rodents

Question 1

key anatomical features

Answer 1

• hystricomorphs= guinea pigs, chinchillas
• myomorphs= rats, mice, hamsters
• all rodents have open-rooted molars

Question 2

assessing the rodent

Answer 2

• prey (hide illness well)
• eating and drinking
• droppings
• weight
• resp rate

Question 3

hospitalisation

Answer 3

• keep away from predators
• prone to heat stress (cool environment)
• escape proof enclosures

Question 4

blood sampling in rodents

Answer 4

• difficult
• tail vein
• lateral saphenous
• cranial vena cava
• 1/2 ml per 100g

Question 5

pain management

Answer 5

• difficult to assess
• NSAIDs or opiates
• faster metabolic rate= higher doses

Question 6

common medical problems

Answer 6

• mites
• bite wounds
• abscesses
• ringworm
• respiratory problems
• tumours
• fractures

Question 7

common medical problems in rats

Answer 7

• respiratory infections
• mammary masses

Question 8

common medical problems in mice

Answer 8

• skin problems

Question 9

common medical problems in hamsters

Answer 9

• overgrown incisors
• cheek pouch impaction
• wet tail (proliferative ileitis)
• demodex
• epitheliotrophic lymphoma
• pyometra (wound infection)

Question 10

common medical problems in gerbils

Answer 10

• nasal dermatitis
• ventral scent gland tumour
• tail slip (falls off when grabbed)
• epilepsy

Question 11

common medical problems in guinea pigs

Answer 11

• dental disease
• mites
• scurvy (vit C deficiency)
• urolithiasis (bladder stones)
• pregnancy toxaemia
• pododermatitis
• cystic ovaries

Question 12

ferret anatomical key features

Answer 12

• muscular skeletal
• anal scent gland (illegal to remove)
• spleen can vary greatly in size

Question 13

assessing the ferret

Answer 13

• TPR
• rectal temp may be resented
• MM
• hydration (skin tent, MM moistness)

Question 14

hospitalisation of ferrets

Answer 14

• cat cage fine
• fine mesh or perspex front
• temp must be below 30 degrees
• away from prey species
• max 4hr fast before surgery

Question 15

blood sampling in ferrets

Answer 15

• jugular (anaesthesiesed
• lateral saphenous
• cephalic

Question 16

pain control in ferrets

Answer 16

• opiates or NSAIDs
• may be prone to gastric ulcers

Question 17

common medical problems in ferrets

Answer 17

• persistent oestrus
• adrenal disease
• lymphoma
• insulinoma
• IBD
• dental disease

Question 18

common medical problems in hedgehogs

Answer 18

• dental disease
• obesity
• wobbly hedgehog syndrome
• renal disease
• tumour