small mammals

• URT bacterial infections can cause: rhinitis and also affect structures outside of the respiratory tract e.g. conjunctivitis, nasolacrimal duct infections, otitis media.
• LRT bacterial infections can cause: tracheitis, bronchitis, pneumonia
• Common causes include…

  • Husbandry issues such as allergies, dust, poor ventilation, stress, poor diet
  • Dental disease (not in ferrets)
  • Circulatory causes e.g. heart disease (pulmonary oedema), arteriosclerosis.
  • Trauma e.g. lung contusion
  • Space occupying lesions e.g. abscesses, tumours.
  • Foreign bodies (more likely if outdoor pets)
  • Viruses (respiratory or systemic)
  • Fungal infections e.g. Aspergillosis (more likely if outdoor pets)
  • Parasitic e.g. lungworm (ferrets)
• The common pathogen that causes respiratory disease varies between the small animal species. In guinea pigs it's…

  • Bordetella bronchiseptica
  • Chlamydophila caviae
  • Adenovirus

  In rabbits its more likely to be…

  • Pasteurella multocida
  • Bordetella bronchiseptica

  While in rats and mice, these are more common…

  • Mycoplasma pulmonis
  • Pasteurella pneumotropica
  • Strep pneumoniae
  • Sendai virus (mice)
• Supportive nutrition is particularly important for hind gut fermenters.
• • Regular nebulisation can increase time between ‘flare ups’.
  • Bronchodilator e.g. Terbutaline works well in a nebuliser.
  • Mucolytic in food e.g. bromhexine.
  • NSAIDs e.g. Meloxicam can help with laboured breathing.
  • Rabbits are steroid sensitive so avoid using them if possible!
• Ideally perform culture and sensitivity to have a better idea on which specific antibiotic to use but commonly these are…

  • TMPS e.g. first line and broad spectrum, licenced
  • Doxycycline e.g. mycoplasma
  • Azithromycin (macrolide) also reduces lung inflammation
  • Enrofloxacin (fluroquinalone) MUST HAVE C&S
  • Metronidazole for anaerobic infections (abscesss)
• which group of antibiotics must be avoided being given orally in hindgut fermenters?

  penicillin
• PLACE rule for the antibiotics you can NOT use in small herbivores. If they are used it can cause severe GI issues which are hard to correct and can even be fatal.

  P - penicillins (damages the stomach)

  L - lincosamides

  A - aminoglycosides

  C - cephalosporins

  E - erythromycin