3rd Period Pre-Vet Small Animal Notes
Hedgehogs
Scientific name; Erinaceinae
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammamalia
Order: Insectivora
Family: Erinaceidae
Genus: 4 genus classes
Species: 14 species
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Got name from either its distinctively slow waddling or grunting while searching for food
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The first Hedgehog was brought to New York was in 1900
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The first established group of hedgehogs was in 1990
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Breeds: Wild Hedgehog; European Hedgehog; African Hedgehogs; Asian hedgehog; Desert
hedgehog
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Anatomy: All over the hedgehogs back are these things called spines. Hedgehogs have keratin
with sharp tips on their spines. Weak blind sight and keen sense of smell. Have 36 teeth
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Feeding & Nutrition: Hedgehogs are Omnivores. Their normal diet consists of invertebrates,
frogs, lizards, snakes, small mammals, carrion, vegetables, and fruits in the wild. High quality cat
food can be fed when domesticated. Obesity is a large problem in hedgehogs, so managing their
diet is very important
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Training: Hedgehogs are extremely intelligent. Isolate your pet in a room with a litter box until
they learn to use it. If you are patient with your hedgehog you could teach it as easy as a dog
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Keep the temperature of the room you keep your hedgehog in around 85 degrees, if they got to
cold they will attempt hibernation which can lead to death
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Housing: Can be kept in wire cages with sawdust, or some soft material on the bottom so their
nails won’t catch. You can keep your hedgehog in an aquarium, a large 30 gallon aquarium with
a wire top
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Health: Mites are the most common illness of hedgehogs, you should only house one hedgehog
at a time this illness is very contagious. Hedgehogs also are common to get fungal infections.
Signs are crusting of the skin, quill lose, and itching. They can also get Otis(Ear infection) Signs
are; scratching, discharge, headshaking, and balance disruptions
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Reproduction: Hedgehogs are ready to be bred after 5-10 months. Do not leave male in the cage
with female that is due to give birth because they will eat they babies
Frogs
Scientific Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Subclass: Lissamphibia
Order: Anura
Families: 20
Genus: 234
Species: 3494
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Tadpoles look more like fish than frogs; they have long finned tails and breathe through gills.
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An amphibian can live both on land and in water.
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Eat flies and live insects
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Frogs use their sticky, muscular tongue to catch and swallow food. Unlike humans, their tongue
is not attached to the back of its mouth. Instead it is attached to the front, enabling the frog to
stick its tongue out much further
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The adult comes into breeding condition in springtime, and they migrate to ponds where they
pair up in a position known as amplexus. The female lays her spawn, the male releases his
sperm at the same time to fertilize the eggs and, after the adults have left the water, the eggs
hatch into tadpoles. They eventually grow legs, lose their tails and come out of the water to
make their home in the surrounding countryside.
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Frogs can be found in many habitats around the world; however, not everywhere. There are
typically three features that are important considerations in frog habitats in order for the fogs to
be able to thrive, and they are: Temperature, Geography, Rainfall
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Most frogs dislike being handled very much. In fact, you may notice that they squirm, and yes,
even wet on you. This wetting on you is your frog's way of telling you this is stressful to him and
he would prefer you put him down. Make sure he gets to bathe after you've handled him so he
can replenish the water he lost during this getting acquainted session. Some frogs will always act
this way. Plain and simple, they do not want to be handled. Some frogs, on the other hand, will
at least tolerate you after they settle into their new environment since maybe they realize it's
merely an annoyance and not a real threat. After all you do feed him and perhaps on some level
they figured this out. In any case, observing your frog will be fun enough, at least to the frog, but
when you do handle him which of course you will on occasion to care for him, wash your hands
before and after. Before, because the salt on your hands may be irritating to him and after,
because despite the fact that your frog will bathe regularly, it’s still the sanitary thing to do.
Guinea Pigs
Scientific Name
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Suborder: Hystricomorpha
Family: Caviidae
Genus: Cavia
Species: Porcellus
Scientific Name: Cavia Porcellus
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History: 5000 BC; Andean tribes hunted them for food in South America
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Breeds: Abyssinian, American, Peruvian, Satin, Silkie, Teddy, White Crested
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Anatomy: Small, burrowing rodent with a compact body. Small ears and eyes with sensory
whiskers on each side with no tail. Two gnawing teeth in the front that grow throughout their
life. Short legs with little feet and claws.
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Feeding & Nutrition: Naturally eat grass. Molars suited for grinding plant matter, molars grow
throughout life. Eat their own feces. Fresh hay. Food pellets
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Training: Can be taught to come to you when you say its name. Can sit up and beg. Can be
taught to go to the bathroom in a litter box. Always use favorite treat to train
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Health: Can get respiratory infections, diarrhea, lice, mites, and fungus due to infections in the
neck, or food stuck in the throat, or even from scratches. They get mites a lot so you can treat
them with ear drops. If food gets stuck in their eyes they will blink a lot to get it out . They
sneeze due to dust. Can tolerate cold more than heat. Body temp is 101 to 104 degrees F
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Reproduction: Able to breed year round. Birth rates high in spring. 5 litters every year. Gestation
period: 59-72 days. Pups are large so the mother is very plump, 1-6 pups per litter. Newborn
pups are very well developed. Males are sexually mature at 3-5 weeks. Females are sexually
mature at as early as 4 weeks. Females can become pregnanht 6 to 48 hours after giving birth
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Housing: Can live in cages but some people actually give a room to a few guinea pigs. Solid or
wire mesh. Don’t use wire mesh floors because they can get infected. Wood shavings for
bedding. Guinea pigs are really messy so you have to clean their cage A LOT
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Special Needs: Must keep teeth trimmed. Must trim their tiny claws to the quick, If the quick is
cut it will be very painful. With most animals you can wash them so use a wash cloth to help it
stay clean
Sugar Gliders
Scientific Name: Petaurus breviceps
Scientific Classification:
Kingdom-Animalia
Phylum –chordata
Class- Mamnala
Order- Diprotodontia
Family- Petauridae
Genus- Petaurus
Species Breviceps
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Sugar Gliders are Marsupials
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History & Domestication: Native to northeastern regions of Australia and Tasmania ,Indonesia,
Papuca ,New Guineia. Introduced to the United States over 15 years ago.
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Habitat: Sugar gliders are found throughout eastern and northern Australia (some have even
been found in southern Australia), as well as its nearby islands, including Tasmania and Papua,
New Guinea. They can be found in all types of forests, but prefer the open forests where there is
room to glide. Sugar gliders are social animals, nesting in family groups of up to twelve
individuals. Adult gliders can tolerate a temperature range of 64° to 88°F (18°-31°C). At the low
end of this range they definitely need warm bedding and a small enclosed space where they can
cuddle to keep warm.
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Nutrition & Feeding: Sugar Gliders feed on both plants and animals (OMNIVORES)
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FRESH FRUIT - Apples, Bananas, cherries, figs and much more.
Some Toxic ItemsBe aware that apple, cherry, plum, peach, and nectarine seeds are
toxic.
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VEGGIES - asparagus, broccoli, carrots, beans , beets. NO LETTUCE, CELERY, LEAFY
VEGGIES
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MEATS - lean cooked beef, poultry, NO chicken skin or chicken bones
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INSECTS- crickets, grasshoppers, meal worms, wax worms
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Grains….
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Reproduction: Sugar gliders, like other marsupials, have a very short gestation period -- about 16
days. The babies, usually 1 or two, very rarely 3, are born tiny (0.19 grams) and hairless, and
have to make their own way into the mother's pouch, where they attach themselves to a nipple.
They stay there for about two months. At around two months they begin to emerge from the
pouch a little at a time, taking several days to emerge fully. Once they are out of the pouch, the
babies may hang under the mother's abdomen as she moves about the cage, or they may stay
curled in the nest with the male. Male sugar gliders are very good daddies, and help with the
care and feeding of the babies. If the adults are tame enough not to be upset by it, you can
gently remove the babies for a few minutes each day and handle them.
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Training: Sugar gliders are very interactive, but if they have too much fun in their cage, they may
not be interested in bonding with you.
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Sugar gliders are capable of identifying members of their "family" by scent. Use a small cloth and
wear it close to your skin for a day or so. Then place it where your glider sleeps. This will get
your glider used to your scent, without you physically being involved. Move slowly and
deliberately around your sugar glider. Fast and sudden movements might frighten your sugar
glider. Fast motion could trigger their instinct to defend themselves against a predator attack.
Speak to your sugar glider frequently using a soft and comforting voice, as this will help you gain
their trust. Never raise your voice or use a negative tone, as this will set back the bonding
process. Always handle your sugar glider with care, just as you would a human baby. Don't grab
your sugar glider, or chase him around their cage, as this could scare the glider, and make him
less likely to trust you. Place your hands in your gliders cage often, offering finger treats, such as
applesauce on the tip of your finger, or try offering a mealworm. Stoke your glider gently as
often as it will allow.
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Health: The potential lifespan of sugar gliders in captivity is 12 - 15 years.
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Obesity - Gliders that are obese or overweight generally are inactive and very round in
body size. Treatment: A bigger living environment with plenty of toys to stimulate
foraging activity and a wheel.
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Trembling or shakiness - Shaking or shivering right after waking up from sleep is normal
for a glider. But if it continues after a few moments, especially the back legs and the
glider has weak limbs, it could mean a calcium deficiency problem. T
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Hair loss - If hair loss is at the center of a male's head, then it is normal as that is the
male's scent gland. If hair loss is at other body parts, be it in hairless spots or thinning of
hair, it could mean mites or fungul infection or malnutrition. Treatment: Seek a vet for
treatment.
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Lack of appetite - A drop in appetite or eating very little could mean a few things. Stress
can be one of them and this is normally seen with gliders in new homes. Another would
be internal parasites, as worms and microorganism in the gut can cause a drop in
appetite.
GERBILS
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A gerbil is a small mammal of the order Rodentia . Once known simply as "desert rats", the
gerbil subfamily includes about 110 species of African, Indian, and Asian rodents, including sand
rats and Jirds , all of which are adapted to arid habitats. Most are primarily diurnal (though
some, including the common household pet, do exhibit crepuscular behavior), and almost all
are omnivores.
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Gerbils are social animals, and live in groups in the wild. They rely on their sense of smell to
identify other members of their clan, so it is important to use what is commonly referred to as
the "split tank method" when introducing gerbils from separate litters. Gerbils are known to
attack and often kill those carrying an unfamiliar scent.
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Gerbils were first introduced to the pet industry in 1964. These were the Mongolian gerbils.
Their value as pets was soon appreciated and they are now found in pet shops all over the UK
and USA. Due to the threat they pose to indigenous ecosystems and existing agricultural
operations, it is illegal to purchase, import, or keep a gerbil as a pet in the US state of California.
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The several reasons for the popularity of gerbils as household pets include: The animals are
typically not aggressive, and they rarely bite unprovoked or without stress. They are small and
easy to handle, since they are sociable creatures that enjoy the company of humans and other
gerbils. Gerbils also have adapted their kidneys to produce a minimum of waste to conserve
body fluids, which makes them very clean with little odor.
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Common injuries are caused by gerbils being dropped or falling, often while inside of a hamster
ball, which can cause broken limbs or a fractured spine (for which there is no cure)
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Tumors, both benign and malignant, are fairly common in pet gerbils, and are most common in
females over the age of two.
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The most common infectious disease in gerbils is Tyzzer's disease, which is often caused by
either stress or bacteria, and produces symptoms such as ruffled fur, lethargy, hunched posture,
poor appetite, diarrhea, and often death. It quickly spreads between gerbils in close contact.
MICE
Scientific Classification –
Kingdom : Mammalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class :Mammalia
Order :Rodentia
Family :Muridae
Genius : Mus
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Mouse comes from Sanskrit word meaning “ thief”. Most scientists believe the mouse
originated in Asia. Originally a wild field animal. Egyptian and Romans used to say “It raining
mice.” Greeks and people of India thought that mice were lightning bolts born of
thunderstorms. In some places mice were worshiped as sacred animal
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There are 36 species: White mice, Field mice, White footed mice, Etc.
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Are herbivores; Main diet consist of grain and seed; Pellets are good to keep their incisors worn
down; Need large amount of vegetables; Intake is 15g a day; Too many treats can cause upset
stomach
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Training/Health: Best way to train is with food. Simple trick is to crawl in your hand. Sees that
you’re not a danger, but a source of food it will warm up. Also train to navigate a obstacle
course and climbing their cage. Mice should always have water, not placed in bowls because of
contamination. Well cared mice are pretty healthy. Stress can lead to mice developing repetitive
behaviors
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Housing/Reproduction: Houses can purchased at pet shops. The cage should have 72 inch of
floor space, and a height of 8 inches. Cage should have a lid. Aquariums can also make a good
cage for mice. Bedding should be changed at least once a week. Duration of estrous cycle 4-5
days. Mating is usually nocturnal. Breeding is every 50 days. Are polyestrous. Gestation is about
20 days. Have 10-12 in a litter, there called pups
Chinchillas
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The scientific name for a chinchilla is Chinchilla Lanigera.
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When the Spanish conquistadores arrived in the 1600s, they discovered the chinchilla. They
immediately saw its potential in the fur trade, and brought the pelts back to Spain. And the
chinchilla was hunted and trapped nearly to extinction.
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Breeds/Colors: Standard, Black velvet, Beige , White , Ebony , Violet, Sapphire
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Chinchillas have very sensitive digestive systems, and feeding a good quality diet appropriate for
chinchillas is essential to their health. I recommend feeding your chinchilla quality chinchilla
pellets supplemented with plenty of fresh grass hay.
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Training: chinchillas will urinate in the same spot in their cage for years. Using a litter box makes
cleaning easier.
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Health: To keep a chinchilla’s naturally active body (and mind) in peak condition, daily out-ofcage exercise is essential. Properly fed chinchillas are hearty, but several disorders must be
considered. Internal parasites such as Giardia, dental problems, inflammation of the intestinal
lining, heart murmurs and ringworm are some of the more common problems.
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Reproduction: Stress can cause her to abort the babies. Gestation period is 111 days.
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Housing: The larger the cage, the better. The minimum floor space is about 24 by 24 inches, and
a tall cage is best; if possible get a tall cage with shelves and ladders that allow the chinchilla to
climb.
Ferrets
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Scientific Name: Mustela putourius furo
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Anatomy: Made up of 200 bones. The skeleton is split up into 3 parts the axial skeleton,
appendicular skeleton, and heterotopic skeleton.
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Feeding & Nutrition: Carnivores; Cooked vegetables; Cheerios; Store food and fruit.
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Housing & Habitat: Size is a critical factor for a ferret cage, and bigger is better. Avoid wood
cage, because it absorbs the ferrets smell. Liter trained
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Training: Sit and stand. Lay down. Jump through a hoop
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Reproduction: Gestation length is 41 days. The domestic ferret gives birth to an average of eight
kits (1-18 kits), which weigh 6-12 g at birth.
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Health: Eyes- eyes are big and bright, their eyes don’t help them see, they don’t like bright
lights. Ears- good hearing, requires good clean ears. Nose- good sense of smell helps them
explore, they sniff everything, shouldn’t have a runny nose. Mouth/teeth- 40 teeth helps them
eat, can break or chip teeth, if a tooth breaks its not serious till it turns brown. Body- can turn
head 180 degrees. Fur- thick hair, do not have sweat glands. Skin- can easily over heat, bath
often, check for fleas.
Iguanas
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Scientific Classification
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Kingdom: Animalia
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-Phylum: Chordata
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-Class: Reptilia
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-Order: Squamata
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Family: iguanide
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Genus: iguana
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Species: Ambrlyrlrnchus
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History: Often found near water. Numerous subspecies have been classified as merely regional
variants of the same species. They are considered wild animals.
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Types: Casque-headed Iguana; Club-tailed Iguanas; Cyclura (Rock, Blue) Iguanas; Desert Iguanas
and Chuckawallas; Green Iguana; Helmeted Iguana; Madagascar Iguana; Spiny-tail (Black)
Iguana; Spiny-tailed Swifts (Club-tailed Iguanas)
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Anatomy: Iguanas have small tubular scales around their whole body. They have a parietal eye
on their forehead that lets them tell when it is night and when it is day. They have claws for
traction and are good swimmers.
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Feeding: Iguanas eat greens, and some kinds of nuts and pasta.
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Training: Iguanas are wild animals and can be aggressive and very dangerous.Try to keep the
iguana in a spot it is familiar with and handle it daily so it is comfortable with you, this will
reduce stress levels and decrease the chance of any aggression.
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Health: Iguanas can live to be 20 years or older and are susceptible to many health conditions
they are especially susceptible to kidney problems
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Reproduction: After reaching sexual maturity around age 3 iguanas reproduce sexually annually
till death.
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Housing: Iguanas can grow at an alarming rate so the larger the cage the better. An iguana
needs a heat lamp, UVA and UVB lighting.
Hamsters
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Scientific classification
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Kingdom: Animalia
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Phylum: Chordata
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Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
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Family: Muridae
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Genus: Mesocricetus
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Species: M. Auratus
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History & Domestication: Rodents evolved during the Paleocene and Ecocene epochs 55 to 65
million years ago. Paramys is considered the ancestor of the rodents and was a large squirrellike animal with clawed feet for grasping and climbing and a long tail for balance. Today, the
order Rodentia contains 29 families, 38- genera, and 1,687 species and is further divided into
three suborders. These suborders are the Sciuromorpha (squirrel-like rodent), the Myomorpha
(rat-like rodent), and the Hystricomorpha (porcupine-like rodent).
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Breeds & Types: Syrian, Roborovski Hamster, Roborovski, Russian Campbell Dwarf, Chinese
Dwarf, Winter White, Chinese Stripped, Ciscauasian, European, Eversmann, Ladak, Mongolian
Greater Long-tailed, Lesser Long-Tailed, Greater Long-Tailed, Mouse-Like,
Rumanian, Tibetan, Turkish
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Feeding & Nutrition: the easiest way to feed hamsters is to purchase commercially prepared
pellets specifically designed for small animals. The diet should contain seeds such as; corn,
millet, wheat, oats, sorghum, and rape seeds. Carrots, piece of potato, fresh clover, or alfalfa
hay should be supplemented into the diet, as well as dried peas, beans, and nuts.
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Training: you can teach your hamster tricks such as: basic tricks, toilet train, jump through a
hoop, recognize their name, not to bite
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Health: Hamsters are very hardy pets, but they are so small that injuries and illness can quickly
become serious
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Reproduction: hamsters become fertile at different ages depending on their species, but this can
be from one month to three months of age. Male hamsters remain fertile for the rest of their
lives, though females do not. Females are in heat approximately every four days. Breeding
season is from April to October, with 2 to 5 litters of one to thirteen young being born after a
gestation period of 16 to 22 days. Hamsters are born hairless and blind in a nest which the
mother will have prepared in advanced.
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Housing: hamsters can live in: wire cages, aquariums, plastic modular cages. Cages should be
gnaw proof, the cage should be clean at ALL times. Should change the wood shavings at least
once a week, because it soaks up all feces and urine.
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Special Care & Needs: hamsters like to be held frequently, and played with. Things you can do
with a hamster: play fetch, put them in a plastic ball and let them roll around, let them crawl on
you, let them crawl on the floor, make a maze for them
Fish
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Scientific Classification:
Kingdom- Animalia
Phylum- Chordata
Super Class-Pisces
Class-Agnatha(jawless fish)
Order-Cypriniformes(minnow)
Oder-Siluriformes(catfish)
Order-Atheriniformes(needle fish)
Order-Perciformes(glass fish)
Order-Gasterosteiforms(sculpins)
& many more.
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History & Domestication: Fish date back to 425-500 million years ago. Fish domesticated in 2500
BC with the Egyptians and Chinese.
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Feeding: Flake food is ideal for small fish. Keep in mind to not have the flakes be too big. The fish
should be fed according to body weight.
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Anatomy: Most fish are covered with scales, which are thin, bony plates that overlap each other
and provide protection. There are 4 types of scales: ctenoid, cycloid, ganoid and placoid.
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Habitat: To determine how many fish can fit in the tank, you should multiply the length by the
width to determine the square inches of surface area. The rule is to have no more than 1 inch of
fish for every 10 square inches.
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Health: Some diseases that fish can get are White Spot, Slime Disease. Hole-In-The-Head, Velvet
Disease, Flukes and many more.
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Reproduction:
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Egg-Scatters: The fish lay their eggs in a haphazard manner on the floor of an aquarium.
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Egg-Buriers: The fish lay their eggs in the mud of rivers and ponds.
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Egg-Depositors: The fish have complex spawning routines. They clean off a nesting site
where the female deposits her eggs and the male fertilizes them.
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Mouth-Brooders: The fish carry the eggs in their mouth until they hatch.
Fun Facts: Electric eels and electric rays have enough electricity to kill a horse. Sharks are the
only fish that have eyelids. The fastest fish is the sailfish. It can swim as fast as a car travels on
the highway. Hagfish are some of the slimiest animals on earth. An Atlantic hagfish can make
enough slime in one minute to fill a bucket.
Salamanders
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Scientific Classification:
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Kingdom- Animalia
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Phylum- Chordata
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Class- Amphibian
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Order – Caudata (Newts & Salamanders)
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Family- Plethodontidae
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Genus- Ambystoma
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Species- Tigrinum
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Scientific Name: Ambystoma Tigrinum
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Feeding & Nutrition: They are carnivores. Will not eat anything that does not move. They will eat
anything they can swallow. Larger salamanders will eat earthworms. The wild salamander dines
on centipedes, worms, spiders, slugs, maggots, flies, termites and snails.
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General Care: Handle your salamander as little as possible. Their delicate, moist skin cannot
tolerate too much handling. It's best to enjoy them from a distance. As salamanders are
nocturnal, it's best to feed them at night. Salamanders are carnivorous and should be fed
earthworms, slugs, wood lice etc. The salamander's new house should mimic its habitat in the
wild. Salamanders prefer a moist, damp habitat with ample places to hide. Cover the floor with
bark chips, potting compost or moss.
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Reproduction: Males seek females in fall (October to December) but mating activity can occur
into early spring. Females probably only breed every other year. This is probably due in part to
the large energy cost of reproduction. Between 3-17 eggs are laid in early summer. Eggs are
typically suspended from the roof of the nest cavity by a gelatinous stalk. Parental care is given
to the developing eggs. To keep eggs moist, female uses skin secretions. Eggs hatch in 1-2
months and the young disperse when remnant gill buds are absorbed (1-2 weeks). Sexual
maturity is reached in two years, and first eggs can be produce at beginning of their third year.
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Extra info: The name Salamander comes from the Greek word for Fire Lizard. This name came
about when salamanders came running out of the logs they had been hiding in when those logs
were thrown on a fire. The largest salamander in the world in the Chinese Giant Salamander. It
can grow to a length of 5 feet. Salamanders are nocturnal Some salamander species can be
poisonous and some even have teeth
Turtles
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Pleurodia(side-necked turtles) Cryptodira (hidden necked turtles and tortoises)
Painted Turtles
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Common Pet Turtles: Slider, Box, Painted
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Scientific Classification:
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Kingdom- Animalia
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Phylum- Chordata
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Class – Reptilia
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Order- Testudines or Chelonia
(Turtles, tortoises,and terrapins)
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Suborder- (1) Pleurodia(side-necked turtles)
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Suborder –(2) Cryptodira (hidden necked turtles and tortoises)
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Family- 12 families
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SIZE- Adult females range from 6-7 inches with adult males considerably smaller 5-6 inches.
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Feeding: Crayfish; Dragonfly larva; Duckweed (water surface); The painted turtle hunts along
water bottoms. It quickly juts its head into and out of vegetation to stir potential victims out
into the open water .Large prey it holds in its mouth and tears up with its forefeet. It also
consumes plants and skims the surface of the water with its mouth open to catch small particles
of food.
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Reproduction: The painted turtles mate in spring and fall, in a water temp of 50–77 °F. Males
start producing sperm in early spring -when they can bask to an internal temperature of 63°F.
Females begin their reproductive cycles in mid-summer , they start to ovulate the following
spring. They meet by the male following a female until he meets her face-to-face.
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Egg laying: A female digs a nest. Nesting is done by the females only- between late May and
mid-July. The nests are vase-shaped and are usually dug in sandy soil, often at sites with
southern exposures. The female's optimal body temperature while digging her nest is 84–86 °F.
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Painted Turtles are found in shallow lakes and ponds as well as in slow moving streams and
rivers. Vegetation is usually present and the turtles will use this as cover to escape capture. The
body of water will often have some floating debris, fallen logs etc. that provide basking sites for
the turtles. Except for the trek onto land for egg-laying, Painted Turtles are rarely found
terrestrially.
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Health issues: Metabolic Bone Disease; Respiratory Infections; Shell Rot