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

BellyHock

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 DraftsB. Protect from rain, snow, wind,

sun & heatC. Pens – wire floorD. 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 Method1. Grasp the nap of the neck and the

rump2. Always support the hind quarters

B. Alternate Methods1. 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.