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Small Mammals + Diagnosis

  • Abscesses are one of the most common and difficult clinical problems in rabbits.

  • Common conditions of pet ferrets include diarrhoea, intestinal foreign bodies, parasites, heart disease, and various kinds of cancer.

  • Common conditions of pet rodents include respiratory diseases, anorexia and lethargy, overgrown teeth, and tumours.

  • Common conditions of pet rabbits include snuffles, gut stasis, abnormal caecotrophs, parasites, dental disease, uterine cancer, and sore hocks.

  • A mouse's lifespan is only 18-36 months so ageing changes and natural fatal conditions such as tumours are fairly common.

  • A rat's lifespan is only 18-48 months so ageing changes and natural fatal conditions such as tumours are fairly common.

  • Dacryocystitis refers to infection and inflammation of the tear duct. It is a common problem in the rabbit and is often a primary reason for presentation to the veterinary hospital.

  • The rabbit's teeth grow continuously throughout life in order to cope with constantly grinding food. This applies to both incisors (front teeth) and molars and premolars (back teeth).

  • This disease is caused by a microsporidian protozoan parasite, Encephalitozoon cuniculi. It is an intracellular parasite that preferentially colonises the kidneys, eyes and brain.

  • Adrenal disease describes tumours or hypertrophy (excess growth) of the adrenal gland(s). Tumours may be benign (adenoma) or malignant (adenocarcinoma).