ONLINE EDITION GERBILS

ONLINE EDITION GERBILS AND HAMSTERS | WILDLIFE and EXOTICS VPTODAY | WWW.VETERINARYPRACTICETODAY.COM 59 Condition Description Clinical signs Diagnosis Treatment/prognosis Ectoparasites many species that can cause disease Demodex is the most common immunosuppression can predispose alopecia, hyperkeratinisation, erythema, pruritus deep skin scrape microscopy treat underlying immunosuppression and prevent stress ivermectin at 0.2mg/kg SC or topically every seven days for three doses extended until skin scrapes are negative amitraz can be used, but care with ingestion treat in contact animals Dermatomycosis ( Figure 5 ) common Microsporum spp. & Trichophyton mentagrophytes potentially zoonotic pruritic circular lesions, but can also be irregular or diffuse alopecia, scaling, crusting of head, ears, back and limbs hairs may appear broken Dermatophyte cultures of hair plucks microscopy of hair plucks topical antifungals, such as miconazole if there are single lesions (rare) therefore, systemic antifungals such as itraconazole should be used at 2.510 mg/kg p.o. q24 for two weeks post resolution of clinical signs in-contact animals should be treated causes of immunosuppression investigated thoroughly clean environment Proliferative ileitis AKA. wet tail overcrowding predisposes multifactorial with many bacterial and environmental causes diarrhoea (+/- blood), weakness, anorexia, dehydration, coma, death clinical signs, faecal cultures fluid therapy, antibiotics, support feeding, probiotics, keep away from other hamsters Pasteurellosis very common and contagious acute pneumonia, dyspnoea, sneezing, ocular discharge, anorexia, weakness abscessation clinical signs culture and sensitivity lance & flush abscesses surgical debridement antibiotics based on culture and sensitivity results Table 2. Common non-infectious conditions seen in gerbils Figure 2. A squamous cell carcinoma of the ventral scent gland of a gerbil. Figure 3. Upper incisor fractures as a result of chronic bar chewing. WWW.VETCOMMUNIT Y.COM | ONLINE EDITION