Small Mammal Health Exam
Small mammals, including rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, hamsters, gerbils, hedgehogs, mice, rats, sugar gliders and chinchillas have become popular pets. Like all pets, these animals require care and gentle handling. It is always wise to bring a newly adopted pet to the veterinarian for a checkup, not only to make sure the animal is in good health, but to establish a baseline for future examinations. Many vets feel that small mammals should have semi-annual checkups, instead of the annual checkups dogs and cats receive, because of the shorter lifespans of these smaller animals.
During the examination, the veterinarian will observe the animal carefully, looking for signs of general health, such as bright eyes and alertness. The vet will also look into the ears and mouth, check the foot pads, move the joints and make sure that there is no discharge from any of the animal's openings. The veterinarian will be checking for any abnormality relative to appearance or mobility and palpating the animal for any unusual lumps. Small mammal veterinary checkups also include:
- Weight measurement
- Fecal analysis to check for parasites
- Dental exam
The dental exam is particularly important for the rodents in the group, whose teeth are of a different variety than other mammals and require special care. A healthy ferret should be playful, alert, and curious. Its eyes should be bright, its ears should be erect, and its movements should be smooth and supple. There should be no discharge from its ears, nose, mouth, eyes, anus, or sexual openings, and its ears, mouth, and pads should be pink and clean.
In some cases, other diagnostic tests may be necessary based on the results of the physical examination. These may include microscopic examination of skin scrapings or bodily secretions, or X-rays of apparent abnormalities. X-rays may be administered to check for tumors, fractures, joint problems or fluid accumulations.