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Common Exotic Pets in Thailand:Their diseases and management

Assist.Prof. Sompoth Weerakhun. DVM., PhD.Department of Medicine

Faculty of Veterinary MedicineKhonkaen University

Small Mammal Pets

• Rabbits– The most common exotic pets in

Thailand is RABBIT: Holland lop.– They are very popular, many

owners in Bangkok kept rabbits instead in dog and cats, cause they are cute and silent.

– In currently, more than 30 cases of rabbit patients come to our exotic pet clinics per day

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RABBITS

• Common diseases in rabbits in our clinics– Gastrointestinal hypomotility and stasis were the

most cases due to low fiber diet.– Dysbiosis also due to low fiber and high

carbohydrate diet, stress, drugs and diet immediately change

– Malocclusion– Bronchopneumonia– Head tilt due to Pasteurellosis and

Encephalitozoonosis

Exophthalmoses due to malocclusion

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Dacryocystitis and facial abscessation due to malocclusion

Grading of gastrointestinal hypomotility by radiograph

Radiography was important to diagnoses, prognoses and for select treatment protocols.

In KKU nowadays, grading the gaseous in GI tract with 4 grades and 4 types of MEGACOLON

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Common Diseases in Domestic Rabbits

• Abscess• Accumulation of cecotrophs/Lack of cecotrophy• Dysbiosis• Allergic rhinitis/Tracheobronchitis/Pneumonitis/• Skin problems

– Bacterial: Blue fur– Fungal– Viral– Mites: Ear mite (Psoroptes cuniculi)/Fur mite (Cheletiella parasitovorax: 5 whs

life cycle)– Ticks– Flea: Rabbit flea (Spillopsylla cuniculi: vector for myxomatosis, Cediopsylla

simplex, Odontopsyllus multispinosus); Cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis)– Lice: Haemodipsus ventricosis– Myiasis

Common Diseases in Rabbits (con’t)

• Malocclusion• Gastroenteritis: Dysbiosis/Clostridium/Coccidiosis/Viral:Rotavirus-

Coronavirus• Dacryocystitis• Dysautonomia/GI hypomotility• Encephalitozoon• Adenocarcinoma: Uterine• Endometrial hyperplasia: change to adenocarcinoma (common in

unmated does)• Pastuerellosis• Headtilt• Mastitis• Pododermatitis• Myxomatosis

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Common Diseases in Rabbits (con’t)

• Pregnancy toxemia/Hepatic lipidosis• Rabbit syphillis: Treponema cuniculi• Splayleg• Spondilosis/Spondylitis• Toxoplasmosis (rare)• Cystitis/Urolithiasis/Hypercalciuria• Viral haemorrhagic disease: Calicivirus

Ferrets

Common diseases- Distemper- Hyperadrenocorticism- Persistent estrus or

estrogen toxicity

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Common Diseases in Ferrets (others)

• Influenza: susceptible to human influenza strains• Aleutian disease: Parvovirus

– Unrelated to that causing bloody diarrhea in dogs– Multiple organ failure– no vaccine protect

• Ear mites: Otodectes cynotis is the most common• Flea: Ctenocephalides felis• No worm or free in GI tract of healthy ferrets

Common Diseases in Ferrets (con’t)

• Insulinoma: 2nd most common tumors found in ferrets after tumors of adrenal glands

• Diabetes mellitus• Cardiovascular diseases• Lymphoma: 3rd most common tumors

– Lymphocyte count greater than 60% of total WBC– Enlargement of peripheral lymph nodes

• Splenomegaly– common finding in ferrets– Splenectomy is if the spleen contains a tumors; lymphoma

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Sugar Gliders

Common diseases-Self injurious (SIB)-Paresis/paralysis due to improper diet- Giardia spp. and other protozoasinfection- Penile and rectal prolapsed-Obesity- Early weaning

Common Diseases in Sugar gliders (others)

• Cataracts• Rectal prolaspe• Poor haircoat/Sebaceous gland or pouch

dermatitis• Mastitis• Ear mites• Ca deficiency/MBD/Post paralysis/Peresis• Cystitis/Uroliths/Nephritis

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Rodents:Cavy

Common diseases-GI hypomotility or Trichobezoar (hairball)- Respiratory tract infection: Bordetella spp.- Malocclusion- Hypovitaminosis C- Skin problems: Fungal/Parasites=Mites/Lice

-Abscess -Cervical lymphadenitis-Pododermatitis-Cheilitis

- Hyperadrenocorticism

Common Diseases in Guiney Pigs• Gastrointestinal Bacterial

Infection:Salmonellosis/Pseudotuberculosis• Dysbiosis: ABO-induced/low fiber diets• Coccidiosis• Candidiasis• Chlamydiosis• Cystitis/Urolithiasis• Pregnancy toxemia• Alopecia: ovarian cysts• Mastitis• Otitis• Diabetes mellitus

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Small Mammal Pets

Rodents: Tumors, Fighting, Beard barbering, incisors malocclusion, chromodacryorrhea “red tear”, retinal atrophy Squirrels: Hand rearing problem –lactose from cow milk, Aspiration pneumonia, DysbiosisChinchillas: GI hypomotility due to low fiber diet

Small Mammal Pets

Hedgehogs: Sarcoptic mange, Tumors, Obese, Bloat, Respiratory tract infectionsFennec fox: Pastuerellosis, Distemper and ParvoviralinfectionSmall-clawed otter: Distemper, Internal parasites

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Small Mammal Pets

Slow loris: Gingivitis, Pulphitis, Kidney diseases, Respiratory and GI tract infectionsMarmosets: Hand rearing problems, Pneumonitis, Malnutrition

Small Mammal Pets

Prairie dogs: GI hypomotility, Respiratory infectionsRaccoons: -

Wild kept in pets = deers, lion, tigers, elephants, etc.

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Large Mammals in Captive

Hospital Service: Mobile clinic for wild animals rescue

Researches: -Melioidosis survey in elephant- Nutrition

Reptiles

Ball Python

Snakes are famous in Thailand, the owners collect its as snake collectors.

However, small number of vets are expert in reptile medicine

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Improper managements and malnutrition are the most problem in reptiles. So, Vet have to learn more about basic requirement of its; such as habitat, feeding, POTZ, photoperiod, humidity, substrates, UVB-need.

How to feeding and how to keep its indoor.

How to diagnoses and how to treat in medicine or surgery.

Near Khon Kaen Province, Ban Koksanga is snake village. The villagers kept king cobras for show and sell natural herbs. They also have the other snakes.

They are very famous and some players travel for show around Thailand, such as Pataya, Phuket and Cheingmai. However, the show still display everyday in the village stage until now.

Our vets service to cure and prevent the diseases of snake.

Students also practice in the snake medicine.

Common diseases:-Stomatitis-Pneumonitis- Egg binding- Dysecdysis- MBD- Gout- etc.

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ReptilesCommon lizards: Beard dragons, leopard gecko, chameleon, iguana, monitors, etc

LizardsThe common diseases: Hypovitaminosis A, Stomatitis, Trichomoniasis, multi-organs bacterial infection, dysecdysis, abscessation, uroliths, etc.

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Common Gecko Conservation in Cheingrai Province

Our students worked and helped the gecko conservation center for check-up and treatment at early when they found the center.

Turtle and Tortoise

Common tortoises in Thailand:Sulcata, Aldabra, Radiata, Spider, Yellow tortoise.

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Turtle and Tortoise

Common Tortoises (con’t):Yniphora,Indian star,Leopard tortoise

Turtle and Tortoise

Common turtles kept in pets: Sliders, Matamata, Snaping turtles and softshell

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Reptiles

Common diseases in turtles and tortoises:-Gastrointestinal hypomotility due to low fiber diets- Uroliths- Gastroenteroliths- Shell fracture- Salmonellosis- Runny nose and runny eyes- Hypovitaminosis A- etc.

Enteroliths in TortoiseEnteroliths is common compared with urolithsdue to high oxalic acid in diets.

Vet can easy remove it from cloaca under anesthesia (injectableor inhalation drugs).

Some cases have to plastron operation .

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Wild soft-shell turtle trauma due to large fish hook

Rescue and research in sea turtles

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Birds: Parrots (Psittacines) are very common in Thailand

Many kind of pet birds in Thailand

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Common resident birds kept in pets

Red-whiskered bulbul

Hill myna

Spotted owlet

Barn owl

Collared scops-owl Crested serpent

eagle

Black eagle

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BirdsCommon diseases:-Respiratory tract infection in Psittacine birds and chickens- MBD and Aspergillosis in raptors- Dysbiosis in hand rearing birds- Trichomoniasis- Candidiasis- Hypovitaminosis A- Bumble foot diseases/Brest blister in raptors and chickens- Chlamydophila infection- Bone fracture

Ornamental Fish

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Thank for your kind attention