Animal Science I “Fuzzy Exotics”
Dec 31, 2015
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.
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
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.
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.
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!!
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.
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
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