Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents - E-Book

Clinical Medicine and Surgery

Katherine Quesenberry, Christoph Mans, Connie Orcutt, James W. Carpenter

• Publisher: Saunders
• Year: 2020
• ISBN:
  9780323484343
• Edition: 4
• Topic: Medicina
• Subtopic: Medicina veterinaria

Learn to treat a wide variety of small mammals and pocket pets with Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th Edition. Covering the conditions most often seen in veterinary practice, this highly readable and easy-to-navigate text covers preventative medicine along with disease management, ophthalmology, dentistry, and zoonosis. More than 700 full-color photographs and illustrations highlight radiographic interpretation as well as diagnostic, surgical, and therapeutic techniques. This fourth edition also features new coverage of degus (large rodent species); new coverage of prairie dogs; and expanded coverage of surgical procedures, physical therapy rehabilitation and alternative medicine for rabbits, neoplasia in rabbits, and zoonotic disease. With expert contributors from around the globe, Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents is the authoritative, single point of reference for small mammal care that is hard to find elsewhere.

• Logical organization lays out sections by different animals and organizes parts within chapters by body system — making it quick and easy to access important information.
• Drug formulary provides dosage instructions for a wealth of species including ferrets, rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, hamsters, rats/mice, prairie dogs, hedgehogs, and sugar gliders.
• More than 700 photographs and illustrations highlight key concepts such as radiographic interpretation and the main points of diagnostic, surgical, and therapeutic techniques.
• Chapter on ophthalmology provides an area of study that is difficult to find for ferrets, rabbits, rodents, and other small mammals.
• Chapter outlines offer an at-a-glance overview of the chapter contents at the beginning of the chapter.
• Access to Expert Consult site provides an excellent comprehensive reference and a fully searchable eBook.

• NEW! Coverage of surgical procedures has been further expanded in this edition. Surgical procedures are presented in a separate section and shown step by step through color photographs and radiographs, accompanied by line drawings.
• NEW! Additional information on physical therapy rehabilitation and alternative medicine for rabbits includes chiropractic care and acupuncture.
• NEW! Expanded content on neoplasia in rabbits incorporates lymphoreticular disorders, thymoma, and other neoplastic diseases of rabbits.
• NEW! All new chapter on prairie dogs has been added.
• NEW! All new chapter on degus (large rodent species) has been added.
• UPDATED! Chapter on zoonotic disease has been updated to further cover specific zoonotic diseases in addition to addressing the increased potential for disease transmission from animals to humans.
• NEW! Global author perspective incorporates the expertise of authors practicing outside of North America.
• UPDATED! Photographs show the diseases and disorders that are more commonly seen in practice.

Section I

Ferrets

Outline

1. Basic Anatomy, Physiology, and Husbandry of Ferrets

2. Basic Approach to Veterinary Care of Ferrets

3. Gastrointestinal Diseases of Ferrets

4. Disorders of the Urinary and Reproductive Systems in Ferrets

5. Cardiovascular and Other Diseases of Ferrets

6. Respiratory Diseases of Ferrets

7. Endocrine Diseases of Ferrets

8. Neoplasia in Ferrets

9. Dermatologic Diseases of Ferrets

10. Musculoskeletal and Neurologic Diseases

1: Basic Anatomy, Physiology, and Husbandry of Ferrets

Lauren V. Powers, DVM, Diplomate ABVP (Avian, Exotic Companion Mammal), and David Perpiñán, DVM, MSc, PhD, Diplomate ECZM (Herpetology)

1. Natural History and Domestication,
2. Uses,
3. Anatomy and Physiology,
   1. Integument,
      1. Coat,
      2. Skin and Associated Glands,
      3. Anal Glands,
   2. Gastrointestinal System,
      1. Teeth and Salivary Glands,
      2. Esophagus, Stomach, and Intestines,
      3. Liver, Gallbladder, and Pancreas,
   3. Urogenital System,
      1. Kidneys, Ureters, and Urinary Bladder,
      2. Male Reproductive Tract,
      3. Female Reproductive Tract,
   4. Cardiovascular and Lymphatic Systems,
      1. Heart and Major Blood Vessels,
      2. Lymphatic Structures,
   5. Respiratory System,
   6. Endocrine System,
      1. Adrenal Glands,
      2. Thyroid and Parathyroid Glands,
   7. Musculoskeletal System,
   8. Neurologic System and Special Senses,
      1. Brain and Spinal Cord,
      2. Special Senses,
4. Physiology and Reproduction,
   1. Life Expectancy and Physiology,
   2. Body Size and Seasonal Weight Variation,
5. Reproduction,
6. Behavior,
7. Husbandry,
   1. Housing,
   2. Environmental Enrichment,
8. Nutrition,

Natural History and Domestication

The domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo) belongs to the family Mustelidae, the largest family within the mammalian Order Carnivora. Along with ferrets, the Genus Mustela includes polecats, mink, weasels, and ermines (also called stoats). The domestic ferret is most likely a direct descendant of the European polecat (M. putorius) but may also be descended from the steppe (or Siberian) polecat (M. eversmannii). ^8,16,31,52 The domestic ferret is also closely related to the black-footed ferret (M. nigripes) but is likely not a direct descendant.

Free-ranging ferrets and polecats are found throughout Europe, Asia, and North America. Black-footed ferrets nearly became extinct due to habitat destruction and the deliberate depopulation of prairie dogs (Cynomys species), their main food source. ^25,36 Captive breeding and reintroduction programs for the black-footed ferret have reestablished populations in some areas of North America; however, the species continues to be listed as endangered under the US Endangered Species Act.

Ferrets likely have been domesticated for more than 2000 years, probably first being domesticated in southern Europe. ^{8,11,16,25,31} They may have been introduced into the United Kingdom by the Romans or Normans. ^8,11,25 In the late 1800s, domestic ferrets were intentionally introduced into New Zealand to depopulate feral colonies of European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). ²⁵ Because of the lack of predatory species, feral populations of ferrets were established and are still present, raising concerns for the spread of infectious diseases (e.g., Mycobacterium bovis in livestock and zoonotic diseases, such as rabies), and preying on native bird populations. ^16,25 Similarly, ferrets were released in Australia in the 1800s to depopulate feral colonies of introduced rabbits; however, predators prevented the establishment of feral populations of ferrets. ²⁵ The domestic ferret was introduced into the United States approximately 300 years ago, most likely for pest depopulation and hunting. ^16,25,31 There are currently no established feral populations of domestic ferrets in North America. ³¹

Uses

In the early 1900s, tens of thousands of ferrets were bred in the United States to help rid granaries, barns, and warehouses of rodents. ¹⁶ Ferrets were also used for pest control on ships. ^11,16,25 In some areas of the world, ferrets are still used for rodent and rabbit control.

Ferrets have long been bred to hunt European rabbits, and ferrets are still used to hunt in some areas of the world. ^16,25,31 In the past, domestic ferrets were used to hunt rabbits in the United States; however, most states now prohibit this practice, primarily to protect native rabbit species. ^16,25

Ferrets were farmed for fur in North America in the early 1900s and even earlier in Europe. ¹⁶ Ferret fur farming was popular in New Zealand as late as the 1980s and still exists in a few areas of Northern Europe. ^16,25 Ferret fur has also been used in artists’ paint brushes. ²⁵

“Ferret-legging” is a type of English pub game in which two ferrets are placed into each competitors’ trousers before the leg openings and waist are securely closed. The competitor who withstands the presence of the ferrets the longest is the winner. ¹⁶

Because of their elongated, narrow body and willingness to travel through long, narrow tunnels, domestic ferrets have been used to string cable and wire through long stretches of conduit for the oil, aviation, and telephone industries. ¹⁶

Ferrets have been used in biomedical research since the early 1900s, when they were used to study human influenza ...

Table of contents

• Cover image
• Title page
• Table of Contents
• Dedication
• Copyright
• Contributors
• Preface
• Section I. Ferrets
• Section II. Rabbits
• Section III. Rodents
• Section IV. Other Small Mammals
• Section V. Surgical Techniques and Dentistry
• Section VI. General Topics
• Appendix. Formulary
• Index