Companion Animal Science Exam 2

What are the common uses of rabbits?

Bred for meat, pets, wool, & lab animals

How are rabbits unique in comparison to other animals?

The rabbit is not a rodent; They are lagomorphs

What are the rabbit size classes?

Heavy, average, lightweight, & small

What is an example of a heavy rabbit?

French lop

Flemish Giant

What is an example of an average rabbit?

New Zealand white

Grand chinchilla

What is an example of a lightweight rabbit?

Himalayan

Dutch

What is an example of a small rabbit?

Polish

What major organization registers rabbits?

American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA)

What is coprophagy?

the eating of “night or soft feces” directly from the anus

What species conduct coprophagy?

Rabbits, Guinea pigs, & Degus

Why do animals conduct coprophagy (what nutrients do they gain)?

Gain B-vitamins & vitamin K

What are common social behaviors of rabbits when housed together?

Females will attack the young of other does, and males will attack other juvenile males when they reach puberty

What are two reasons why it is important to spay a female rabbit?

Uterine cancer is a common deadly problem if not spayed; Females are permanently in heat

How should you breed rabbits?

When breeding it is better to put the doe in the buck’s cage

Why are the reproductive patterns of rabbits unique?

Doe’s are permanently in heat; Rabbits are not monogamous and gestation is 30-33 days

What was discussed about human manufactured rabbit disease?

Australia created biological diseases specific in lagomorphs to try and kill them off but now the rabbits left in Australia are immune & rabbits outside the country are subject to the disease

What is the first thing to do when you decide to own fish?

1. RESEARCH
2. Select the fish type
3. Select your tank or pond size
4. Choose filtration type

What is the most important type of filter? Why?

Biological; bacteria live in filter to make the fish waste less harmful (relates to nitrogen cycle)

What is the nitrogen cycle?

Ammonia is produced by fish as waste. Two different kinds of bacteria convert first to nitrite and then to nitrate. The nitrate is less harmful to fish, can be removed by plants or through water changes

What is special about Koi?

Koi have been a catalyst for advancing captive fish medicine & surgery

Koi have a very expansive price range because of differences in pattern, color, size, deplorement, & bone structure

Can you train fish? Give an example

Yes; Goldfish can be trained to swim through hoops

Why is salmonella an issue with reptiles/amphibians?

People can get sick from Salmonella bacteria through contact with reptiles, amphibians, or their environments, including water from their tanks or aquariums.

What is metabolic bone disease?

a weakening of the bones caused by abnormal levels of the bone's “building blocks,” such as calcium, phosphorus or of vitamin D.

This disease comes typically from a reptile being fed a poor diet & not having UV light.

What are feeding concerns with reptiles/amphibians?

Diet varies with life stages (born as herbivores, most are carnivorous as adults)

A lack of variety in diet can result in problems. Whenever feeding insectivores you have to heavily consider if nutritional needs are being met

What are the classes of amphibians?

Anura: tailless adults (frogs & toads)

Caudata: adults w/ tails (newts & salamanders)

Apoda: tropical & legless

What cat breed is the most popular in the US?

Ragdoll

What is the difference between a cat hybrid and a cat breed?

A cat hybrid is a combination of a domesticated cat & a non-domesticated cat; A cat breed is a group of domestic cats that the governing body of CFA has agreed to recognize as such

Why is the Bengal unique?

The Bengal even though it is a hybrid, is starting to be recognized as a breed by some registries

How many breeds of rabbits are there?

50

The new proposed law in Florida regarding pets may alter laws in which of the following ways?

Require dogs to not have their heads out of windows.

Stop selling rabbits and guinea pigs in March and April.

Stop allowing declawing cats.

Create a registry of animal abusers.

Require dogs to wear safety harnesses in cars.

What are common diseases for rabbits?

Pasterurellosis (respiratory disease), Enteritis, Cardiac arrest, & paralysis

Female rabbits are called does, and male rabbits are called bucks

True

Why are hairballs trouble for rabbits?

Rabbits cannot vomit

Why might vitamin C be needed for rabbits?

If they are stressed

Why do rabbits and guinea pigs need chew items?

To prevent excess incisor growth

How many hours should a rabbit receive outside of their cage for play time each week?

30 hours

Why are rabbits a bad holiday gift?

over 50% last less than 1 month in the new home

only 15% of people will keep it

What is the newest popular breed of guinea pigs?

Skinny pig

Pet rabbits are able to breed with hares and cottontails in the US

False

Chinchillas are primarily nocturnal, and have been used for over a thousand years for furs.

True

How far can Sugar Gliders glide up to?

Up to 50m (150ft)

There are lots of subspecies of Sugar Gliders and they can live up to 12-14 years in captivity

True

Why are hybrid cats controversial?

Hybrid cats are controversial b/c the domestic cat and the wild species cat species may have different gestation period lengths that lead to complications.

Hybrids cats are controversial b/c they are not domesticated and thus may have more problematic wild household behaviors.

Hybrids cats are controversial b/c some people believe we should not be creating new feline pets when the one we already have already has overpopulation concerns.

What is the most popular American cat breed known as the gentle giant?

Maine Coon

Their hairless "suede" coat makes them sensitive to sunlight and temperature

Sphynx

Teddy bear cat known for their curly coat

Selkirk Rex

One of the oldest cat breeds that retains the look of the African wildcat

Abyssinian

Originally known as the Archangel Cat

Russian Blue

"Little red fox" that can use their feet as hands to open cabinets, etc.

Somali

First cat bred to resemble a wild cat although it has no wild blood

Ocicat

Water-loving cats that were given the nickname "the Swimming Cats"

Turkish Van

Brachiocephalic cat breed that is the #1 cat breed in the __world__

Persian

Third most common mammalian pet

Rabbit

Ferrets can mate with a mink for better fur, but results in an infertile hybrid. 

True

Mongolian is the most common one kept as pets

Gerbil

Originally bred for meat and originates from South American Mountains

Guinea Pig

About 500 species, but only two species are commonly kept as pets.

Rat

13 common breeds & Common reported problems include lice, mites, ringworm, alopecia, respiratory disease, and streptococcal pneumonia.

Guinea Pig

Pick them up by the base of the tail and then the scruff for balance to not hurt the tail.

Mouse

What is the most common breed of pet hamster?

Golden hamster

What nutrient do guinea pigs and humans both require in their diets?

Vitamin C

According to Dr. Campbell's lecture, who was the scientist that studied animal ethics and welfare?

James Serpell

The distemper virus is 100% fatal in ferrets.

True

Cat declawing is legal throughout the USA.

False

The main cause of death for pocket pets is poor husbandry.

True

What is husbandry?

the care, cultivation, and breeding of animals.

Why is the Manx cat an example of a controversial cat BREED

The cat is known for having no tail, however, two no-tailed cats bred together will result in 1/4 of the offspring dying in utero and because of that the cat is not shown in many other countries outside of the US

How do Degu’s determine their social hierarchy?

By the size of their stick piles

What is special about Degu's and UV Light?

Degu's have very good vision with a sensitivity to UV light.

Degus can use the UV Light reflecting off of their fur to communicate.

What is affect?

Feeling

What is utility?

How you perceive somethings worth in terms of what it provides

What are the four previous general uses for ferrets?

1. Ferreting - rabbit hunting using ferrets (also term used for rat hunting).
2. Ferret racing - 12-16m of plastic pipe with 2-3 windows, people would bet on who would win.
3. Ferret legging - an old sport of who can stand a ferret in their pants.
4. They were used to run cables through airplanes and skyscrapers.

What is the scientific name of a guinea pig?

Cavia porcellus

Why do female guinea pigs need to be bred by 7 months

After 7 months their pelvic bones will fuse & a C-section becomes a must

Why is subdued lighting for guinea pigs good?

They are nocturnal

These species should not be housed alone (social creatures)

Mice, rats, **sugar gliders**, guinea pigs, rabbits, prairie dogs

What are the current uses for ferrets?

Domestic pets

Shows

Fur ranching

Biomedical research

What mineral should owners be aware of when it comes to ferrets?

Zinc (high levels are toxic)

Why is cage cleaning very easy for gerbils?

They conserve water and urinate little

How do gerbils and hamsters differ?

Gerbils are more active than hamsters

Most gerbils have long tails while most hamsters have very short/stubby tails

What is a common disease in hamsters?

Wet tail diarrhea (can be very serious)

Which species is best handled at night & by a calm, quiet person

Chinchillas

What is unique about chinchilla baths?

They bathe in volcanic ash in the wild

How should hedgehogs be fed?

They should be fed to encourage foraging behavior (to prevent obesity)

Constipation and external parasites are common for this species

Hedgehogs

Which species uses their own saliva as a type of body lotion (anointing behavior)

Hedgehogs

Why were prairie dogs the center of bad attention in 2003?

They were proven to be the vector that carried monkey pox to several humans.

Why are bird cages not suitable for sugar gliders?

they need supplemental heating & a cage at least 6x6x6(ft) with lots of items to play with & jump around on.

What animal is often called the “brush tail rat”

Degu

Why are degus important to research?

Used for diabetes and cataract research

Which animal of the ones studied has the longest gestation?

Chinchillas (111 days)

Which animal of the ones studied has the shortest gestation?

Hamsters (16 days)

Why do people keep fish as pets?

Reduce stress

less demanding

beautiful & unique

Companionship

Why is fluorescent lighting the best?

It does not heat the water

More decorations in a fish tank is better

False

Why do we see less salt water tanks?

1. Most large stores refuse to sell saltwater fish because they use poison & dynamite around coral reefs to catch the fish


1. Salt water fish are more expensive to maintain & harder to keep the fish alive (more sensitive)

How does reproductivity differ in fish?

Fish can either be egg layers or live bearers

What are the classes of reptiles?

Chelonian: Shelled Reptile (341 species)

* Terrapin: Freshwater
* Tortoise: Land
* Turtle: marine

Squamata:

* Lacertlia: Lizards (6000 species)
* Serpentes: Snakes (3500 species)
* Amphisbaenia: Worm lizards (188 species)

Crocodylia: Alligators & Crocodiles (25 species)

Rhynchocephalia: Tuatara (1 specie)

What does the CFA stand for?

Cat Fancier’s Association

What is the controversy regarding the Scottish fold?

The same gene that causes folded ears causes numerous health problems