Lecture 35 - Small Rodent Medicine

Absorbent

Cage litter for rodents should have what characteristic? Recycled paper, compressed wheat straw, citrus litter, corn cob litter, and aspen shavings are all good choices. Cedar and pine should be avoided due to volatile hydrocarbons.

Sipper

Is a sipper or a bowl a better choice to provide water for rodents?

No

Are seed-based diets good for pet rodents?

Four

How many incisors do rodents have? They should not be trimmed.

1:3

What is the correct ratio for upper:lower incisor length?

Harderian

What gland in rodents produces “rat tears” and looks like blood?

Yes

While rodents are monogastric, are they also coprophagic?

No

Can rodents regurgitate or vomit?

Syrian

What type of hamster is also called a golden or teddy bear hamster? It is the species M. auratus and is the most common type.

Russian

What type of hamster is also called a Siberian dwarf or white winter dwarf, and is the species P. sungorus?

Robo

What type of hamster is also called the Roborovski dwarf and is the species P. roborovskii?

Chinese

What type of hamster is also called a striped one, and is the species C. griseus?

1.5-3

About how many years is the average longevity for a hamster?

Cheek

What pouches do hamsters have for transporting food, bedding, and young? They should be taken into account when weighing them.

Flank

Where are the scent glands found in a Syrian hamster?

Ventral

Where are the scent glands found in a Siberian dwarf hamster?

Yes

Is it normal for hamsters to have vaginal discharge after ovulation?

Female

Are male or female hamsters larger?

18

How many days is the gestation period for hamsters?

6-8

Hamsters reach sexual maturity at how many weeks old?

Protein

Hamster diets should be 16-20% what?

Carbohydrates

Hamster diets should be 60-65% what?

Fat

Hamster diets should be 5-7% what?

Yes

Can hamsters get diarrhea, rectal prolapse, dental malocclusion, Cushing’s, demodex, PU/PD, neoplasia, and bite wounds?

Lymphoma

A cutaneous what neoplasia is shown here?

H. nana

What tapeworm is also called the dwarf tapeworm or R. nana, and is a possible hamster zoonosis?

LCM

What virus is a possible hamster zoonosis in people?

Gerbil

What animal is the species M. unguiculatus, is found in desert regions in Mongolia and China, is social, active during the day, makes elaborate burrows, hibernates, and is agile?

3.5

Gerbils can live up to about how many years or longer?

Ventral

Where is the scent gland located in gerbils? It is larger in males.

9-10

Gerbils reach sexual maturity at how many weeks old?

25

How many days does gestation take in gerbils?

No

Gerbils can tolerate heat, can they tolerate humidity?

Dust

What type of bath do gerbils require?

Protein

Gerbil diets should contain 16-22% what?

Sore Nose

A Staph infection in gerbils is also called what?

Mouse

A domesticated what animal is the species M. musculus, originated in Turkey and China, is nocturnal, and lives in small social groups with one male?

Mammary

What tissue in mice extends from the ventrum onto the back and neck?

Mice

Salmonella and LCM are two possible zoonoses of what animals?

Rat

What animal is also called the Norway or Brown type, and is the species R. norvegicus? It originated in central asia, is burrowing and colonial, intelligent, and nocturnal.

21

How many days is gestation in rats?

2.5-3.5

Longevity in rats is about how many years?

No

Should you use the scruff to pick up rats?

Pituitary

A head tilt in rats is often due to a tumor of what gland?

Yes

Does spaying greatly reduce mammary tumors in female rats?

Degu

What animal is also called the brush-tailed rat or trumpet-tailed rat and is the species O. degus? It is found in the Andes mountains in open areas. They are social, long-lived, and have low levels of disease. Both parents are involved in raising young.

90

How many days is gestation in Degus?

10

The lifespan in Degus can be up to how many years?