Page 122 - Zoo Animal Learning and Training

106 Tasks for the Veterinary Assistant

(a) (b)

FIGURE 6.17 Mongolian gerbil: (a) natural color and (b) manmade black. Source: Wikimedia Commons. Used under CC‐BY‐SA 4.0, https://
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2008‐02‐16_Mongolian_gerbil.jpg; https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2008‐02‐16_Mongolian_
gerbil_eating_toilet_paper_roll.jpg.

(a) (b)

FIGURE 6.18 Hamster: (a) Golden and (b) Teddy Bear. Source: Wikimedia Commons. Used under CC BY‐SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.
org/wiki/File:Hamster_(1).jpg; https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Guarding_the_food_(449725625).jpg.

skin disease. Chinchillas can develop bacterial infections over 10 lb (Figure 6.21). Rabbits are also hardy and do
but if the cage is kept clean the chance of this is greatly well indoors or out. If kept outside, it is important to
reduced. The natural color is grey with a white belly, but keep their drinking water clean and plentiful. On a
silver, black, violet, beige, white, sapphire, and ebony are a hot day it is not unheard of that one rabbit will drink
few of the color mutations developed by humans. a gallon or more of water! Long toenails are often a
reason for a trip to the veterinary clinic. They get
Rabbits caught on fencing and get ripped off. This is urgent
but not an emergency although they do bleed a lot!
Rabbits have been raised for meat, fur, and exhibition Another reason for a clinic visit is ear mites, a small
for centuries. The American Rabbit Breeders Association parasite that causes extreme itchiness and sores. If
recognizes 49 breeds of rabbits. All rabbit breeds can be not breeding the rabbits it is a good idea to get them
used for all three purposes, although raising them for spayed and/or neutered which can reduce the
exhibition is more popular than the other two. Rabbits number of fights but does not guarantee it! Stitching
come in three size ranges: miniatures or dwarfs at up the loser of these fights is another reason you will
2.5–4 lb, standards at 8–10 lb, and giants are any breed see a bunny at the clinic.