Term
| Why are small mammmals good as pets? |
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Definition
- little space
- low cost
- easy to maintain
- intelligent
- gentle |
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Term
| Why learn about small mammals? |
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Definition
- good practice builder
- helps to prevent boredom and burnout
- helps make you a better vet
- may get you a job |
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Term
| Key to success in vet med? |
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Definition
One medicine~
Understanding of disease processes and the ability to apply it to novel situations
Ability to extrapolate
Creative and open mind
Sense of adventure |
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Term
| Basic zoology of ferrets, rabbits and rodents? |
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Definition
Ferrets - carnivores
Rabbits - Logamorphs
Rodents - 3 major groups |
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Term
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Definition
About 2000 species;
- range in size from 5 gm to 70 kg |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
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Term
| Facilities for a small mammal practice? |
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Definition
Modify an existing space: decrease stress, temperature control);
Cages: incubators, modify existing stainless steel cages;
- Scales;
- Anesthesia machine (masks and induction boxes, small ET tubes)
- Anesthesia monitoring (Doppler blood flow detector, pulse oximetry)
- Small sx equip: (Iris scissors, magnifying head loupe; rotary power tool, rabbit dental equipment)
- Radiology (detail cassette and film);
- Laparoscopy and Ultrasound (10 MHZ transducer) |
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Term
| Evaluation of the ferret patient: |
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Definition
- CARNIVORES (MUSTELIDAE)=>Mustela putorius furo;
- Domesticated by Greeks and records in 14th century England;
- Used ferrets to hunt rabbit (ferret legging) |
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Term
| Why were ferrets introduced to New Zealand? |
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Definition
In 1882
- to control rabbits;
- decimated local flightless bird species;
- may harbor M. bovis!!! |
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Term
| History of ferrets as pets in the usa? |
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Definition
- 7 million as pets in the US in 1990
- small and can live in small apartments
- Illegal in some states and many cities (CA, NYC) |
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Term
| Main commercial breeder of ferrets in the US? |
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Definition
Marshall Farms
- all S/N, TATOO, Descented at 6 wks
- started breeding in 1939
- vaccinated for Distemper |
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Term
| Main features of ferret anatomy? |
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Definition
- Heart
- Short GI tract
- Induced ovulation
- Anal sacs (stinky!) |
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Term
| Describe ferret's anal sacs? |
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Definition
- Anal glands (yellow fluid expressed when alarmed)
- Sebacious glands (majority of the smell)
- No sweat glands |
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Term
| Describe an average male ferret: |
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Definition
- 1-1.5 kg
- usually larger than female
- larger head
- os penis
Females have weight of 0.5 - 1 kg and their vulva is normally small; |
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Term
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Definition
- induced ovulations
- seasonally polyestrous cycle (spring breeders)
- unbred females become anemic
- gestation 41-43 days |
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Term
| What is reproductive physiology of a ferret? |
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Definition
- sexual maturity is at 4-8 months
- female induced ovulation
- litter size is 1-18 KITS (6 average) |
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Term
| Husbandry and nutrition of a ferret? |
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Definition
- multi-level wire cages;
- can keep in groups;
- not loose in the house
- litter trained
- commercial ferret diet or cat food (protein 40-50%, fat=20%, very low fiber and carbs) |
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Term
| What are best litterboxes for ferrets? |
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Definition
- short guts = lots of boxes
- some prefer pellets over clay
- let them chose the sites
- may indicate medical problems. |
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Term
| Components of ferret physical restraint? |
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Definition
- difficult to restrain;
- squirmy
- bite
-follow these (minimal restraint, scruff, stretch, sweet distraction) |
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Term
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Definition
Live 5-11 years
Temp=100-104 F
HR = 180-250 BPM
RR = 33-36 BPM
BLOOD VOLUME = 60-80 Ml (8% of body weight)
Urine pH 6.5-7.5 |
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Term
| Name ferret distemper vaccines: |
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Definition
GALAXY-D
Fervac
Merial (Recombinant/Canary pox)
not clear if once a year vaccination is good |
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Term
| Name ferret Rabies vaccines: |
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Definition
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Term
| Do ferrets get vaccine reactions and how to treat if they do? |
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Definition
- vaccine reactions are common
- possibly due to adjuvant
- signs develop 0-30 minutes post inj.
- V/D/High fever/Lethargy
-Tx: Epinephrine, Diphenhydramine, Prednisone |
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Term
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Definition
- Roundworms and hookworms are very rare
- Coccidia (Isospora)
- Giardia
- Cryprospiridia |
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Term
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Definition
yes, Ctenocephaledes felis (cat flea)
TX: Imidacloprid, Fipronil, Selamectin) |
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Term
| Do ferrets get ear mites? |
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Definition
Yes (Otodectes cynotis)
TX; Tresaderm, Ivermectin, Selamectin |
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Term
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Definition
Rarely
Demodectic and Sarcoptic |
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Term
| Do ferrets get oral or dental disease? |
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Definition
| Yes: periodontal dz., Oral FB. |
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Term
| What are normal results for ferret CBC CHEM? |
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Definition
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Term
| Do ferrets get megaesophagus? |
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Definition
yes, older animals
regurgitation and coughing |
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Term
| What are signs of GI dz in a ferret? |
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Definition
Bruxism
drooling
pawing at the mouth
abnormal stools |
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Term
| What kind of ulcerations are found in ferret GI? |
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Definition
- GASTRIC AND DUODENAL;
- Helicobacter mustelae
- CS: V/D/Melena/WT LOSS
-Dx: Stomach biopsy
- Rx: original triple therapy (Amoxi, Metronidazole, Bismuth subsalicyate) and bland diet. |
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Term
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Definition
- do not usually vomit;
just depressed and show lethargy and weight loss
- DX: Palpate the FB in the tract, confirm with Rads or Ultrasound
-Tx: sx removal |
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Term
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Definition
Inflammatory Bowel DZ:
- Unknown cause
- CS: D (mucoid. green), vomitingoccasinally, wt loss)
- DX: Intestinal biopsy
- Tx: prednisone |
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Term
| Gastroenteritis in ferrets: |
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Definition
-Lawsonia intracellularis
CS: D (MUCOID/GREEN)
Palpate thinckened intestines, Rectal prolapse
- DX: Intestinal biopsy
Tx: Chloramphenicol |
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Term
| Name common reasons for ferret Gastroenteritis? |
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Definition
- Lawsonia intracellularis
- Eosinophilic gastroenteritis
- Salmonellosis
- Coronavirus |
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Term
| 4 main points about all causes of ferret gastroenteritis? |
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Definition
ALL are common in young a
ALL present with similar CS
ALL require surgery and biopsy
ALL have different treatments; |
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Term
| Eosinophilic gastroenteritis inferrets: |
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Definition
CS: D (MUCOID.GREEN, palpate thickened intestine, wt loss)
DX: Intestinal biopsy
TX: Prednisone and IVERMECTIN |
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Term
| Salmonellosis in ferrets? |
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Definition
Rare in pet ferrets;
Associated with raw diets;
CS: D
DX: Culture
tx: Supportive care |
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