Handbook of Exotic Pet Medicine

Marie Kubiak, Marie Kubiak

• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
• Year: 2020
• ISBN:
  9781119389958
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Medicine
• Subtopic: Veterinary Medicine

Easy-to-use, comprehensive reference covering the less common species encountered in general veterinary practice

Handbook of Exotic Pet Medicine provides easy-to-access, detailed information on a wide variety of exotic species that can be encountered in general veterinary practice.

Offering excellent coverage of topics such as basic techniques, preventative health measures, and a formulary for each species, each chapter uses the same easy-to-follow format so that users can find information quickly while working in the clinic. Presented in full colour, with over 400 photographs, the book gives small animal practitioners the confidence to handle and treat more familiar pets such as budgerigars, African grey parrots, bearded dragons, corn snakes, tortoises, pygmy hedgehogs, hamsters and rats. Other species that may be presented less frequently including skunks, marmosets, sugar gliders, koi carp, chameleons and terrapins are also covered in detail to enable clinicians to quickly access relevant information.

• Provides comprehensive coverage of many exotic pet species that veterinarians may encounter in general practice situations
• Presents evidence-based discussions of topics including biological parameters, husbandry, clinical evaluation, hospitalization requirements, common medical and surgical conditions, radiographic imaging, and more

The Handbook of Exotic Pet Medicine is an ideal one-stop reference for the busy general practitioner seeing the occasional exotic animal, veterinary surgeons with an established exotic animal caseload, veterinary students and veterinary nurses wishing to further their knowledge.

1
Ground Squirrels

Marie Kubiak

1.1 Introduction

Ground squirrels make up the subfamily of Xerinae, within the Sciuridae (squirrel) family and include a variety of well‐known species such as the groundhog and marmot. The species within this subfamily that are more commonly kept as pets, and are covered in this chapter, are prairie dogs, Richardson's ground squirrels and Siberian chipmunks. Biological parameters for these species are included in Table 1.1.

1.2 Husbandry

1.2.1 Siberian Chipmunks

Siberian chipmunks (Tamias sibiricus) are squirrel‐like rodents originating primarily from Northern Asia. Although common in the pet trade in Europe in the late twentieth and early twenty‐first century, in 2015 this species was added to EU Invasive Alien Species (IAS) Regulation (1143/2014), resulting in a ban within the European Union on importation, keeping, breeding, transport, trade, and accidental or intentional release of this species, though an exemption is made for animals to be transported for veterinary care. As such this species can only be kept by existing owners for their natural lifespan, or under licence for medical, research, or conservation purposes. At present these restrictions remain in place for the United Kingdom. Pet Siberian chipmunk numbers are declining as animals reach the end of their life and no new animals are able to be acquired or bred. Other species of chipmunks may be legally kept but are extremely rare as pets. The Pallas squirrel (Callosciurus erythraeus) and Fox squirrel (Sciurus niger), both rarely kept as pets, have also been listed as invasive species and are subject to the same restrictions.

Chipmunks are terrestrial though have good climbing capabilities and will use the full height of enclosures. They are inquisitive and highly active so enclosures should be secure – such as large aviaries with narrow spaced mesh. Nest boxes should be provided (at least one per animal) with hay substrate and branches, tunnels, hides and wheels provided for enrichment and to encourage activity. Chipmunks will chew plastics, wood, wires and other materials and this should be taken into account when planning enclosure construction, and when toys or décor are added. They are omnivores and can be fed a rodent pellet diet but this should be supplemented with seeds, vegetables, insects, and hay. Food may be stored in substrate or nest boxes so it is important to check and clean enclosures thoroughly on at least a weekly basis to prevent spoilage. Fresh water should always be available and water bottles are generally accepted well. Free range access within a house is not advisable due to potential for escape, injury, or damage inflicted to household possessions. In winter wild chipmunks do not exhibit true hibernation but have fluctuating torpor, with several days of dormancy followed by a period of normothermia, activity, and feeding. In torpor their body temperature drops to around 5 °C and heart rate slows to 4 beats/min. In captivity there is no drive for torpor as temperatures tend to remain stable through seasons and food is abundant. There is no evidence that absence of torpor has any negative impact.

1.2.2 Prairie Dogs

Prairie dogs (Cynomys spp.) are large, North American members of the squirrel family and have five recognised species. Of these only the black‐tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) is encountered with any frequency as a pet in the UK. Well‐socialised individuals can make good pets but even the tamest prairie dog can become aggressive during their breeding season.

Captive animals require deep substrate to form their burrows as well as a large overground area for activity, sufficient to enable a group of animals to be kept together. Enclosure size requirements have been detailed as 2 × 2 × 2.5 ft (L × W × H) per animal (Pilny and Hess 2004) but this should be regarded as an absolute minimum and 4 × 4× 2.5 ft would be considered more suitable as a minimum to allow animals to display normal behaviour. An area of deep substrate should be provided to allow creation of burrows and can ...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Table of Contents
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• List of Contributors
• Acknowledgments
• About the Companion Website
• 1 Ground Squirrels
• 2 African Pygmy Hedgehogs
• 3 Common Marmosets
• 4 Striped Skunk
• 5 Degus
• 6 Mongolian Gerbils
• 7 Hamsters
• 8 Rats
• 9 Sugar Gliders
• 10 Budgerigars and Cockatiels
• 11 Grey Parrots
• 12 Birds of Prey
• 13 Bearded Dragons
• 14 Geckos
• 15 Chameleons
• 16 Corn Snakes
• 17 Boas and Pythons
• 18 Mediterranean Tortoises
• 19 African Tortoises
• 20 Terrapins
• 21 Amphibians
• 22 Koi Carp
• 23 Tarantulas
• 24 Giant African Land Snails
• Index
• End User License Agreement