Page 102 - Zoo Animal Learning and Training

86 Tasks for the Veterinary Assistant

TABLE 5.2
Number of Offspring and Gestation Periods of Animals
Animal Offspring (no.) Gestation period
Dog Small 1–4 58–68 days
Medium 4–6 63 average
Large 8–12
Cat 3–5 average 63–69 days
8+ often
Horse 1 rarely 2 340 days
Cow 1 rarely 2 279–287 days
283 average
Sheep 1, often 2 150 days
Goat 1, 2, or 3 are common 145–154 days
150 average
Pig 8–12 average 114 days
Rabbit 1–14 29–35 days
6 average 30 average
Ferret 1–6 35–45 days
Guinea pig 1–8 59–73 days
2–4 average 63 average
Hamster 6–12 average 16 days
Rat 10–12 average 21–23 days

Cerebrum

Hypothalamus
Cerebellum
Pituitary gland
Brainstem
Spinal column

FIGURE 5.22 Brain. Adapted from Wikimedia Commons.

and carries away waste material. The amount of time it seen immediately. Often dystocia leads to a cesarean section
takes for a fetus to mature enough to sustain life inde- or surgical removal of the fetus. If a cesarean section or
pendently of its mother is called the gestation period. c‐section is required a full team will be assembled to take
Gestation periods vary widely between species. See care of the infants as they are removed. They are often
Table 5.2 for the gestation periods and number of off- groggy from the anesthetic the mother is under and
spring for companion animals, pocket pets, and need to be stimulated to breathe. A brisk rubbing of the
livestock. body and a little upside‐down hold to drain fluids is
Parturition, or giving birth, occurs at full term and sometimes necessary.
begins with muscular contraction of the uterus. If the
species delivers more than one baby a short rest between
deliveries is normal. Dystocia is when an animal has Nervous System
trouble and cannot deliver on its own or there is an
extended period between births with straining but no If the circulatory system is a major city’s highway, think of
results. Dystocia is an emergency and the animal must be the nervous system as the phone and internet network.