Fiche de révision : Small Mammal Husbandry and Care

📋 Course Outline

1. Housing Requirements
2. Diet Recommendations
3. Enrichment Activities
4. Veterinary Care
5. Rabbit Husbandry
6. Guinea Pig Husbandry
7. Chinchilla Husbandry
8. Myomorph Rodent Care
9. Ferret Husbandry
10. Hedgehog Husbandry
11. Sugar Glider Husbandry

📖 1. Housing Requirements

🔑 Key Concepts & Definitions

• Housing: The environment where small mammals are kept, including cage design, size, substrate, and enrichment.
• Enrichment: Activities and objects that stimulate natural behaviors, promoting mental and physical health.
• Vertical Space: The height of enclosures, crucial for arboreal species like sugar gliders and chinchillas.
• Torpor: A state of decreased physiological activity in response to environmental conditions, common in species like hedgehogs and sugar gliders.
• Substrate: Material placed on the cage floor, affecting hygiene, comfort, and natural behaviors.
• Temperature Regulation: Maintaining appropriate environmental temperatures to prevent stress, hypothermia, or heat stroke.

📝 Essential Points

• Species-specific needs: Housing must accommodate natural behaviors—social, burrowing, climbing, or solitary.
• Indoor vs. outdoor: Indoor housing is generally recommended; outdoor enclosures require protection from weather, predators, and temperature extremes.
• Cage size: Should be at least 3-4 times the animal’s length for rabbits; larger for species like chinchillas and sugar gliders.
• Substrate choices: Fleece liners, paper-based shavings, and aspen are preferred; cedar and pine are discouraged due to toxicity.
• Temperature considerations: Most small mammals prefer 65-85°F; heat stroke (>80°F) and hypothermia are risks.
• Escape prevention: Fully enclosed, secure cages with escape-proof doors and appropriate wire spacing.
• Environmental enrichment: Toys, tunnels, climbing structures, and chew items are vital to prevent obesity and promote natural behaviors.
• Social housing: Many species (rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, sugar gliders) thrive in pairs or groups, reducing stress and promoting social behaviors.
• Litter and bedding: Use safe, absorbent materials; avoid cedar and clay-based litters.

💡 Key Takeaway

Proper housing tailored to each species' natural behaviors, with adequate space, enrichment, and environmental control, is essential for their health, wellbeing, and disease prevention.

📖 2. Diet Recommendations

🔑 Key Concepts & Definitions

• High-fiber diet: Diet rich in fibrous plant material, essential for gastrointestinal health, especially in herbivorous small mammals.
• Calcium-to-phosphorus ratio: The balance of calcium and phosphorus in the diet, critical for bone health; imbalanced ratios can lead to metabolic issues.
• Vitamin C requirement: Certain species (e.g., guinea pigs, some rodents) cannot synthesize vitamin C and require dietary supplementation.
• Pelleted diet: Commercially prepared food in pellet form designed to provide balanced nutrition and prevent selective feeding.
• Selective feeding: Behavior where animals pick preferred parts of food, leading to nutritional imbalances; avoided by offering uniform diets like pellets.
• Supplemental greens: Fresh vegetables or herbs added to the diet to provide variety and essential nutrients.

📝 Essential Points

• Herbivorous species (rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas): Diet should primarily consist of grass hay (timothy, orchard grass) making up 80-85% of adult diet, providing necessary fiber.
• Calcium and protein: Alfalfa hay is suitable for juveniles, lactating, or geriatric animals due to higher calcium/protein; adult herbivores should have low-calcium leafy greens.
• Vitamin C: Critical for guinea pigs and some rodents; diets should include fortified pellets and high-vitamin C vegetables like red bell peppers. Liquid vitamin C is unstable and not recommended in water.
• Pelleted diets: Should constitute less than 5% of diet to prevent selective feeding; avoid seed/muesli mixes to prevent nutritional imbalances and obesity.
• Water: Preference for bowls over bottles; always provide fresh, clean water.
• Species-specific needs: Ferrets require high-protein, high-fat diets; chinchillas and guinea pigs need high-fiber, low-calcium diets; sugar gliders need specialized omnivorous diets mimicking their wild intake.
• Enrichment through diet: Providing chew toys, hay, and fresh greens encourages natural behaviors and prevents obesity.

💡 Key Takeaway

A balanced diet tailored to each small mammal species—focused on high fiber, appropriate calcium levels, and species-specific nutrients—is essential for optimal health, preventing common husbandry-related medical conditions.

📖 3. Enrichment Activities

🔑 Key Concepts & Definitions

• Enrichment: Activities or environmental modifications designed to stimulate animals mentally and physically, promoting natural behaviors and improving welfare.
• Environmental Enrichment: Adjustments to an animal's habitat, such as toys, structures, or social opportunities, to enhance its quality of life.
• Sensory Enrichment: Stimuli that engage an animal’s senses (sight, smell, sound, touch) to prevent boredom.
• Cognitive Enrichment: Activities that challenge an animal’s problem-solving abilities, such as puzzle feeders.
• Social Enrichment: Opportunities for animals to interact with conspecifics or humans, essential for social species.
• Behavioral Enrichment: Activities that encourage natural behaviors like foraging, digging, or chewing.

📝 Essential Points

• Enrichment is critical for preventing boredom, reducing stress, and promoting natural behaviors in captive small mammals.
• Types of enrichment include environmental modifications (toys, hiding spots), sensory stimuli (scents, sounds), social interactions, and cognitive challenges.
• Regularly rotating or changing enrichment items prevents habituation and maintains animal interest.
• Enrichment should be species-specific, considering natural behaviors and environmental needs.
• Proper enrichment can reduce the incidence of stereotypic behaviors and improve overall health.
• For small mammals like rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, ferrets, and sugar gliders, enrichment activities include toys, tunnels, climbing structures, and social opportunities.
• Monitoring animal response to enrichment helps ensure safety and effectiveness; remove items that are consumed or pose hazards.
• Enrichment is an integral part of husbandry and should be incorporated into daily routines for optimal welfare.

💡 Key Takeaway

Effective enrichment tailored to species-specific behaviors enhances the mental and physical well-being of small mammals in captivity, fostering natural behaviors and reducing stress.

📖 4. Veterinary Care

🔑 Key Concepts & Definitions

• Husbandry: The care, management, and breeding of animals, crucial for their health and wellbeing.
• Annual Veterinary Examination: Routine check-up recommended yearly to monitor health, review husbandry, and update vaccinations.
• Spay/Neuter: Surgical sterilization procedures to prevent reproduction and reduce certain health or behavioral issues.
• Vaccination: Immunization to protect against specific infectious diseases; varies by species.
• Enrichment: Activities and environmental modifications that promote natural behaviors and mental stimulation.
• Torpor: A state of decreased physiological activity, often induced by cold or stress, common in some small mammals.

📝 Essential Points

• Regular veterinary exams are vital for early detection of husbandry-related health issues.
• Husbandry review includes diet assessment, oral exams, and reproductive status.
• Many species require specific vaccinations (e.g., RHDV2 for rabbits); some, like ferrets and chinchillas, do not.
• Spay/neuter procedures are recommended for social species to prevent unwanted breeding and certain health issues.
• Enrichment activities (toys, social interaction, environmental complexity) are essential to prevent obesity, boredom, and stress.
• Proper housing, diet, and environmental conditions (temperature, humidity) are fundamental to prevent disease and promote health.
• Dust baths for chinchillas and supervised outside time for small mammals are important husbandry practices.
• Regular husbandry assessments help maintain optimal health and wellbeing.

💡 Key Takeaway

Effective veterinary care, including routine exams, tailored husbandry, and enrichment, is essential for the health, longevity, and quality of life of small mammals and exotic pets.

📖 5. Rabbit Husbandry

🔑 Key Concepts & Definitions

• Husbandry: The care, management, and breeding of animals, crucial for their health and wellbeing.
• Crepuscular: Animals that are most active during dawn and dusk.
• Enrichment: Activities and objects that stimulate natural behaviors, preventing boredom and obesity.
• Myiasis: Infestation of live tissue by fly larvae, a risk in outdoor rabbit housing.
• Cage Enrichment: Providing hiding spots, toys, and appropriate substrates to promote natural behaviors.
• Heat Stroke: A critical condition caused by high temperatures (>80°F), leading to hyperthermia.

📝 Essential Points

• Housing:
  • Indoor: Minimum size 3-4x rabbit’s length, solid bottom (wire not recommended), includes hide and litter areas.
  • Outdoor: Large hutch allowing three hops, shelter, and protection from weather, predators, and parasites.
• Substrate:
  • Use fleece liners, paper-based shavings, or aspen wood shavings.
  • Avoid cedar, pine shavings, clay, or clumping litters.
• Diet:
  • Main: Grass hay (timothy, orchard grass, meadow, oat) 80-85% of diet.
  • Supplements: Leafy greens low in calcium; high-calcium greens (spinach, kale) only occasionally.
  • Pellets: <5%, about ¼ cup per 2 kg rabbit.
  • Water: Preferably in a bowl, with a bottle as backup.
• Enrichment & Exercise:
  • Regular exercise to prevent obesity.
  • Toys like cardboard, hay, tunnels; social bonding with humans or other rabbits.
• Veterinary Care:
  • Annual exams, diet review, oral health assessment, spaying/neutering, RHDV2 vaccination.

💡 Key Takeaway

Proper husbandry—covering housing, diet, enrichment, and veterinary care—is vital for maintaining healthy, happy rabbits and preventing common health issues related to poor management.

📖 6. Guinea Pig Husbandry

🔑 Key Concepts & Definitions

• Guinea Pig (Cavia porcellus): A hystricomorph rodent native to South America, known for social behavior and specific dietary needs.
• Crepuscular: Active during dawn and dusk, influencing activity and housing considerations.
• L-gulonolactone oxidase: An enzyme guinea pigs lack, requiring dietary vitamin C intake to prevent deficiency.
• Enrichment: Activities or objects that promote natural behaviors and mental stimulation, essential for guinea pig wellbeing.
• Husbandry: The care, housing, diet, and management practices for guinea pigs to ensure health and comfort.

📝 Essential Points

• Housing:

  • Minimum 7.5 sq ft for 1-2 guinea pigs; add 3 sq ft for each additional pig.
  • Preferably housed in pairs or larger groups for social needs.
  • Use solid-bottom cages; wire bottoms are not recommended.
  • Provide shelter, hiding spots, and space for exercise.
  • Maintain appropriate temperature (cooler climate preferred); avoid heat above 80°F to prevent heat stroke.

• Diet:

  • Primarily hay (grass hay like Timothy or orchard grass) comprising 80-85% of diet.
  • Fresh greens high in vitamin C (e.g., red bell peppers, leafy greens low in calcium).
  • Pellets fortified with vitamin C; limit to 1-2 tbsp daily.
  • Avoid seed/muesli mixes to prevent selective feeding and obesity.
  • Fresh water should be available via bottle or bowl; prefer bottles.
  • Do not supplement with vitamin C in water due to instability.

• Enrichment & Exercise:

  • Social housing and interaction with humans or other guinea pigs.
  • Provide toys such as tunnels, hideouts, and chewable objects.
  • Encourage daily exercise outside the cage in a safe, supervised environment.

• Veterinary Care:

  • Annual exams including husbandry review, oral health assessment, and spay/neuter if indicated.
  • No routine vaccinations are recommended.
  • Monitor for signs of vitamin C deficiency, dental issues, or obesity.

💡 Key Takeaway

Proper husbandry of guinea pigs—focused on adequate social housing, a high-fiber diet rich in vitamin C, and enrichment activities—is essential for their health, preventing common medical conditions related to poor care.

📖 7. Chinchilla Husbandry

🔑 Key Concepts & Definitions

• Chinchilla lanigera: A species of hystricomorph rodent native to South America, known for dense fur and longevity.
• Nocturnal: Active during the night; chinchillas are primarily nocturnal, requiring appropriate housing and activity periods.
• Dust Bath: A grooming activity involving bathing in fine dust to remove fur lipids and maintain coat health.
• Enrichment: Activities or items that promote natural behaviors, mental stimulation, and physical activity.
• Vertical Space: The importance of multi-level cages to accommodate chinchillas’ active and climbing behaviors.
• Temperature Sensitivity: Chinchillas are adapted to cool, low-humidity environments and are prone to heat stress.

📝 Essential Points

• Housing: Require large, multi-level cages with solid bottoms and wire tops, fully enclosed to prevent escape. Vertical space is critical due to their active, climbing nature.
• Temperature: Sensitive to heat; optimal range is 65-75°F. Temperatures above 80°F increase risk of heat stroke. Avoid high humidity.
• Diet: Primarily hay (timothy, orchard grass) supplemented with pellets (~1-2 tbsp daily). Do not need vitamin C supplementation. Avoid high carbohydrate and sugar foods.
• Dust Baths: Essential for fur maintenance; provide for 10-20 minutes daily using silver sand and Fuller’s earth. Do not use sandbox sand.
• Social Housing: Preferably housed in pairs or groups to promote social behaviors.
• Enrichment: Include toys like cardboard, hay toys, apple wood sticks, and opportunities for climbing and chewing.
• Veterinary Care: Annual exams recommended; monitor for dental issues, skin conditions, and overall health. No routine vaccinations are necessary.

💡 Key Takeaway

Chinchillas thrive in cool, spacious, multi-level enclosures with proper diet and regular dust baths, emphasizing social interaction and environmental enrichment to ensure their health and well-being.

📖 8. Myomorph Rodent Care

🔑 Key Concepts & Definitions

• Myomorph rodents: Small, nocturnal rodents including rats (Rattus norvegicus), mice (Mus musculus), Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus), and dwarf hamster species (Phodopus sp). They are characterized by their gnawing behavior and need for specific housing and diet.
• Omnivorous diet: A diet consisting of seeds, grains, plant material, small invertebrates, and carrion, tailored for myomorph rodents.
• Housing: Enclosure that is solid-bottom with wire top, escape-proof, well-ventilated, and includes nesting opportunities.
• Enrichment: Activities and objects like wheels, tunnels, and nesting materials that promote natural behaviors and mental stimulation.
• Veterinary care: Regular health assessments, husbandry review, oral exams, and spay/neuter procedures as needed; vaccinations are generally not recommended.

📝 Essential Points

• Housing: Use solid-bottom, wire-topped cages with multilevel structures for rats; ensure escape-proof design and adequate ventilation. Provide bedding such as paper-based litters or fleece liners to allow burrowing and nesting.
• Diet: Offer pelleted diets supplemented with greens and occasional treats like nuts or seeds. Ensure fresh water via bottles; avoid sugary or high-fat treats. Omnivorous diet supports their natural foraging behavior.
• Enrichment: Critical for preventing stress and obesity. Include exercise wheels (solid bottom), tunnels, nesting materials, and opportunities for tunneling and shredding.
• Behavior: Rats, mice, and dwarf hamsters are social; Syrian hamsters are more solitary. Group housing is preferred for social species, with attention to compatibility.
• Veterinary care: Conduct annual or semiannual exams, review husbandry and diet, perform oral exams, and consider spay/neuter procedures. No routine vaccinations are recommended.
• Special considerations: Ensure proper handling to prevent stress, provide environmental enrichment, and monitor for signs of illness or distress.

💡 Key Takeaway

Proper husbandry, diet, and enrichment are essential to maintaining the health and natural behaviors of myomorph rodents, with regular veterinary care playing a vital role in their wellbeing.

📖 9. Ferret Husbandry

🔑 Key Concepts & Definitions

• Obligate Carnivore: An animal that requires a diet primarily composed of meat, with high protein and fat levels, and minimal carbohydrates (e.g., ferrets).
• Torpor: A state of decreased physiological activity, often induced by cold or hot temperatures, in which animals like hedgehogs and sugar gliders enter to conserve energy.
• Enrichment: Activities or objects that stimulate natural behaviors, such as chewing, climbing, or foraging, essential for mental and physical health.
• Multilevel Cage: A cage design with multiple tiers, providing vertical space and activity opportunities, especially important for active species like chinchillas and ferrets.
• Dust Bath: A bathing method using fine dust (e.g., Fuller’s earth) to help animals like chinchillas reduce fur lipids and maintain coat health.
• Species-Specific Housing: Housing tailored to the animal’s natural behaviors and environmental needs, such as arboreal setups for sugar gliders or cool, low-humidity environments for chinchillas.

📝 Essential Points

• Housing: Ferrets require solid-bottom, escape-proof, multilevel cages with fleece or blankets for bedding. They are highly active and need ample space, with options for tunnels and sleep sacs.
• Diet: Obligate carnivores needing high protein (35-40%) and fat (20%) diets, low in carbohydrates and starches. Commercial ferret diets are recommended; avoid plant-based ingredients and grain-free diets linked to health issues.
• Enrichment: Social interaction with humans and other ferrets is vital. Toys like cardboard boxes, tunnels, and safe objects for chewing promote natural behaviors and prevent boredom.
• Veterinary Care: Annual exams, diet reviews, dental care, and routine health checks are essential. Most ferrets are already spayed/neutered; consider long-acting GnRH implants as alternatives.
• Behavior & Handling: Ferrets are playful, curious, and enjoy water play. They require mental stimulation and social bonding for well-being.
• Legal Considerations: Ownership restrictions exist in certain regions (e.g., California, New York City); verify local regulations before acquiring.

💡 Key Takeaway

Proper ferret husbandry involves providing a species-appropriate environment, a high-protein carnivorous diet, and enriching activities to ensure their health, mental stimulation, and natural behaviors are maintained. Regular veterinary care and awareness of legal restrictions are crucial for responsible ownership.

📖 10. Hedgehog Husbandry

🔑 Key Concepts & Definitions

• Hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris): A small, nocturnal, solitary mammal native to Africa, commonly kept as a pet.
• Torpor: A state of decreased physiological activity, allowing hedgehogs to conserve energy during cold or hot temperatures.
• Omnivorous Diet: A diet consisting of both animal and plant matter; in hedgehogs, primarily insects, supplemented with vegetables and fruits.
• Enrichment: Activities or objects that stimulate natural behaviors, such as foraging, climbing, and exploring.
• Husbandry: The care, housing, diet, and management practices to ensure health and well-being.

📝 Essential Points

• Housing:
  • Use a solid-bottom cage (minimum 2x3 feet), with smooth walls or small wire spacing.
  • Provide a fleece or paper-based bedding; avoid fabrics that can cause constriction.
  • Maintain temperature between 75-85°F; avoid extremes to prevent torpor.
  • Include hiding structures, climbing toys, and wheels (solid-bottom, appropriately sized).
• Diet:
  • Primarily insectivorous; base diet should be a high-protein (50-60%) pelleted insectivore diet.
  • Supplement with invertebrates (gut-loaded), canned moist foods, and small amounts of vegetables or fruits.
  • Avoid dairy, nuts, seeds, large food items, and fruit-based diets that lack proper nutrition.
• Enrichment & Activity:
  • Exercise is crucial; supervised outside cage time and use of wheels.
  • Toys like cardboard tubes, climbing structures, and safe foraging items promote natural behaviors.
  • Obesity is common; monitor weight and activity levels.
• Veterinary Care:
  • Annual or semiannual exams including oral health and husbandry review.
  • Spay/neuter procedures are optional but can be considered.
  • No routine vaccinations are recommended.
• Additional Considerations:
  • Avoid exposure to cold or excessive heat to prevent torpor.
  • Be cautious with fabric toys; some can cause constriction injuries.
  • Provide opportunities for mental and physical stimulation to promote health.

💡 Key Takeaway

Proper husbandry of hedgehogs involves maintaining appropriate temperature, providing a high-protein insect-based diet, and offering enrichment activities that stimulate natural behaviors, all of which are essential for their health and well-being.

📖 11. Sugar Glider Husbandry

🔑 Key Concepts & Definitions

• Sugar Glider (Petaurus breviceps): A small, nocturnal, arboreal marsupial native to Australia, known for its gliding ability and social nature.
• Torpor: A state of controlled hypothermia or dormancy that sugar gliders enter in response to cold temperatures, reducing metabolic rate.
• Omnivorous Diet: A diet consisting of both plant and animal matter; sugar gliders require a specialized omnivorous diet rich in gums, nectar, insects, and limited fruits/veggies.
• Enrichment: Activities and environmental modifications that promote natural behaviors such as climbing, jumping, and social interaction.
• Housing Requirements: Vertical, arboreal enclosures with adequate space, climbing structures, and nesting options to mimic natural habitat.
• Veterinary Care: Regular health assessments focusing on diet, behavior, and prevention of common issues like obesity and constriction injuries.

📝 Essential Points

• Housing: Minimum 3x2x3 ft vertical cage with climbing branches, sleep pouches, and nesting boxes; temperature maintained between 65-90°F to prevent torpor or hyperthermia.
• Diet: Difficult to replicate wild diet; should include nectar, gums, gut-loaded insects, and limited fruits/veggies. Commercial diets often lack complete nutrition; avoid fruit-based diets.
• Nutrition Precautions: Do not feed fruit-based diets or foods high in iron; avoid dairy, nuts, seeds, and large food items to prevent health issues.
• Enrichment: Provide branches, perches, toys, and opportunities for climbing and jumping; social housing is essential—preferably in pairs or groups.
• Behavioral Needs: Highly social; solitary housing can cause stress. Require interaction with conspecifics and humans.
• Veterinary Care: Annual or semiannual exams recommended; monitor for constriction injuries, obesity, and dental health; neutering males and spaying females are common procedures.
• Legal Considerations: Not legal in certain states (e.g., CA, AK, HI, NYC); ensure compliance with local regulations and source from USDA-inspected facilities.

💡 Key Takeaway

Sugar gliders are highly social, arboreal marsupials requiring specialized housing, a carefully balanced omnivorous diet, and enrichment to promote natural behaviors and overall health. Proper husbandry and regular veterinary care are essential for their wellbeing.

📊 Synthesis Tables

⚠️ Common Pitfalls & Confusions

1. Using cedar or pine shavings due to toxicity risks.
2. Overcrowding cages, leading to stress and health issues.
3. Providing seed mixes instead of balanced pellets, causing selective feeding.
4. Neglecting species-specific temperature and environmental needs.
5. Failing to include adequate enrichment, resulting in stereotypic behaviors.
6. Not offering fresh water or relying solely on bottles when bowls are preferable.
7. Ignoring the importance of high-fiber diets for herbivorous species.
8. Overlooking the need for social housing, especially for social species.
9. Using inappropriate substrates that hinder natural behaviors or cause health problems.
10. Failing to perform regular veterinary checks or vaccinations.
11. Not adjusting husbandry practices based on age, health, or reproductive status.
12. Underestimating the importance of environmental enrichment in reducing stress.

✅ Exam Checklist

• Describe species-specific housing requirements for rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, ferrets, hedgehogs, sugar gliders, and myomorph rodents.
• List essential elements of a balanced diet for herbivorous and carnivorous small mammals.
• Explain the role of environmental enrichment and give examples for different species.
• Outline routine veterinary care practices, including vaccinations and reproductive management.
• Identify common husbandry pitfalls and how to avoid them.
• Discuss the importance of temperature regulation and substrate choice.
• Describe social housing considerations for social species.
• Explain the significance of high-fiber diets and calcium-phosphorus balance.
• Detail enrichment activities that promote natural behaviors.
• List signs of stress or health issues related to husbandry.
• Describe the importance of clean water provision and substrate management.
• Summarize the key points of species-specific husbandry needs.