Harkness and Wagner's Biology and Medicine of Rabbits and Rodents

John E. Harkness, DVM, MS, DACLAM, is Professor Emeritus of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Mississippi State University. Patricia V. Turner, BSc, MS, DVM, DVSc, DACLAM, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, at the University of Guelph. Susan VandeWoude, DVM, DACLAM, is Professor of Comparative Medicine and Director of Laboratory Animal Resources at Colorado State University. Colette Wheler, BSc, DVM, MVetSc, is Director of the Animal Resources Centre and Adjunct Professor in the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon.

Preface xi

Acknowledgments xiii

Chapter 1. Introduction, General Husbandry, and Disease Prevention 3

Introduction 3

Sources of Information 5

Taxonomy, History, and Behavior 5

Regulatory Considerations 6

Genetically Modified Mice 7

Equipment Needs 9

Major Concerns in Husbandry 11

Factors Predisposing to Disease 14

Allergies to Rabbits and Rodents 17

References 19

Chapter 2. Biology and Husbandry 23

The Rabbit 23

The Guinea Pig 45

The Chinchilla 58

The Hamster 65

The Gerbil 74

The Mouse 83

The Rat 95

Chapter 3. Clinical Procedures 107

Sample Collection 107

Hematology, Clinical Chemistry, and Urinalysis 116

Medical Imaging 131

Ophthalmology 135

Administration of Drugs and Formulary 141

Anesthesia 147

Analgesia 167

Surgery 171

Dental Procedures in Rabbits and Rodents 180

Serologic Testing for Colony Health Surveillance 184

Other Special Techniques 187

Euthanasia 190

Chapter 4. Clinical Signs and Differential Diagnoses 195

The Rabbit 195

The Guinea Pig 208

The Chinchilla 219

The Hamster 220

The Gerbil 228

The Mouse 231

The Rat 239

Chapter 5. Specific Diseases and Conditions 249

Acariasis (Mite Infections) 249

Anorexia and Reduced Food Intake 260

Bordetella bronchiseptica Infections 262

Buphthalmia in Rabbits 265

Cestodiasis (Tapeworm Infestations) 266

Cilia-Associated Respiratory Bacillus Infections 269

Coccidiosis (Hepatic) in Rabbits 272

Coccidiosis (Intestinal) 275

Coronavirus Infections 277

Corynebacterium kutscheri Infections 283

Cryptosporidiosis 285

Dermatophytosis (Ringworm) 287

Encephalitozoonosis 289

Enteropathies 292

Epilepsy in Gerbils 305

Gastric Stasis in Rabbits 306

Hantavirus Infections 308

Heat Prostration 310

Helicobacter Infections 311

Hematuria and Pigmented Urine 313

Hypovitaminosis C (Scurvy) in Guinea Pigs 316

Lawsonia Infections (Proliferative Ileitis of Hamsters) 319

Listeriosis 321

Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus Infection 322

Malocclusion and Dental Disease 324

Mastitis 327

Mousepox (Ectromelia Virus) 327

Murine Encephalomyelitis 330

Murine Mycoplasmosis 331

Murine Norovirus Infections 334

Myiasis (Fly Strike)—Primary 335

Myiasis (Fly Strike)—Secondary 337

Myxomatosis 338

Nasal Dermatitis (Sore Nose) in Gerbils 339

Neoplasia 341

Nephrosis 348

Oxyuriasis (Pinworms) 350

Parvovirus Infections 353

Pasteurella multocida Infections 355

Pasteurella pneumotropica Infections 359

Pediculosis 361

Pneumocystosis 363

Pododermatitis 364

Pregnancy Toxemia 366

Rabies Virus Infection 367

Ringtail 368

Rotavirus Infections 369

Salmonellosis 371

Sendai Virus Infections 373

Spironucleosis 375

Splayleg in Rabbits 377

Staphylococcosis 378

Streptococcus pneumoniae Infections in Rodents 380

Streptococcus zooepidemicus Infections in Guinea Pigs 382

Transmissible Colonic Hyperplasia in Mice 383

Tularemia 385

Tyzzer’s Disease 386

Ulcerative Dermatitis (Moist Dermatitis) 389

Urolithiasis 390

Venereal Spirochetosis (Treponematosis) 392

Viral Hemorrhagic Disease in Rabbits 394

Chapter 6. Case Reports 397

The Rabbit 397

The Guinea Pig 400

The Chinchilla 402

The Hamster 403

The Gerbil 404

The Mouse 405

The Rat 406

Suggested Solutions 407

Rabbits 407

Guinea Pigs 412

Chinchillas 415

Hamsters 416

Gerbils 418

Mice 419

Rats 421

Index 423