Exotics Exam 1 (Gliders, Ferrets, Hedgies) MM

LC 1 - Adding exotics animals to practice

Exotic ownership is increasing

Adds clientele crossover (owners often want to just see one vet for all pets)

Financial benefits (big industry, more illness visits than wellness, premium fees)

What are some benefits to adding exotics to a practice?

Dedicated exam rooms/waiting rooms for just exotics (reduces stress in prey species)

Soundproofing/hearing protection (parrots and pigs really loud)

Exotic baby-proofing (secured ceiling tiles/cabinets)

What are some facility considerations if adding exotics to your practice?

Small mammals

Dental instruments, headlamps, oral speculums, quiet clippers, incubators, heating devices, pediatric stethoscope are some essential equipment items that are needed if you want to see __________________________ in your practice.

Reptiles/amphibians (~$300 to start, as compared to ~$2k for birds or small mammals)

What exotic species has less equipment needs and are a cheaper option if you want to add them to your practice?

Tanks, UVB lamps, nitrile gloves (no latex for amphibians!!)

What are 3 items needed for your practice if you want to add reptiles/amphibians?

Good support staff! (Have them pursue CE and have them handle husbandry education)

What is the "key to success" for adding exotics to your practice?

Illegal pet ownership common (will you ask people to prove ownership?)

Exotic pet abandonment common

Welfare concerns (poor husbandry)

Know limitations (refer when needed)

What are some ethical challenges with adding exotics to your practice?

Variety prevents burnout

What are staff benefits of adding exotics to your practice?

True

T/F: exotics buffer seasonal slowdowns in your practice

True (don't charge less for hamsters just because they were cheaper to purchase, do same for all)

T/F: you should have the same exam fee for every exotic pet

LC 2 - Medical care of the sugar glider

Sugar gliders

What are petaurus breviceps?

Marsupials (but lack marsupial bones which is different from other marsupials)

Live in trees

Can glide

Noctural (active at night)

What kind of animal are sugar sliders?

They are "arboreal", what does that mean?

They are "volant", what does that mean?

Are they nocturnal or dinural?

Eucalyptus forests in Australia and new guinea

Where are sugar gliders from?

Patagium

A _________________________ is a sugar glider's gliding membrane. It is quite large extending from their forefoot to ankle.

97.3F rectal (89.6F cloacal)

What is a normal sugar glider temperature?

2/3 (metabolize a lot less)

Sugar gliders are difficult to metabolically scale drug doses because they have ______________ the metabolic rate of placental mammals.

Male 115-160g

Female 95-135g

Average body weight of male vs female sugar gliders?

False, they have brachydont (permanent) teeth that don't need trimmed

T/F: this sugar glider's teeth are way too long and need trimmed

Scent gland (normal, not alopecia)

What is going on here with this sugar glider?

Brachydont (they are permanent! they do not need trimmed!!)

Sugar glider teeth are (hypsodont/brachydont)

Male 12-15 mo

Female 8-12 mo

When do male and female sugar gliders reach sexual maturity?

12-14 yr

What is a sugar glider's lifespan (in captivity)?

Pendulous prepenile scrotum

Bifurcated penis

What kind of penis do sugar sliders have?

Seasonally polyestrus

15-17 days

50-75 days

2 usually (sometimes 1)

What kind of estrus cycle do female sugar gliders have?

How long is their gestation period?

How long are babies in the pouch?

What is a typical litter size?

They live in groups/are very social (groups of up to 7 in wild)

Sugar gliders are gregarious meaning...

True (need at least 2hr a day of socialization)

T/F: keeping a single sugar glider's may result in depression

Aviary-type cage (2x2x2m)

Hidey box placed high, things to climb on, exercise wheel (without rungs), sipper bottle, toys

Shredded paper (hardwood shavings are ok)

What kind of cage should sugar gliders be kept in?

What kind of things should be included in their cage?

What is the best cage substrate?

Zn

Sugar gliders like to chew so when deciding on housing, avoid ___________-containing wire

75-80 degrees

Avoid drafty areas, direct sunlight, temperature fluctuations

What temperature should you keep your sugar gliders?

What kind of areas should you avoid when deciding on a place to keep the cage?

Omnivores (NOT insectivores)

Evening

Sugar gliders are (carnivores/omnivores/insectivores/herbivores)

All food should be offered fresh in the (morning/afternoon/evening/nighttime)

Acacia, eucalyptus, arthropods, nectar/pollen, manna/honeydew

What do sugar gliders eat in the wild?

False, should only be 75% of diet (include fruit, vegies, ca-multivitamins too!)

T/F: commercial sugar glider diets are really nutritionally balanced and therefore can be offered as the sole diet

Commercial sugar glider kibble

Fruits and veggies

Ca-based multivitamins

5%

50% lead beaters mixture, 50% insectivore/omnivore diet

75% of sugar glider diets should be _________________________

25% should be _________________________

You should also supplement _________________________

Treats (like fruits, mealworms, crickets, etc.) should not exceed _____% of the daily diet

What is an alternative suggested captive diet?

1

When it comes to collecting blood, ____% of body weight can be collected MAX from sugar gliders

True (vessels so small)

T/F: blood drawls in sugar gliders are typically done under anestheia

Cranial vena cava

Jugular vein, medial tibial artery

Tuberculin syringe, 27g needle

What is the most common site for venipuncture in sugar gliders?

What are 2 other options?

What kind of syringe and needle should you use?

PO

IV

SC

(PO/SC/IV) is the preferred method of fluid therapy in sugar gliders

(PO/SC/IV) is difficult to administer

(PO/SC/IV) may be poorly absorbed

Isoflurane (administer via face mask or induction chamber)

What is the anesthetic agent of choice in sugar gliders?

Castration and penile amputation

What are the 2 most common surgeries in sugar gliders?

Via laser

What is a newer and maybe more preferred way of castrating sugar gliders?

Nutritional osteodystrophy

Injectable Ca, Ca and D3 supplementation, cage rest

You have a pet sugar glider present with sudden onset of hindlimb paralysis. You decide to do radiographs and notice some osteoporosis and 2 pathologic fractures.

What is likely going on?

How do we treat it?

Nutritional osteodystrophy (MBD)

What is the most common disease in captive gliders?

Diets low in Ca and D3, high in P

Sudden hindlimb paresis/paralysis

Rads (see osteoporosis and pathologic fractures)

inject Ca, correct diet, Ca and D3 supplementation, cage rest

Nutritional osteodystrophy (MBD) is the most common disease in captive gliders

Etiology?

Signs?

Dx?

Tx?

Fat and protein

Obesity in sugar gliders is commonly seen with diets high in...

Watch their weight! (Weigh frequently, weight loss good indicator for dz)

What is something owners can watch for that is a good indicator of illness in sugar gliders? (And all exotics tbh)

Hypoproteinemia, hypocalcemia, hypoglycemia, anemia

What are some common lab findings in sugar gliders dealing with nutritional disorders?

Lack of socialization

Disregard for nocturnal nature

Poor husbandry

Sexual frustration

Perceived threats (dogs/cats around)

What are some common causes of stress in sugar gliders?

Amputate, castrate, treat stress

How do we treat a sugar glider who chewed off their penis?

Lymphoid neoplasia (50% of cases)

What is the most common neoplasm in sugar gliders?

True (common in wild)

T/F: parasitic diseases are rare in captive sugar gliders

None

What vaccines are required in sugar gliders?

They are nocturnal, need socialization, housing is somewhat elaborate, diet is challenging, is veterinary care available?

What things should people consider before getting a sugar glider pet?

Cautiously

Should we reccomend sugar gliders as pets?

LC 3 - Intro to ferrets

Ferrets

__________________ were introduced into the US from Europe through the shipping industry in the 1700s. They were used for pelts and as hunting companions (maybe pet).

California

Hawaii

NYC

Ferrets are illegal to own in what states/cities:

Marshall Farms

Neutered and anal sacculectomy

Tattoo in R ear

Most pet ferrets in North America come from _________________________.

What medical procedures does this facility have done to the ferrets?

How can you identify they are from here?

Fine undercoat and coarse long guard-hairs

What is a ferrets coat like?

Less

Ferret coat may be shorter in summer and longer in fall and lighter in the winter and darker in the fall

Sexually altered ferrets have (more/less) dramatic molt and color change than intact ferrets

Congenital sensorineural deafness (also called wardenburg syndrome)

White marked ferrets with a blaze pattern have been linked with what disease?

Sebaceous glands

No (just dec it)

Intact ones around breeding season

What kind of glands create the strong musky odor of ferrets?

Will de-scenting eliminate this?

When is a period that they might smell more?

4, 8

Anal glands in a ferret are well-developed and located at the ____ and ____ oclock position. They are removed by commercial breeders between 5-6 weeks old.

FALSE, do NOT bathe them it will only make the smell worse

T/F: if a client comes to you with a smelly ferret, the best recommendation you can give them is to bathe them more often

34 (I3, C1, P3, M2)

How many teeth do ferrets have?

Short

3-4hr

Ferrets have a really (short/long) small intestine

Their GI transit time is: _____________ in adults

Cecum

Ferrets lack what GI organ?

False, have really extensive pancreas

T/F: ferrets have a really small pancreas

By 6mo

Males 1-2kg, females 1kg

8-12mo

At what age do ferrets reach their adult size?

How big are males vs females?

When do ferrets reach sexual maturity?

Seasonally polyestrous (march-aug breeding szn)

Induced ovulators

41 days

6-10

2 months

What kind of estrous cycle do ferrets have?

What kind of ovulators are they?

How long is gestation?

Avg litter size?

How long is weaning?

True

T/F: ferrets need a large space to exercise and do not do well in small cages

2 hours

Ferrets require a minimum of ________________ of outside-of=cage exercise per day (SUPERVISED, very curious critters)

True

T/F: "ferret-proofing" your house is essential, they will chew on everything

High sides in a corner

Pelleted

What kind of litterbox should you provide ferrets?

What kind of litter?

90

Ferrets do not tolerate heat over ______ degrees well

Enrichment

__________________________ is vital to the health and metal well-being of ferrets. It encourages healthy, natural behaviors and discourages destructive behaviors.

Play with their food (hide it, train it, change it up!)

Tunnels

Cat toys (supervised only, can get FB)

What are some good enrichment things for ferrets?

Obilgate carnivores

Carbohydrates and fiber

Ferrets are...

A. Obligate herbivores

B. Obligate carnivores

C. Omnivores

D. Yourmomivore

Because of this, what can they not digest/use efficiently?

They can develop strong food preferences, expose to a variety at a young age (so if ever hospitalized or can't get a certain food they won't refuse it)

What is important to note about a ferret's palate?

High quality animal protein (not plant protein)

Fat

We want 30% of a ferrets diet to be __________________________ and 20% _________________________.

Too high in fat (can cause obesity)

Why is kitten food not the best option to feed ferrets?

Animal protein (not plant protein and deff not carbs)

What do you want the first ingredient on a ferret food to be?

Rabies (they like to bite!)

Always know __________________ vaccine status before handling ferrets

Hand around chest and under butt in air (least invasive)

Scruff

Sedate

What are 3 ways to handle/restrain a ferret?

Scruff in air (about half will yawn, good for oral exam!)

How can you get a ferret to yawn?

False, do not pull legs (but yes scruffing is okay in ferrets)

T/F: scruffing is an acceptable way to handle ferrets, start by grabbing scruff and pull bottom legs down

Wet cat food

Ferretone supplement

What are 2 good distraction treat options for ferrets?

Opioids (likely need reversed)

What kind of drug are ferrets really sensitive to?

Rectal temperature (may be artificially high if stressed)

What is one part of the exam that is really important but ferrets absolutely hate and will likely urinate and defecate and resist it at all costs?

False, common and normal but should be alert once handled

T/F: it is not normal for a ferret to be dead asleep in a carrier

Should have arched back, if flattened back = sick

On ferret PE, you should always watch them walk. What should this look like?

Bottle brush tail

What is this ferret doing that tells us he is extremely fearful?

Temp 100-103F

HR 180-320bpm

RR 20-60brpm

Give me a normal temperature, HR, and RR for a ferret

Caudal (near ribs 7-9)

Sinus arrhythmia (often pronounced)

The ferret heart is placed really far (cranial/caudal) as compared to cats and dogs

What arrhythmia is often seen with ferrets?

True (if itching tho, may be mites)

T/F: brown waxy debris is normal in ferrets

Mild brown waxy debris in ear

Marked splenomegaly

Fat encapsulating lnn

J-shaped penis

Tell me 4 unique normal PE findings in a ferret

Because they normally get fat encapsulating lnn

Look for asymmetry (if asymmetrical, likely enlarged due to dz)

Why is it hard to determine if ferrets have enlarged lymph nodes?

What can we do to know?

Uroliths and pancreatic issues

A high carb diet increases risk of what 2 diseases in ferrets?

J-shaped os penis

What kind of penis do ferrets have?