Exotic Companion Mammal Practice
Core concepts
Rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, rats, mice, ferrets, and chinchillas are the core species. Each has anatomy and physiology that break mammalian assumptions. Rabbits are obligate nasal breathers, have continuously growing teeth, and are hindgut fermenters that cannot vomit. Guinea pigs and other rodents require dietary vitamin C. Ferrets are carnivores with unique reproductive and adrenal disease patterns. Know the importance of species-appropriate handling and the high risk of stress-induced disease.
Common presentations
Gastrointestinal stasis in rabbits, dental malocclusion, urinary disease in guinea pigs, and neoplasia in older rodents are high-yield. Understand anesthesia risks - small body size means rapid heat loss and difficult venous access - and the value of pre-visit husbandry review.
Traps
Questions often test whether you recognize that a prey species hides illness and that anorexia in a rabbit is an emergency, not a minor complaint. Do not assume antibiotics safe in dogs and cats are safe in rodents and rabbits; some cause fatal dysbiosis. Also watch for questions that ignore the role of diet and husbandry in chronic disease.
Worked example
A rabbit presents with decreased appetite and small, scant feces. The leading diagnosis is gastrointestinal stasis, often secondary to dental pain or low-fiber diet. The plan pairs supportive care (fluids, analgesia, assisted feeding, motility support) with a search for the underlying cause. Rule of thumb: a rabbit not eating is a rabbit in stasis until proven otherwise, and the cause is usually dental or dietary.