Ovariectomy, ovariohysterectomy and orchidectomy in rodents and rabbits

This article describes the surgical procedures for the ovariectomy, ovariohysterectomy and orchidectomy in rodents and rabbits. The indications for each procedure are outlined and effective and safe anesthetics are described. Preoperative and postoperative care is also discussed.     

Reproductive medicine of rabbits and rodents.

The small animal practitioner is likely to be called upon to help nontraditional pets such as rabbits, rodents, and ferrets. The more information veterinarians have regarding normal anatomy, physiology, reproduction, medicine, anesthesia, and surgery of these unusual pets, the more likely they will be able to help their owners. This article presents an overview of routine and emergency reproductive concerns that the small animal practitioner may face when presented with nontraditional mammalian patients.     

Cytologic diagnosis of diseases of rabbits, guinea pigs, and rodents.

This article reviews the diseases most amenable to cytologic diagnosis in clinical small mammal practice. Diseases of pet rabbits, guinea pigs, rodents, chinchillas, sugar gliders, and hedgehogs are addressed. The small size of these patients, risk of anesthesia and invasive surgery, and cost factors make small mammals ideal patients for cytologic evaluation when applicable; however, surprisingly few reports exist in the literature, and no other reviews of cytology in these species exist. Much of the data in this article is derived from case submissions to Northwest ZooPath, and disease presentations that seem to be common in this group of animals are emphasized. Diseases of the skin are particularly well represented, especially tumors and inflammatory processes.     

A striated muscle on the hard palate of rodents and rabbits

Summary A striated muscle of the hard palate has been previously described in some rodents and rabbits. It is not termed in the official veterinary anatomical nomenclature. The aim of this work was to verify the existence of this muscle. Heads of the golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus), the guinea pig (Cavia aperea f. porcellus), the laboratory rat (Rattus norvegicus var. alba), the field vole (Microtus agrestis) and the domestic rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus f. domesticus) have been dissected. Moreover, histological sections have been prepared from heads of the field vole. In all species under study, we could detect a striated muscle of the hard palate composed of an anterior and a posterior muscle. The anterior muscle originated on the os incisivum and diverged in anterior, lateral and posterior directions. The posterior muscle originated on the processus palatinus maxillae and verged into the m. buccinator. Inter-species differences could be detected in shape and position of the muscle. The palatal muscle was innervated by the ramus buccalis of the facial nerve. Whether this muscle should be classified as an individual facial muscle or as a part of the m. buccinator remains to be discussed.     

Toxoplasmosis in ferrets

Abstract

Extract

In 1986 I described an epidemic of congenital Toxoplasma-like disease in ferrets ⁽¹⁾ Thornton, RN and Cook, TG. 1986. A congenital Toxoplasma-like disease in ferrets (Musrela putorius furo). New Zealand Veterinary Journal, 34: 31–33. [Taylor &; Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]. The protozoan was subsequently confirmed immunohistochemically as Toxoplasma (Dubey, personal communication) but this was not reported. I wish to report this fact now in light of the recent discovery of the protozoan Neospora caninum, which is morphologically similar to Toxoplasma gonii, but which can be distinguished immunohistochemically ⁽²⁾ Dubey, JP. 1990. Neospora caninum: A look at a new Toxoplasma-like parasite of dogs and other animals. Compendium on Continuing Education for the Practicing Veterinarian, 12: 653–663.  [Google Scholar]. The life cycle of Neospora caninum is not yet known so it is of interest to establish the fact that the ferrets in our report were confirmed as having toxoplasmosis.     

Laboratory findings, histopathology, and immunophenotype of lymphoma in domestic ferrets

Lymphoma is a common tumor in ferrets, but anatomic distribution, histomorphology, immunophenotype, laboratory abnormalities, and response to chemotherapy are incompletely defined. In this study, lymphoma was diagnosed by histopathology of tumor tissue in 29 ferrets ranging in age from 0.8 to 8.5 years, including 12 males and 17 females. Tumors involved the viscera of the abdominal cavity (n = 11), thoracic cavity (n = 1), or abdominal and thoracic cavities (n = 7); the skin (n = 2); or the viscera of both body cavities plus other sites (n = 8). Microscopically, all tumors had diffuse architecture. Assessment by histomorphology and immunophenotype classified tumors as peripheral T-cell lymphoma (n = 17), anaplastic large T-cell lymphoma (n = 5), anaplastic large B-cell lymphoma (n = 4), diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (n = 1), and Hodgkin-like lymphoma (n = 2). Cytologic evaluation of tumor tissue was diagnostic in 11 of 13 cases. Twenty-two of 27 ferrets had anemia, 2 had leukemia, and 5 were neutropenic. Common comorbid disorders were adrenal disease (n = 27) and insulinoma (n = 6). Tumors most frequently involved mesenteric lymph nodes, while enlargement of peripheral lymph nodes was uncommon (n = 3). Ferrets with Hodgkin-like lymphoma had massive enlargement of single lymph nodes. Mean survival of ferrets not immediately euthanized was 5.0 months (T-cell lymphoma) and 8.4 months (B-cell lymphoma). Ferrets treated with chemotherapy survived an average of 4.3 months (T-cell lymphoma, n = 9) or 8.8 months (B-cell lymphoma, n = 4). Results indicate that lymphomas in ferrets most commonly affect abdominal viscera, may be amenable to cytologic diagnosis, are frequently associated with anemia and, in some cases, may be chemosensitive, resulting in relatively long survival times.     

Therapeutics in ferrets.

The domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo) continues to grow in popularity as a pet species in North America as well as many countries around the world. With this rapid growth comes an increased potential for small and exotic animal practitioners to expand their ferret clientele. This article reviews the commonly used therapeutics in ferrets, as well as the general principles and guidelines for their use.     

Echocardiographic and electrocardiographic examination of clinically healthy, conscious ferrets

Objectives : To assess the feasibility of performing electrocardiography (ECG) and echocardiography on conscious ferrets and to establish reference values for this species under these conditions. Methods : End‐systolic and end‐diastolic left ventricular (LV) diameters, LV and interventricular septal thicknesses were measured by M‐mode echocardiography, while left atrial, aortic and pulmonary trunk diameters were determined by two‐dimensional echocardiography in 46 ferrets. In some animals the maximum velocities of blood flow in the aorta and the pulmonary trunk were also measured by spectral Doppler. ECG examinations were performed by using limb leads both in right lateral recumbency and in the so‐called “hanging” position. In the course of the ECG examinations (n=43), the occurrences, directions, durations and amplitudes of the P, QRS and T waves and the duration of the PR‐ and QT intervals were recorded for all six leads. Results : ECG and echocardiography were successfully performed on non‐sedated ferrets in 90 and 96% of the cases, respectively. Males were significantly heavier and had larger cardiac dimensions compared to females. Clinical Significance : Performance of both echocardiography and ECG are feasible techniques in conscious ferrets, and reference values are now available for future comparisons.     

Pancreatic endocrinopathies in ferrets.

Pancreatic endocrinopathies, especially insulinomas, are a common finding in ferrets. Surgical resection remains the treatment of choice for insulinomas because it can provide longer disease-free intervals and survival times. Because of the high rate of metastasis, owners should be advised that treatment is rarely curative and is aimed at controlling the clinical signs of hypoglycemia by stopping or slowing the progression of the insulinoma. Although less common, diabetes mellitus can occur in ferrets, but is often a postsurgical sequela to insulinoma resection. Current advancements in diabetes management can be applied to ferrets with diabetes mellitus.