Exotics: Guinea Pigs, Degus, Hedgehogs, and Gliders.

Guinea pig:

Cavia porcellus

What are male and female guinea pigs called?

Males= boars.

Females= sows.

Common guinea pigs seen in practice:

• The American or English

• The Abyssinian

• The Peruvian

Which guinea pig has the rosettes?

The Abyssinian.

Which noise is unique to guinea pigs?

“Wheeking”.

What may a guinea pig do when they’re frightened or excited?

“Stampede”.

What can cause dystocia in female guinea pigs?

Failing to breed a guinea pig prior to seven months of age.

When do guinea pigs reach breeding age?

3-4 months.

Guinea pig lifespan:

5-7 years.

Gestation period of guinea pig:

63-68 days.

Guinea pig pups are:

Precocious— born ready to go.

Guinea pigs are extremely prone to:

Pneumonia.

Guinea pig pellets must be used by:

Must be used by 90 days.

Failure to receive vitamin C may result in:

“Scurvy”— hypovitaminosis C.

Common respiratory diseases in guinea pigs:

• Bordetella bronchiseptica

• Streptoccous pneumonia

Swellings on the neck (cervical lymphadenitis) of a guinea pig are usually due to:

Inflammed or abscessed lymph nodes.

How do you treat the previous condition?

Surgical removal of abscess as well as affected lymph node.

Ovarian cysts are a common concern in guinea pigs.

True or false?

True.

What is the most common cutaneous neoplasm in guinea pigs?

Trichofolliculoma.

How long are guinea pigs fasted prior to sedation or anesthesia? Why?

• 1-2 hours.

• To clear oral cavity of any debris so they do not aspirate.

If guinea pigs are fasted for longer than 1-2 hours, what can happen?

GI stasis.

In the female guinea pig, the genital area has a “___” shape, and int he male, it appears to have more of a:

• Female: Y shape

• Male: more of a straight slit

IM injections in guinea pigs are give in the:

How much can be given?

• Gluteals

• No more than 0.3mL.

Degu name:

Octodon degus

Are degus diurnal or nocturnal?

Diurnal.

Degus are primarily used in the research for:

• Diabetes

• Cataracts

• Circadian behavior

Where do degus get their scientific name from?

The figure 8 shape of their cheek teeth.

Degu incisors appear ____________ due to their iron deposition.

Orange.

Degus must be housed seperately.

True or false?

False— extremely social; house in groups.

Degu gestation period:

87-93 days.

Degu pups are born:

Precocial.

What can happen to a degu’s tail if picked up by it?

Degloved.

What are some blood collection sites for a degu?

• Lateral saph

• Cephalic

• Cranial vena cava for larger

IM injections in degus:

• Given in the quadriceps hindlimbs

• No more than 0.1ml

Hedgehog name:

Atelerix albiventris

What are vibrisae?

Long, stiff hairs around the mouth used for sense of touch.

Why do hedgehogs have a large gap between their incisors?

For appending and killing insects.

What is another name for quills?

Spines.

What is the term for ground-dwelling (what hedgehogs are).

Terrestial.

You should always house hedgehogs with a pair.

True or false.

False— solitary animals. Can be agressive.

What is self-annointing?

When a hedgehog encounters an unusual odor or substance, they become stiff and begin licking motions with their tongue.

What may happen when a hedgehog is self-annointing?

• May start to bite or tug

• Produce large amounts of saliva

• Get into contorted positions

• Looks like a seizure

What is the best temperature for hedgehogs to be housed in?

80-degrees.

Which zoonotic disease is well documented in hedgehogs?

Salmonella.

What is wobbling hedgehog syndrome?

A fatal neurodegeneration disease affecting brain and spinal cord.

Which neoplasias have been well documented in hedgehogs?

• SCC

• Cutaneous mast cell tumors

• Mammary gland tumors

• Plasmacytoma

• Etc..

Most common procedures performed on hedgehogs:

• Toe amputations

• OVH

What is unique about the hedgehogs temp?

Lower than cats and dogs— 95.7-98.6-degrees.

Sugar glider name:

Petaurus breviceps

SG’s are marsupials. What does this mean?

• Nocturnal

• Arboreal

• Pouch

Torpor:

How long and SG’s do this for?

• Decreased physiological activity in an animal.

• 16 hours a day to conserve energy.

Define patagium and state what it allows SG’s to do:

• Membrane that extends from the lateral aspect of the forelimb to the tarsus.

• Allows them to glide a fair distance.

What is unique about male SG’s?

Pendulous scrotum

Gestation period of SG:

15-17 days.

When will the young leave the pouch?

70 days.

Lifespan of SG:

9-12 years.

Most common disease seen in captive sugar gliders:

Nutritional osteodystrophy.

How long do SG need to be fasted for?

• 4 hours but longer is rec. for longer surgeries.

Can SG vomit?

Yes.

Three common surgeries performed on SG:

• Castration

• OVH

• Patagium repairs