Guinea Pig, Ferret and Hamster Lab

What is the scientific name for the Syrian or golden hamster?

Mesocricetus auratus

Name the most common infectious disease of hamsters which is also referred to as “wet tail”

Proliferative Ileitis

What two species that are being studied during this lab are born with teeth?

Guinea pigs and ferrets.

How long is the gestation period in the hamster?

15-18 days

What is the scientific name for the domestic ferret?

Mustela putorius furo

Which one of the species being studied during this lab is an obligate carnivore?

The ferret

What is the dental formula for the adult ferret?

2(I 3/3, C 1/1, P 3/3, M 1/2) = 34 teeth.

Name the two vaccines that ferrets get annually?

Rabies and Distemper vaccines

What disease is directly transmissible from ferret to human and human to ferret?

Human influenza virus.

Name the common disease of ferrets that involves the adrenal glands and causes alopecia due to excess release of hormones

Hyperadrenocorticism.

Explain aplastic anemia in ferrets in detail.

• Occurs in intact females that stay in heat and are not bred

• Due to prolonged estrogen exposure

• High estrogen levels suppress bone marrow

• Signs: anemia, pale mm, swollen vulva, alopecia, petechial hemorrhages, anorexia, depression, lethargy

• Treatment: OHE

• Not as common in pet trade ferrets now because they are spayed before being sold

What is the scientific name for the guinea pig?

Cavia porcellus.

What are guinea pigs commonly called?

Cavies.

What is the dental formula for the guinea pig?

2( I 1/1, C 0/0, P 1/1, M 3/3) = 20 teeth in total, with a notable absence of canine teeth.

Which variety of guinea pig has short, coarse hair that grows in whorls?

Abyssinian guinea pig.

What is the name of the most common guinea pig outbred stock used in research?

Dunkin-Harley

Why can guinea pigs be housed in cages without tops?

Guinea pigs are unable to climb or jump high, making them safe to be housed in uncovered cages.

Why must guinea pig food be used within 90 days of its milling date?

To ensure freshness and prevent nutrient loss, as well as to avoid spoilage that could affect their health.

By what age does a female guinea pig have to be bred by?

six months old to avoid health risks.

What does precocious mean in reference to pups?

It refers to pups that are born relatively mature and well-developed, able to see, hear, and walk shortly after birth.

Explain antibiotic toxicity in detail.

• Highly sensitive to antibiotics

• Bad antibiotic choices: (kill gram +) Ampicillin, penicillin, bacitracin, erythromycin, lincomycin, gentamicin, clindamycin, streptomycin

• Upsets natural gut flora allowing “bad” bacteria to proliferate

• Better antibiotic choices: (kill mainly gram -) tetracycline, chloramphenicol, and sulfonamides

Scientific name of the Guinea pig.

Cavia porcellus

Common Guinea Pig Varieties

• English/American (short, smooth, straight hair)

• Abyssinian (short, coarse hair growing in whorls/colics)

• Peruvian (long, fine, silky hair)

• 13 Different breeds according to the American Cavy Breeders Association an affiliate of the American Rabbit Breeders Association

Common Guinea Pig Research Stocks

• Dunkin-Hartley, Hartley (outbred)

• Strain 2, Strain 13 (inbred)

Guinea Pig Behavior

Docile, social, barbering, active during the day, vocal, dislike change, can't climb or jump

palatal ostium

Soft palate in a guinea pig is continuous with the base of the tongue and has a hole in it, called

Dental formula of guinea pigs

• 2(I 1/1,C 0/0,P 1/1, M 3/3)

• All teeth are open rooted

Guinea Pig Digestive System

Undivided stomach, large cecum, large intestine occupies most of the abdominal cavity, coprophagic, cannot synthesize Vitamin C

How many pairs of nipples do guinea pigs have?

1 pair of nipples

Guinea Pig Estrous Cycle Length

15-17 days

Guinea Pig Gestation Period

59-72 days

Guinea Pig Litter Size

2-4

Guinea Pig Weaning Age

21 days

Why breed a sow before 6 months

Fusion of pelvic symphysis

Guinea pig young are

precocious

Guinea Pig Diet

•Ascorbic acid/Vitamin C supplement not needed if on a good quality diet

     (light breaks it down making it unstable)  

•Ascorbic acid is unstable – degrades

•L-ascorbyl 2 phosphate is double bonded and stable

•Vitamin C can flavor water and cause guinea pigs to not drink plain water

•Water in bottle, bowl, or automatic watering system

      Guinea pigs prefer a water bottle (environmental enrichment)

•Treats should be low in sugar, high in fiber

–Yogurt drops - BAD

–Hay based/freeze dried fruits - GOOD

–Greens and veggies - BEST

Guinea Pig Water Considerations

Avoid ascorbic acid supplements, use L-ascorbyl 2 phosphate, prefer water bottle

boars

male guinea pigs

sows

female guinea pigs

pups

young guinea pigs

Farrowing

the process of giving birth in guinea pigs.

Scientific name of ferret.

Mustela putorius furo

Ferret Nutrition

• 0-40% protein; 15-30% fat

• Fed ad libitum (eat every 3-4 hours) in large heavy bowls

• Obligate carnivores first 2-3 ingredients should be animal protein based, avoid grain!!

• Cannot digest fiber well

• Water in heavy bowl or water bottle

• Ferrets need a variety in their diet at a young age when their olfactory senses develop, whatever they are fed when their olfactory senses form is what they will eat for life

Ferret Anatomy

• Have long thin body structure, short legs, tail and soft fur

• Flexible spine

• No sweat glands, they pant to lower body temperature

• Each foot has 5 claws that are non-retractable

• J-shaped os-penis

• Large spleen

• Heart lies at 6^th and 8^th ribs which is more caudal than most species

• Very short intestinal tract 3-4 hour transit time

• Can vomit but usually doesn’t

• Stomach constantly produces acid

• Seasonal fluctuations in weight due to SQ accumulation of fat during fall in off breeding season

Musky Odor in ferrets

Apocrine skin glands (sebaceous) responsible for characteristic musky odor (not anal glands)

Ferret Dental formula

• 2( I 3/3 ,  C 1/1 ,  P 3/3 , M 1/2) = 34 

• Large interdigital canine teeth

• Bladed cheek teeth (not flat)

• They have 30 deciduous teeth that are replaced around 7-10 weeks of age

• Incapable of grinding extruded diets

Females have _____ pairs of mammary glands

4

Ferret Reproduction

• Gestation period – 41 –42 days

• Litter size  - 1-15 (8 avg.)

• Breeding duration – 2 – 5 yrs.

• Induced ovulators (like the cat & rabbit); If not bred remain in heat for up to 6 months

Immunization for ferrets

Canine Distemper

• 100% fatal

• Modified live virus of chicken embryo origin (live vaccines of ferret origin or killed vaccines of canine origin can cause disease)

• Purevax Ferret Distemper (Merial Inc.)

• 6-8 weeks, 10-12 weeks, 13-14 weeks

• Boost annually

Immunization for ferrets

Rabies

• (State)

• Inactivated

• Imrab 3 (approved for use in Ferrets)

• At 3 months and boosted annually

Pancreatic Beta Cell Tumors (Insulinomas)

• Common neoplasm of ferrets

• Clinical signs:  weakness, lethargy, vomiting, seizures, weight loss

• Diagnosis: blood glucose <60 mg/dL due to excessive insulin produced by the pancreatic tumor

• TX:  drugs(prednisone) and SX to remove the tumor

Hyperadrenocorticism

• Common in older ferrets

• Associated with adrenal gland tumor that produces excess hormones/steroids

• Signs: bilateral alopecia, pruritis, swollen vulva, polydipsia, polyuria, neutered males showing sexual behavior to spayed females

• TX:  SX removal of the adrenal gland

Aplastic Anemia

• Occurs in intact females that stay in heat and are not bred

• Due to prolonged estrogen exposure

• High estrogen levels suppress bone marrow

• Signs:  anemia, pale mm, swollen vulva, alopecia, petechial hemorrhages, anorexia, depression, lethargy

• Treatment: OHE

• Not as common in pet trade ferrets now because they are spayed before being sold

Jills

Intact female ferrets

Hobs

Intact male ferrets

Gib

male ferret that has been neutered.

Sprite

a female ferret that has been spayed.

Kits

young ferrets, usually born in spring.

All ferrets are born

altricially and require maternal care until they are fully weaned.

Scientific name of the most common hamster in research

Mesocricetus auratus

Hamster behavior

• Aggressive and territorial

• Females prone to fighting, dominate males

Hamster body temperature

99-100 deg F

Hamster heart rate

310-470 bpm

Hamster respiration rate

38-110 bpm

Hamsters have well developed

buccal pouches and cheeks for storing food.

Hamster Dental formula

• 2(I 1/1  C 0/0 P 0/0 M 3/3)

• Pups born with a full set of teeth (no deciduous teeth)

Female hamsters have _________ pairs of mammary glands

6-7

Two flank (scent) glands in hamsters

Used to mark territory and mating behavior (More developed in male

Hamster Gestation period

15-18 days

Present after breeding in hamster

Vaginal plug

Breeding & Reproduction

• Gestation is shortest of lab rodents

• Female continually polyestrous

• Typically won’t breed in winter

• Females VERY aggressive towards male!!

• Cannibalism common in hamster

  –Especially 1^st litter

  –Do not disturb for at least a week

Handling methods for hamsters

Scooping and scruffing, Whole hand scruff, Full body hold

Proliferative Ileitis (Wet tail)

• Most common disease of hamsters caused by Lawsonia intracellularis

• Usually occurs in young (3-8 wks)

• Stressed or when overcrowded and poor husbandry

• Clinical signs:

• Unkempt hair coat

• Hunched posture

• Anorexia

• Moist perineal area

• Foul smelling, watery diarrhea

• Dehydration

• Rectal prolapse

• Death (within 48 hours)

Tyzzer’s disease in hamsters

• Clostridium piliforme

• Clinical signs: diarrhea, dehydration, anorexia

• Treatment: Tetracycline in drinking water

Lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM)

• Wild mouse natural host

• In hamster clinical signs are rare they serve as reservoirs for infection

• Zoonotic – transmission through saliva, feces, urine and tissues

• In humans, flu like symptoms

Meriones unguiculatus

Scientific name for the Mongolian gerbil.

AKA:  jird or desert rat

Agouti

Most common coat color in gerbils.

Monogamous pairs

Gerbils form these and mate for life.

Hardwood chips, wood shavings, composite recycled paper pellets or sand NOT CEDAR

Acceptable bedding materials for gerbils

Body temp of Gerbil

99-101 deg F

Heart rate of Gerbil

260-600 bpm

Respiratory rate of Gerbil

85-160 bpm

Anatomy of gerbils.

• Long tail that is fully furred

• Sebaceous gland used for marking on abdomen, ventral midline (more prominent in males) used for marking territory

• Non-glandular forestomach & glandular stomach (inability to regurgitate)

• Practice coprophagia

• Adrenal glands large relative to total BW

• Has a thymus

• Produce small quantities of highly concentrated urine

Typical gerbil dental formula

• 2 (I 1/1, C 0/0, P 0/0, M 3/3)

• Incisors continuously grow

Gestation period for gerbils

23-26 days

Breeding characteristics of female gerbils.

• Polyestrus, spontaneous ovulators

• can have Postpartum estrus

Tail slip/degloving

• Potential injury when handling gerbils by the end of their tail.

• Lift by carefully grasping the base of their tail