Table 27-1.
Major Disease Problems of Small Rodents Seen in Clinical Practice
| Species (average life span) |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Organ System | Mice (1.5-2.5 years) | Rats (2-3 years) | Hamsters (1.5-2 years) | Gerbils (2-4 years) | Degus (7-10 years) |
| Cardiovascular | — | — | Atrial thrombosis, congestive heart failure | — | — |
| Digestive | Endoparasites, incisor overgrowth | Incisor overgrowth | Enteritis, weight loss | Enteritis | Dental disease |
| Endocrine | — | — | — | — | Diabetes mellitus |
| Integument and mammary gland | Alopecia, bite wounds, ectoparasites | Mammary neoplasia, ectoparasites | Bite wounds, neoplasia | Nasal dermatitis, tail slip, neoplasia | Fur chewing |
| Ocular | — | Red tears | — | Cataracts | |
| Reproductive | — | — | Vaginal discharge, maternal cannibalism | Granulosa cell tumor | — |
| Respiratory | — | Chronic respiratory disease, pneumonia | — | — | — |