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Exotic animal medicine is, in my biased opinion, the most exciting area of veterinary medicine today. It is stimulating, it is dynamic, and it is demanding. The challenge can quickly turn to frustration if the knowledge that is needed to work with these animals is not immediately available. When we think of the more traditional areas of companion animal veterinary medicine, the information we require is usually right at our fingertips in the form of books, journals, review articles, or even calls to colleagues. The basic information for more traditional pets is taught to us at veterinary school and the diseases, diagnostics, and treatments become second nature while in practice. When asked by a new dog owner the lifespan of their pet, we do not need to consult a colleague halfway across the world to answer that question, but when a prospective new owner of a small mammal asks which of the common small mammal pets lives the longest, how many of us can rattle off the lifespan of chinchillas, ferrets, guinea pigs, or hedgehogs. It is therefore apparent that even the basic knowledge the examination room, often there is no knowledge base to fall back on, and no frame of reference. We need information. This is what this section hopes to accomplish, so that armed with the basics you will feel comfortable with these different pets and also have a source of information to enable you to go further and to diagnose and treat these great pets. Exotic animal medicine has grown by leaps and bounds. In the 1970s and 1980s these were the bizarre animals brought in by eccentric owners. However, iil the last two decades many of these species have become as popular in some areas of the world as dogs and cats. For example, in the UK by the second decade of this century, rabbits may surpass other pets to become the most popular house pet. Would anyone have imagined that in 1970? But then again, would any veterinarian treating horses and cattle in 1900 believe that people no'v pay money for their dogs and cats to be treated. Everything is relative. Veterinarians want to do their best for all of their patients, and owners want the best care for their pets. The difficulty with exotic pets is that our knowledge changes so rapidly that it is difficult to keep up with the best diagnostic and treatment options. Sometimes, new diseases appear that are regional and it is not easy to find out this information. However, it is no longer acceptable to say that no one knows about rabbit dental disease or that it is impossible to treat adrenal gland disease in ferrets. It is no longer acceptable to categorize these animals as second-class pets. There will always be owners ‚vho won't pay for the care these pets nееd, but then there are always owners who won't pay for the care their dogs and cats need. Over the last two decades a `tipping point' has been reached and there are now owners of exotic pets who want the same level of veterinary care for these pets as is provided for other companion animals. We can take this further and say that there are owners who want not only equal care to dogs and cats, but the same level as is given to people. Some owners do not think twice when explained the benefits of a CT scan; they do not ask how much but instead ask when it can be done. Owners have pushed veterinarians to give a very high level of care, which in turn has propelled our knowledge of how to diagnose and treat these pets as never before. How has our knowledge of these animals increased? Some of it is through research. Research on the diseases of small mammals is mostly limited to their use as animal models or laboratory subjects. The information garnered from these studies is extrapolated to pets. Realistically, not many of these studies are relevant to the information we need to treat conditions seen in pet small mammals. Due to the lack of a large, profitable market, there is little research into drug treatments and nutrition of these pets. Some of the veterinary care of small mammals is extrapolated from the 'vay we treat dogs and cats. This carries over well with carnivores such as ferrets, but can fall short when working with herbivores. The database of knowledge about herbivores and other small mammals, and much of the information contained within this book, has over the past three decades come mainly from anecdotal information. Although the techniques used in small mammals are similar to those used in other pets, it is extremely important to understand the significance these methods make in their veterinary care. The four aspects of veterinary care that need to be emphasized arc history gathering techniques, examination techniques, diagnostics, and special instrumentation. Many of the diseases in small mammal medicine concern poor husbandry techniques, so it is vital that the veterinarian who sees small mammals is well informed. De"elop a till-in form so that you never miss a question. By not asking the correct questions, you may totally miss the diagnosis. In small mammals, possibly the most important diagnostic test is the history form. Description of diet and housing are two of the most important aspects of history taking. Where has the pet been, which animals has it been exposed to, and "There did the pet come from are some of the other important questions to ask. Examination techniques are very similar to those carried out in dogs and cats, but there are some aspects that are particularly important in small mammal examination. In rabbits it is always important to check the teeth for points, to ausculate the abdomen for gut sounds, and to examine the perineum for stool impactions. In ferrets it is always important to note changes to the normal hair coat. Diagnostic tests are also similar to those performed in dogs and cats, but the clinician needs to be aware of the size limitations and that many tests are not backed up with published studies. Also, it is important that the specialized instruments necessary to work with these animals are present in the veterinary practice (i.e. small needles and syringes, gram scales, and small surgical instruments). Finally, medications in dosage forms and volumes specifically designed for small mammals must also be available. The advances in rabbit medicine are probably as significant as in any species ОУСГ the last two decades. Although we may not have all the answers, we understand the pathophysiology of disease in these pets much better than we did even five years ago. One of the most vexing problems in rabbit medicine has been disease of the teeth and ja"' abscesses. It is apparent now that in most rabbits these conditions are related. It is almost unheard of to have a jaw abscess without concomitant dental disease. In the past we admitted to not understanding the etiology of these jaw abscesses and explained them away as spontaneous infections of the bone. Not kno'ving the etiology, we would explain it as sepsis due to an infection in some far away part of the body. We would try treating for liver abscesses or pneumonia or pyelonephritis that we supposed existed, even though there was no supporting evidence. We now have a clearer picture of the etiology of jaw abscesses; elongated, overgrowing premolar and molar tooth roots causing damage to the maxilla and mandible and allowing the cesspool of bacteria in the mouth to invade the bone. No longer do we place the blame solely on Pаsteurеllа multocida for these infections. In fact, Pasteuтellа organisms play only a role in jaw abscesses. Likewise, we understand the pathophysiology of dental disease much better today than we did ten years ago. We understand that incisor malocclusion may be secondary to cheek teeth disease. We cannot treat incisor disease successfully unless we also address the cheek tooth disease, the primary cause of the problem. Although we do not have all of the answers, our understanding permits us to diagnose the disease sooner, plan more effective treatments, and give a more realistic prognosis to the owners. Another area of rabbit medicine in which great strides have been made in developing better veterinary care is proper nutrition. We have left behind the idea of a complete diet being fed ad libitum; `any brand' rabbit pellets with some dried-out leafless alfalfa on the side. Although the entire story of proper rabbit nutrition has yet to be written, the dangers inherent in the diet we used to feed is becoming clearer to even the most stubborn adherent to a pelleted diet. It is more difficult to convince the owner that the convenience of a pelleted diet may be condemning their rabbit to a less than healthy lifestyle, but we have the information available nоw to at least allow the owner to understand why f'пeir rabbit has become sick on a pelleted only diet. It is likely that dental problems, at least partially, exist in rabbits due to the lack of proper fiber in the diet. This lack of fiber is directly related to the pelleted diet; specifically, the pelleted diet most owners find at the pet store. Although the connection between a pelleted diet and dental disease is supposed, it is very clear that the traditional, low-fiber, pellet only diet clearly contributes to poor cecal health. The lack of fiber, the high caloric content, and the high carbohydrate content of food can lead directly to a change in the normal cecal contents. The bacterial population changes, the entire milieu of the cecum changes, and gastrointestinal disease develops. Poorly formed stools, ileus, and eventually anorexia develop and the rabbit is brought to the hospital. The change in the bacterial population may predispose the rabbit to other bacterial infections. Great strides have also been made in our understanding of sonic of the diseases that plague pet ferrets. The two most common diseases in older tёrrеts, insulinoma and adrenal gland disease, still perplex owners and veterinarians, but our understanding through the last decade has improved our care of these pets. We understand that surgery, not medical treatment, is the best overall treatment for insulinoma. "Ve are better prepared to counsel owners on how to recognize signs of this disease in their pet ferrets. Our knowledge of adrenal gland disease has greatly increased over the last 15 years. We still may not understand the etiology, but we now have more treatment options and have a larger knowledge base with which to advise owners intelligently on the prognosis and choices they have for their nets with this disease. Other aspects of ferret medicine have also improved over the years. Gastrointestinal diseases have changed over the last decade, but we are in a better position to recommend treatment options. Vaccines are still used in ferrets and we understand better how to utilize them. Guinea pigs and other small rodents are seen more frequently in veterinary practices today than they were even ten years ago, since we have a larger database of knowledge, we are in a better position to advise the client on the treatment and prognosis of the diseases we see in these patients. We still run up against the problem of balancing the cost of testing against what the owner is prepared to pay. However, the basics of veterinary care are still important. How to take blood, what to feed, and how to handle these pets are skills that 've are still learning, since we are not given this type of information in veterinary school. Ectoparasius continue to plague these small mammals, but they are easy and inexpensive to diagnose, the signs are usually obvious, treatments are easy to administer, and the pet can be cured. Of course, this whole process cannot start unless the veterinarian is armed with the knowledge that ectoparasites are common problems In small mammals. Hedgehogs, both European and African, continue to he seen in large numbers by veterinarians. Skin disease is still a common complaint and both ectoparasites and tungal infections are diseases that are commonly treated. A basic knowledge of the care of hedgehogs is essential and knowledge of how to work with these shy animals is important. The basics of small mammals transcend all species. It is important to understand anesthesia, ycпipuncture, handling, and diet of these increasingly common pets.