AALAS CE Seminar: March 22nd, 2010Mi ll S ll M lMiscellaneous Small Mammals animalsa a s

Carrie Freed, DACLAM, DVMF d 36@ d 2 7319Freed.36@osu.edu, 2-7319

AgendaAgenda

• ALAT Training ManualALAT Training Manual– Chapter 18 – Hamsters

Chapter 19 Guinea Pigs– Chapter 19 – Guinea Pigs– Chapter 20 – Gerbils

Chapter 29 Chinchilla Ferret– Chapter 29 – Chinchilla, Ferret, Groundhog, Opossum

LATG Training Manual• LATG Training Manual– Common Diseases

HamstersHamsters

• ‘Hamstern' = ‘To Hoard'

• Semi-arid areas • Deep burrows• Loners!• Caution: Will bite!

HamsterHamster

• Syrian (Golden) – mostSyrian (Golden) most popular for research– Mesocricetus auratus

• Chinese (striped - back) –Cricetulus geiseus

HamsterHamster

• Djungarian (Siberian)Djungarian (Siberian)– Phodopus sungorus

• Europeanp– Cricetulus cricetus

• Armenian– Cricetulus migratorius

Hamster

Which one is the Chinese hamster??

Hamster

• Research Uses:– Microvascular studies of inflammation, tumor

growth, vascular smooth muscle function– Diabetes research– CHO cells

Oral and Esophageal cancer– Oral and Esophageal cancer

Special Anatomic Featuresp

• Cheek pouches: p– No glands– Immunologically

privileged– Lack lymphatic

drainagedrainage– No immunological

reaction

http://www.researchtraining.org/moduletext.asp?intModuleID=611

Special Anatomic Features

• Flank glands– Produce secretions in response to androgens

Unique PhysiologyUnique Physiology• Hibernate (Torpor)( p )

• Temp <55F, Dehydration

• Does not fatten prior to hibernation & will starve if not awakened

• Warm, Rehydrate, Stimulate

Hamster HusbandryHamster Husbandry• Feeding:

R d t f d i ffi i t– Rodent feed is sufficient– 5.5-7g/day

Food hoppers must allow– Food hoppers must allow pellets to fall to the floor

– Water: 30ml/day• Housing:

– 10in2 < 60g– 13-19in2 >60g– 6 inches height

Hamster Husbandry - Housingy g

Hamster HandlingHamster Handling• Grasp behind the shoulders p

using excess skin• Blood collection sites: retro-

bit l l t l horbital, lateral saphenous, jugular vein (under anesthesia)

• May need toenail trimsMay need toenail trims

Hamster ReproductionHamster Reproduction

• Sexually mature at 6 • Female may attack• Sexually mature at 6 weeks

• Gestation 15-18 days

• Female may attack and kill Male

• Don’t DisturbGestation 15 18 days• Litter size 4-12 pups• Wean at 21 days

Don t Disturb

• Wean at 21 days

Hamster SexingHamster Sexing• Male anogenital region > female

Gastrointestinal DiseasesGastrointestinal Diseases• Clostridial Enteritis

– Bacterial overgrowth– Be very careful with

antibiotic treatment• Salmonella, E. Coli

Tyzzers (C Piliforme)• Tyzzers (C. Piliforme)

Proliferative IleitisProliferative Ileitis• “Wet Tail”• Severe Diarrhea,

Dehydration• Newly weaned• Stressed out!• High mortality rate• LawsoniaLawsonia

intracellularis

Lymphocytic ChoriomeningitisLymphocytic Choriomeningitis• Zoonotic!• Hamster is

asymptomaticSh d i li• Shed in saliva, feces & urine

• Immunosuppressed• Immunosuppressed and Pregnant

• Risk is low– 2-5% seropositive

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/health/4578115.stm

MiscellaneousMiscellaneous• Eyeless Whites

• Malocclusions (most rodents)• Amyloidosis

– Older females– May lead to kidney and liver failureMay lead to kidney and liver failure

• Neoplasia– Intestinal polypsp yp– Lymphoma/leukemia

Guinea PigsGuinea Pigs

• Taxonomy:Taxonomy: – Cavia porcellus

“Cavies”– Cavies

Guinea PigsGuinea Pigs

• Native to Andes mountainsNative to Andes mountains in S. America

• Andean Indians of Peru– Food source– Folk medicine– Folk culture– Sacrificial offering

• Herd animals• Docile

Guinea PigGuinea Pig

• Related to chinchilla and porcupinesRelated to chinchilla and porcupines

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinchilla

http://www.liewcf.com/blog/wp-images/porcupine-baby.jpg

Guinea Pig BreedsGuinea Pig Breeds• Short Haired “English” • Rough Haired

“Abbysinian” • Long Haired “Peruvian”• Long Haired Peruvian

Guinea Pig BreedsGuinea Pig Breeds• Hairless aka “skinny pig”

http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00374/SNN1827AA 682 374277a.jpg

Guinea Pigs in ResearchGuinea Pigs in Research• Shorthair, albino Englishg

– Hartley (outbred)• 2 inbred lines2 inbred lines

– Strain 2 & 13

Hartley Guinea PigCrl:HA

IAF Hairless Guinea PigCrl:HA-Hrhr

Guinea Pigs in ResearchGuinea Pigs in Research• Immunology

– Genetic control of the histocompatibility-linked immune response

• Lung-function impairment & bronchial reactionsLung function impairment & bronchial reactions– Asthma

• Auditory studies• Pregnancy complications• Anaphylaxis

G t bi ti• Gnotobiotics• Infectious disease

Guinea Pig Handling and Injection sitesInjection sites

• Support the entire body • Blood sample: l t l hlateral saphenous vein, anterior vena cava/ subclavian, ear

ivein

Guinea Pig PhysiologyGuinea Pig Physiology• Life span: 6-8 years• M:900-1200g, F:700-900 g• HR 230-320bpm, RR 80 breaths/min, T

101 103F101-103F

Guinea Pig AnatomyGuinea Pig Anatomy• 2 inguinal nipples• 4 toes front feet, 3 toes

back feet

L i• Large ear pinna• Stomach undivided• Large cecum

Guinea Pig GI AnatomyGuinea Pig GI Anatomy• Teeth:

H d ti l l i ibl i i i– Hypsodontic so malocclusions possible in incisors and cheek teeth

– Incisors are whiteIncisors are white

Guinea Pig Husbandry -FeedingFeeding

• Creatures of habit– Observe after changes

• Messy!– Flooding & clogging

• Crepuscular• Ceceotrophs• Ceceotrophs

Sick Guinea PigsSick Guinea Pigs

• Require Dietary Vitamin CRequire Dietary Vitamin C– Lack L-gulonolactone

oxidase90days after milling date– 90days after milling date

• Scurvy(Hypovitaminosis C)

Give sick

(Hypovitaminosis C)– Anorexia, diarrhea,

flaky skin, roughGive sick guinea pigs

flaky skin, rough hair coat, stiffness, chronic disease

Vitamin C!

Guinea Pig HomesGuinea Pig Homes

Guinea Pigs Husbandry -HousingHousing

• No wire bottom cages• Cage space requirements:

390 2 f GP <350– 390cm2 for GP <350g– 650cm2 for GP >350g– Height = 18cm (7in.)

• Temp 63-79F • 1 inch of bedding

“bumblefoot””usually caused by“bumblefoot””usually caused by Staphylococcus aureus

Guinea Pig Reproduction – know your numbers and namesyour numbers and names

• Males: Boars• Females: Sows• Giving Birth: Farrowing• Pups Precocious

graymonk.mu.nu/archives/2008/04/dog_and_pigs.html

Guinea Pig Reproduction – know your numbers and namesyour numbers and names

• 4 wks Sexual maturity• 4 wks Sexual maturity• 7mths Breed by• 59-73 days Gestation• 30 min Parturition• 3 weeks Weaning• 24 hours Before nurses24 hours Before nurses• 2-3 days Can eat food

http://comfycottage.blogspot.com/2007/10/eight-new-babies-in-our-house-and-lucky.html

Guinea Pig SexingGuinea Pig Sexing

YY

Bordatella BronchisepticaBordatella Bronchiseptica

• Don’t house rabbits w/ GPDon t house rabbits w/ GP• Commensal resident• Clinical signs: URI & death w/ epizootics• Clinical signs: URI & death w/ epizootics

– Higher morbidity & mortality in young and strain 2

• Ddx: Streptococcus pneumoniae

MiscellaneousMiscellaneous– Tricofolliculoma

• Basal cell epithelioma

• Surgical removal

• Bloat– Acute distension– Prognosis guarded

Antibiotic-induced endotoxemiaClostridium difficileClostridium difficile

NO : YES:Penicillin, Erythromycin, Lincomycin

Chloramphenicol, Enrofloxicin, Trimethoprim/SulfaLincomycin,

Oxytetracycline, Bacitracin,

Trimethoprim/Sulfa+/-Tetracycline

Cefazolin, Cephalexin, AmpicillinAmpicillin, Clindamycin Gentamicin

CHINCHILLA

ChinchillasChinchillas

Taxonomy

• Species: – Chinchilla lanigera– Chinchilla brevicaudata

http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/chinchillas/p/Chinchillas.htm

Breeds and varieties

White Mosiac Chinchilla Black Velvet

Royal Persian Angora y g

Violet Grey

Water & FoodConsumptionConsumption

• Water – 10-20 ml per day• Food – 30 grams per day

– Hay ad libitum Chinchilla PelletsSupplement with Fruit 2-3 x weekNO Cabbage, Corn, LettuceLettuce

Housing

• Behavior– crepuscular &

nocturnal– training – Coprophagic

• Temperature• Daily bathing y g

(fastidious groomers)

Chinchilla Homes

• Types of cages• Cage floor• Sanitation • Accessories

Reproduction

• Sexual maturity• Sexual maturity– Males/Females: 8 months

• Boars/ Sows• Gestation period: 111daysGestation period: 111days• Average litter size: 4-12• Post-partum estrus

NeonatesNeonates• Precocial young• Lactation (6-8 wk)• Suckling neededSuckling needed

for survival (25 d)

Handling and Other TechniquesTechniques

• HandlingHandling

– Base tail/ support

body weightbody weight

– Towel technique

Don’t hold too– Don t hold too

tight, grab rib

cage!!!cage!!!

Malocclusion

Recessive mutations

• Types: molars (fatal), incisors as well, typically occurs by age of three (as late as five year)of three (as late as five year)

• Symptoms : “Slobbers” “Slobbers”

Heat Stroke/Stress

• HeatstrokeHeatstroke– Prevention

( 75 F)(never >75 F)

• Seizures

• Stress– Overplay!

Fur Slip

• Fur biting/ Fur slip – overcrowding, aggression

Fur biting and chewing (due to small d di ) F licages and overcrowding) vs. Fur slip

GerbilsGerbils

• Meriones unguiculatusMeriones unguiculatus• Deserts of Mongolia and Northern China• Social called “jird” or “desert rat”Social, called jird or desert rat

Gerbil AnatomyGerbil Anatomy• Ventral scent

l dgland• Long tails w/ tuft

• Research use:– Stroke and

epilepsy• Incomplete CircleIncomplete Circle

of Willis

Gerbil Physiology & Behavior

• Physiology • Behaviory gy– No Viruses!– Lipemic

– Thumping– DiggingLipemic

– Short RBC half-life– Live 1 5-2yrs

gg g– Fighting/Boxing– WinkingLive 1.5 2yrs

– T 101-104F, HR 250-500bpm, RR250 500bpm, RR 90-140 breaths/min

Gerbil Husbandry - Housing

• Lots of bedding• Entertainment• Dust baths

Gerbil Husbandry - Feeding

• Like to Forage• Water Bottle tipWater Bottle tip

should be above Beddingg

Find the Gerbil→

Gerbil Reproduction p

• Gestation: 24-26 days• Litter size: 1-8 pups• Weaning : 21-28 days

Gerbil SexingGerbil Sexing

FemaleFemale

Male

Gerbil HandlingGerbil Handling

DO NOT PICK UP USING THE TAILDO NOT PICK UP USING THE TAIL

Gerbil TechniquesGerbil Techniques• Blood collection:

lateral saphenous, jugular vein, retro-orbitalorbital

Respiratory and GI Diseases

• Nasal Dermatitis(sorenose)– Stress induced– Tx w/topical antibiotics

(no Aminoglycosides)

• TyzzersP i– Poor prognosis

– No stress neededG bil E t iti• Gerbil Enteritis

MiscellaneousMiscellaneous• Epileptic Seizuresp p

– 100% inbred Pop.– No Tx– Can be suppressed

via frequent handling during first threeduring first three weeks of life

MiscellaneousMiscellaneous• Cystic ovariesy

– Common in older females

– May contribute to poor reproductive performanceperformance

FerretsFerrets

• Mustela PutoriusMustela Putorius

Males: Hobs(3-6lbs)(3 6lbs)

Females: Jills (1-2 lbs)

FerretsFerrets

Use in research:Use in research:• Pathology and immunology of viral

di h i di tdiseases such as canine distemper, human influenza, vesicular stomatitis

• Dental research and experimental teratology (birth defects)

FerretsFerrets

• Can be handled quite easily withoutCan be handled quite easily without restrain gloves once they have adjusted to the new environmentadjusted to the new environment

• EXCEPT: Females with babies

FerretsFerrets

Husbandry/Diet:Husbandry/Diet: • Maintained in rabbit or cat cages as

long as door is close fitting and thelong as door is close-fitting and the bar spaces narrowN t b f l i• Next box for sleeping

• Commercially available diet (high protein)

FerretsFerrets

Viral Disease:Viral Disease:• Canine Distemper – almost always

fatal need to vaccinate your ferretfatal, need to vaccinate your ferret• Aleutian Disease – A parvo virus,

ll b li i l ff t husually subclinical, affects research• Influenza – commonly used for

research since they are susceptible to human influenza, show typically clinical signs

FerretsFerrets

• MiscMisc– Insulinomas

• One of most common tumors of ferrets• One of most common tumors of ferrets• Hypoglycemia, coma, death

– Aplastic anemiaAplastic anemia• Bone marrow suppression caused by high

levels of estrogen in intact females

WoodchucksWoodchucks

• Marmota monaxMarmota monax• Aka “woodchuck”

oror“groundhog”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groundhog

WoodchuckWoodchuck

• Research Use:Research Use: – Hepatitis B

Obesity and energy balance– Obesity and energy balance – Metabolic functions at low body

temperatures (heart kidney)temperatures (heart, kidney)• Hibernate in the winter: body

temperature can reach as low at 33temperature can reach as low at 33 degrees F

WoodchuckWoodchuck

• HandlingHandling– Dangerous, use protective gloves

• Elk hide elbow-length primate handling• Elk hide, elbow-length primate handling gloves are best

– When distressed: barks, whistles, , ,wheezing noises

WoodchuckWoodchuck

• DietDiet– Commercial rabbit pellets made into

blocksblocks• Reduces spillage• Facilitate food consumption measurementsp• Forces the animal to gnaw

WoodchuckWoodchuck

• HusbandryHusbandry– Standard dog, cat, or rabbit cage

• Holes large than head diameter can be a• Holes large than head diameter can be a means of escape

– Adult females can be group housedg p• Be careful: dominant female may

monopolize the food– Adult males house separately

OpossumsOpossums

• Didelphis virginianusDidelphis virginianus– The only North American marsupial

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opossum

OpossumsOpossums

• Research use:Research use:– Developmental biology and medicine

Young are born at day 12 13 gestation– Young are born at day 12-13 gestation so they can be studied outside the uterusuterus

• Anatomic FeaturesFemale posses a pouch in which young– Female posses a pouch in which young are carried

OpossumsOpossums

• DietDiet– Wide range of food in the wild

Commercial dog/cat food in wet/dry– Commercial dog/cat food in wet/dry forms

OpossumsOpossums

• Behavior:Behavior:– Day time – hissing,

drooling etcdrooling, etc– Night time- significantly

more aggressive with amore aggressive with a powerful bite

• Heavy leather gloves may not be sufficient

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl

OpossumsOpossums

• HandlingHandling– Use the tail/ support

the bodythe body– Use the tail alone,

continuous gentlecontinuous gentle shaking

– Careful with a wire bottom, trauma to toenails

http://www.fugly.com/pictures/14143/baby-possum-hanging-by-its-tail.html

Short Tailed Brazilian Opossum (Monodelphis domestica)

• CAN YOU THINK OF

(Monodelphis domestica)

• CAN YOU THINK OF ANOTHER MARSUPIAL THAT IS CURRENTLY USED AT OSU???USED AT OSU???

QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?

Image Websiteshttp://www.medaille.edu/vmacer/120_lec_10bchins&gps.htmwww freewebs com/nzchinchilla-rescue/Pellets jpg

Image Websites

www.freewebs.com/nzchinchilla-rescue/Pellets.jpghttp://animal-world.com/encyclo/critters/chinchilla/chinchilla.php

http://www.weaselwords.com/ferret-picture-gallery-pg1/htt // t l t k/ t l t/b d /G i Pihttp://www.petplanet.co.uk/petplanet/breeds/Guinea_Pig_-_Abyssinian.htm

http://www.popularpets.net/guinea-pigs/pictures/satin-peruvian-guinea-pig/satin-peruvian-guinea-pig.jpg