricuspid valve in the rabbit heart differs from the feline and canine in what way?

It only has two cusps, and there is a little collateral circulation for the coronary vessels.

What is arteriosclerosis?

Hardening of the arteries

Which drugs have been shown to cause myocardial disease in rabbits?

Ketamine, xylazine, doxorubicin.

Which species may be infected with Dirofilarial immitis? Clinical signs of the disease are similar to which other species?

ferrets

- similar to cats

Ferrets fed what types of diets most commonly develop dental disease?

Sugary and moist food

What are the common digestive occurrences we see in pet ferrets?

Foreign body, dental disease, neoplasia, IBD, rectal disease

What are the three causes of wasting in ferrets?

Hemobacter, proliferative bowel, eosinophilic gastroenteritis

What is Epizootic catarrhal enteritis and how is it spread?

Younger ferrets that are asymptomatic give it to older ferrets.

What are the clinical signs for Enteropathy in rodents?

severe diarrhea, dehydration, anorexia

Which bacterium causes Enteropathy?

young hamsters: Lawsonia intracellularis

mature hamsters and gerbils: Clostridium piliforme

Enteropathy is also known by what other names?

Wet tail & Proliferative Ileitis

What is Intestinal stasis in rabbits?

Stoppage in the intestines, hairball obstruction is not the issue.

- Causes: lack of intestinal motility, inappropriate diet (too high in carbs and not enough fiber.

- Signs: dehydration, stress, dental disease, foreign objects in GI tract.

Improper nutrition and lack of exercise can cause what issue seen in rabbits.

Obesity

Which intestinal parasite can cause death in rabbits by infecting the liver?

Coccidia

What is Hepatic Lipidosis and how do rabbits become afflicted with it?

Fat accumulates in the hepatocytes.

- When rats do not eat their cecotrophs, glucose levels decline, decrease in production of fatty acids which stimulates lipolysis. Fatty acids move from adipose tissue through the liver. Liver cannot handle excess fatty acids, and fat accumulates in the hepatocytes.

Causes: prolonged anorexia

Which organs are affected in the ferret with endocrine disease?

Adrenal glands

What clinical signs are seen with adrenal gland disease?

Progressive alopecia, itching, enlarged vulva, urinary dysuria or obstruction. CBC and chemistry may show anemia and pancytopenia.

What type of diagnostics would not be helpful in diagnosing adrenal gland disease?

CBC, radiographs?

Which cells are involved in Pancreatic Islet Cell Tumors?

Involves insulin producing B-islet cells

These tumors will cause the normal feedback system to become ineffective. What does that mean?

Insulinoma

- the hormone that triggers the feedback system becomes ineffective, causing blood insulin levels to continually increase.

What clinical signs are seen with Insulinomas?

Hypoglycemia, weakness, lethargy, ataxia, seizures, coma, hypothermia, tachycardia, muscle fasciculations, irritability.

What are the treatments and prognosis for ferrets with insulinomas? Which of these can result in diabetes mellitus in the ferret?

Medical: will not slow growth

Surgical: not curative but may slow progression, (nodulectomy or partial pancreatectomy).

- Aggressive surgical treatment may lead to diabetes mellitus

Which endocrine disease has been reported in hamsters?

Hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing's disease).

Diabetes mellitus has been seen in trumpet tail rats. What are the clinical signs, and can it be treated?

cataracts, PU/PD, weight loss

- treatment: none found

What are the three most common eye disorders and their causes seen in ferrets?

Conjunctivitis: bacterial, viral, or environmental.

Cataract/ luxation: inherited

Retinal atrophy: genetic or taurine deficit

What are the causes of cataracts in rats and mice?

Inherited, congenital, and secondary to other diseases

What are nutritionally induced cataracts a result of and which species is at risk?

Over feeding increased amounts of sucrose, xylose, or lactose – lab rats

Do cataracts in rats or mice cause loss of vision?

No

What is Epiphora?

Overproduction of tears

Rodents shed red tears naturally. What is the name for tears that are pigmented?

Chromodacryorrhea

Alopecia seen around the nares, on the forepaws, and facial areas are clinical signs of what disease seen in gerbils?

Periocular dermatitis

What are the suggested treatments for periocular dermatitis?

Opthalmic ointment, clean area, decrease ambient temperature, comfortable bedding.

Which breed of rabbit possesses the recessive trait for Glaucoma?

NZ white

At what age will we start to see an increase in intraocular pressure?

3-6 months of age

What is the treatment of choice for glaucoma in rabbits?

Enucleation

What is the most common malignancy seen in ferrets and hamsters? What treatments are available? What is the prognosis?

lymphoma

- treatments: chemotherapy

In younger hamsters with lymphoma, what virus can cause skin tumors?

Hamster polyomavirus

What types of skin tumors are commonly seen in ferrets? Are they usually benign or malignant?

mast cell, basal cell, sebaceous cell tumors.

- usually benign

What types of mammary tumors do mice develop? Are they benign or malignant? What is the prognosis?

Fibrosarcomas and Adenocarcinomas: most are malignant, surgery not option. (poor)

What type of mammary tumors are seen in rats? Are they benign or malignant? What is the prognosis?

Fibroadenoma (benign)

Which disorder is seen in obese rabbits that are kept in wire mesh cages or dirty floors? How would we treat it?

Ulcerative Pododermatitis (sore hocks)

What are the differences between rabbit abscesses and abscesses in other species?

Rabbit abscesses are caseous in nature and do not drain well – like reptiles.

What disease is the rabbit the only natural host of? How and when is it transmitted?

Treponema cuniculi “rabbit syphilis”

What are the clinical signs we will see with the above disease?

Edema with or without redness of the vaginal or preputial area, presence of macules, papules, pustules, scabs on the genitalia, eyelids, nose, and lips. No other signs of systemic disease.

What is Myxomatosis and how can it be prevented?

Comes from an arthropod – limit exposure or administer tick protection to ferrets.

What are the clinical signs for Shope Fibroma Virus?

Begin as warts, warts become papilloma with rough rounded surfaces. Some may become malignant squamous cell carcinomas.

What is the most common cause of ringworm in rabbits? What are the clinical signs for ringworm in rabbits? How is it treated?

Trichophyton mentagrophytes

signs: round alopecia lesions, puritis, crusty lesions

Treatment: topical fungal cream, iodine shampoo, griseo fulvin

Which fur mite infestation causes clinical signs such as thinning hair over shoulders and back, red, oily, hairless patches, and mild to moderate pruritis?

Cheyletiella Parasitovorax (walking dandruff)

What method is used to identify the mite? What is this mite sometimes called?

Cellophone tape method, walking dandruff

What are the clinical signs of infection caused by Psoroptes cuniculi? How contagious is this infection?

Dry, honey-colored crusts in ear canals, intensely pruritic, head shaking, pain.

What is Warbles? How do rabbits get Warbles?

Flies that lay eggs and the larvae enters the host though the nasal or oral cavity.

What are the common causes of trauma in rabbits?

Improper handling

Why is musculoskeletal trauma so common in rabbits?

Only 8% of body weight, rabbit will kick or twist and injure back.

What are some ways to reduce the chances of trauma in rabbits?

Exercise and reduce body weight.

What musculoskeletal disease affects rabbits older than 4 years of age? Explain what we will see with this disease.

Spondylosis of the lumbar spine

In which species might we see IVDD? What clinical signs would we see? How would we treat IVDD?

Ferrets, ataxia, posterior paresis, seizures. Would treat primary disease.

What nervous system disorder do we see in gerbils? When does it develop and what can bring on a seizure?

Seizures: develops because of an enzyme deficiency, 2 months old. Onset of seizures after being handled.

Lameness is seen in rabbits. How does this usually present?

Abnormal gait, pain on palpation, swollen joints, bony enlargements, fractures.

What is Encephalitozoonosis caused by and how does it affect the rabbit? What is the most common sign? What is the prognosis?

Caused by infection of microsporidian parasite Encephalitozoon cuniculi.

Most common sign is neurologic signs; prognosis is poor for rabbits that do not eat.

What is Estrogen toxicosis and who is affected by it? How can it be treated? Which is the treatment of choice?

Increased levels of estrous causing toxicosis

- Ferrets

- Treatment of choice: spay

What makes ferrets with Estrogen toxicosis poor surgical candidates and what can we do to ensure safety during surgery?

Thrombocytopenia

What is the most common ovarian tumor in female ferrets? What types of tumors are seen in male ferrets?

- Leiomyomas

- Males: Sertoli cell tumors, seminomas, and interstitial cell tumors.

What are the clinical signs of reproductive tumors in ferrets? What treatments are available?

Lethargy, depression, anorexia, persistent estrus, dorsal alopecia (male ferrets with hyperestrogen levels from Sertoli cell tumors).

What other organs may become diseased in ferrets that have adrenal disease?

- Bladder will be diseased – urinary obstruction

What is the most common tumor in the reproductive tract of rabbits?

Adenocarcinoma

What clinical signs might tell us that a rabbit has uterine tumors? What can be done to prevent reproductive tumors?

Decreased litter size, stillborn litter, anemia, hematuria or serosanguinous vaginal discharge, mammary glands.

- spay

What is a pyometra and which bacteria causes pyometra in the rabbit?

Bacterial infection of the uterus

- Pasterella and Staphylococcus

What types of things predispose a doe to infection? What clinical signs will we see? What are the most common causes of the infection?

After the birth the doe can be predisposed to an infection. - can see post-partum reproductive issues.

Signs: vaginal discharge

What are two viral causes of respiratory disease in ferrets? Which has a nearly 100% mortality rate?

Canine distemper and human influenza virus

- Distemper has 100% mortality rate

What are the two causes of pneumonia in rodents? What is one unusual sign that will be seen?

Sendai virus and Mycoplasma pulmonis.

We see bacterial pneumonia in both rats and hamsters. What are the differences in clinical signs seen in each species?

Sticky eyelids

What respiratory disease in rabbits is commonly referred to as "Snuffles"? What can contribute to this disease becoming active?

Pasteurellosis

What clinical signs will we see with Pasteurellosis? How is it treated? What is the prognosis?

increased RR rate, rhinitis, nasal discharge, lack of grooming

- treat with systemic antibiotics

What causes heatstroke in rabbits? What needs to be provided for rabbits housed outside?

Rabbits can not pant and are unable to sweat. Shady, cool place to rest.

What can we do to decrease their body temperature? Is heatstroke considered an emergency?

Administer vasodilator, IV cooled fluids.

In ferrets, we see two types of renal failure. What are they and what are the differences between them?

Acute or chronic

Acute: secondary to lower urinary tract disease or obstruction.

What age-related renal disease is seen in rats? What are the clinical signs? How would it be treated?

Chronic Progressive Nephrosis

Proteinuria, difficult urination

Treatment: Low protein diet and anabolic steroids.

What causes "sludgy urine" in rabbits? What signs might we see and why?

Buildup of calcium carbonate deposits.

- Turbid, may be painful or difficult to urinate.