Extoic Animal Final: Rats, Mice, Rabbits, Guinea Pigs, Ferrets

What does the word 'rodent' mean?

It comes from the Latin word rodere, meaning 'to gnaw'

To which subfamily do both mice and rats belong?

Muridae

What does the term 'murine' refer to?

rats and mice

What are two common species of rats?

Rattus Norvegicus and Rattus Rattus

What is the average lifespan of a rat?

26 to 40 months

What is the average weight of an adult male rat?

267-500 g

What is the average weight of an adult female rat?

225-325 g

What is the normal rectal temperature for rats?

37.7 °C (99.8ºF)

What is the recommended environmental temperature range for rats?

21-24 °C (69-75ºF)

At what age do rats reach puberty?

6-8 weeks

What percentage of its body length does a rat's tail make up?

About 85%

What are the functions of a rat's tail?

an organ of balance and a mechanism for heat loss

Which gland produces red tears (porphyrin) in rats?

Harderian gland

What may excess red tear staining in rats indicate?

Stress or illness

What type of teeth do rats have?

Hypsodontic teeth

What is brown fat also called?

Hibernation tissue (provides about 10 times more energy than other fats)

Why can't rats vomit?

Their stomach has a ridge dividing glandular and nonglandular portions

Name two areas of research for which rats are commonly used.

Dental research and behavioral studies

What is the average rat gestation period?

22 days

What is the average litter size for rats?

6-12 pups

What confirms mating in rats?

The presence of a copulatory plug

Which breeding system results in higher stress and injuries?

Intensive

Are female rats housed together more likely to fight than males?

Yes

What is a group of rats called?

A mischief

What is the ideal room temperature for rats?

65-75°F

What condition can low humidity cause in rats?

Ringtail

Which bedding should not be used for rats?

Cedar

What does coprophagic mean in relation to rats?

They eat their own feces

What is the shelf life of most commercial rat chow?

Approximately 6 months

How should you lift a rat?

Grasp the base of the tail near the body, NEVER the tip

What are some identification methods for rats?

Microchip, Ear tag, Ear punch, Tattoo, Dot On Head

Where is blood typically withdrawn from in rats?

Lateral tail veins

What is the maximum percentage of total blood volume that should be withdrawn at one time?

No more than 10%

What is the scientific name of the common laboratory mouse?

Mus Musculus

What is the average lifespan of a mouse?

12-36 months

What is the length of the estrus cycle in mice?

4-5 days

What is the Whitten effect?

If a male mouse is introduced to a large group of females, it can start their estrus cycles within 3 days

What is the Bruce effect?

If pregnant mice are introduced to new male/or their sent they will abort and female will return to estrus

What time of day are mice primarily active?

Nocturnal (at night)

True or False: Female mice commonly fight with each other.

False

What is the ideal environmental temperature for mice?

65-85°F

What type of wood should not be used as bedding for mice?

Soft woods such as cedar

What causes Murine Respiratory Mycoplasmosis in rats/mice?

Mycoplasma Pulmonis (bacteria)

What causes Tyzzer's disease?

Poor sanitation (bacteria)

What disease may result in abscesses in the skin/uterus/liver/lymph nodes/lungs?

Pasteurellosis

Sialodacryoadenitis affects what glands?

Salivary Glands/Lacrimal Glands

What viral disease in rats causes photophobia and chromodacryorrhea?

Sialodacryoadenitis (SDAV)

Humans can get rat-bite fever from?

bites, scratches, contact with bodily fluids

Name ectoparasites commonly found on rats.

Lice, mites, fleas

Which tapeworm species is zoonotic?

Hymenolepis nana

What is 'ringtail' in young rats?

Young rats in low humidity start to have tails constrict

What is barbering in rats?

A form of hair loss caused by alopecia without pruritis (usually due to cage mates)

Why are rats poor models for most heart studies?

heart tissue blood supply is more like a fish than other mammals, and is very small and a different physiology than humans

Compare intensive vs. nonintensive breeding systems.

Intensive: continuous housing of male/female housing (even when pregnant) Non-intensive: separate housing when female is pregnant.

List three ways to prevent husbandry-related problems in laboratory rodents.

proper environmental conditions, appropriate housing/enrichment, and balanced diet/fresh water

What are rabbits classified as?

Lagomorpha

What dental feature led to the reclassification of rabbits?

Second pair of incisors in upper jaw

What is the scientific name of the domestic rabbit?

Oryctolagus cuniculus

What is the normal body weight range for an adult buck?

2-5 kg

What is the normal body weight range for an adult doe?

2-6 kg

What is the average birth weight of a kit?

30-80 grams

What is the normal rectal temperature range for rabbits?

38.5-40.0 °C (101.3-104ºF)

What is the normal heart rate range for rabbits?

180-250 bpm

What is the normal respiratory rate for rabbits?

30-60 breaths/min

What is the daily food consumption for rabbits?

50 g/kg

What is the daily water consumption range for rabbits?

50-150 ml/kg

At what age do male/female rabbits reach sexual maturity?

22-52 weeks

What is the breeding life span of male rabbits?

60-72 months

What is the breeding life span of female rabbits?

24-36 months

rabbits are what kind of ovulators?

Induced ovulators

What is the gestation length for rabbits?

30-33 days

What is the average litter size for rabbits?

4-12 kits

What are the second pair of incisors in rabbits called?

Peg teeth

Female rabbits are larger than male rabbits?

True

1 multiple choice option

Rabbit ears are highly ___________ and serve as a ______________ organ

vascular, thermoregulatory

Dewlap function (skin folds on under side of neck) used to?

pull hair to make a nest

What do rabbits lack on their feet that can lead to sore hocks?

Footpads/ulcerative pododermatitis

How do rabbits mark their territory?

glands/feces

What are rabbits highly sensitive to?

catecholamines (fight or flight hormones)

Eye placement provides what kind of field of view?

Panoramic

What is the main vein for head drainage in rabbits?

External jugular vein

What may occur if the jugular vein is ligated?

Protrusion of the eyeball for 24 hours

A rabbits skeleton makes up what percent of body weight?

7%

What is a common fracture site from kicking in rabbits?

7th lumbar vertebra

Where is the IO catheter placement site in rabbits?

Trochanteric fossa of femur

Rabbits teeth grow?

Continuously

Why is intubation difficult in rabbits?

Small, deep oral cavity + big tongue & teeth

Can rabbits vomit?

No, due to a strong cardiac sphincter

What can cause gastric distention in rabbits?

Furball/gas (prevents emptying)

Small intestine ends at?

ileocecal tonsil (common site of impaction)

What are the two types of feces produced by rabbits?

Hard feces and soft feces (night feces)

What is the term for eating cecotropes in rabbits?

Coprophagy/cecotrophy

What type of breathers are rabbits?

Obligate nose breathers

What does breathing through the mouth indicate in rabbits?

Poor prognostic signs

Artificial respiration technique involves?

hold forelimbs/back limbs and rock back and forth

Rabbits heart is small relative to its?

body size

Normal heart rate for a rabbit is?

180-250 bpm

What is the risk associated with rabbit veins?

Thin-walled veins relative to body size may lead to hematomas

What is the medulla size difference between desert and alpine rabbits?

Desert rabbits have larger medulla; alpine rabbits have smaller medulla.

Why is rabbit urine thick and creamy?

Due to high calcium content.