Introduction

Question 1

Rabbits, guinea pigs, and chinchillas in clinic

Answer 1

• keep away from possible predators
• may take a bonded companion to massively decrease the stress

Question 2

Handling rabbits

Answer 2

• gentle and scooping
• one hand on the scruff, the other supporting the rump
• DO NOT just lift by the scruff
• always place backwards in the cage
• do not put on their backs, causes teh fear response hypnotism

Question 3

Handling guinea pigs

Answer 3

• do not grab around their abdomen
• pick up around chest and around rump

Question 4

Handling chinchillas

Answer 4

• Do not grab at it (fur slip)
• cup and support

Question 5

Assisted feeding

Answer 5

• Needs training
• make up syringe nice and thick to stop it dribbling back out
• administer slowly to avoid inhalation
• remember that cavies and chinchillas will need vitamin C supplementation

Question 6

Blood sampling and IV injection in rabbits

Answer 6

• lateral ear vein (best for injection/catheterisation/small samples)
• make sure not to go in the middle artery
• clip and prepare with AMLA cream (LA)
• don’t use cephalic
• jugular in females can be tricky because of dulap
• lateral saphenous - best for blood sampling in concious rabbits, causes a haematoma fairly often

Question 7

Blood sampling and IV injection in cavies and chinchillas

Answer 7

• jugular can be difficult concious, and quite difficult to get to
• thoracic (vena cava) - will ideally need sedation with isoflurane to avoid stress, use the smallest needle possible

Question 8

Small furries

Answer 8

Rats, mice, gerbils, hamsters, degus, duprasi
Generally bite quite a lot

Question 9

Hospitalisation of small furries

Answer 9

• sometimes they come in their own cage
• may come with cage mates
• replicate some of their environment
• provide shelter, but ensure not too secure so you can still get to it
• can scruff them
• can inject into scruff

Question 10

Assisted feeding of small furries

Answer 10

• they are all omnivores except Degus
• several support diets available
• otherwise various baby food can be used

Question 11

Hospitalisation of ferrets

Answer 11

As with cats

Question 12

Handling of ferrets

Answer 12

• if they’re going to bite, they don’t warn you as a cat usually does
• if they bite they lock
• very sneaky and clever
• if the are getting frustrated, put them on the floor and they should calm down
• if they are nice, cane just scoop or with a thumb under jaw if they aren’t

Question 13

Assisted feeding of ferrets

Answer 13

as with cats

Question 14

Blood sampling of ferrets

Answer 14

• cephalic, saphenous, or jugular
• probably need sedation

Question 15

Hospitalisation of birds

Answer 15

• own cage if possible
• also useful for history/diagnosis
• high up unless aggressive bird
• away from predators like cats
• partially cover cage to provide visual seclusion
• heat lamp if necessary, some light at night to allow feeding and prevent night fright
• isolation to prevent disease transmission
• zoonoses

Question 16

Birds when hospitalised

Answer 16

• maybe leave radio on
• feed their usual diet
• weight twice a day
• crop feed to maintain or increase weight

Question 17

Handling small cage birds

Answer 17

• can use a cloth
• remove obstacles in cage
• dim lights
• handle for minimum time
• shut windows and doors

Question 18

Handling larger birds

Answer 18

• use a towel
• remove obstacles from cage
• grasp gently around body, restraining the wings
• be bold
• gentle cupping
• no diaphragm so if you squeeze them they cant breathe
  -restrain around neck rather than thorax

Question 19

Handling parrots

Answer 19

• don’t grip the head tightly, will cause bruising
• let the parrot chew the towel

Question 20

Nutritional support for birds

Answer 20

crop feed as soon as the bird is not eating enough to maintain BW
use metal gavage tubes

Question 21

Blood sampling birds

Answer 21

• jugular (use right as bigger)
• superficial ulnar/basilic vein
• superficial plantar metatarsal/caudal tibial vein
• pressure afterwards to minimise haematoma
• in aquatic species use the tarsal vein - bigger as the feathering is so dense
• can take 1% of BW

Question 22

Why should you not have rubber in the syringe when taking blood from a bird?

Answer 22

Can interfere with test for heavy metals

Question 23

Injections and fluid therapy in birds

Answer 23

• 25G or 27G needles
• 0.3 or 0.5ml insulin syringes
• fluids subcut (precrural), IV (brachial vein), or intra-osseus (ulna or tibia tarsus)
• fluids must be warm

Question 24

Hospitalisation of reptiles

Answer 24

• heat
• security
• UV light

Question 25

Handling tortoises/terrapins

Answer 25

- never leave unattended on a table - terrapins WILL bite - be patient and sneaky when trying to get head out

Question 26

Handling lizards

Answer 26

- prevent autonomy (tail coming off) - most lizards will try to bite a predator that lifts them up

Question 27

Handling snakes

Answer 27

- quite fragile animals (single occipital condyle) - always support weight of body - bruising causes autolysis which can lead to death

Question 28

Assisted feeding of reptiles

Answer 28

- carnivores: use diet designed for obligate carnivores (not dogs) - herbivores - omnivores - rehydrate if necessary before feeding - use oesophageal tubes and lots of lube may need metal tubes for some so they don't bite through it

Question 29

Blood sampling reptiles

Answer 29

- depends on species - can use jugular in tortoise, but not iguana