Dr. Dan review sheets for rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchilla, small rodents, sugar gliders, hedgehogs, degu, gerbil, ferret, primates,

open rooted teeth are termed

elodont

the root of the teeth is the ____? which contains

apex: contains germ cells (germinal tissue) for continual tooth growth

clinical signs of dental disease

hypersalivation, reduced food intake, selective food intake, reduced fecal output, or fecal pellets that are smaller than normal; patient may go to food and show initial interest but refrain from eating due to difficulty or pain

rabbits and rodents are obligate ____

nasal breathers

maloccluded, overgrown teeth require

repeated trimming

trimming of maloccluded teeth is only ___

temporary

acquired dental disease is

progressive and nonreversible

goals of treatment are 

provide food quality of life, minimizing discomfort, maintaining body condition, and enabling the pet to eat on its own if possible, however lifelong syringe feeding is also acceptable for many small herbivore patients 

the best prevention is to encourage dental wear through a ___

course low energy high fiber diet that is necessitates constant grazing activity and containing vitamin C (guinea pigs)

rabbits, guinea pigs, and chinchillas are

hindgut fermenters with an active cecum

hind gut fermentors rely on

cecal microorganisms to break down cellulose and convert it to volatile fatty acids for energy

VFAs have a positive effect on

appetite and gut motility 

GI stasis, dysbiosis, bloat, diarrhea, and lack of feces are collectively called

gastrointestinal syndrome

GIS is a ____ not a _____

symptom not a disease

GIS can be triggered by any event leading to

inappetence or anorexia or dehydration ( pre sx, fasting, sudden change in diet, concurrent illness, extreme pain, starvation, sipper malfunction, bas tasting water, careless mistake)

long stemmed hay fiber and course roughage promote

gut motility in a way (scratch factor) that finely ground hay fiber does not 

lack of fiber, excessive carbs, certain antibiotics can threaten favorable microorganisms and promote opportunistic pathogens and toxin productions is called

bacterial dysbiosis

stress has a ___ effect on the GI motility

negative; ex: include pain (dental dz, post op), concurrent dz, anxiety, and almost anything that you could call “inappropriate husbandry”

clinical signs of GIS

signs of GIS

decreased appetite, patients will often initially stop eating pellets, hay, but will continue to eat treats, followed later by complete anorexia. fecal pellets may have become scant, firm, or smaller than normal, will complete GI stasis there may be no fecal production at all

bruxism, hunched posture, failure to groom, and reluctance to move. affected animals may stretch out or roll while attempting to relieve pain

if no feces are produced, clients may incorrectly assume that their pet is 

constipated 

firm ingesta in the stomach of a patient with a hx of anorexia for 1-3 days prioe to presentation suggests 

gut stasis 

treatment of GIS includes

fluid therapy, syringe feeding, pain management, antinausea treatment (maropitant), and prokinetics (metoclopramide, cisapride)

domesticated rabbit (european rabbit)

oryctolagus cuuniculus

langomorphs are? how many incisors?

(rabbits, hares, pikas) 6 incisors (2nd set on top called peg teeth or auxiliary incisors)

rabbits have fragile skeleton, if mishandled a rabbit may kick and cause a

spinal fracture at the 7th lumbar vertebra

rabbits ovulation is

induced

rabbit kits are born 

blind and hairless (altricial)

normal rabbits can carry ________ and may trasmit it to other pets like

Boredetella bronchispectica and guinea pigs

rabbits GI transit time is only

4-5 hrs

rabbits produce ______: they periodically excrete and consume cecal contents called “_____” which is a specific kind of coprophagy

cecotrophy, pseduorumination,

the basis of an adult rabbit diet should be 

grass-hay and water, should always be available, limited pellets and mixed greens should make up the rest 

unspayed rabbits are prone to

uterine adenocarcinomas

rabbits cant ____ or ___ and are thus prone to gastric tympany

vomit or eructate

with dental dz, sharp points and edges tend to develop on the _____ aspect of the upper arcades and on the ____ aspect of the lower arcades

buccal (maxillary); lingual (mandibular)

“Snuffles” is a common term for ____. often attributed to ______ but other ___ may be involved 

URI; pasteurella but other bacteria may be involved 

heat tilt (torticollis, wry neck) suggest either 

otitis due to pasturella multocida or CNS infection by Encephalitozoon cuniculi (microsporidian parasite) 

“sore hock” is ___________, caused by

ulcerative pododermatitis; caused by pressure, mostiture, abrasion, and unsanitary conditions

stap aureus infection is typical with this

pododermatitis is prevented by

providing soft dry clean bedding

Rabbit hemorrhagic Disease Virus is

highly transmissible and fatal calicivirus that has recently been reported in the US; vaccine is available

cuterebriasis

a parasitic infestation caused by cuterebra fly larvae, typically found in rodents and rabbits, leading to swelling, tissue damage, and a draining wound

otacariasis

an ear condition caused by psorptes cuniculi mites, commonly seen in rabbits resulting in itching inflammation and crusting 

pasteurellosis

a bacterial infection caused by pasteurella multocida often affecting the respiratory tract of rabbits and potentially leading to abscesses or systemic illness

rabbit abscesses

localized collections of pus caused by infection, frequently seen in rabbits due to dental dz trauma or bacterial spread 

coccidiosis

disease caused by eimeria spp. affecting the liver and/ or intestinal tract and leading to diarrhea, weight loss, and poor growth in young animals 

E.cuniculi (encephalitis)

zoonotic

otitis media

rabbit pneumonia

RHDV2

genius and order name of guinea pig

cavia porcellus

guinea is pig a ______ rodent 

hystricomorph (“porcupine-like”)

diastema

the space between the incisors and cheek teeth

male guinea pigs (boars) have a _____ on the rump that produces a waxy substance causing a “grease trail”

scent gland

Boars (male guinea pig) have large ______ that resemble a uterus and also have a ____ ____ within the similar to dogs 

seminal vesicles; os penis

guinea pigs have ____ offspring

precocial offspring; (fully furred, eyes open, able to graze)

guinea pigs require a dietary source of _______ or scurvy (scorbutus) will result

vitamin C (ascorbate, ascorbic acid)

symptoms of scurvy 

loosening or loss of incisors, swollen joints, lameness, and general unthriftiness 

guinea pigs, like all rodents, practice ____

coprophagy

Vitamin C rich food

parsley, mustard greens, turnup greens, kale, cabbage, tomato, bell pepper, broccoli, califlower, citrus fruits

not good: carrots, lettuce, celery

guinea pigs is prone to respiratory infections caused by _______ and _______

bordetella bronchiseptica and streptococcus pneumoniae 

cervical lmphadenitis (lumps) is

cervical abscessation usually caused by strep. zooepidemicus

Antibiotics to avoid

amoxicillin, ampicillin, erythromycin, clindamycin, lincomycin

in guinea pigs they are good at cheek tooth crowns growning until

tongue becomes entrapped, mouth cannot fully close and incisors get too long

guinea pigs are prone to pododermatitis secondary to:

scurvy, obesity, and/or poor sanitation

Trixacarus caviae 

mite infestation results in scabbing, alopecia, self trauma, and pruritus so intense that it may be mistaken for seizures 

guinea pig _______ infection is a frequent zoonosis

dermatophyte

guinea pigs _____ is common: diagnosis is by radiographs, ultrasound, and urinalysis: surgical removal is usually indicated and recurrence common

urolithiasis

in guinea pigs the ________ of the young female cavy remains compliant to allow for parturition until _____ months of age

pubic symphysis, 6-7 

female guinea pigs (sow) bred after fusion of symphysis are at risk for ____

dystocia

cystic ovarian disease can cause

bilateral alopecia over the flanks, abdominal distension, anorexia, fatigue, and depression

obese expectant female guinea pigs are prone to _______

pregnancy toxemia 

bacterial enteritis

streptococcosis

parasites, internal and external 

case example

pneumonia

pregnancy toxemia

dystocia 

trixacarus caviae

Chinchillas are adapted to a _____, _____ climate

cool, dry

chinchillas are susceptible to ____ and _____bc of their coat

heat and humidity

chinchillas have ______ rather than claws typical of most rodents 

fingernails 

female chinchillas are ___ than males

larger

chinchillas have exceptionally large _______

auditory bullae

chinchillas are long- lived and live up to ____

20 years old

chinchilla off spring are _____

precocial

female chinchillas are generally ____ to males

dominant

chinchillas need _____ where individuals can take refuge should an altercation occur 

hiding places 

chinchillas need dust bath offered for ___ every ____ with commercial chinchilla dust

10-15 min q day or two

if chinchillas are handled roughly then _____ may result

fur slip

in chinchillas ________ can be an incidental finding 

heart murmur 

Ptyalism “slobbers” can be a sign of ____ in chinchillas

dental disease or overheating

chinchillas are prone to ________ with advanced dental disease

apical elongation

in chinchillas blepharospasm may be caused by 

apical elongation, duct in the eye, bacterial infection (pseudomonas→ precursor to pneumonia) 

in chinchillas enteropathy can lead to

rectal prolapse

Male chinchillas often develop ______. can cause injury, paramphimosis, and dysuria in extreme cases, thus must males should be checked as part of the vet. exam

fur rings around the base of the penis

In small rodents avoid ____ and ____ shavings because they release volatile hydrocarbons

cedar and pine

Degus are closely related to chinchillas and guinea pigs. All are____ and all have___ incisor and cheek teeth all have a ____ adapted to a high fiber diet.

hystricomorphs, elodont, functioning cecum 

Hamsters mice rats and gerbils are closely related. All are _____ have _____ incisors and _____ cheek teeth. all have a ______ tract adapted to a high energy diet

myomorphs, open rooted incisors, closed rooted (brachydont) cheek teeth, simple GI tract

Rodent pellets and blocks (formulated diets) are preferred over _______

seed-based diets 

all rodents have __ chisel like incisors, the lower incisors are normally ___ the length of the uppers

4 incisors and 3X

In small rodents, there are____within the orbits, they produce porphyrin (red pigment) which can collect around the eyes and ears and can be mistaken for blood

Harderian glands