Rats & Mice
What is the red-pigmented material sometimes seen around a stressed or ill rat’s eyes and nose?
Porphyrin
What type of bedding should be avoided if its aromatic oils can irritate the respiratory tract and affect liver enzymes?
Cedar
When lifting a rat, what part of the body must be supported to prevent injury?
The body and hindquarters.
What is the term for a rabbit’s continuously growing teeth?
Elodont teeth
What is the common name for the respiratory disease syndrome in rabbits characterized by sneezing and nasal discharge?
Snuffles
What is the term for teeth that continuously grow throughout an animal’s life?
Elodont teeth (continuously growing teeth).
What environmental factor can contribute to ringtail in rats?
Low Humidity
A rabbit struggles forcefully during restraint. What serious injury is the technician trying to prevent?
Spinal injury
What are the soft, nutrient-rich fecal pellets that rabbits eat to absorb additional nutrients called?
Cecotrophs
Which bacterial organism is a common cause of rabbit snuffles?
Pasteurella multocida.
Which organ is absent in rats and mice, allowing bile to flow continuously into the duodenum?
The gallbladder.
Why should a technician monitor food and water consumption in small rodents?
Changes may signal illness, dehydration, or a husbandry problem.
A rat is quieter than usual and has stopped eating. What should the technician do first?
Assess the patient, obtain relevant history and vital signs as appropriate, and promptly report the changes to the veterinarian.
What is the primary dietary component needed to support normal rabbit gastrointestinal motility and dental wear?
Grass Hay
A rabbit has a head tilt and loss of balance. Name one possible underlying cause.
Encephalitozoon cuniculi or inner ear disease.
What is one early clinical sign that may indicate a rat or mouse is becoming ill?
Reduced activity, changes in eating, or a change in appearance or behavior
What zoonotic disease associated with rodents can cause fever and illness in people?
Rat-Bite Fever
Why should a technician weigh a small mammal before medication is administered?
Accurate weight-based dose.
What is the name of the lymphoid-rich structure near the junction of the rabbit’s small and large intestines?
The sacculus rotundus.
Why should a technician be cautious about administering medications to rabbits without verifying that they are appropriate for the species?
Intestinal flora disruption and cause potentially severe gastrointestinal disease.
Why should a technician pay attention to a rat’s respiratory effort and activity level during an examination?
Early indicators of illness or respiratory distress.
What should a technician do before and after handling rodents from different enclosures to reduce disease transmission?
Follow appropriate hand hygiene, PPE, and facility biosecurity procedures.
During recovery from anesthesia, what should the technician closely monitor?
Respiratory effort, temperature, circulation, anesthetic recovery, and other patient-specific parameters.
Why is reduced fecal output in a rabbit a concern, especially when accompanied by reduced appetite?
Gastrointestinal hypomotility or stasis, obstruction, pain, or another serious illness requiring prompt assessment.
A rabbit stops eating, produces very few fecal pellets, and appears hunched. What is the appropriate nursing response?
Urgent situation; promptly notify the veterinarian, assess the patient, gather history, and assist with diagnostics and treatment as directed. Do not automatically force-feed before obstruction has been considered.