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
