Cardiopulmonary Disease in Zoo Mammals

How is the cardiopulmonary anatomy of rabbits, guinea pigs, and chinchillas unique?

- cranial heart, auscultation over the sternum

- small lungs

- obligate nasal breathers

- difficult to intubate

- fast resp rate

How is the cardiopulmonary anatomy of ferrets unique?

- caudal heart

- large thoracic cavity

Clinical signs of rhinitis/sinusitis in rabbits

- oculonasal discharge

- epistaxis

- debris on paws

- sneezing, snoring

- URT noise, not in the lungs

- sometimes fever

URI clinical signs in rabbits

- ocular discharge

- debris on paws and facial hair

- vestibular signs

- stridor

- wet nose

Diagnostics for URIs in rabbits

- CBC

- deep nasal swab

- cytology

- imaging (CT)

What pathogens can be involved in infectious rhinitis/sinusitis complex in rabbits?

Pasteurella multocida

Moraxella catarrhalis

Bordetella bronchiseptica

Staphylococcus

Pseudomonas

Anaerobes

What factors can contribute to the development of infectious rhinitis/sinusitis?

- dusty/moldy bedding

- poor ventilation

- poor nutrition

- dental disease

Treatment of URIs in rabbits

- long term abx therapy

- NSAIDs

- ophthalmic abx/NSAIDs

- NL duct flush

- may have to do rhinotomy to drain sinuses

How do abscesses appear in rabbits and why?

Caseous, because they have heterophils instead of neutrophils

Injectable abx used in hind gut fermenters

- penicillin

- cephalosporins

Oral abx used in hind gut fermenters

- fluoroquinolones

- chloramphenicol

- potentiated sulfonamides

- azithromycin

- metronidazole

What are the 5 classes of antibiotics that should never be given orally in hind gut fermenters? (will cause enterotoxemia and death)

Penicillin

Lincosamides

Ampicillin, amoxicillin

Cephalosporins

Erythromycins

Causes of lower resp disease in rabbits

- pneumonia

- neoplasia

- cranial mediastinal mass

- tracheal/laryngeal irritation or edema

Pneumonia in rabbits is commonly caused by...

Extension of a URT infection

What neoplasias are common in rabbits?

Metastatic - uterine adenocarcinoma, mammary neoplasia

Primary - thymoma, cranial mediastinal mass

How is the thymus of rabbits unique?

It never involutes

Differentials for a cranial mediastinal mass in a rabbit

- thymoma

- lymphoma

- granuloma

Clinical signs of a cranial mediastinal mass in a rabbit

- lower resp signs if pleural effusion

- heart failure/resp signs

- exophthalmia or third eyelid elevation if precaval syndrome

- altered point of maximum intensity on auscultation

Common cause of nasolacrimal duct obstruction in rabbits

Dental disease

Causes of conjunctivitis in rabbits

- foreign body

- chronic keratitis

Clinical signs of Treponema paraluiscuniculi (syphilis)

Crusting around mucocutaneous junctions of genitalia and nares

E. cuniculi causes what type of clinical signs in rabbits?

Vestibular signs (head tilt, etc)

Tracheal/laryngeal irritation or edema in rabbits is typically from...

Intubation

How does Bordetella differ in guinea pigs vs rabbits?

Bordetella causes an extreme pneumonia in guinea pigs, but is generally self limiting in rabbits

Causative agents of pneumonia in guinea pigs

- Bordetella bronchiseptica

- Streptococcus pneumonia

- Streptococcus zooepidemicus

- Adenovirus

Clinical signs of pneumonia in guinea pigs

- resp signs

- pink eye

- GI signs

- acute death

- sneezing

- periocular discharge

- streps may infect LNs

Common neoplasias in guinea pigs

Pulmonary adenoma or adenocarcinoma

Common cardiac diseases in guinea pigs

- DCM

- valve disease

Cardiovascular disease is common in what signalment of hedgehog?

Geriatric males

Clinical signs of CV disease in hedgehogs

- acute death

- murmur

- moist rales

- dyspnea

- weight loss

Causes of lower resp infections in hedgehogs

Husbandry issues

- temp

- dusty

- unsanitary

Characteristics of neoplasia in hedgehogs

VERY COMMON

> 80% malignant

Acute signs of respiratory disease in rats

- sneezing

- unthrifty

- hunched posture

- epiphora (can be porphyrin pigment which appears red)

- possible head tilt

Chronic signs of respiratory disease in rats

- dyspnea

- anorexia

- head tilt

- weight loss

3 major pathogens causing resp disease in rats

Mycoplasma pulmonis

Streptococcus

Corynebacterium

Characteristics of disease caused by Mycoplasma pulmonis in rats

- older rats

- endemic, most are carriers

- waxing/waning clinical course

- upper/lower resp system affected

Treatment of Mycoplasma pulmonis in rats

Macrolides or tetracyclines

Characteristics of disease caused by Streptococcus and Corynebacterium in rats

- younger rats, stressors involved

- enlarged LNs

- systemic disease

- acute

- may cause sudden death

Treatment of Streptococcus and Corynebacterium in rats

3rd gen cephalosporins

Amoxiclav

How does upper resp disease commonly progress in rats?

Bronchitis -> lobar pneumonia -> pulmonary abscesses

Major pathogen involved in CRD and pneumonia in rats

Mycoplasma pulmonis

Secondary pathogens involved in CRD and pneumonia in rats

- Sendai virus

- Sialodacryoadenitis virus

- Rat respiratory virus

- Cilia associated respiratory bacillus

- Haemophilus spp

What comorbidities are associated with CRD and pneumonia in rats?

- obesity

- cardiac disease

Diagnostics for rat respiratory disease

- RADS

- serology and PCR

- US guided lung aspirates for culture/sensitivity

Treatment for Mycoplasma in rats

- enrofloxacin

- doxy

- chloramphenicol

- azithromycin

- LA tetracycline

Heart diseases commonly seen in ferrets

- pulmonary edema or pleural effusion

- AV block

- valvular disease

- DCM

- heartworm

Respiratory diseases commonly seen in ferrets

- influenza

- canine distemper

- COVID

- bacterial pneumonia

- fungal pneumonia

Characteristics of respiratory distress in ferrets

- heavy chest excursions

- open mouth breathing

- exercise intolerance

- belly making contact with the floor

- posterior paresis

- muffled heart sounds

Ferrets can have systolic murmurs with...

- valve disease

- DCM

Characteristics of distemper in ferrets

FATAL (basically 100%)

See clinical signs 7-10 days post exposure

Clinical signs of distemper in ferrets

- serous to mucopurulent oculonasal discharge

- dermatitis in chin, cheilitis

- upper/lower resp signs

- bronchointerstitial pattern on RADS

- hyperkeratosis of foot pads

- yellowing of abdomen and pads

- febrile

- lethargy

- anorexia

Diagnosis of distemper in ferrets

- PCR from ocular/oral swab or blood

- serum abx

Vaccine for distemper in ferrets

Killed or recombinant only - MLV can induce disease

Characteristics of influenza in ferrets

- human influenza, reverse zoonosis

- contagious

- self limiting in most

- deaths in young

- high morbidity, low mortality

- clin signs seen 3 days post exposure

Clinical signs of influenza in ferrets

- oculonasal discharge, serous to mucopurulent

- febrile

- lethargy

- anorexia

- sneezing

- coughing

- diarrhea

- bronchointerstitial pattern on RADS

Clinical signs of COVID in ferrets

- upper and lower resp signs

- oculonasal discharge

- febrile

Diagnosis of COVID in ferrets

PCR

Diagnosis of HW in ferrets

- ivermectin

- prednisone

- doxycycline

NO IMMITICIDE

What AV block causes issues in ferrets?

3rd degree

Physical exam of ferrets with an AV block

- HR < 110 bpm

- collapse

- irregularly irregular HR

- pleural effusion

Diagnosis of AV block in ferrets

- ECG

- rads to check for pleural effusion

Treatment of AV block in ferrets

- thoracocentesis

- increase HR > 100 bpm (atropine, isoproterenol)

- pimobendan

- furosemide

- pacemaker

Pathogenesis of valvular disease in ferrets

Very common in mitral, tricuspid aortic valces

Long term eccentric hypertrophy leads to DCM

Diagnosis of valvular disease in ferrets

- murmurs common

- RADS

- chemistry (renal fxn)

- echo

Prognosis of valve disease in ferrets

> 1 yr post diagnosis

Normal VHS in ferrets

Lat < 5.25-6.25

VD < 5.85-7.25

Causes of DCM in ferrets

- idiopathic

- dietary

- genetic

- long term valvular disease

Diagnosis of DCM in ferrets

- murmurs

- RADS

- chemistry (renal fxn)

- echo

- ECG

Prognosis of DCM in ferrets

> 1 yr post diagnosis

Characteristics of HCM in ferrets

- uncommon

- murmurs uncommon

- not associated with hypertension/thyroid

Diagnosis of HCM in ferrets

- RADS

- chemistry (renal fxn)

- echo

- ECG

Treatment of HCM in ferrets

- beta blockers

- Ca channel blockers

- cardiac meds

Prognosis of HCM in ferrets

Poor (months)