Animal Science I “Fuzzy Exotics”

Objectives Compare and contrast the types of exotic animals and describe management practices involved in their care. Describe management practices involved in the care of small companion animals, such as rabbits, chinchillas, guinea pigs, ferrets, hedgehogs, and other small rodents.

Rabbits

Terms Buck – male rabbit Doe – female rabbit Kit – baby rabbit Kindle – giving birth Litter – group of young kindled by the same doe

Terms Junior – rabbit under 6 months Senior – rabbit over 6 months Variety – subdivision of a breed, usually by distinguished by color Gestation – the length of time a female is pregnant Snuffles – respiratory ailment in rabbits Ataxia- lack of coordination of muscles resulting in a tilt of the head

Ear Cheek Belly Hock Tail Neck Shoulder Dewlap Rump Flank

Rabbits Rabbits come in many sizes and color patterns.  There are 45 different breeds, based on their weight, and 80 varieties. They reproduce quickly, so keep males and females apart if you don’t want baby rabbits.

Feeding Pelleted food designed especially for rabbits is best, but you may also feed rabbits fruits, vegetables, and greenfood in small amounts.  3.8 to 4% of their body weight per day  Increases based on growth & production Always keep fresh water available and make sure cages are clean and dry.

Feeding Limit Feed vs Full Feed (free choice) 1. Full Feed = rabbits eat more = cost more 2. overweight rabbits – lazy/poor breeders 3. less attention given to rabbits

Housing Requirements A. Free of Drafts B. Protect from rain, snow, wind, sun & heat C. Pens – wire floor D. Size – 1 square foot floor space per one pound live rabbit (4# needs 2 ft x 2 ft)

Reproduction Breeding can begin anywhere from 5-8 months depending on size of breed Gestation: Average: 31 days  Range: 28 – 35 days When mating, take the doe to the buck’s cage The doe is more defensive of her territory than the buck Don’t leave them alone

Reproduction Provide nesting material (hay, straw, wood shavings) Doe will pluck hair from belly to line nest

Parturition Also known as kindling Keep area quiet, but monitor the doe and count her babies Make sure they are all healthy and that there are no complications in labor If you notice any problems, contact a vet immediately

Weaning Start to offer the kits pelleted food after a week or two They will take time to adjust, but this eases the weaning process Separate at about 7-8 weeks

Proper Handling A. Best Method 1. Grasp the nap of the neck and the rump 2. Always support the hind quarters B. Alternate Methods 1. Grasp in front of hip 2. Underarm, clutched against body C. NEVER BY THE EARS!!!!!

Medical Care Rabbits should be seen by a vet every six months to evaluate their health. Typically rabbits do not receive regular vaccines, but if you keep your rabbit outdoors, you should rabies vaccinate it. A common medical issue is the Snuffles

Medical Care The Snuffles (or Pasteurellosis) is a respiratory condition that causes wheezing and discharge of substances from the eyes and nose. This infection is typically caused by a bacteria and can affect the eyes, ears, and other organs if left untreated.

Medical Care Another common problem can be ataxia caused by an inner ear infection. Ataxia is characterized by a constant tilt of the head. Rabbits will also loose balance and may appear to seizure.

Soft, fuzzy, and fun. Chinchillas

Terms Chinchillidae- the family name for chinchillas Herd- group of chinchillas Kit- baby chinchilla Rear-gut fermenter- digestive tract with an elongated cecum that aids in digestion of grasses Crepuscular- meaning primarily active during twilight hours

Terms Malocclusion- abnormal growth of either the front teeth (incisors) or back teeth (molars). Cecum- part of the large intestine that aids in digestion.

Anatomy

Background Chinchillas come from the Andes mountains in South America They were brought here from the fur trade Their family name is Chinchillidae There are two species, lanigera and bravicaudata

Feeding Chinchillas naturally eat grasses and grains in the wild As pets their diet is composed of pellets and hay Rabbit food makes best substitute, but chinchilla food should always be used High protein, high fiber Alfalfa is a must for young chinchillas

Digestive Anatomy Chinchillas are known as rear-gut fermenters This means they can digest grasses like ruminants without a rumen A chinchilla should never vomit or have diarrhea  If signs of either are present, you should seek a vet IMMEDIATELY!!

Digestive Anatomy

Housing A chinchilla cage should have multiple levels as they love to hop from one to the other They should have a house that they can hide in to sleep, especially during the day as they are crepuscular Either recycled newspaper bedding or pine bedding should be used.

Grooming Chinchillas fur is very thick (80 to 120 strands of fur grow from one follicle) Water should be avoided so it doesn’t fall out (natural defense mechanism) Dust is used to clean the chinchilla by removing grease and dirt Avoid brushing with an actual brush

Reproduction Chinchillas are different from most rodents with a gestation of 111 days Their estrus cycle occurs about every 28 days, but they can be selective about when they mate They only have 1-2 kits per litter, and any more is considered to be unhealthy and trouble

Weaning A mother chinchilla will start to naturally wean her kits by 8 weeks Around 4 or 5 you should start to socialize a kit to humans and offer it regular pelleted food A kit should be completely weaned and able to live independently by 12 weeks

Medical Care Like rabbits, a chinchilla should be evaluated every 6 months for good health. They can live up to 20 years if probably cared for, but do not show signs of illness until it’s too late. They do not receive vaccinations like other pets.

Medical Care A common problem is weak bone development. They are also prone to cancers. Due to their thick coat, they seldom get fleas or other skin parasites. Malocclusion occurs when the teeth grow out of place.  This problem can go un-noticed until the chinchilla is in a lot of pain and refuses to eat.

Round and ready to roll! Guinea Pigs

Terms Cavy- proper term for a guinea pig Coprophagy- ingestion of feces Scurvy- a vitamin C deficiency that causes lethargy Lethargy- sluggishness or loss of energy

Terms Postpartum estrus- when an animal is receptive to breeding shortly after giving birth Alopecia- hair loss Torticollis- wry neck, like ataxia, but caused from muscular disorders

Misconceptions Guinea pigs are not pigs, nor are they from Guinea Their scientific name, Cavia porcellus seems to give them their pig-like name (porcellus meaning little pig in Latin) The household pet we have today does not exist in the wild… a domesticated ancestor gave way to the pets we have today.

Feeding Guinea pigs are rodents They consume grasses and have pelleted food in all pet stores They also partake in coprophagy  They produce special soft pellet-like stool to recycle B-vitamins and bacteria needed to break down grasses Guinea pigs cannot synthesize vitamin C and must have it supplemented in their diet.

Feeding Guinea pigs are sensitive to many plants and many are considered poisonous like buttercups, foxglove, wild celery, rhubarb, and most bulbs (like tulips) Because of this, it is important not to let your guinea pig out of sight when outside

Interesting Facts Guinea pigs make a variety of noises They can squeal, grunt, grind their teeth, and even whistle! Many are actually creating special coat varieties and breeding them in shows There are long hair guinea pigs, short hair…. And even hairless!

Digestion Guinea pigs have similar digestive tracts to that of a chinchilla. They have the longest large intestine of all rodents. Just like chinchillas a guinea pig should never vomit or have diarrhea.

Housing Guinea pig cages need to be large enough to provide them with enough room to exercise and play Ideally, a minimum of 7.5 square feet (30 inches by 36 inches) is needed for one pig They also need a house to hide in and water bottles

Reproduction Estrus- 16 days Gestation- 63 days Female guinea pigs can come back into heat 15 hours after giving birth. This is called a postpartum estrus, which means that they can be nursing a litter and pregnant at the same time!

Medical Conditions Guinea pigs can easily get scurvy, a vitamin C deficiency that leads to lethargy, or sluggishness Guinea pigs have weak respiratory tracts and may get infections easily They are also prone to alopecia, or hair loss, due to mites or improper diet

Medical Conditions Guinea pigs can also get torticollis, which occurs when muscles contract or are disfigured causing an excessive tilt of the head Guinea pigs are prey animals and will not show signs of illness until near death Because of this, 6-month checkups with a vet are highly recommended

Medical Conditions Like any rodent, guinea pigs need things to chew on to keep their teeth down. Malocclusion can occur when the teeth grow too much. Proper nail trimming and care are also important so that they don’t hurt their paws

Spikes, quills, and spines, OH MY! Hedgehogs

Terms Keratinized- covered in keratin, the same substance fingernails are made of. Quill- spiny projection of hair that is keratinized Nocturnal- awake at night Insectivore- diet composed of insects Hoglet or pup- baby hedgehogs

Background Hedgehogs exist in the wild in Europe, Asia, New Zealand and Africa The popular breed for pets is the African pygmy hedgehog The European relatives are much larger in size

Background Hedgehog comes from hedge, because wild hedgehogs like to hide in hedgerows, and hog for their pig-like snout Their natural and effective defense system includes their sharp quills

Quills Hedgehogs are unique as they have keratinized hairs that form quills. When threatened, they curl their bodies into a ball and point their quills out. Unlike porcupines, hedgehog’s quills should not detach from their body.

Hedgehogs Hedgehogs have quills covering their bodies but are not dangerous if they are properly treated and handled.  They can weigh up to 3 pounds at maturity and grow up to 12 inches long.

Hedgehogs Hedgehogs are typically nocturnal, meaning they are awake at night. In the wild, hedgehogs hibernate during colder months, but as pets should not be allowed to hibernate.

Diet Hedgehogs are insectivores, meaning they eat insects. Although pelleted food exists, one should feed fresh, live crickets, mealworms, or waxworms to their hedgehog.

Housing A cage should have 4 square feet. Hedgehogs love exercise wheels! Water bottles should be used to prevent contamination from feces. A house to hide in should be provided with a lot of bedding for them to build a nice nest.

Reproduction Estrus- every 2-5 days Gestation- 35 days Weaning age- 5-7 weeks Lifespan- 3-9 years Litter size 4-9 (known as hoglets or pups)

Medical Conditions Wobbly Hedgehog Syndrome (WHS)- is a genetic disorder that causes progressive paralysis. This condition has no cure. Cancer- hedgehogs are prone to cancerous growths as well as uterine, testicular, mammary, and jaw tumors

Medical Conditions Eyes can be damaged easily from quills poking them. Eye abrasions should be seen by a veterinarian IMMEDIATELY. 6 month wellness check-ups are recommended for all hedgehogs. Hedgehogs do not receive regular vaccines.