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

What does the word 'rodent' mean?

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

To which subfamily do both mice and rats belong?

Muridae

What does the term 'murine' refer to?

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?

225-325 g

What is the normal rectal temperature for rats?

37.7 °C

What is the recommended environmental temperature range for rats?

21-24 °C

At what age do rats reach puberty?

6-8 weeks

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

About 5%

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

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

Where is blood typically withdrawn from in rats?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What is the maximum percentage of total blood volume that should be withdrawn at one time?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?

1-5 days

What is the Whitten effect?

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

What is the Bruce effect?

If pregnant mice are introduced to their babies, they may go back to estrus

What time of day are mice primarily active?

Nocturnal

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 disease is caused by bacteria in mice?

Murine respiratory mycoplasmosis

What causes Tyzzer's disease?

Poor sanitation

What disease may result in abscesses in the skin or uterus of mice?

Pasteurellosis

What viral disease in rats causes photophobia and chromodacryorrhea?

Sialodacryoadenitis

Can humans get rat-bite fever from rats?

Yes

Name one ectoparasite commonly found on rats.

Lice

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

Why are rats poor models for most heart studies?

They have different responses to diseases

Compare intensive vs. nonintensive breeding systems.

Intensive: small space with concentrated/pellet food; Nonintensive: large amount of land with animals grazing

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

Ensure proper humidity, heat, and bedding

What order are rabbits classified in?

Lagomorpha

What dental feature led to the reclassification of rabbits?

Second pair of incisors

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

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 rabbits reach sexual maturity?

22-52 weeks

At what age do 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

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

What is the function of rabbit ears?

Thermoregulation

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

Footpads

How do rabbits mark their territory?

With scent from their kits

What are rabbits highly sensitive to?

Hormones

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

What is a common fracture site from kicking in rabbits?

7th lumbar vertebra

Where is the IO catheter placement site in rabbits?

Trochanteric fossa

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

What are the two types of feces produced by rabbits?

Hard feces and soft feces

What is the term for eating cecotropes in rabbits?

Coprophagy

What type of breathers are rabbits?

Obligate nose breathers

What does breathing through the mouth indicate in rabbits?

Poor prognostic signs

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 smaller medulla; alpine rabbits have larger medulla.

Why is rabbit urine thick and creamy?

Due to high calcium content.

What is the normal urine color range for rabbits?

From yellow to red.

At what age do small rabbits reach maturity?

4-5 months.

How long after coitus do rabbits ovulate?

10 hours.

What is the gestation length for rabbits?

30-33 days.

What are kits born like?

Blind, hairless, and helpless.

When does weaning occur for rabbit kits?

5-8 weeks.

How long does pseudopregnancy last in rabbits?

15-17 days.

What is unique about the male rabbit's reproductive system?

Rabbits have two scrotal sacs cranial to the penis.

When do rabbit testicles descend?

At 12 weeks.

How long does normal copulation last in rabbits?

2-3 minutes.

How can you determine the gender of a rabbit?

Female genital opening is slit-like; male genital opening is round.