This is a practical reference for assessing, handling and treating small exotic animals in the veterinary clinic. Covering common species such as mice, hamsters, rabbits and ferrets, Exotic Small Mammal Care and Husbandry focuses on nursing care, giving veterinary staff the information they need to work with these less-common patients. With information on basic anatomy, preventative care, and common diseases, the book provides a thorough grounding in the fundamentals of caring for small exotic mammals and communicating with owners.
Acknowledgments vii
1 Introduction 3
2 Enrichment 11
3 Preventive Medicine 21
4 Rabbits 49
5 Ferrets 61
6 Mice 73
7 Rats 81
8 Gerbils 93
9 Hamsters 103
10 Guinea pigs 115
11 Chinchillas 125
12 Degus 137
13 Hedgehogs 143
14 Sugar Gliders 157
15 Opossums 169
Index 175
Ron E. Banks, DVM, DACLAM, DACVPM, CPIA, is the Director of the Office of Animal Welfare at Duke University. Julie M. Sharp, DVM, is a veterinarian at the Office of Animal Welfare at Duke University. Sonia D. Doss, M.Ed., RLATG, is a veterinary technologist at the Office of Animal Welfare at Duke University. Deborah A. Vanderford, DVM, is a veterinarian at the Office of Animal Welfare at Duke University.
"Overall, this book is a great source of information for veterinary technicians and assistants who frequently work with small mammals. The text is very easy to use, and could also be used to provide information to clients who need help with husbandry. It is small, concise, and to the point without a bunch of statistics or unnecessary text to muddle through. This text would be a great addition to any general or exotic practice, or for the veterinary technician's library. Veterinarians and other staff members may also benefit from having this book on their shelf of easy-to-reach reference material."
– Vin Book Reviews, June 2010