Preface ix
Acknowledgments x
About the Authors and Illustrators xi
Chapter 1. Introduction 1
Sources of Information 2
Taxonomy and History 3
Behavior 3
Regulatory Considerations 4
Introduction, General Husbandry, and Disease Prevention 1
Genetically Modified Animals 4
Welfare- Friendly Clinical Practices for Rabbits and Rodents 6
Equipment Needs 7
Major Husbandry Concerns 8
Factors Predisposing to Disease 15
Allergies to Rabbits and Rodents 16
References 17
Chapter 2. The Rabbit 21
The Guinea Pig 45
The Chinchilla 57
The Hamster 65
The Gerbil 74
The Mouse 81
The Rat 93
Chapter 3. Sample Collection 104
Biology and Husbandry 21
Clinical Procedures 104
Hematology, Clinical Chemistry, and Urinalysis 116
Medical Imaging 130
Ophthalmology 135
Administration of Drugs and Formulary 142
Anesthesia 147
Analgesia 169
Surgery 174
Dental Procedures in Rabbits and Rodents 183
Quality Assurance Programs for Colony Health Surveillance 186
Other Special Techniques 189
Euthanasia 192
Chapter 4. Clinical Signs and Differential Diagnoses 196
Recognizing Signs of Illness and Pain in Rabbits and Rodents 196
The Rabbit 199
The Guinea Pig 210
The Chinchilla 219
The Hamster 221
The Gerbil 227
The Mouse 230
The Rat 236
Summary of Zoonotic Conditions of Companion Rabbits and Rodents 243
Chapter 5. Specific Diseases and Conditions 245
Acariasis (Mite Infections) 245
Anorexia and Reduced Food Intake 254
Astrovirus Infections 256
Bordetella Bronchiseptica Infections 256
Cestodiasis (Tapeworm Infection) 258
Coccidiosis (Hepatic) in Rabbits 260
Coccidiosis (Intestinal) 263
Coronavirus Infections 264
Corynebacterium Kutscheri Infections 269
Cryptosporidiosis 270
Dermatophytosis (Ringworm) 272
Encephalitozoonosis 273
Enteritis and Related Conditions 276
Epilepsy in Gerbils 284
Filobacter Rodentium Infections (Cilia- Associated Respiratory Bacillus) 285
Gastrointestinal Stasis in Rabbits 286
Hantavirus Infections 288
Heart Conditons 290
Heat Prostration 291
Helicobacter Infections 292
Hematuria and Pigmented Urine 294
Hepatitis E Infections in Rabbits 295
Herpesvirus Infections of Rabbits 297
Hypovitaminosis C (Scurvy) in Guinea Pigs 298
Lawsonia Infections (Proliferative Ileitis/ Enteropathy) 301
Listeriosis 302
Liver Lobe Torsion in Rabbits 303
Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus Infection 303
Malocclusion and Dental Disease 305
Mastitis 307
Mousepox (Ectromelia Virus) 307
Murine Encephalomyelitis 309
Murine Mycoplasmosis 310
Murine Norovirus Infections 312
Myiasis (Fly Strike)— Primary 313
Myiasis (Fly Strike)— Secondary 315
Myxomatosis 315
Nasal Dermatitis (Sore Nose) in Gerbils 317
Neoplasia 317
Nephrosis 322
Oxyuriasis (Pinworms) 324
Parvovirus Infections 326
Pasteurella Multocida Infections 328
Pediculosis 331
Pneumocystosis 332
Pododermatitis 334
Pregnancy Toxemia 336
Rabbit Viral Hemorrhagic Disease 337
Rabies Virus Infection 339
Ringtail 339
Rodentibacter Complex Infections 340
Rotavirus Infections 342
Salmonellosis 343
Sendai Virus Infections 345
Spironucleosis 346
Staphylococcosis 348
Streptococcus Pneumoniae
Infections in Rodents 350
Streptococcus Zooepidemicus
Infections in Guinea Pigs 351
Transmissible Colonic Hyperplasia in Mice 352
Tularemia 353
Tyzzer’s Disease (Clostridium Piliforme Infection) 354
Ulcerative Dermatitis (Moist Dermatitis) 356
Urolithiasis 357
Venereal Spirochetosis (Treponematosis) 359
Chapter 6. Case Reports 361
The Rabbit 361
The Guinea Pig 363
The Chinchilla 366
The Hamster 367
The Gerbil 367
The Mouse 368
The Rat 369
Suggested Solutions 369
Rabbits 369
Guinea Pigs 375
Chinchillas 377
Hamsters 379
Gerbils 380
Mice 381
Rats 383
Index 385
